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In Hip-Hop there will always be heated discussions regarding the G.O.A.T. label. Who owns the crown, Biggie, Nas, Jay Z, Tupac, or someone else? But it all depends on what your criteria for that label are. Each one of these MCs has their own place in the history books and each one can stake a claim as the greatest. But Jay, he’s a different breed. His body of work can be measured well beyond the booth and stage presence.
Jay has not dropped a solo album since 4:44 back in 2017. And even with that album, he gave fans something that most Hip-Hop artists refused to give, an insight into their personal life. That’s what many believed Jay was missing to become that complete rapper. We knew about the drug dealing past with Reasonable Doubt. We heard about the Corporate Office side of Jay with Kingdon Come. But with each album, he has improved.
Now, there are still many who believe that he’s a simple MC. Not as lyrical as Black Thought, poetic as Nas, grimey as Biggie, or charismatic as Pac. And he doesn’t need to be, Jay has been different from the beginning.
Let’s forget all the past albums and focus on 3 verses from Jay that have cemented his place in Hip-Hop history and made the entire music world have a “let’s rewind that” old-school moment.
In 2018, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, and Hov came together on a song titled “What’s Free.” While the song was dope, it was Jay who stole the show with his verse:
I’m 50% of D’usse and it’s debt free (Yeah)100% of Ace of Spades, worth half a B (Uh)Roc Nation, half of that, that’s my pieceHunnid percent of Tidal to boss it up with my G’s
Simple, right? Then in 2021, Nas and Jay Z came together on a DJ Khaled song titled “Sorry, Not Sorry”. Hov and Nas traded bars and to this day, this song went over people’s heads as they expected more from both MCs. But the issue here is that both of these MCs are now in a place where the rest of these MCs wish they could be. Here is Hov:
Overlookin’ the City of Angels, the angel invested in thingsUnprecedented run (facts)Everybody’s gettin’ bands, we just dance to different drumsI like who I’ve becomeIntermittin’ fastin’, but these mil’s, I’m not missin’ none, sorry
Simple, right? Then, just recently, Hov, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne traded verses on another DJ Khaled song titled “God Did” and it was then, that the world stood still while Jay dropped more gems:
Odds wasn’t great we’d even be aliveGotta be crazy to y’all, nigga, we surprisedShit is too much how we grew upShit don’t even feel real to us (damn)
There are just too many bars that I could add here. I chose these due to the significance of where Hov was and where he’s at now. In “What’s Free” Hov was spitting about his business moves, explaining how he owns stocks in companies, and how he and his friends are seeing business differently than these other rappers.
In “Sorry, Not Sorry” it was more of the same. The majority of these rappers are getting money but Hov is saying, we dance to different drums. You’re on IG showing stacks of cash, and we’re in the corner offices signing people’s paychecks and things.
Where Does Jay Z Rank In Hip Hop History?
In “God Did”, everything became clearer. Jay Z is explaining what that feeling is like when you made it. Growing up in the projects, we weren’t expected to live past a certain age. Death was just around the corner. But what happens when you take this rap shit and become a billionaire off it? Who else has done that? Imagine sitting with your friends and just zoning out thinking “look what we did. Look where we at?”
Those lines, while may appear to be simple to the average person, are nothing but living testaments to where dedication can get you. So, when I say Jay Z is the best, it goes beyond the booth. He’s the blueprint for what these rappers are trying to obtain today. This man has a seat at the NFL table.
When we talk G.O.A.T., lyrics are still a staple but the legacy behind it all is still important. Biggie and Pac were killed before reaching this stage, and Nas is building his own legacy. Jay Z, well, as I stated earlier, he’s just different. The argument can go on forever regarding who’s better with the lyrics, delivery, album sales, and stage presence in Hip Hop. But to see someone who grew up where we did become what many of us thought was never possible, that’s G.O.A.T. status all day long.
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