In “Coming of Age (Da Sequel)” Jay and Bleek continues the criminal underworld story, which highlights the mentor/protégé relationship. In the original “Coming of Age” off the Reasonable Doubt album, Bleek is a young hustler, hungry to succeed in the drug game but lacks direction. Jay, a smart, experienced and successful hustler schools Bleek and makes him apart of his enterprise. Fast forward to the “Da Sequel”, Jay and Bleek are both very successful in their criminal enterprise but a confrontation is looming when Bleek begins to develop animosity toward Jay. This is a dynamic that often occurs in mentor/protégé relationships, business partnerships, friendships and families.

I decided to include Bleek’s lyrics as part of the analysis because this song is really a great example of intriguing thoughts, conversation and confrontation all in one musical collaboration.

This song received A LOT of play in my ride when “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” came out.

Let’s get into it…

(Listen up to 1:28)

[Bleek] Cocaine whiter now
[Jay-Z] Operation is sweet
[Bleek] Whole game tighter now
[Jay-Z] Moving a brick a week
[Bleek] Plus a nigga price is down
[Jay-Z] We them niggas to see
[Bleek] Time to start the arisin now
[Jay-Z] I don’t know what’s wrong with Bleek

[Jay-Z]
It seems, I’m like Keenan, pickin up on the vibe
that he ain’t too happy, I could just see it in his eyes
I don’t know if it’s the chicks or how we dividin the loot
Time to pay his ass a visit ‘fore he decide to get cute
Jumped out like a star with the flavest car
Matchin the gator shirt, softer than my next door neighbors
These young niggaz think I fell out the loop
cause the last time they seen me hoppin, out the Coupe
I hopped out in a suit

[Memphis Bleek]
Look at this nigga Jay frontin tryin to take my shine
I didn’t say this verbally, just had some shit on my mind
Plus I’m puffin like an ounce, more than I used to puff
Takin advice from these niggaz but they ain’t used to stuff
They had me thinkin, “Shit, I’m the one that moved the stuff
while he drive around town in brand new Coupe’s and stufF”
Swear to God, they had me practically hatin his guts
As he approached I spoke, “Jigga whattup?”

Chorus: Memphis Bleek

I done came up (uhh)
Put my life on the line (uhh)
Soaked the game up (yeah)
Now it’s my time to shine
Time to change up (what?)
No more second in line
Nine-eight, these streets is mine

“Coming of Age (Da Sequel)”
Vol 2… Hard Knock Life
Jay-Z featuring Memphis Bleek

It seems as if Jay is Bleek’s supplier and they’re both making money. If you remember on the original “Coming of Age”, Bleek was hustling backwards, being reckless and irresponsible and had bad judgment. But since he’s been down with Jay, Bleek’s game is tighter, he’s become wiser and more experienced and his astuteness of Jay’s guidance has paid off.

Jay and Bleek are both doing well, so, all is good, right?

Well, Bleek states that at this point, he thinks it’s “time to start the arising”. Bleek is ready to take control of his hustle. He’s been under Jay’s wing and had success but now he wants to makes his mark on the game and rise to the top.

At this point in the song (and story) Bleek has certain thoughts in his head but haven’t yet expressed his feelings to Jay or took action. This is actually typical in a mentor/protégé relationship. It’s the “natural cycle” of this kind of relationship.

The student will learn a great deal from the teacher and start to feel like he can move forward and upward without the teacher’s continued guidance and support.

The follower will only walk behind the leader for so long before he feels that he’s ready to lead or move ahead in a completely different direction.

While this dynamic is normal in relationships of this type, it can cause tension particularly when both parties are involved in certain “industries” such as the illicit drug trade. The skates are high. The nature of the drug trade is fertile ground for confrontation that can often turn deadly.

The seeds of confrontation are planted in the mind, how we begin to think and feel about certain relationships and arrangements in our lives.

Though Bleek has yet to utter a single word expressing his feelings, Jay can sense trouble…

Let’s move on to the lyrics that capture Jay’s inner thoughts…

It seems, I’m like Keenan, picking up on the vibe
that he ain’t too happy, I could just see it in his eyes

I really like the Keenan Ivory Wayans reference. For those 25 and under, you might not remember “In Living Color” the sketch comedy television series that was on Fox for 4 seasons, from 1990-1994, but it was one of my favorite shows growing up. It was where several people who are now big stars got their first real break; Jim Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Jaime Foxx to name a few.

I don’t want to go too much into it but Keenan Ivory Wayans was the host and creator of the show. The show was a family affair, several of his siblings were on the show and In Living Color established the Wayans family as a major force in comedy.

Keenan left In Living Color in 1992 over disputes concerning censorship issues with Fox. He had concerns about the value of the show once it went into syndication. Wayans wasn’t happy with the direction the show was going in and it played out in the press and his discontent was even noticeable on television by the end of the show’s third season.

I hope I wasn’t too lengthy in giving some background of the Keenan Wayans/In Living Color reference but it’s just a clever reference by Jay to describe how he could see Bleek’s discontent in his eyes.

Those of us who watched “In Living Color” back in the day and saw the whole thing unravel can really appreciate that reference.

Moving on…

I don’t know if it’s the chicks or how we dividing the loot
Time to pay his ass a visit ‘fore he decide to get cute

Jay tells us that he doesn’t know whether the cause of Bleek’s discontent is related to money or women. It’s worth noting that money and women are often the two biggest causes for conflict between men.

Jay doesn’t ignore the vibe he’s getting from Bleek and I think wisely decides that he should go and see him before Bleek tries to challenge his position.

I will say that Jay is showing insight in regards to mindset that shouldn’t be overlooked. You have to be able to pick up on (and accurately interpret) vibes when dealing with others. Sure, there’s a selfish motive behind paying Bleek a visit but the visit also provides an opportunity to give Bleek some much need guidance…

“…before he decides to get cute”

The next lines…

Jumped out like a star with the flavest car
Matching the gator shirt, softer than my next door neighbors
These young niggaz think I fell out the loop
Cause the last time they seen me hopping, out the Coupe
I hopped out in a suit

Jay describes the scene when he pays Bleek a visit in the ‘hood. Jay pulls up in an expensive luxury car whose color matches the shirt he’s wearing. Clearly, Jay’s lifestyle has changed. He no longer lives in the ‘hood (“softer than my next door neighbors)- he likely lives in a “nice” middle/upper class neighborhood now.

He knows that Bleek and many of the other cats in the ‘hood thinks he’s out of touch now that he has risen to the top of the dope game and lives what seems like, another world away, in the suburbs. In fact, the last time they saw him, he “hopped out the Coupe” wearing a suit!

To them, a man’s progress signals his weakness.

Of course, that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

Jay has grown-up. His style and swagger has changed. The luxury car and the wardrobe, represent growth and maturity. The change in lifestyle is brought on by a change in mindset.

A big-time drug dealer is not the only person who goes through this. A lawyer, doctor, businessperson, any successful professional from the ‘hood face this sort of suspicion and hostility when they come back home. While there are some who are truly proud of your accomplishments, others are full of jealousy and envy. Often, it’s not personal they are simply frustrated or even bitter by their own predicament.

Let’s move on to the lyrics from Bleek’s verse…

Look at this nigga Jay fronting trying to take my shine
I didn’t say this verbally, just had some shit on my mind

We can tell from this line that Jay’s instincts in regards to Bleek’s mindset are correct. Bleek tells us what he’s thinking. He feels like Jay’s appearance in the ‘hood is not without motive. He believes that Jay is trying to show him up. While Jay’s face is rarely seen, Bleek is in the streets everday. People see him grinding and he has made a come-up, now he’s getting respect but he feels that Jay’s mere presence overshadows his power and influence.

Bleek lets us know that he didn’t state these things verbally- these thoughts are in his head.

Sometimes the people we respect, we resent. Our resentment can come from feeling like we can never come out from under the shadows of others, or it comes from pure jealousy. People also resent others they respect who they feel don’t fully appreciate them or give them their proper respect in return.

Bleek’s resentment seem to be driven by his perception that Jay has a lack of respect for the power, influence and respect that he has achieved in the ‘hood.

People in your life, sometimes those closest to you, resent you for the reasons (or others) that I just mentioned. They may never tell you this but their resentment may be revealed through their body language, a change in their behavior, etc.

Resist feelings of resentment because it creates or adds fuel to conflict that can ruin a relationship.

Understand the root cause of resentment toward you and don’t take it personal… and don’t it let it slow-up your hustle.

Let’s keep it going…

Plus I’m puffing like an ounce, more than I used to puff
Taking advice from these niggas but they ain’t used to stuff

Here’s a very telling line that actually reveals what’s driving Bleek’s resentment toward Jay.

First of all, Bleek is smoking more weed more frequently! Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but heavy drug use can “cloud” (no pun intended) judgment. Heavy and frequent drug use impacts your focus and the sharpness of your mind. Bleek spends too much time getting high and this gives him too much time to “think” unclearly about his relationship with Jay in regards to the hustle.

The other factor that seems to be playing a role in Bleek’s resentment toward Jay is the “advice” he receives from his friends, likely the ones who hustle under him. His boys are “in his ear”, putting all kinds of distorted thoughts and ideas in his head. Bleek says that “they ain’t used to stuff”, they don’t know how to handle the changes in their lifestyle.

Bleek’s relationship with Jay has had a “positive” impact on his boys in terms of success in the drug game and yet they’re essentially biting the hand that feeds them by instigating a beef between Bleek and Jay.

On “Anything”, Jay tells his nephew…

“Don’t listen to your crew/Do what works for you.”

I’m not going to tell you to disregard the advice or feedback from others because it may be genuine and sound. But you must have a clear understanding of your sources. How much experience do they have? How well do they manage their own lives? How insightful are they really?

Speaking of “clear”, how clear is your mind?

I’m not going to get all self-righteous in regards to drug use. I’ve certainly smoked my share of weed in the past and I probably drink a little too much right now! But I think we all know that overindulgence in any vice is a recipe for destruction. Heavy drug use first impacts your mind, which will then significantly influence your actions.

Here’s what Bleek’s friends are telling him…

They had me thinking, “Shit, I’m the one that moved the stuff
While he drive around town in brand new Coupe’s and stuff”

Bleek’s boys try to convince him that he deserves more respect, more power, more influence, and, most importantly, more money because while Jay lives the good life, driving around in “brand new Coupes”, he – not Jay, is the one who is distributing the product on the streets and incurring the most risk.

People only see others “shining” and not the day-to-day, continuous grind that is done in order to live a certain lifestyle. People just see what’s on the surface. Regardless of whether you think someone “deserves” the perks they’re receiving, remember, you can’t knock the hustle and stay focused on your grind.

Here’s how Bleek ends his verse…

Swear to God, they had me practically hating his guts
As he approached I spoke, “Jigga, what up?”

Bleek’s boys have been so vocal about his relationship with Jay that at this point, they have poisoned his opinion of Jay and now Bleek is “practically hating his guts”!

This can happen when we are heavily influenced by the opinions of others. Their words start to shape our thoughts and ideas. The words of others can cause a change in our own thinking, which, of course, impacts our actions.

It is not uncommon to see relationships become strained or end outright largely based on the words (or actions) of third parties.

Don’t allow others on the outside looking in to cloud your judgment. Don’t burn a bridge or break a bond with someone close to you based on the perspective of others. Trust self- your own judgment of character and of the situation in question.

At the end of Bleek’s verse, he and Jay are about to engage in a conversation that could become a deadly confrontation.

Let’s include the lyrics to the chorus of song…

I done came up
Put my life on the line
Soaked the game up
Now it’s my time to shine
Time to change up
No more second in line
Nine-eight, these streets is mine

These lyrics defiantly performed by Bleek reveal his determination to claim his spot at the top. He tells us that he has sacrificed his life and soaked up like a sponge all of the ins-and-outs of the drug game (from Jay). Now he feels that it’s his “time to shine”.

This is his moment.

I love the way the lyrics set up the confrontation. Like many of Jay’s songs, the verses have the same impact of great literature or cinema.

While this song tells the tale of a strained mentor/protégé relationship in the drug trade, this sort of conflict can occur in relationships in our lives.

In part 2 we’ll examine how the tension grows leading up to a dramatic AND insightful confrontation.

I’ve stated before that the fall out between Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z disappoints me. Bleek is Jay’s protégé, the once 15-year old kid that is now a grown man still riding with Jay. If you’re going to see Jay-Z live you’re likely to see Bleek right there on stage with him. While Bleek is Jay’s loyal protégé who has always had great potential, Beanie Siegel is (or was) Jay’s enforcer. I’ve always said that Beanie has the rawest talent of any MC in the history of Hip-Hop. As far as lyrical ability Beans is right there with the best (including Jay). He has all of the tools of a great MC but it seems like he lacks certain important qualities that hinders his development as an artist.

Jay has expressed his concerns in regards to Bean’s artistry and overall success in his lyrics:

Beans, I ain’t trying to change you
Just give you some game
To make the transition
From the street to the fame

“Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)”
Blueprint
Jay-Z

I stated earlier that Beans has the rawest talent I have ever heard in Hip-Hop. There are several meanings of the word “raw” but here’s the meaning that best fits my opinion of Bean’s talent:

Raw: untempered and unrefined

My “10 Greatest MCs of all Time” list has been the same for several years. I’ll share it with you one of these days but I can tell you right now that Beanie Sigel can hold his own lyrically with ANY of the MCs on my list. Period.

Beans gave two of the most vivid lyrical performances I’ve ever heard on these classics:

This record is quite insightful about, ironically, betrayal, and really shows Beans’s lyrical brilliance.

Beans paints the picture of prison so vividly in this song. This record is like cinema. Hey, it pretty much made up mind to never get locked up!

It seems like Beans’s career has suffered and stalled because of bad judgement and a lack of discipline in his artistry and in his business. The talented brother has had some success the “issues” he’s had in his personal life are long and well-documented. I’m pulling for him to get things right but it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that some of his personal issues have had an adverse impact on his artistry and business interests.

Unless you don’t follow Hip-Hop that closely you’re aware of the “beef” Sigel has with Jay-Z. Beans has made what seems like an album’s worth of diss songs directed toward Jay. Beans’s main problems with Jay seem to be business-related and not personal.

If I could ask him a couple of questions in regards to his beef with Jay, they would be:

Why do you think making diss songs every other day directed toward Jay will increase the likelihood of resolving your business disputes with him?

and

How does dissing Jay over and over and over again advance or revitalize your career?

Some may say that Nas’s beef with Jay-Z revitalized the great Queensbridge MC’s career. I agree. But there’s a major difference between Nas’s beef with Jay back in the day and Bean’s beef with Jay: Jay shot first and Nas responded, strongly, I might add.

And also, the timing for the Jay-Z/Nas showdown was right. Hip-Hop was clamoring for it. Not too many people seem to care all that much about Beans vs. Jay. No one segment of Hip-Hop’s audience has that much emotionally invested in the beef.

The streets have some interest but it’s far from being at a fervor pitch and the conflict is barely on the mainstream audience’s radar.

(Speaking of the Jay vs. Nas, I might go in-depth about the legendary battle one of these days. You might be surprised by my opinion. But of course, when and if I write about it, I’m going to come hard with insight NOT emotion.)

If Beans looked at the flawed strategy that other MCs have unsuccessfully used: taking shots at Jay, calling him out over and over again with no or very little response from him, he would had realized that his all out assault is very unlikely to re-ignite his career.

Beans’s many diss songs at Jay may generate so-called “buzz” on YouTube, Twitter and on Hip-Hop sites on the Internet but that doesn’t mean that people who watch, read or listen online are even remotely interested in his actual career.

In the long list of Jay’s foes, Nas stands alone.

(Of course Jay and Nas are cool with each other nowadays. I want to hear more Jay-Z/Nas collabos!)

Unfortunately, Beans comes across as “just another MC” who has dissed Jay-Z.

If we go down the long list Jay-Z attackers and compare each one of them to Hov…

Who is relevant?

Who is not?

Beanie Siegel is a good MC with great talent who is undisciplined, consistently makes poor judgment and has a flawed artistic and business strategy.

Sigel could be completely justified for having beef with Jay (I don’t know one way or the other) but his constant, redundant verbal attacks on Jay-Z essentially makes him look like a bitter, disgruntled employee which is really too bad because Beans’s talent is too great to be confined to the way too common “pro wrestling” beef strategy that MCs with much less talent than him use to get attention.

I won’t go into detail, but I think a much better strategy for Beans would be to try to do as many features and collaborations as possible giving passionate, insightful and skillful lyrical performances and then try to capitalize off that buzz.

In now way am I indicting Beans (no pun intended). I love his talent. I missed the Roc the way it was and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Jay is truly the one who deserves the most blame for the crew’s dismantle. I absolutely loved the collaborations between Jay and Beans. Those two cats had great chemistry. I miss that- a lot. Beans is definitely the kind of MC and man that you want with you in battle- for real. Jay-Z has given Beans “game” (guidance) throughout his career but as Jay stated in “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)”, Beans have had a difficult time fully making “the transition”.

(Watch from the beginning up to 1:50)

“If my life is a movie then Sigel be the sequel”

“It’s On”
Jay-Z

The transition from the streets to any kind of legitimate success is a challenge but MUST be done.

You won’t sustain your success, or even succeed at all with raw talent alone.

Is there someone, such as a mentor, giving you “game” on how to make the transition in your life?

How will you receive that “game” and how will you respond?

I remember reading Cedric Muhammad’s 2-part column on how-to market Beans and let’s just say that I thought it was a rather ambitious plan (meaning: unrealistic. Lol). Me and Cedric had a laugh about that in a conversation we had a couple of months ago. Though I think it’s unlikely that anyone currently around Beans or Beans himself have the kind of vision Muhammad laid out in the 2-part column, I agree with Muhammad’s general premise:

Beanie Sigel is a MC with great talent and potential whose career could be revitalized and even be greater than his days with the Roc if he (and the people around him) fully commit to artistic, business and even community activist excellence.

Some of you may want to know:

Why won’t Jay-Z respond to Beans’s attacks?

He did, for like 2 minutes…

Many believe that part of Jay’s verse on Drake’s “Light It Up” is directed at Beans. I agree. Of course, there have been several MCs no longer down with the Roc that have dissed Jay, so his lyrics could be directed toward all of them collectively:

Drake, here’s how they gon’ come at you
With silly rap feuds trying to distract you
In disguise in the form of a favor
The Barzini me, watch for the traitors
Uh, I done seen it all, done it all
That’s why none of these dum-dums could done him off

One of my first pieces published on “The Book of Hov” was about Jay’s lyrics on “Light It Up”.

“Silly rap feuds” not only distract those they target, they distract those who do the “shooting”. Beans’s tireless verbal attacks toward Jay are done in hopes of rattling him. Beans continuously baits Jay in hopes that he will respond. Jay, I think wisely sees a response as a distraction from his ambitious grind. What I don’t think Beans realize is that his verbal attacks toward Jay serve as distractions from his own ambitions.

I think Jay’s indirect responses at his attackers are actually insightful and show how strategically sound he is as an artist and businessman.

Jay has so many attackers that it doesn’t make sense to create specific diss songs for each MC who attacks him. He would waste a whole year just responding to any and everyone who takes a shot at him. Responding to everyone who disses him is a waste of his artistic talent. It also doesn’t make much business sense because diss songs may generate millions of plays on YouTube but don’t sell.

Jay is at the point in his career where he simply does not need a “pro wrestling” beef strategy to generate interests in his projects.

The summer’s ours, the winter too
Top down in the winter, that’s what winners do
And to these niggaz I’m like, Windows 7
You let ‘em tell it they swear, that they invented you
And since no good deed go unpunished
I’m not as cool with niggaz as I once was
I once was, cool as the Fonz was
But these bright lights turned me to a monster

I didn’t talk about this in my previous post about these lyrics but I think it’s interesting that Jay states that “no good deed go unpunished”. It seems like he’s basically saying:

People are often unappreciative of the guidance and support you give them and will even attack you (verbally and/or physically), particularly when they’re going through a tough time.

This unfortunate dynamic in relationships (such as the mentor/protégé relationship) is why Jay states:

I’m not as cool with niggaz as I once was
I once was, cool as the Fonz was
But these bright lights turned me to a monster

Jay seems to have greater perspective on the motivation and meaning behind Bean’s verbal attacks toward him than Beans does himself.

This kind of fall-out may happen in your mentor/protégé relationships and in other relationships that you have with those in your life.

Jay’s lyrics can give us some insight on how and why things go wrong in both our personal and professional relationships and what to learn from conflicts in order to become even more determined and focused as we move on and move forward.

What to look out for next week: We’ll dig further into the mentor/protégé relationship taking a look at Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek’s lyrics on “Coming of Age (Da Sequel)”. Also, I’ll share the song that I believe is the best rap collaboration ever made, reveal the similarities between that song and the great tradition of jazz music and how the song can serve as inspiration for YOU and ME as it relates to the “collaborations” in our day-to-day lives.

I believe that the mentor/protégé relationship is one of the most important bonds in the personal growth and development process of an individual. The lack of this important relationship, within the black American community for example, I believe is having a devastating impact on the lives of the youth, ESPECIALLY that of young black American boys. A mentor can be a parent, an older sibling, a teacher, a businessperson, a minister, etc. But a mentor often ends up being anyone who receives certain level of respect and admiration and gains influence over someone else who is in need of guidance. When there’s a lack of “positive” role models in a young kid’s life, often times the mentors end up being the Dope Boyz.

“I got this shortie on my block always clocking my rocks
He likes the style and profile I think he wanna mock
He likes the way I walk
He sees my money talking
To honeys hawking
I’m the hottest nigga in New York and
I see his hunger pains
I know his blood boils
He wanna, run with me, I know this kid’ll be loyal
I watched him make a few ends, to cop his little sneakers and gear
Then it’s just enough for re-up again
I see myself in his eyes, I moved from Levi’s
to Guess to Versace, now it’s diamonds like Liberace
That’s just the natural cycle
Nobody wanna be like Michael
Where I’m from, just them niggaz who bounce from a gun
We out here trying to make hard white into cold green
I can help shortie blow out like Afro-Sheen
Plus I can relive my days of youth, which is gone
That little nigga’s peeps, it’s time to put him on”

“Coming of Age”
Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z

“When I grew up there was no lawyers or doctors in my neighborhood. I saw the Dope Boyz. So that’s what I emulated.”
Jay-Z interview with Billboard

Before we dive into the lyrics, let me share a personal story with you (it’s relevant to the lyrics and my analysis).

Up until the age of about 14, my single mother raised me. I was just 2 years old when my father rolled out, abandoning his responsibility to play a pivotal role in my childhood. I saw my father only a handful of times when I was a kid and had pretty much lost contact with him completely by the time I was around 9 years old.

This is a painful circumstance that is typical instead of rare in the black community so I’m sure that many of you can relate.

My uncles (my mother’s brothers) were smart, successful men on the up-and-up and my grandfather was the strong, generous, hard working and respected patriarch of the family. My mother got married again to a decent, caring religious man who had a son of his own yet still treated me as if I was his son and we all lived together in the DC metro area.

So, while I share with many other young, black males the painful experience of growing up without my father in my life, unlike many of them, I did have strong, positive male figures in my life and I didn’t grow up in a crime-ridden, rough-and-tough neighborhood even though we all thought we were hard nevertheless.

With that said, I still longed for a relationship with my father and at various points in my adolescence I flat-out rejected the guidance of my uncles, grandfather, stepfather and just about anyone else… except one guy.

When I was a freshman in high school, I met an older cat, I’ll call him “Blue” for the sake of this story. He was in his early 30’s at the time. He was an “OG”, a street-smart guy that knew how to handle himself. He lived in the same low-key suburban neighborhood where I lived, but he was from the streets. He was supposed to be in “settle down” mode with his fam but he was still ripping and running. The ladies loved Blue and the fellas respected him.

I was fond of Blue and he took a liking to me. I started hanging with him (and his friends) every day after school. While me and my friends in high school were trying to build “street cred”, he and his peoples already had it.

From the age of 14-19, Blue was a mentor in my life.

Blue and I would talk for hours every day about all kinds of things. Blue had intellect but he wasn’t all that book smart, he knew the streets and he would often take me with him when he went to the real ‘hood. I would watch, look and listen whenever I was with Blue. I hadn’t experienced a lot at that point in my life but I was very observant when hanging out with Blue.

I saw some things that I didn’t need to be seeing, things that youngins from the ‘hood that Blue and I were hanging out in (and ‘hoods all over the U.S. and the world) unfortunately see every day and night.

Blue “taught” me and showed me things that had an impact on me but let me be clear: Blue had issues… real problems that took their toll on him, problems that he couldn’t overcome, problems that eventually landed him in prison, where he is today.

The relationship I had with Blue actually made me appreciate more the relationships I had with my uncles, stepfather, and grandfather (I sought out and had more respect for various points of view of life), but it also increased my desire to see my father again and develop a relationship with him.

In my last post, I wrote about how I hear rhymes as conversations and how I relate these conversations to circumstances in my own life. I can relate to a song like “Coming of Age” due to my relationship with old school cats like Blue.

I’m sure many of you have had relationships in your own lives like the one I had with Blue.

What impact did the relationship have on you?

FYI: I lost contact with Blue for over 10 years and when I finally found him, he was in prison. I’ve gone to visit him a few times and we correspond with each other though not as frequently as we should.

I made amends with my father when I was 19 (ironically, around the same time “Reasonable Doubt” came out) and though we have had some rough patches in our relationship since then, I feel fairly good about the bond we now have.

Ok, let’s jump into these lyrics:

(By the way, those in a mentoring role in someone’s life should pay equal attention to the lyrics in this verse)

I got this shortie on my block always clocking my rocks
He likes the style and profile I think he wanna mock

Jay is a hustler in the drug game doing his thing and notices a young shortie (Bleek) watching how he moves in his hustle. Bleek admires how Jay carries himself and wants to emulate him.

My relationship with Blue started kind of like this. See, the one thing about me is that I’m a very observant person. The streets are watching me but I’m watching the streets with purpose and focus.

I began kicking it with Blue the first day I met him but I watched him as closely as I listened to his words. He gave me more game in how he carried himself (how he interacted with other cats, the ladies) than what he actually told me through our conversations.

Observe those who have “that something”, that you can use in your life. Some people have “it”. It goes way beyond walk, talk, clothes, cars, etc. It’s easy to get caught up in the persona of an individual, but don’t let your eyes fool you. Observation is not just about sight, it’s also a mental exercise. You have to be able to accurately process in your mind what you are truly seeing.

It’s very difficult to have this kind of enlightenment when you’re young. There’s a part of me today that regrets some of the experiences I had from hanging out with Blue. But there’s another part of me that believes that in some ways meeting Blue saved my life.

Everyone talks about having street cred and being street smart. It’s somewhat overemphasized in rap music but I will say that some of the best lessons can be learned by watching how an OG watches the streets he runs.

I observed how Blue observed his surroundings.

One of the greatest skills to “mock” is the skill of observation.

The scenario in the criminal underworld that Jay describes in the beginning lines of “Coming of Age” can be applied to mentor/protégé relationships in the worlds of academia, religion, community, politics and business.

But the most important place where this scenario NEEDS to play out is in the household.

“We be the only big boys that the big boys watch”

“The Best of Both Worlds”
The Best of Both Worlds
Jay-Z

Let’s keep flowing…

He likes the way I walk
He sees my money talking
To honeys hawking
I’m the hottest nigga in New York and

Ever seen somebody’s money talking?

Again, observation is the key activity in these lines. Bleek’s character in this story sees how the ladies respond to the opulence of Jay’s character and he wants that for himself.

The attention from the opposite sex often serves as motivation to be seen and heard. You might expect me to discredit that, but, actually, I don’t see anything necessarily wrong with that. That’s fine.

Of course, there are other motivations that I personally feel are more important, such as the need for self-fulfillment, but, too many of us don’t seem to be motivated by ANYTHING so if your motivation to succeed is primarily driven by the desire to get the attention of the opposite sex, then so be it. It’s a start (although trivial one) in your personal development and growth process.

That which motivates you might be misdirected (you’ll find that out soon anyway) but as you grow and mature as a person hopefully you’ll embrace a greater perspective on the things that are better served as your motivation.

Money talks: money can buy cooperation; having money makes one influential

Your success has a greater and broader purpose beyond attracting the opposite sex. I mean, let me keep it real, it’s always nice to be “admired” by the honeys. But success has the ability to influence much more than female (or male, if you’re a woman reading this) admirers. And your success can have the kind of impact and create the kind of change that ultimately will mean a hell of a lot more to you than female/male adulation.

Trust me, it’s true. Lol.

Let’s continue…

I see his hunger pains
I know his blood boils
He wanna, run with me, I know this kid’ll be loyal

I really like this part. Check out the genius: I like the way Jay describes Bleek’s drive to succeed. We know that when someone is “hungry” they’re motivated and determined to obtain whatever they want, which in this case is success.

Jay acknowledges that Bleek has a strong desire, a craving for success. But Jay goes further when he uses the term, “hunger pain”.

Hunger pain: a feeling of distress, suffering, or agony.

Basically, Jay states that he knows that Bleek has a strong desire to succeed and he can “see” the distress, suffering and agony that Bleek is going through over not having yet accomplished the success that he so badly wants.

Jay, in the mentoring role, is using the skill of observation.

But Jay’s far from finished…

Jay knows (likely from personal experience) that the distress, suffering and agony (hunger pains) Bleek is going through enrages him (blood boils).

Through observation, Jay “sees” Bleek’s strong desire, pain, agony and anger.

Once someone’s “blood” starts “boiling”, a mentor, someone who can give much needed guidance, is a MUST-HAVE in that person’s life because anger can be channeled into focus and purpose… or it can lead to a train wreck.

A mentor can play a role on keeping the “train” (one’s strong desire) on track.

Jay tells us that he knows that Bleek wants to be apart of his hustle and he knows that Bleek will be loyal to him.

How does he know this?

Well, he doesn’t know for certain that Bleek will be loyal but he makes this claim based on his observation of Bleek’s strong desire and his own experiences in the game. In other words, he sees a lot himself in Bleek (he actually states this later in the verse).

Ok, let’s keep going…

I watched him make a few ends
To cop his little sneakers and gear
Then it’s just enough for re-up again

Jay states that he has observed Bleek’s hustle and has come to the conclusion that Bleek is basically hustling backwards. Bleek makes money in the streets but blows his profits on clothes and sneakers with only his original principle or investment left to purchase more product.

This far too common occurrence in the drug game happens in legitimate business, doesn’t it? It also applies to how we manage our household finances, doesn’t it?

See, this story about a mentor/protégé relationship in the criminal underworld can give us insight on the need for guidance when it comes to issues such as financial management in our own lives.

Moving on…

I see myself in his eyes, I moved from Levi’s
to Guess to Versace, now it’s diamonds like Liberace

Here’s where “untrained ears” get off-focus. This line is not about looking good in the hottest fashions. Jay uses the “social-status ladder” of fashion labels to describe his progression in the pursuit of success.

Next lines…

That’s just the natural cycle
Nobody wanna be like Michael
Where I’m from, just them niggaz who bounce from a gun

It’s quite telling how Jay states that the progression, starting at the bottom and rising to the top of the drug trade, is “just the natural cycle” where he’s from. It goes back to what I have written about in the past, how the drug trade is often the most “vibrant” “industry” in the ‘hood and offers young ambitious cats like Jay and Bleek opportunities to succeed.

Here are the last lines…

We out here trying to make hard white into cold green
I can help shortie blow out like Afro-Sheen
Plus I can relive my days of youth, which is gone
That little nigga’s peeps, it’s time to put him on”

These lines simply describe the process of distributing the product (crack cocaine) and turning that product into profits (cold green). Jay states that as a mentor he can give Bleek guidance and help him succeed in the drug game.

Jay concludes the verse stating that mentoring Bleek gives him an opportunity to “relive” the days of his youth. This desire is part of what drives mentors. They remember when they were “hungry” and went through “hunger pains”. They remember when their blood boiled and how someone kept their “train” on the right track instead of wrecking.

Successful people take an interest in those who have the talent and drive to succeed.

Giving guidance and being a source of inspiration makes mentors feel just as good about themselves as it makes them feel good about the progress of their protégés.

Listen to the entire song… with a “trained ear”. Check out Bleek’s verse and the third verse where Jay & Bleek have a back-and-forth conversation about the ins-and-outs of the drug game.

Jay’s first verse reveals the power of focused observation in the mentor/protégé relationship. As I stated earlier, this verse gives those in a mentoring role as much insight as it does for the ambitious but inexperienced who are in search of guidance.

Instead of digging into Jay’s lyrics this evening, allow me a few minutes to share why I’m writing “The Book of Hov”. It’ll give you a chance to learn more about me. But also, once I go into detail of how I approach a Jay-Z rhyme, maybe it’ll help you get more out of Jay’s lyrics and the lyrics of other MCs, and get more out of art in general. I’m in my early thirties and I’ve been listening to Hip-Hop since I was a kid in the mid 80’s. I loved everybody from Run-DMC to N.W.A. but when I was a kid my favorite MC was Big Daddy Kane. Kane was known for his lyricism and to me he’s one of the top 10 greatest MCs of all time (it’s a claim that I think is hard to dispute if you listen to his classic record, “Raw”).

From the moment Jay-Z came into the rap game there have been comparisons between him and Kane. Both represent Brooklyn and both have strong lyrical prowess. The major difference is that Kane didn’t rhyme in-depth about the criminal game. As a kid, I loved Kane’s swagger. I loved his style right down to his dance routines with Scoob & Scrap… Man, when I was 10, 11 years old, I thought Kane was the coolest cat on earth!

I think my love for Kane’s swagger and music back in the day was a major factor for my embrace of Jay’s swagger, music and hustle some 8 years later. I was a year out of high school, age 19, when Jay debut, “Reasonable Doubt” came out.

“Keen senses/Ever since I was a kid on the benches…”
Intro
Dynasty Roc La Familia
Jay-Z

Even when I was kid, 10,11,12 years old, I keenly listened to Hip-Hop. I have love, respect and appreciation for all the elements of Hip-Hop, but MC’ing is my favorite. The beat is a very important element of a record, but the MC has to know how to rhyme and the more skill he or she has- the better.

(By the way, although Kane was my favorite MC back in the late 80’s, I also loved Rakim [listen to him and Eric B’s “Follow the Leader”] and I actually think he was the greater MC of the two).

When it comes to a MC, I look for flow, voice, lyrical skill and style (by the way the best voices in the game: Biggie, Raekwon and Scarface).

Out of those four elements, lyrical skill stands out for me. Those who rhyme with a high level of skill and intellect catch my attention. Every great MC is great because his or her lyrics have the “rewind factor”. The MC delivers rhymes that make you want to hear them again and again… and again.

But here’s the thing: I don’t just listen for swagger and wit, I listen for insight. I enjoy lyrics that get the mind thinking and cause to me to seek out greater insight on my own.

Don’t assume that I’m just talking about in-your-face political/social lyrics. While I enjoy MCs like Chuck D and KRS-ONE (the “Teacher” is in my top 5 and Chuck is in my top 20), insight and deep perspective is not only found in songs like “Fight the Power” or “My Philosophy” (the latter is in my opinion one of the top 10 Hip-Hop songs ever made).

It takes a great artistic mind to come up with deeply insightful lyrics and it takes a great business & marketing mind to create music featuring deeply insightful lyrics that have mass appeal beyond its core audience.

This gifted mindset (one half artistic and one half business) is Jay-Z’s genius.

If you’ve heard me talk about the “untrained ear” in my previous writings, the “untrained ear” hears the lyrics but doesn’t listen. The untrained ear seeks only “low brow” entertainment, not enlightenment, therefore it won’t recognize insightfulness if it hears it. The untrained ear only hears what it wants to hear; profanity, sexism, violence, materialism… IGNORANCE.

Jay-Z and Beans actually rhymes about this on “Ignorant Shit” (from “The American Gangster” album)

The “trained ear” appreciates entertainment but it seeks enlightenment and refinement in accordance with entertainment. The trained ear seeks entertainment that inspires. Once the trained ear hears lyrics with swagger, style AND insight the lyrics stimulate the inquisitive mind that is always in search of greater knowledge.

Changes first take place in the mind and then things (actions) happen but the birth or idea of change is created or formed from our five senses; particularly our sense of sight and hearing.

What we see and hear goes hand-and-hand when it comes to music, so I guess you can see that having a “trained eye” is just as important as having a “trained ear”.

Even as a kid, I had a trained ear (well, it was in-training) so by the time I was 19 years old and Jay’s “Reasonable Doubt” came out, I was skilled at listening to lyrics and not just hearing them. There’s a difference. A BIG difference.

Regardless of who the MC is, when I listen to lyrics, I’m actively listening for insight and inspiration. If I don’t hear it, I allow my ears to shift purely to entertainment mode or I turned the music off if it’s purely wack!

I DON’T hear ANYTHING insightful or inspirational most of the time regardless of whom I am listening to. In fact, I can name several songs from Jay’s catalog that while very entertaining (think: “I Just Wanna Love You”) lack insight or inspiration (unless you’re inspired to sleep with “girls who dance with girls”…even though the first part of the chorus is a little insightful), but when we listen to his music with trained ears (and process what we hear with inquisitive minds) then there’s NO DOUBT in my mind that he’s the most insightful MC that the rap game has ever heard.

I’ve heard Jay say that he took 26 years to complete his debut album “Reasonable Doubt” (the album came out when he was 26 years old). Well, it took me 14 years (the length of his music career) to write “The Book of Hov” which is still a work in progress.

I have love for several great MCs but I think I connect with Jay’s lyrics because I have a similar mindset (one half artistic, one half economic). Unfortunately, I don’t have a similar bank account! Lol! But as a writer, I’m trying to develop and cultivate a business/marketing mindset and take actions that will take my writings to the next level.

I believe that the greatest business minds are artistic. See Jay-Z’s career as an example. Hell, Jay even hustled in the drug game artistically. He rhymes about the criminal underworld artistically and with a high level of intellect in the same way that Martin Scorsese does with cinema.

It’s a gift that has to be cultivated over time. This is what I hope to accomplish with my writings and what better place to start then with the lyrics of Jay-Z since it’s his lyrics that serve as a source of inspiration in regards to my writing and business/marketing career.

It’s been a long struggle for me to find my way and I’m still in search of the truth, my truth. I’m a writer studying and hustling in the Internet marketing game and that fits my mindset.

I think your actions have to be aligned with your mindset, how you think.

With “The Book of Hov”, I’m not trying to get readers to think like Jay or accept and adopt my interpretation of his lyrics (“Decoded”, his book to be released in November, will hopefully give us some greater insight coming from Jay himself). I’m simply trying to motivate listeners of Hip-Hop (and music in general) to develop a trained ear and listen to lyrics with a greater intent on finding insight and inspiration.

I’m sure you can gleam from my writings that I’m going to try to make a very persuasive argument of the great insight and inspiration in Jay’s lyrics. But if you read my writings and listen to Jay’s music and still don’t hear the insightfulness and inspiration, then use your new or refined “trained ears” to hear insight and inspiration in the music of your favorite MCs.

I’m a writer and Internet entrepreneur who is a fan of Jay-Z (and other great MCs). “The Book of Hov” is about discovering insight and becoming inspired by Jay’s lyrics. The writings in this blog focus on Jay’s lyrics but YOU can use the concept of how music heard by a trained ear can stimulate the mind and give inspiration in whatever it is you listen to.

that Don’t reject inspiration. I think too many of us from my generation reject anything or anyone that could serve as inspiration. Inspiration is important, and to be quite candid, NECESSARY to overcome struggle. I’ve never rejected inspiration. I find it in books, movies, music, from talking to everyday people and from what I observe and experience in every day life.

My greatest source of inspiration is in conversation.

And this is the foundation that “The Book of Hov” is built upon.

Now, let me explain what I mean by finding inspiration in conversation.

When I listen to Jay (or other MCs) it’s like I’m having a conversation with him. True, it’s a one-way conversation, but I look at it as if his lyrics are the point in the conversation when he’s talking and I’m listening.

People enjoy talking about themselves, don’t they? Think of the conversations you have had with a friend, a relative, a colleague, a neighbor, etc. When your friend is talking to you, he’s telling you about himself; his thoughts, ideas, plans, actions.

While he goes on and on and on about himself you need to put your mind to work.

Do you take mental notes while you’re listening to someone talking to you?

What are mental notes?

Mental notes: Special attention with intent to remember

Taking mental notes (what up, Lebron!) means you give deliberate thought to what is being said and often times it causes you to think about your own set of circumstances. Someone else words about their thoughts and actions can have an impact on how you think and what you do in your own life.

I take mental notes in my conversations with people. They may be talking about themselves but my trained ear is listening for something in their conversation that I can use for myself. Don’t get me wrong, I allow them to “have the floor” and get what they have to say off their chest, but there’s a selfish motive: I want to find insights in what they say that can give me inspiration to overcome flaws in my mindset and a lack of judgment in my actions.

Because I treat Jay’s lyrics like a conversation, I listen with my trained ear and I take mental notes seeking insight and inspiration for myself.

In the midst of praising his lyrical prowess I’m “selfishly” empowering myself.

I do this when I listen to Jay or any other great MC like Nas.

By the way, critics and haters say that all Jay does is rap about himself. And…, the point is? Why would he rap about YOU or ME. Every artists injects his vision in his art. Art is personal. Marvin Gaye (who is my favorite artist of all time) was deeply (sometimes painfully so) personal in his music.

The nature of rap music is to rhyme about yourself. Think back to its roots. Jay rhymes about HIS life just like you talk to others, going on and on, about YOUR life. I can learn as much about MYSELF and life in general from listening to you talk about YOU.

I can learn what to say (and how to say it), what not to say, what to do and what not to do (and why), and how to think and how not to think just from having a conversation with YOU.

The same dynamic is happening when you listen to music whether you realize it or not.

Jay will never rhyme about ME or YOU. Yet his “conversation” with us in the form of lyrics primarily about himself can give us insight to “selfishly” use in our own lives.

Music is conversation but most of us treat it as a “mind-numbing spectacle” that we hear instead of see.

Listening to music with an untrained ear and treating it as a “mind-numbing spectacle” decreases or completely eliminates the discovery of insight.

Of course there are other factors that you can’t control or help that hinder music’s purpose to enlighten as well as entertain such as marketing/promotion by record companies, provocative imagery in music videos, payola and radio, the corporate interests of MTV/BET, money-hungry promoters, the lack of vision by the artists themselves and of course let’s not forget YOUR hormones…

But at least awareness can give you the determination to get your mind, ears and eyes right.

I haven’t written much about the illuminati rumors and allegations surrounding Jay. Much of the rumors and allegations come from so-called “analysis” of Jay’s lyrics. This controversy is an example of untrained ears by critics and haters.

Conspiracy theories are typically formed from ignorance and a laziness intellectually to seek greater insight and truth.

Though it’s simply a coincidence in terms of timing, “The Book of Hov” could be seen as a direct response to the illuminati rumors and allegations. I find it incredulous that people would investment so much time and energy forming and supporting conspiracy theories in regard to Jay’s lyrics instead of getting insight from those lyrics to “selfishly” use for growth and advancement in their own lives.

In some of Jay’s most insightful lyrics he’s having a “conversation” with another MC, with Jay in the role as the wiser and more experienced artist, hustler or business man. The mentor/protégé dynamic in some of Jay’s songs and collaborations are clear examples of profound insight and powerful inspiration in his lyrics.

When we listen to these features and collaborations, we’re “ease dropping” on his “conversations” with his protégés or up-and-coming artists that he vouches for and who respect him.

I don’t know how these kids get down today, but when I was 10, 11, 12, right through my teenage years, I loved rap collaborations. I absolutely could not get enough of them. It was fascinating for me to sit back and “ease drop” on these “conversations” between MCs that were incredibly artistic and creative.

Sure, there was a competitive nature in the collaborations. Hip-Hop’s a competitive sport. But even as a young, lil’ shortie (I’m still short! Lol!), I recognized that the purpose of the collaboration is to raise the level of artistry and creativity. This process is relevant to us because we can have success in school, the community, our career, in business, etc. when we we’re creative and artistic.

(Next week, I’m going to write about the art of the collaboration and its power to inspire. My case study will be what I think is the greatest rap collabo ever heard. No other collabo in Hip-Hop comes close in terms of chemistry. Of course, Jay is one half of the callabo. Can you guess who is the other MC and the song?)

A collaboration is a musical conversation. Now I realize that people do sometimes try to outtalk each other in conversation and this happens in the musical form of conversation as well. But the collaboration is not simply about “who murdered who”, “who ripped it the most” or “who said what about who”.

It’s cool to have that debate but that shouldn’t be the focus. We’re missing the greater purpose of the collaboration. “Ease drop” on the “conversation” listening with a “trained ear” in search of insight and inspiration opposed to beef and drama.

Here’s three great examples of Jay-Z’s conversations with other MCs, all of which I’ve written about in “The Book of Hov”:

“Power” (Remix) by Kanye West

“Go Crazy” (Remix) by Young Jeezy

“Light it Up” by Drake

Jay’s “conversations” with Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel really stand out for me in terms of insight and inspiration. Bleek is still riding with Hov. Beans disses Jay in freestyles every other day. I think it’s really cool to see Jay and Bleek’s bond still strong and really sad to see Jay and Beans’s bond broken.

But this contrast in the current state of Jay’s relationships with his two protégés can actually give us insight on how and why relationships grow or contract in our lives.

This week I’m going to dig into Jay’s “conversations”, his lyrics on collaborations he’s done with Memphis Bleek. I may also write about what Jay shares with us lyrically that gives us some insight on the root causes (think: how mindset impacts actions) of the fall out between himself and Beans.

When you check out my writings this week (and past writings as well as the ones I write in the future) think of Jay’s lyrics as a conversation and get your “mental notes” game on.

A little somethin’, somethin’ I made this weekend. Check it out as you get ready to grind out another week. The video is inspired by “Will’s Widsom” a popular and powerful video posted on YouTube featuring interviews with Will Smith. This week I’ll be writing about the insight Jay’s lyrics gives us in regards to the mentor/protege relationship and why his “conversations” in songs with MCs like Memphis Bleek can have an impact on our lives.

Not long after I published my latest post about Jay-Z’s verse on the “Go Crazy” remix (around 2:00am), Kanye West tweets that the remix to his new song, “Power” is complete and ready for the world to hear! I was anticipating the release of the remix because the song was rumored to feature no other than Kanyeezy’s “big brother”, J-Hov himself. So, there I was, in the wee hours of the morning, one of few (or one of several hundred thousand- who knows), listening to the “Power” remix, another “cutting edge” collaboration between two of the biggest and most insightful MCs in the rap game. And to no surprise… I was blown away!

Listen to the “Power” remix while checking out the Jay’s lyrics:

“Is this thing on?
I thought they silenced us ‘Ye
Power to the People…

We’re living in that 31st century, futuristic fly shit
The penthouse is the projects and everybody flies private
New watches (you know what time it is)
Watch us (you see us)
They can’t stop us
The prophets
Beotches!

Rumble, young man, rumble
Life is a trip so sometimes we gon’ stumble
You gotta go through pain in order to become you
But once the world numbs you, you’ll feel like it’s only one you
Man, you got the power to do anything you want to
Until you ask yourself, “Is that what it’s all come to?”
Looking at life through sunglasses in the sunroof
Do you have the power to get out from up under you?
Fuck all these labels, fuck what everybody wants from you
They trying to Axel Rose you
Welcome to the jungle!
To be continued, we’re on that Norman Mailer shit
In search of the truth even if it goes through Taylor Swift
Tell her this!”

“Power” (Remix)
Jay-Z

When I first heard this verse “I got it” but I didn’t fully “get it”. You can enjoy the beats and rhymes upon the first listen. But sometimes you have to listen to Jay’s lyrics several times before the meaning really sink in.

While conspiracy theorists listen for “hidden” references and speculate what they mean, I listen for insights that illuminate how to deal with challenging situations in my life. Of course, this enlightening process doesn’t occur while listening to every Jay-Z song. But I think (at least I hoped) I’ve already shown in the last couple of months how many of Jay’s lyrics can have a greater impact on your mind (think) than on your body (dance…or at least doing the 2-step if for those who don’t dance).

When we listen to Jay’s verse, it’s like we’re all listening to a conversation that he is having with Kanye (and by the way, Kanye RIPS it on this remix). But their “conversation” can give us insight on how we can gain and sustain power in our own lives.

Let’s get right into it:

We’re living in that 31st century, futuristic fly shit
The penthouse is the projects and everybody flies private
New watches (you know what time it is)
Watch us (you see us)
They can’t stop us
The prophets
Beotches!

Jay gives us a little intro before he goes in with his verse. Some listeners will miss the message while trying to visualize the imagery of living in the “31st century” where “the penthouse is the projects”. The statement Jay is making is that he and Kanye are forward thinkers, ahead of their time.

And yes, the artist IS a prophet.

Don’t think backwards.

Now, let’s get into the verse…

Rumble, young man, rumble
Life is a trip so sometimes we gon’ stumble

Jay starts off with sharp wit using a phrase popularized by the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali, to describe life’s journey. Jay rhymes with a purpose so I don’t think Jay’s boxing reference is just thrown out. In this double entendre Jay states that life is like the movement in a boxing ring.

Muhammad Ali was known for his footwork. As a boxer, he was a big, strong man that could move with ease. He was like a dancer in the ring that could knock your ass out! So I think Jay is telling us that no matter how well we “move” through life there’s going to be times when we “stumble”, when things don’t go our way and we “fall down” but of course we have to get back up and keep moving like the G.O.A.T. did in the boxing ring.

Let’s continue…

You gotta go through pain in order to become you
But once the world numbs you, you’ll feel like it’s only one you

Some of us don’t fully realize that struggle is apart of success. The struggle you go through and the pain you feel due to the struggle makes you who you are. I think it’s very profound for Jay to tell listeners that they won’t get the power until they experience the pain.

Once you acquire knowledge and experience AND insight, the pain in your life is easier to bear, in fact, you become “numb” to the pain to some degree, which puts you in the position to overcome anything.

It’s as if Jay is saying that going through life’s journey itself gives you power.

Man, I just don’t know how this guy comes up with this stuff! Whenever I’m amazed by something he says in his rhymes, I think about his now infamous creative process. The fact that Jay doesn’t write none of this stuff down leaves me in awe!

Let’s move on…

Man, you got the power to do anything you want to
Until you ask yourself, “Is that what it’s all come to?”

Regardless of who you are, where you’re from and what you’re going through, the power is in your hands to be who you want to be. The meaning of power and its impact does not only apply to Presidents, C.E.O.’s, Kings, etc. YOU have the power. I have the power. If we use our power in our lives we can succeed.

Let’s keep it going…

Looking at life through sunglasses in the sunroof
Do you have the power to get out from up under you?

This is a very interesting line. Let’s visualize what he’s describing- looking up into the sky through a sunroof while wearing sunglasses. The vision of someone doing this would be dim and impaired. So the question Jay poses to us is:

Will we be able to overcome our impaired vision (or in some cases, complete lack of vision) to get clarity in our lives?

Here’s more…

Fuck all these labels, fuck what everybody wants from you
They trying to Axel Rose you
Welcome to the jungle!

Jay tells Kanye to not give credence to how others characterize him. He’s telling Kanye not to be a prisoner to the expectations of others and don’t allow himself to be defined by labels that others put on him.

Do you think YOU could benefit from this advice?

I know I can.

The Axel Rose/jungle line is consistent with Jay’s wittiness in his rhymes but he’s not spitting these lyrics just for the sake of being clever. When Jay uses the word “jungle” in his “conversation” with Kanye, I think he’s referring to the media but being in a “jungle” in a broader sense symbolizes the struggle to survive in a tough world.

Here are the last lines…

To be continued, we’re on that Norman Mailer shit
In search of the truth even if it goes through Taylor Swift
Tell her this!

No one… and I mean NO ONE in Hip-Hop makes the kind of cultural references that Jay regularly does in his lyrics. His references are smart but what really fascinates me is how well they fit the message he’s sending to listeners.

Norman Mailer was a world renowned author considered an innovator in the new journalism genre. New Journalism “superimposes the essay onto the nonfiction novel” (from Wikipedia).

Mailer had a legendary literary career and was basically a master at writing non-fiction.

Jay tells us bluntly that he and Kanye are in search of the truth. The truth is found in us, in terms of finding out who we are, and then we seek out the truth through the experiences we have in life. If one is in search of the truth he is in search of knowledge of self.

The artist, for example, paints, sings, dance, rhymes, not to just entertain or enlighten his audience. His art is a never-ending journey in search of knowledge of self.

Don’t get caught up in the Taylor Swift reference. We’re all aware of Kanye’s “personal” incident with the young country singer that played out on the public stage. The actual incident is inconsequential to us (no offense Taylor Swift fans). There’s not a lot that we can learn for it in terms of our own lives.

The majority of people who listen to this remix will waste 5 minutes and 16 seconds focusing on “the response” to the Taylor Swift incident. The focus should be on the insights that Jay and Kanye are sharing with us about truth itself and the turbulent journey we all face in search of it.

The Norman Mailer reference is so ill on many levels and I could devote an entire blog post to this one line alone. But for the sake of time, I’ll simply say the reference seems to suggest (among other things) Jay’s (and Kanye’s) commitment to search for the truth and to tell-it-like-it-is (to the whole world) when they find it.

What Jay tells Kanye in this verse is being shared with us: In your search of the truth, for knowledge of self, you’re going to stumble. But keep searching with strong conviction to find out who you are and to use the power that is in you to change your life and maybe even change the world.

I started publishing “The Book of Hov” in June and when I took a look back at my previous posts, I noticed that most of my writings thus far have been about Jay-Z’s verses from collaborations he’s done with other MCs. Now, there are plenty of great, insightful lyrics by Jay performed on his official solo albums. But the fact that I have already written extensively about Jay’s contributions on other peoples’ projects demonstrates his ability to make the projects of others hot (or hotter), while sharing with them and their audiences his profound insights about life and the hustle.

Case in point: Jay-Z’s verse on Young Jeezy’s “Go Crazy (remix)”

Ok, check out the lyrics while listening to Jay’s verse (he starts rhyming around 1:02):

“Uh, more than a hustler I’m the definition of it
Master chef, Lord of the kitchen cupboard
More than a street legend, homie it’s Hova
More than a relief pitcher, I’m the closer
The Mariano of the Marriott, ah
If money talks, the whole world’s bout to hear me out
See I’m a hustler’s hope. I’m not his pipe dreams
So when they speak of success, I’m what they might mean
Attract money my worst color is light green
My favorite hue is Jay-Z blue
Don’t follow me youngin, follow my moves, I’m not a role model
A bad influence got the world drinkin gold bottles
When Puff was in that tub spillin Mo’
I was at my video, Cris’ on the speedboat
In my lifetime nigga, go through your research
St. Thomas, my nigga, that was me first
Chrome shoe’d the GS, I came feet first
In the game like a baby born, a breech birth
I got the keys if you need work
I can Kingpin you a line, a dime at a time, uh!
My niggas love it when I talk like this
My corporate people start bugging cuz I talk like this
The corporate thugs is like, “Nah, Hov, talk that shit”
The dope boys go crazy when they hear that boy Jay-Z”

“Go Crazy”(Remix)
Jay-Z

Young Jeezy is one of my favorite MCs from this new generation. I’m talking as if he’s much younger than me when in fact we’re the same age. I like Jeezy because he comes across authentic. His style is different from Jay’s but like Hov, you can hear swagger AND intellect in his lyrics.

When I listen to Jeezy, I can tell that he grew up in my era. He’s a hustler and a student, a follower and a leader. He’s one of the leading MCs in this era but he has clearly “followed the moves” (remember this phrase) of others before him like Jay-Z. I get this sense that he genuinely respects Jay as a street hustler, a MC and a “corporate thug”, even though he’s had great success in all of those roles in his own right.

The “Go Crazy” (Remix) was on Jeezy’s major debut album, “Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101”. The album, released in 2005, went platinum and solidified him as an upcoming star. As I stated earlier, Young Jeezy is one of the leading MCs in this new generation of Hip-Hop, a major factor in the South’s emergence. “Go Crazy”, the original and the remix are hustlers’ anthems.

I would say that Jeezy’s fan base leans younger and grittier than Jay-Z’s broader fan base. Basically, Jeezy’s core fan base is the same core fan base that hung onto Jay’s every word 14 years ago. It’s just that the “streets” that followed Jay are now grown up. Cats like Jeezy represent that core fan base that’s been riding with Jay since ’96. Younger hustlers like Jeezy were living the life that the older Jay rhymed about on the “Reasonable Doubt” album.

Now, younger hustlers are living the life that Young Jeezy rhymes about.

Jay-Z was a student in the game. He was a player in the game. He was a leader in the game. Now, he’s an icon in the game. I think Jay’s appearance on the “Go Crazy” remix was important because it allowed him to do 3 things: Co-sign an up-and-coming MC from the same ilk, show that he’s still got “it”, and inspire and motivate Jeezy and the “Snowman’s” audience to succeed not in spite of but because of experiences from their past.

He’s playing “OG” on this record as he has done many times before and since on other MCs’s projects.

Now, we’re about to get into the lyrics from Jay’s verse but I’m not going to tackle each rhyme, line-by-line, instead, I’m going to jump around a little to the most profound parts of the verse.

Let’s do this…

Uh, more than a hustler I’m the definition of it
Master chef, Lord of the kitchen cupboard
More than a street legend, homie it’s Hova
More than a relief pitcher, I’m the closer

Jay starts the verse off by saying that he’s “the definition” of a hustler which means that he epitomizes what it means to think and act like one. People consult the dictionary (online or an actual book) when they want to know the definition of a word.

But what’s the definition of “definition”?

Definition: a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol; a clarity of outline.

Jay tells listeners that if they want a concise explanation of what it means to be a hustler look no further than him. I like the “clarity of outline” meaning of  ”definition” and it fits the message Jay sends; that his words and actions can bring some clarity to the art of hustling.

Are you “just” [insert what you do here] or the definition of it?

I like the “master chef” and “street legend” lines but I want to focus on this line…

“More than a relief pitcher, I’m the closer”

In baseball, a relief pitcher comes into the game to take over the pitching if the starting pitcher gets hurts, gets tired or doesn’t play well. A closer is a pitcher that specializes in, as the position title suggests, closing out games. He is essentially the most valuable relief pitcher on the team.

I think the point Jay makes with the relief/closer analogy is that he’s able to “finish the job”, any goals that he sets out to accomplish- he does. The line is about finishing strong whatever you start.

See I’m a hustler’s hope. I’m not his pipe dreams
So when they speak of success, I’m what they might mean

This is my favorite line in Jay’s verse. He’s speaking directly to cats caught up in the street life. He states that the way his life has turned out gives hope to those in the streets. He wants it to be known that getting out of “the Life” and being successful legitimately is not a pipe dream, it’s a worthwhile ambition that’s reachable.

To those living that street life: If Jay-Z (and others) can make it out and succeed, you can too.

To those living the square life: Your goals are not pipe dreams. Hope is the strong relentless belief that you can accomplish anything that you want in life.

Check out this line…

Don’t follow me youngin, follow my moves, I’m not a role model

I think Jay made a very insightful statement about leadership in this line. Jay tells us: It’s not about him. It’s not about his walk, his talk, his style, his image…

He’s telling us: Don’t follow me- the man, follow my moves, be inspired by the hustle itself. The hustle can take you to the top of the rap game, or to the top of ANY game that you play.

Earlier in the post I stated that Jay was a student of the game who became a player in the game that then was elevated to a leader in the game and now he’s an icon in the game….

My use of the word, “game” could mean: the Hip-Hop music industry and/or the illicit drug trade.

(And actually, Jay could be seen as once a student, player, leader and now icon in another “game”. More on that a little later)

Jay has served as inspiration for those in the drug game and those in the music game. It’s true that his words (his song lyrics) have inspired others (after all, that’s what The Book of Hov is all about) but his actions, his success in business for example, speak louder than anything he could ever say in an interview or on a song.

I don’t want to get off-topic and start ranting but I think in one line Jay has given us insight on what the true role of leadership should be in our in our schools, in our churches, in our households, in our communities, in our businesses and organizations, in our country and in the world.

Admiration and inspiration is not about following people; seduced by their charisma, style, popularity, smooth talking, good looks, bravado, etc. Admire and become inspired by ACTIONS that have lasting IMPACT on the lives of others.

Let’s continue…

Chrome shoe’d the GS, I came feet first
In the game like a baby born reversed, a breech birth

When he rhymes about coming into the game “feet first”, like a “breech birth”, I think he’s stating that he was firmly “on his feet”, smart, experienced and prepared when he came into the rap game.

It seems like he’s telling hustlers the importance of being mentally and physically prepared when they leave the street life to pursue legitimate success.

It’s a really complex line that’s quite brilliant and it kind of gives you some perspective on Jay’s intricate  mind during the creative process of conceiving rhymes.

Moving on…

I got the keys if you need work
I can Kingpin you a line, a dime at a time, uh!

This line seems to be directed at up-and-coming MCs in the game. He uses a double entendre (of course!) positioning himself as a “kingpin” in the rap game who has “work”. In some ways with this line Jay is mentoring other MCs while challenging them.

Here are the last lines…

My niggas love it when I talk like this
My corporate people start bugging cuz I talk like this
The corporate thugs is like, “Nah Hov, talk that shit”
The dope boys go crazy when they hear that boy Jay-Z

Jay speaks to the “corporate thugs” in these lyrics; not necessarily the criminal minded, but the more career-minded professionals and entrepreneurs. He’s talking to young men and women who  are changing the face of the corporate world with street swag.  Jay resonates with the dichotomy many ambitious people go through when they have to navigate “through a room full of vultures” (see: I.Z.Z.O.) to reach their final destination: overwhelming success and security.

“Dope boys” is simply slang for drug dealers but by the time Jay-Z gets to the end of this verse, he’s “expanded” the definition of “dope boys” to mean ANYONE that’s hustling to be the very best in the game they play.

“The dope boys go crazy when they hear that boy Jay-Z”!!

There are several lessons to be learned from Jay’s verse on the “Go Crazy” remix. I think on his verse Jay brilliantly connects with players in the street game, music game, 9 to 5 game and the corporate executive game; people from different worlds that share the same passion- the hustle.

“Go Crazy” is a great anthem for ALL hustlers and Jay’s verse doesn’t just celebrate the hustle, it inspires us to not just be hustlers but to become the definition of it, to hustle with a purpose.

Let me first say that the Jay-Z/Kanye West collabo is truly special. Kanye, the talented producer and MC is the most artistic cat in the rap game and Jay is one of (if not THE) greatest lyricist the rap game has ever heard. They both are at their best on “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” remix. They both just “get it” when it comes to creating music that entertains and inspires. Frankly, I could get in-depth on Kanye’s lyrics in this remix because his words are just as profound as Jay’s. But while Kanye’s rhymes actually fit the premise of the song, Jay-Z goes “off-topic” yet manages to deliver one of the best lyrical performances about having the will to succeed in the midst of uncertainty.

Read the lyrics while you listen to Jay’s verse:
(*Jay starts rhyming around 2:25)

“The chain remains, the game is intact
The name is mine, I’ll take blame for that
The pressure’s on but guess who ain’t gon’ crack
Haha, pardon me, I had to laugh at that
How could you falter when you’re the Rock of Gibraltar?
I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water
This ain’t no tall order, this is nothing to me
Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week
I do this in my sleep
I sold kilos of coke
I’m guessing I can sell CDs
I’m not a businessman
I’m a business, man
Let me handle my business, damn
Kanyeez you got me, Freeway then Foxy
YG’s, Tiar’, ‘merie, Peedi watch me
Bleek could be one hit away his whole career
As long as I’m alive he’s a millionaire
And even if I die he’s in my will somewhere
So he could just kick back and chill somewhere
Oh yeah, he don’t even have to write rhymes
The Dynasty like my money, last three lifetimes
Shirley Bassey’s in the rear saying exactly
What I been saying practically my whole career
A diamond is forever, I been mining this forever
Now the Louis Vuitton Don’s timing couldn’t be better
People lined up to see the Titanic sinking
Instead we rose up from the ash like a phoenix
If you waiting for the end, the Dynasty sign
And what seem like forever is a mighty long time

“Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)”
Jay-Z

We’re going to get into these lyrics but I think it’s important that before we do, we put these lyrics in proper context.

Kanye West released the “Late Registration” album that this song is on in late summer of 2005. By this time, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding Roc-a-fella Records as a label. Of course, “the Roc” was (and is) more than just a record label, it was a movement. The end of the partnership between Jay, Damon Dash, and Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke took the industry and fans by storm and had everyone (including Roc-a-fella artists) choosing sides (Jay vs. Dash & Biggs).

Jay faced (and continues to face) plenty of criticism during this time. Some questioned his business acumen, some questioned if his artistry would falter or flourish without Dash & Biggs and some questioned his character in regards to why and how his business and personal relationship with Dash & Biggs became strained and ultimately ended.

I think it’s safe to say that after Jay, Kanye West was the Roc’s most bankable star, the one with the greatest talent AND potential. West’s “Late Registration” album was a huge success and the original Diamonds from Sierra Leone song was the album’s first single and a nice hit.

So you know he had to do a remix!

And who better to put on the remix then the “God MC” himself…

At the time of the release of the remix, Jay hadn’t released anything “official” on the solo tip (we won’t count the “Unfinished Business” album he did with R. Kelly) since “The Black Album” in late 2003. It would be another year before the release of his “come back from retirement” album, “Kingdom Come”.

So, here is Jay, in 2005, “in his retirement” going all in on the remix of one of the biggest songs of that summer…

And he kills it!!

By the way, we’ve heard Jay’s foes (and former ones like Nas), critics and your everyday Jay-Z haters claim that Hov is known to get “murdered” lyrically by other MCs he collaborates with. I, of course, think those claims are way overstated. In fact, in my opinion, most of his collaborations are complete contrasts to those claims.

Remember what Kanye stated on “Big Brother”, his ode to Jay off West’s “Graduation” album?

“On that “Diamonds” remix I swore I spazzed
Then my big brother came thru and kicked my ass”

To be fair, Kanye definitely held his own on the “Diamonds” remix but the point is Jay always “shows up” lyrically and I think his presence in the studio (or just the fact that he’s featured in the song) motivates and inspires his collaborators to bring their A-game.

Now, let us go all in and break down the lyrics in his verse…

The chain remains, the game is intact
The name is mine, I’ll take blame for that
The pressure’s on but guess who ain’t gon’ crack
Haha, pardon me, I had to laugh at that

Jay rhymes about how “the chain remains” which sounds like a double entendre referring to the diamond encrusted platinum Roc-a-fella logo hanging from a necklace or/and the roster of artists who are linked together in solidarity.

He’s stating that in spite of doubts, the Roc movement that he co-founded, anchored and lead is still strong and moving forward. I like the way he rhymes that “the game is intact” because he’s telling us that the hustle is untouched and not impacted in such a way to alter the course of the movement. Jay could’ve abruptly stopped rhyming after the very first line and he would have proved his point while giving us something to think about in regards to our own lives.

But he continues taking responsibility for what some saw as, let’s just say “unethical” conduct when he obtained the rights to use the Roc-a-fella name. He acknowledges the pressure for the Roc movement to succeed without the co-leadership of Dash & Biggs but lets us all know that he has no intention of “cracking”.

Jay’s tone when he makes this statement is confident without any shred of doubt. So, in the midst of doubts by foes, critics, haters, fans, the music industry and artists apart of the Roc movement, Jay sounds completely convinced that success will continue and grow.

I know from experience that it’s extremely difficult to be optimistic when you’re in an atmosphere permeated by doubt. Jay is so optimistic that he laughs off even the suggestion that he wouldn’t be able to perform both as an artist and a hustler under intense scrutiny and criticism.

I think we can all benefit from having that kind of steadfast optimism.

Let’s move on…

How could you falter when you’re the Rock of Gibraltar?
I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water

One of the things I like about Jay’s lyrical prowess is his ability to make smart cultural references. What do I mean by this? Well, a favorite technique used by MCs is to inject pop culture references in their lyrics but Jay’s references accentuates his insight in the context of the rhyme and causes even the most thought provoking listener to actually think.

Imagine actually thinking while listening to music??

(I’m being sarcastic of course)

Follow me now as I attempt to reveal the genius in this line…

When I first heard this song when it came out 5 years ago, I have to admit that I didn’t catch the double entendre and I didn’t know what the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ is, therefore, I didn’t fully grasp what Jay was saying in the line.

But since I have a “trained ear” that intently listens for profound insight in any shape or form I sought out clarity.

In this line, Jay asks a rhetorical question. The word, “falter” caught my attention.

Falter: to walk unsteadily; to hesitate in purpose or action.

I wanted to find out what the heck is the “Rock of Gibraltar”?

It’s basically a very massive rock made of limestone located at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea. It was used as fortress against the Germans in World War II. You can read more about it, but here’s the key point: the Rock of Gibraltar is a symbol of strength.

“Despite long sieges it seemed that there was nothing that could destroy the Rock or its people. This history has inspired the saying, “solid as the Rock of Gibraltar”, which is used to describe a person or situation that cannot be overcome and does not fail.” (from Wikipedia)

Ok, still with me?

In the next line he states that he “had to get off the boat so that he “could walk on water”, which is a biblical reference, a miracle performed by Jesus Christ.

Is it all coming together now?

The double entendre is:

The act of walking on water without faltering. (a miracle performed by Jesus)

and

Having faith and fortitude to be able to overcome any challenge without wavering.

Now, remember the context of this line as it relates to what Jay was going through at the time.

I truly believe that this line can change the way you and I think about and confront the uncertainties of the future.

But Jay has much more to say…

This ain’t no tall order, this is nothing to me
Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week

When it comes down to it, challenges you face in life is only as difficult as you see them. It’s not about being naïve it’s about self-empowerment. Many of us get defeated by difficult challenges in our lives or try to run from even having to confront them because we lack faith and fortitude.

And the challenges or the goals that we deem to be “impossible” to overcome or achieve keep us in a permanent state of fear and self-doubt.

Taking just a day to achieve the difficult and just a week to achieve the impossible is not to be taken literally of course. But Jay’s statement reveals the significance he attaches to “inner strength” (mind, heart and soul) to overcome challenges and achieve greatness.

We all need that inner strength if we want to have great things happen in our lives.

Let’s continue…

I do this in my sleep
I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CDs

Jay rhymes that his experiences in the drug game gives him confidence that he can have continued success in the rap game. I don’t think he’s saying that because he was a drug dealer, he has what it takes to succeed in the corporate game.

Once again, it’s the mindset that makes all of the difference in terms of the outcome. On the one hand, he’s stating that the overall conditions of the drug game are higher risk than what he would ever go through in the rap music/corporate game. But on the other hand, Jay understands that being successful in different circumstance requires the valuable skill of adaptability.

How can your past successes serve as powerful assets in your present and future endeavors?

I’m not a businessman
I’m a business, man
Let me handle my business, damn

This is one of Jay’s more popular rhymes, a favorite among the mainstream media like Forbes. I’m in the Internet marketing field and I study branding. This lyric is about creating a brand from your ideas, your goals, your image, etc.

Jay states that he’s more than just a businessman, he’s a business, a brand. But branding doesn’t only apply to artists in the entertainment industry or a business selling widgets. Self-promotion plays a major role in professional success for you and I.

You, are a brand, and your brand makes you either an asset or a liability in your career, in your community in organizations that you’re apart of, etc.

Kanyeez you got me, Freeway then Foxy
YG’s, Tiar’, ‘merie, Peedi watch me

I don’t want to completely glaze over this line but Jay is simply giving us the line-up of artists apart of the Roc movement at that time.

I like these lyrics here…

Bleek could be one hit away his whole career
As long as I’m alive he’s a millionaire
And even if I die he’s in my will somewhere
So he could just kick back and chill somewhere
Oh yeah, he don’t even have to write rhymes
The Dynasty like my money, last three lifetimes

These lyrics reveal the strong loyalty that Jay and Memphis Bleek have for each other. If you remember, Bleek came in the rap game as Jay’s protégé’. It’s my understanding that Jay took Bleek on the road with him when he was just 15 years old. Bleek is in his early 30’s, around my age, so we’re talking about a mentor/protégé relationship that goes back almost 20 years.

I was watching Jay-Z’s live performance at Radio City Hall the other night and Bleek was right there joining Jay on stage, backing him up on several songs.

It seems like their bond is still going strong…

The best way I would describe Bleek is he’s a talented MC with incredible potential that never had that breakthrough (like Jay had with “Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life) to take his career to the next level.

Bleek is solid, not great, but he comes across as the kind of MC (and guy) that you would want with you in a foxhole.

Bleek has always been “one hit away his whole career” but Jay makes a statement that shows not only his loyalty to Bleek, he shows his gratitude and respect for Bleek’s loyalty to him.

Jay states that because of the bond he and Bleek have for each other, he’ll make sure that Bleek is financially secure even if he’s no longer here. This lyric is about bonding, loyalty, gratitude and security. While some alleged that Jay is self-centered, his bond with Bleek clearly shows how much he values loyalty. Now I don’t know if these lyrics are factual and actually reflect Jay’s thinking and actions regarding his relationship with Bleek. It’s the spirit of the lyrics that can have an impact on how we look at our own relationships.

Here’s more…

Shirley Bassey’s in the rear saying exactly
What I been sayin’ practically my whole career
A diamond is forever, I been mining this forever
Now the Louis Vuitton Don’s timing couldn’t be better

Ms. Bassey sings that “Diamonds are forever” in the background while Kanye and Jay-Z get their rhyme on. Here, it sounds like Jay is making a vow to succeed long-term.

The “mining/diamonds” double entendre is clever and fits nicely with the statement Jay is making about his vision and commitment to the movement he leads.

Jay rhymes that Kanye’s emergence came at the “perfect time” because West has shown that he’s clearly a force to be reckoned with in his own right in the music game.

Which just makes the movement stronger…

People lined up to see the Titanic sinking
Instead we rose up from the ash like a phoenix

Jay tell us that critics, detractors, enemies, the industry and maybe even so-called allies want to see the movement fail and end (that can still be said to this day, by the way). But instead of “sinking” the movement, led by the “God MC” himself, “rose like a phoenix.

This line is incredibly insightful…

“The Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world when she set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York” (from Wikipedia).

It was “designed by some of the most experienced engineers and used some of the most advanced technologies available at the time” (from Wikipedia).

In other words, the ship was the strongest, the most powerful and the most formidable. This could very well describe Roc-a-fella’s dominance in the rap game during the several years leading up to the Diamonds remix. When Jay rhymes about people “lining up” to see the Titanic sinking, it reflects the desire for others to see the Roc fail.

Don’t be stunned when you come to the realization that some want to see you fail. If you’re successful but faced with tough challenges that threaten your downfall there will be some who would rather “line up” to watch you fail then support your efforts.

A phoenix that rises from the ashes symbolizes a rebirth. Jay tells us that in the midst of doubt, he and the Roc had a sense of renewal destined to be reborn as a even more powerful movement.

As of right now in 2010, this rebirth seems to be embodied by Jay’s Roc Nation.

In the midst of struggle and uncertainty in your life do you have the power, faith and fortitude to rise from the ashes like a phoenix?

Here are the last lines…

If you waiting for the end, the Dynasty sign
And what seem like forever is a mighty long time

Basically, Jay is stating:

You can hope for our downfall but we’re going to keep rising and keep moving forward.

We should become emboldened by the challenges we face in our lives and use pure determination to overcome and succeed.

One of the best verses I’ve ever heard was on a song featured on an album that many consider to be the weakest in Jay-Z’s Blueprint trilogy. I’ve stated before that Blueprint 2 is not one of my favorite Jay-Z albums. But here’s the thing: the album is still better than most rap artists’ best effort. The record, “Hovi Baby”, produced by Just Blaze (and the ‘Blazettes, lol), is on disc one, ‘The Gift’ and is one of my favorite songs on Blueprint 2. I have so many favorite Jay-Z verses, but verse 2 from “Hovi Baby” is definitely in my top 5. On “Hovi Baby” Jay’s performance gives us a front row seat to his lyrical prowess but also shows us how the right mindset can help us accomplish what seems completely out of reach.

Here are the lyrics in the second verse from “Hovi Baby”:

“I’m so far ahead of my time
I’m bout to start another life
Look behind you, I’m ‘bout to pass you twice
Back to the future, gotta slow up for the present
I’m fast, niggas can’t get past my past
How they propose to deal with my perfect present?
When I unwrap “The Gift & the Curse” in one session
Ain’t no living person can test him
Only two resting in heaven can be mentioned in the same breath as him
Seven straight summers, critics might not admit it
But nobody in rap did it, quite like I did it
If you did it, I done it before, you get it, I had it
Got mad at it and don’t want it no more
And that goes for everything from flipping that raw
Flipping whores, flipping vocal chords,
Don’t get it twisted
Get it right
Did it different
Did it better
Did it nice
Did the impossible
Then did it twice (get it right)”

“Hovi Baby”
Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse
Jay-Z

Before we get into discussing the lyrics from this hot verse, let me just say that though it was a solid double-album, I think Blueprint 2 suffered in terms of how it was received, facing the same obstacle the “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1” album had: Being the follow-up effort to a classic album.

“In My Lifetime, Vol. 1” was the follow-up to Jay’s debut, “Reasonable Doubt” and “Blueprint 2” was the following up to “Blueprint”. Both “Reasonable Doubt” and “Blueprint” are both considered classic albums respectively and the expectations were so high for the follow-ups that it was damn near impossible to meet them.

Still, Jay doesn’t disappoint lyrically on Blueprint 2 and he’s at the peak of his lyrical prowess on “Hovi Baby”.

Now let’s get into the discussion about the second verse…

I’m so far ahead of my time
I’m bout to start another life
Look behind you, I’m bout to pass you twice

In this verse (in fact, in the entire song), Jay-Z is full of swagger, he’s brimming with confidence but while the “untrained” ear hears pure arrogance, I hear just another verse from the ‘God MC’ that gives us insight on how to fulfill our ambitions.

Jay rhymes that he’s ahead of his time. Now what does this mean? Well, “being ahead of your time” means that your vision, your mindset, your ideas, your actions signify a level of insight above and beyond what everyone else is thinking and doing.

When Jay rhymes about “starting another life” or “passing you twice” he’s being clever, but he’s simply connecting those lines with the first line. He’s stating that his life’s journey and purpose is far ahead of what most have or will ever experience. The statement is somewhat of self-affirmation but it’s supported by the “fruits of his labor”, if you will.

The double entendre, “look behind you, I’m bout to pass you twice” is on point. If we look at life as a race (which in some ways it is a type of race; a marathon), are you being passed by? While others grow, develop, mature, awaken, change and transform…are you still the same?

Or are you ahead of your time?

Do you genuinely feel that there’s a greater purpose to your life that you may not even fully understand?

These are questions you AND I need to answer honestly because we can’t get to where we want to go if we’re not moving.

Let’s keep it moving…

Back to the future and gotta slow up for the present
I’m fast, niggas can’t get past my past
How they propose to deal with my perfect present?
When I unwrap “The Gift & the Curse” in one session

Here, Jay continues the wittiness as he rhymes about going “back to the future” and “slowing up for the present” and these lyrics reinforce his claim to be ahead of his time. Clearly, he knows where he’s going but his future will be determined and defined by his past and the here and now.

When he rhymes that “niggas can’t get past his past” it may come across as simply a boast aimed at his competitors, but the statement actually reflects how many hinder their own growth and development while others flourish.

Jay brilliantly uses a double entendre WHILE asking a rhetorical question that I think is applicable to how his music has been received by foes, his critics, the “mainstream” audience and even the majority of his fan base.

If we can’t get “past his past”, how can we “deal” with or fully absorb the insights found in his music?

Basically, he’s saying that many are not “ready” (think: “Get your mind right”) for the messages he’s been artistically sending us going back to the very beginning.

The “perfect present” line is yet another great double entendre. If you can’t get “past his past” then how the hell are you going to “get it” when you unwrap his “perfect present”?

Wow.

Understand this dynamic in your own relationships. If you’ve grown in your life both personally and professionally, it’s likely there are those in your life who are stagnant in their own lives and can’t get “past your past” which is why they can’t deal with your “perfect” (and evolving) present.

Here’s the next line…

Ain’t no living person can test him
Only two resting in heaven can be mentioned in the same breath as him

Jay rhymes about his game being unmatched, basically saying that he’s a living legend; his legacy has been solidified and that only “two resting in heaven” can be compared to his status.

Neither you or I may ever be compared to Biggie or Pac, but we’re all inspired and influenced by others in our respective hustles. When you find your way in life, get in a zone, and really start to fulfill your goals, you could one day be compared to and “mentioned in the same breath” with those you once aspired to be like.

It’s the ultimate sense of accomplishment and validation.

In other words, it’s the feeling you get when you know you’ve arrived.

Let’s continue…

Seven straight summers, critics might not admit it
But nobody in rap did it, quite like I did it
If you did it, I done it before, you get it, I had it
Got mad at it and don’t want it no more

Jay rhymes that his reign on top of the rap game has been dominant, and most importantly, consistent for “seven straight summers”.

(Of course, “Blueprint 2” was released 8 years ago. It’s now 2010 so it’s clear that Jay has been fairly consistent since then).

The next few lines find Jay turning on the wit comparing his success with others in the rap game:

“Nobody in rap did it, quite like I did it”

I think even Jay’s toughest critics and most formidable foes would concede that no other MC has had the kind of meteoric rise PLUS longevity that Jay has managed to pull off.

“If you did it, I done it before, you get it, I had it. Got mad at it and don’t want it no more.”

I’m sure Jay is talking to MCs who came in the game after him, who are trying to make a name for themselves. Jay is simply stating that he’s “been there and done that”.

Remember: You may be on either side of this equation. Maybe you’re the one with the experience and the know-how or maybe you’re the guy (or gal) trying to make your mark in the game. But always be conscious of the impact both knowledge and experience has in your pursuit of success and legacy.

And that goes for everything from flipping that raw
Flipping whores, flipping vocal chords

This line is simply about versatility. It’s cool to specialize but being able to adapt to circumstances based on where you are physically and mentally in your life is essentially mastering the art of the hustle.

Here are the last lines…

Don’t get it twisted
Get it right
Did different
Did it better
Did it nice
Did the impossible
Then did it twice (get it right)”

The ending to this verse is my favorite part and when you consider its context, personally, it’s one of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard.

The lyrics really speak for themselves with Jay telling fans, foes, critics, etc. that his hustle and prowess, whether in the music game, drug game, corporate game… whatever- is at a whole ‘nother level.

But the genius of these lyrics is not just in the delivery and wit of the rhyme, it’s also in how it can be applied to our pursuit of success.

Don’t simply take these lines with a ‘Me vs. You’ mindset, instead, apply this lyrics as ‘My present struggle vs. My future triumph.’

What do I mean?

Consider the struggles you’re going through now. What can you do to overcome these struggles? If you’re heading down the wrong path, how can you change direction?

These lyrics can serve as a springboard to your optimism, persistence and determination to not only overcome your struggle but to experience a level of success and accomplishment above and beyond what you once considered impossible.

See, often times, our goals seem so out of reach that in our minds they become impossible to accomplish. While it’s true that these goals may indeed be tremendous challenges, we can make great things happen if we just…

Do things different…

Do things better…

Do things ‘nice” (perform with skill and thoroughness)

Then, once we’re able to achieve what we perceived to be “impossible”…

We’ll do it twice…

And then again, and again, and again…

If we change our mindset, we change our actions, which changes our conditions.

Don’t get it twisted…

GET IT RIGHT!!!