With Jay Z’s new artist owned streaming service, Tidal, making waves all week, I figured we might as well throw it back to a classic track from the rap god. Back in 95′ (pre Reasonable Doubt) Jay Z dropped the ‘Big Jaz’ remix of ‘In My Lifetime’, complete with a new beat and fresh bars. The smooth piano based beat and introspective R&B hook are the perfect backdrop for Hov to drop witty bars about a hustler schemin’ up. In the span of three verses he manages to flawlessly capture the life of hustler; from the decision to get into the game (“It’s the thought of a ride that make my eyes wide, I’m caught up, I’m trying to make, all of my dreams materialize, so I sorta, say my goodbyes to the straight and narrow”), to the highs of the lifestyle (“Is it, just a mirage all these girls thankin God, is this, world my world, am I the star of stars? Baby pimped out, I’m gettin too large and smokin cigars, all chicks is hollerin bout Jigga, the whole city’s buzzin’, wasn’t checkin for me a dozen or so, months ago”) and finally his demise (“Know the price, know the risk, know the wrongs and the rights, now I’m, incarcerate for my life“). Bump the track below and enjoy the nostalgic visuals.
