Jay-z spins a story of a friendship gone wrong through corruption and deception over a downright eerie beat from Primo based out of a sick piano riff from Allen Toussaint's "Go Back Home." I've always been a sucker for pianos in beats and this is one of my favorite piano melodies of all-time. The scratches in the hook, from Snoop's "Murder Was The Case" and Prodigy on LL's "I Shot Ya" are the perfect fit for a track that's so...well, evil. In a good way, of course.
This song is crazy cuz its a real ass story of a huslter on the streets these streets are filled wit wild animals lookin to for food defiantly a top 10 song of alltime concept wise
"Thinking back when we first learned to use rubbers He never learned so in turn I'm kidnapping his baby's mother" That is arguably one of the greatest lines in hip hop. How in the hell are people still hating on jay.
"We used to fight for building blocks Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killin' "~ Carter(1996). This is the OG line in my opinion(which is subjective)
Dear God, I wonder can you save me?" "Illuminati want my mind, soul, and my body..." "Dear God, I wonder can you save me?" "Secret society, tryin' to keep they eye on me..."
Ya'll mustn't be hearin' his American Gangsta' Album correctly, with that said, no offense my brothers but it's all about GROWTH. You can't stick to the same formula all the time. That's how a lot of other artists fail. You have to grow with the music, be real with current times. This album touched me, up there with the best of them including, Reasonable Doubt. Now, I know ya' love Jay but if not better, when will you cease expectations to surpass his evolutionary process as an emcee. LEGENDARY.
This is how you can tell who are the hardcore fans from the fans who are into all the mainstream stuff.. Now there's nothing wrong with the mainstream music but he hasn't always been mainstream he had to start from somewhere and this song is from his debut album
Don't know his stuff too well, only started to like him about 3 weeks ago when I started listening to Reasonable Doubt, which is what made me start to like him. Definitely a classic album.
He's still #1 on my list, but as much as I try, I can't feel his shit like I used to be able to. I guess all good things eventually come to an end. I'd love to see if he still had it in him, though. The old gangster flow/tone of, say, A Million and One Questions or A Week Ago. Even if he only went back as far as the Black Album, he was still fire then too. I don't think his heart has really been there since he put out his Fade to Black DVD.
nope it doesn't get better :p my fav Jay song atm. '9 to 5 is how you survive, i ain't trying to survive i'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot'. That line is mental.
1st - "Illuminati want my mind soul and my body" is said by Prodigy of Mobb Deep in the song "I Shot Ya Remix" by LL Cool J 2nd - DJ Premier produced this beat, NOT Jay-Z, so to say Jay-Z put the line in there is incorrect
As much as I hate to say it and as much as I love Jay, I can't help but notice how his flow has deteriorated over the years. His lyrics are still as strong as ever, but his flow, tone, and choice of production has really taken a lot of soul out of his music that everyone used to have no choice but to love.
@DR000 I know it wasn't a coincidence because the sequence of events happened in the exact way I asked God to do. Many prayers go unanswered for me, but that's my fault because I'm a sinner.
I didnt meant it personal for you, but a lot of people say it. I've seen a lot on youtube about jay-z exposed, and I dont think all of that is made up, I believe the most, but I dont stop listen to their music (jay, kanye, eminem) because i've listened to it so long and I still like it, get what I mean?
uhmmm I think his flow right now isn't as good as it was on Reasonable Doubt or Black Album but maybe that is because he does really short stops between his lines.... and about the production... he still has the best ear for beats, American Gangster is full of dope music...
"Dear God, I wonder can you save me?" "ILLUMINATI want my mind, soul, and my body..." "I used to say 'fuck mic skills,' and never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti" "That's right it's wicked, that's life I live it" "Ain't askin' for forgiveness for my sins, endz" "My soul is possessed by D'Evils in the form of diamonds and lexuses, The exorcist, got me doin' skits like Homie" This is New World Order Propaganda...People who dont know what that is..Do yourself a favor and look it up..
Classic Jay, but to all the Hov analysts on here, most of the raw feel that made songs like diz is gone from music, so u cant blame jay for changin wit da times...1
I wish people would listen to the words of that song and other songs that jay-z writes and rap, not just to the bet of the songs/rap. These people are leading our young people astray, right into the hand of the devil. Jay-z is a devil worshiper. We can debate his illuminati involvement, but the truth is right in front of our eyes. If you want to worship the devil that is your business, but please know what you are getting yourself into. PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST LEAD YOU TO HELL.
@TheRiddler72 I dont say I agree with ogilvitu but he has a point, its bullshit that people who like jay'z music are 'brainwashed'.. isnt it possible that people just like it and dont care about the symbols or hidden messages..?
Well let's see. He lived in the hood for I would say gthe first 27 years of his life. He's 38 now, worth over a half billion dollars, he's one of the greatest rappers ever, he got the hottest chick in the game wearin his chain... You see ehere this is going. Aint no other rapper richer or more famous than Jay Z. No one can take his place. Not Nas, not Weezy, not Luda, not Kanye not TI. Nobody. If you were worth over 500 mill, would yo ass still be roamin the fucking hood? Fuck the haters Jay.
he's not. The song is about The Evils (Da Evils=D'Evils). Those evils being money or having to lie or whatever it is that you have to do to succeed at hustling. The examples he uses in the song are using people, liquor, worrying about your own best friend killing you. The free mason stuff is bull
@ThatIncredibleJordan you're right....life IS short. so why not try and obtain all knowledge possible, to prevent from making this life even shorter? i'd rather know what goes on around me and why. in stead of being ignorant.
@DR000 When I said that things happened the way I asked, I meant I prayed and then they happened. God wouldn't include calculus or evolution in the bible because the bible is Gods guide on how to get into heaven. You believe what you'd like, I believe what I want to. I respect your beliefs, but I'm more of a spiritual thinker, not a logical thinker.
honestly if you ever watch the making of reasonable doubt DVD you'll realize how ridiculous you are...he explains in detail the inspiration behind every part of this album, from the lyrics to beats to cover photos, and the meaning behind it all is pretty deep, true, and he says himself that the mafioso imagery is a dual meaning in itself and not what people think it means, but NOTHING about this nonsense you're spewing. sorry you're dead wrong.
lastly fuzzynugs420 never use the words ignorant and research again, coming from you its again a joke...since you asked btw, let me explain the chorus in this song: sampled by dj PREMIER (not jay-z), that line you're so hung up on "illuminati etc trying to keep their eye on me" is not even by jayz, but a line by PRODIGY sampled from the LL cool J - i shot ya remix. if u had actually done any research before talking you'd know this has nothing to even do with jayz
so ghost lamb ur saying the illuminati blew up the twin towers?hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!thats got to be the funniest shit ive ever heard
He's talking about what the drug dealing could do to a person's mind state and he's not talking about the Devil. I think you're reading way too much into this freemason stuff
@skankerman2012 luckily I study religion & belief is not to notice. He can make all the money in the world at the beginning & end of any day. We as consumers feed and greed to make all this possible.
As I said, his lyrics are still brilliant and witty, but he isn't pairing it with the insane flow/tone/production that he used to. Regardless of how crazy your lyrics may be, music IS a sound, not a book, and if it doesn't SOUND appealing, people aren't going to get past that to actually listen to what you're saying.
Jay-z spins a story of a friendship gone wrong through corruption and deception over a downright eerie beat from Primo based out of a sick piano riff from Allen Toussaint's "Go Back Home." I've always been a sucker for pianos in beats and this is one of my favorite piano melodies of all-time. The scratches in the hook, from Snoop's "Murder Was The Case" and Prodigy on LL's "I Shot Ya" are the perfect fit for a track that's so...well, evil. In a good way, of course.
anthony rios my favorite Jay song of all time.
Lol at all the people that obviously don't know that song. Still his best IMO.
reasonable doubt a classic in hip hop
He sounds so smooth. So calm. Very exceptional live performance. This guy is f'n amazing. I'd love to see him live. Best rapper alive (or dead).
Love this track , it speaks to the hearts of every & any hustler!
Beautiful moment.. remember this concert like it was yesterday.. Thx for da upload
DJ Premier
yeah, they got the tune from "Snoop Dogg - Murder was the Case" in the middle (:
It is incredible I agree...definately my favourite hip hop song.
amazing...this whole album.. "kept feeding her money, till her shit started to make sense/cents"
This song is crazy
cuz its a real ass story
of a huslter on the streets
these streets are filled wit wild animals lookin to for food
defiantly a top 10 song of alltime concept wise
"Thinking back when we first learned to use rubbers
He never learned so in turn I'm kidnapping his baby's mother"
That is arguably one of the greatest lines in hip hop. How in the hell are people still hating on jay.
"We used to fight for building blocks
Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killin'
"~ Carter(1996). This is the OG line in my opinion(which is subjective)
my favourite song!!
These songs some classic shit
beat sounds AMAZING in this rendition
This is the greatest hip hop song ever
love this metaphoric song!!!respect
this dude is a devil basically, listening to the lyrics
This is really awesome.
Dear God, I wonder can you save me?"
"Illuminati want my mind, soul, and my body..."
"Dear God, I wonder can you save me?"
"Secret society, tryin' to keep they eye on me..."
Ya'll mustn't be hearin' his American Gangsta' Album correctly, with that said, no offense my brothers but it's all about GROWTH. You can't stick to the same formula all the time. That's how a lot of other artists fail. You have to grow with the music, be real with current times. This album touched me, up there with the best of them including, Reasonable Doubt. Now, I know ya' love Jay but if not better, when will you cease expectations to surpass his evolutionary process as an emcee. LEGENDARY.
this guy is a monster thats my rapper right there j to the z .
This is how you can tell who are the hardcore fans from the fans who are into all the mainstream stuff.. Now there's nothing wrong with the mainstream music but he hasn't always been mainstream he had to start from somewhere and this song is from his debut album
Don't know his stuff too well, only started to like him about 3 weeks ago when I started listening to Reasonable Doubt, which is what made me start to like him. Definitely a classic album.
Breaking the song down makes you realize it's his greatest song.
Whoever said illegal was the easy way out couldn’t understand the mechanics and the workings of the underworld💪⚓️
best jay-z song of all time. verses are just tooo deep, just listen..
He's still #1 on my list, but as much as I try, I can't feel his shit like I used to be able to. I guess all good things eventually come to an end. I'd love to see if he still had it in him, though. The old gangster flow/tone of, say, A Million and One Questions or A Week Ago. Even if he only went back as far as the Black Album, he was still fire then too. I don't think his heart has really been there since he put out his Fade to Black DVD.
I kept feeding her money until her shit started to make sense(cents)
that line is too sick
your camera gets pretty good audio compared to other vids like this
nope it doesn't get better :p my fav Jay song atm.
'9 to 5 is how you survive, i ain't trying to survive i'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot'.
That line is mental.
thanks bro
thats wat i was tryin to tell ppl the meaning of this song
and kanye isnt one.....omarion and rihanna
1st - "Illuminati want my mind soul and my body" is said by Prodigy of Mobb Deep in the song "I Shot Ya Remix" by LL Cool J
2nd - DJ Premier produced this beat, NOT Jay-Z, so to say Jay-Z put the line in there is incorrect
EQHC jay told him what the exact scratches he wanted inserted, Preemo has said so in multiple interviews.
word.
tremendo
hell yeah boii
As much as I hate to say it and as much as I love Jay, I can't help but notice how his flow has deteriorated over the years. His lyrics are still as strong as ever, but his flow, tone, and choice of production has really taken a lot of soul out of his music that everyone used to have no choice but to love.
daaaaaaammmnn
whaaaat?!! d'evils with a live orchestra?! this shit is too ill
this is the hell of a version for this song, thanks for sharing, anyone knows if the instrumental at 2:25 is from another song?
HAH.. girl in the front with the violin is rocking out..
Why isnt this on some sort of CD or DVD??
This is AMAZING...
Do anyone know where I can get this??
@karlieholmes but how can you deny jay z's incredible skill on the mic?
@julianwells belief is not to notice. Anybody within entertainment has the potential to be one in & out of the industry.
Wit an orchestra no doubt!
@DR000 I know it wasn't a coincidence because the sequence of events happened in the exact way I asked God to do. Many prayers go unanswered for me, but that's my fault because I'm a sinner.
this track is from back when jay was real hip hop.
He's AMAZING! "if 9 to 5 is how you survive, I ain't tryna survive, I'm tryna live it to the limit and love it alot." -FUCK THE ILLUMINATI BS !
I didnt meant it personal for you, but a lot of people say it. I've seen a lot on youtube about jay-z exposed, and I dont think all of that is made up, I believe the most, but I dont stop listen to their music (jay, kanye, eminem) because i've listened to it so long and I still like it, get what I mean?
On the Real!
@SmackLykeHi5 i dont quit get that line, cud you plz explain it, thnx
uhmmm I think his flow right now isn't as good as it was on Reasonable Doubt or Black Album but maybe that is because he does really short stops between his lines....
and about the production... he still has the best ear for beats, American Gangster is full of dope music...
yo in the second verse i think he talking bout nas and his baby mother.
Yea why dont u try listening to the lyrics closer. Its "I never PRAYED to god,I PRAYED to Gotti"
Yup, this song is full of genius metaphors and shit.
where is the chorus from? what song..? please reply...
the hook is not from jay z.... he took the hook from prodigy
Prob Jay-Z best song.
@myklsr Illuminati aren't devil worshipers. If you do your true research, you'd know that.
@karlieholmes does it really matter? Life is short enjoy the music, jay z is an extremely skilled rapper
hell yea like pac said killuminati
"Dear God, I wonder can you save me?"
"ILLUMINATI want my mind, soul, and my body..."
"I used to say 'fuck mic skills,' and never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti" "That's right it's wicked, that's life I live it"
"Ain't askin' for forgiveness for my sins, endz"
"My soul is possessed by D'Evils in the form of diamonds and lexuses, The exorcist, got me doin' skits like Homie"
This is New World Order Propaganda...People who dont know what that is..Do yourself a favor and look it up..
@Drumlady12 feel like a big girl now?
@regi6500 indeed. illuminatiest to.
@5000jg u don't understand the lyrics
@karlieholmes RIGHT!
@skankerman2012 like I said. I'm glad you agree.
Classic Jay, but to all the Hov analysts on here, most of the raw feel that made songs like diz is gone from music, so u cant blame jay for changin wit da times...1
I wish people would listen to the words of that song and other songs that jay-z writes and rap, not just to the bet of the songs/rap. These people are leading our young people astray, right into the hand of the devil. Jay-z is a devil worshiper. We can debate his illuminati involvement, but the truth is right in front of our eyes. If you want to worship the devil that is your business, but please know what you are getting yourself into. PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST LEAD YOU TO HELL.
yes i do dude he explained it in his book read it and stop being ignorant
@TheRiddler72 I dont say I agree with ogilvitu but he has a point, its bullshit that people who like jay'z music are 'brainwashed'.. isnt it possible that people just like it and dont care about the symbols or hidden messages..?
Well let's see. He lived in the hood for I would say gthe first 27 years of his life. He's 38 now, worth over a half billion dollars, he's one of the greatest rappers ever, he got the hottest chick in the game wearin his chain... You see ehere this is going. Aint no other rapper richer or more famous than Jay Z. No one can take his place. Not Nas, not Weezy, not Luda, not Kanye not TI. Nobody. If you were worth over 500 mill, would yo ass still be roamin the fucking hood? Fuck the haters Jay.
he's not. The song is about The Evils (Da Evils=D'Evils). Those evils being money or having to lie or whatever it is that you have to do to succeed at hustling. The examples he uses in the song are using people, liquor, worrying about your own best friend killing you. The free mason stuff is bull
@ognick22 its about hard times , hard choices & any means!
Begins the rap as he covers his left eye leavin the right eye for the all seeing eye dat nigga jay a fool LOL
Illuminati got my mind soul and my body.
@ThatIncredibleJordan you're right....life IS short.
so why not try and obtain all knowledge possible, to prevent from making this life even shorter?
i'd rather know what goes on around me and why.
in stead of being ignorant.
y no one feelin dis?
@DR000 When I said that things happened the way I asked, I meant I prayed and then they happened. God wouldn't include calculus or evolution in the bible because the bible is Gods guide on how to get into heaven. You believe what you'd like, I believe what I want to. I respect your beliefs, but I'm more of a spiritual thinker, not a logical thinker.
honestly if you ever watch the making of reasonable doubt DVD you'll realize how ridiculous you are...he explains in detail the inspiration behind every part of this album, from the lyrics to beats to cover photos, and the meaning behind it all is pretty deep, true, and he says himself that the mafioso imagery is a dual meaning in itself and not what people think it means, but NOTHING about this nonsense you're spewing. sorry you're dead wrong.
HOVA
14 peepz are going to heaven :X
@Drumlady12 aw how adorable you wanna prove yourself to me now
@ceasona oh course
@DR000 Because God has answered my prayers.
@ceasona why not, i do it my self all the time. My Homie Satan is a good dude.
lastly fuzzynugs420 never use the words ignorant and research again, coming from you its again a joke...since you asked btw, let me explain the chorus in this song: sampled by dj PREMIER (not jay-z), that line you're so hung up on "illuminati etc trying to keep their eye on me" is not even by jayz, but a line by PRODIGY sampled from the LL cool J - i shot ya remix. if u had actually done any research before talking you'd know this has nothing to even do with jayz
so ghost lamb ur saying the illuminati blew up the twin towers?hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!thats got to be the funniest shit ive ever heard
He's talking about what the drug dealing could do to a person's mind state and he's not talking about the Devil. I think you're reading way too much into this freemason stuff
@DR000 Explain to me how my beliefs are the cause of hatred and ignorance?
no u dont understand the lyrics
iluminati want my mind soul and body
@skankerman2012 luckily I study religion & belief is not to notice. He can make all the money in the world at the beginning & end of any day. We as consumers feed and greed to make all this possible.
@ceasona Satan is not a physical person on earth. But they are people who define the characteristics of satan. Such as demons.
Do you people really think Jay Z hangs out with Satan?
KILLILLUMINATI!!!!!
As I said, his lyrics are still brilliant and witty, but he isn't pairing it with the insane flow/tone/production that he used to. Regardless of how crazy your lyrics may be, music IS a sound, not a book, and if it doesn't SOUND appealing, people aren't going to get past that to actually listen to what you're saying.
@Hinata1632 I'm atheist..
and people still say drake is the GOAT lol
@regi6500 Hes Not. Hes a wannabe most likely. Why you so scared of em? Ask yourself that. Everyone has dere reasons as to why dere scared of em.
maybe John Gotti, the mobster