Jay Z: 5 Tracks From Hov We May Have Skipped Over
There are moments in an MC’s career that often go unnoticed despite how big they are. For Jay-Z, it’s been hard for him to stay under-the-radar in terms of lyrics. However, with over 10 studio albums under his belt, not every Jay song or verse has that global attention like “Dirt Off Your Shoulders”, “Big Pimpin”, “Song Cry”, or even “Ain’t No Nigga” has. For every radio cut, there are gems buried on the albums that only true Hov fans will and can appreciate.
Here are 5 Jay-Z gems that often go unmentioned
Peoples Court (DJ Clue: Backstage Mixtape)
Talk about a hidden gem from one of the greatest. “People’s Court” was slept-on. This track is truly for hardcore Jay fans as it never made it to any of his solo studio albums. This came from DJ Clue’s: Backstage Mixtape that accompanied the ever-popular Hard Knock Life Tour. Jay displayed lyrical wittiness that has him atop may list as the GOAT with bars like “No flow’s sicker/no cell can hold Jigga/ Since I dropped Reasonable Doubt/ no court can convict us/ No contest in a rhyme-fest/ I’m best/ Under oath raise my right hand/ and I spit it (Honest).”
Why We Die (Anarchy)
Jay has teamed up with DMX in the past and each time it has been deemed a classic. But this go-round, he entered the booth with X and Busta Rhymes on “Why We Die” off Busta’s Anarchy album. This is not a radio cut, nor was there a video, and for most, this track flew under-the-radar. But that doesn’t mean Jay didn’t make his presence felt with two other heavyweights.
But in reality, only people that hug me is thieves.” Jay wasn’t playing on this track as he spoke about the emotional toll of growing up in the hood. Despite what many may feel, we’re surrounded by people who say they love us but at the same time those same people are the ones to end our life.
Do You Wanna Ride (Kingdome Come)
Jay has always spoken highly of his Day One’s in his songs. On “God Did”, he went into detail regarding his past and the present he and his friends are in now. But it was on “Do You Wanna Ride”, that Jay took a blank canvas and painted a picture of the friendship/bond between him and Emory Jones. Jones, at the time, was still serving time in Federal Prison, and for those who didn’t know who Emory was, Jay explained precisely who he was to him.
Ride or Die (Vol 2..Hard Knock Life)
Hip Hop has always been a battleground. In the late ’90s, there was a battle waging between Jay-Z and Mase. While neither really mentioned the other’s name, it was well-known in the Hip Hop community that jabs were being thrown by both artists. As good as Mase was in his heyday, he was no match for Jay. On Jay Z: Vol 2… Hard Knock Life, Hov came with a crushing verse on “Ride or Die” that put Mase in his place.
Meet The Parents (The Blueprint 2)
For years, many knocked the storytelling or lack thereof of Jay. But with “Meet The Parents”, he took it to another level. While it was not deemed a classic like “One Mic” by Nas, “Meet The Parents” was still something unique and yet, slept-on at the same time. It was a story regarding Isis, a hustler, and their son. From the start, Jay was in his bag on this one spitting bars like “Let’s take a trip down memory lane at the cemetery/ Rain, grey skies/ seems at the end of every young black life is this line/ Damn, him already?”
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
