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.