With 22 tracks, it’s a powerful work with a ton of standouts. ‘EPMD’ sees Nas & Hit-Boy getting back to business for a gritty cut that has the legendary emcee painting vivid pictures of street tales, nostalgia, and mob dealings.

‘Welcome to America’ has Black Thought fighting oppression and trying to overcome the perils faced by black people in America from a different perspective with each verse. The lyrics are chilling and moving, while the hook from C. S. Armstrong & Angela Hunte serves to deepen the track’s impact.

Jay-Z & Nipsey Hussle prove to be the perfect pairing on ‘What It Feels Like.’ Nipsey’s verse is a tragic reminder of the greatness we’ve all missed since his passing, but a reminder that he’ll live on forever through his music. Jay flexes with his bars in the way that only the GOAT can. Taking us from cooking crack with a Michelin chef finesse to selling weed in the open and bringing folks home from the feds. It’s a celebration of making it through the struggle with sharp lyrics and political punches.

Hit-Boy has been running the game as a producer and executive producer, but with ‘Broad Day’ he makes a statement with his rap skills. With some of the best rappers currently and all-time featured on this project, delivering a standout track says a lot. The flow is smooth, the punchlines hit, and his confidence is unwavering. The song moves effortlessly from braggadocious to powerful with lyrics like, “Down to take a rubber bullеt for my voting rights.”

Despite the title ‘Something Ain’t Right’ sees Masego, JID & Rapsody coming correct. With each bringing a unique style, it’s diverse but incredibly captivating. Soulful, raw and eye-opening, it’s a can’t miss.

The tracks mentioned above are just a sample of the impeccable collection of music featured on the project. Check out the full release below and be sure to peep the film Judas And The Black Messiah for the full experience.

The post ‘Judas And The Black Messiah: The Inspired Album’ Features Jay-Z x Nipsey Hussle, Nas, Black Thought, A$AP Rocky & More appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Nearly a decade after signing, Jay Electronica finally dropped his debut A Written Testimony. Arguably the most long awaited hip hop album aside from Dr. Dre’s still unreleased Detox, it’s mere release was beyond surprising. Adding to the astonishment comes the fact that A Written Testimony is a collaborative release with Jay-Z. Written in 40 days and 40 nights the project showcases Jay Electronica’s immense talent while also reminding fans why Jay-Z is the greatest of all time. Clocking in at 10 tracks with one being the intro, it’s a short but impactful. A masterwork that’s already been creating rap album of the year discussion. While it’s way too early to be making that call, it’s undebatable that this is something special.  Early standouts include ‘The Blinding’ with Travis Scott, ‘Flux Capacitor’ and the emotionally moving ‘A.P.I.D.T.A.’ Give this one the respect it deserves though and bump it from front to back.

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Whoa – out of the Blue (see what I did there?) Beyoncé and Hov dropped a new collaborative album. Featuring 9 tracks with production from Boi-1da, Cool & Dre and Pharrell to name a few, the surprise album on first listen is pretty damn dope. Click above for the ‘APESHIT’ video and check out the album in full on TIDAL.

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Kill Jay Z

The narrative style is sure to draw comparisons to Kanye’s ‘I Love Kanye’ but Jay goes much deeper with this one. While Kanye used the approach to poke fun and laugh at himself, Jay looks inward at his life’s toughest moments: from shooting his own brother, to selling drugs to loved ones, stabbing “Un” and almost losing Beyonce. It feels like the Cole’s notes of his autobiography; reflective and serious with just a slight side smirk. Chopped soulful samples provide an outro that lets his words marinate.

The Story Of OJ

Retaining the soulful motif of the opener, twinkling keys and pitched vocals create a backdrop with gravity. Jay’s opening bars serve as the hook and explore his perspective on race. His flow weaves and changes throughout; at times breaking to give a spoken word delivery. Hov drops knowledge while stunting throughout with bars like, “Y’all on the gram holding money to your ear/ there’s a disconnect, we don’t call that money over here,” tempting a quick rewind.

Smile

‘Smile’ sees Jay getting personal. While it kicks off braggadocios with bars around slamming Bentley doors and popping Cristal, the track deepens as Jay gives listeners insight into his mothers struggle with sexuality. “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian/Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate/Society shame and the pain was too much to take/Cried tears of joy when you fell in love/Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her.” Coupled with a poem at the end from Gloria Carter, this one is far deeper than expected.

Caught Their Eyes

Frank Ocean and an island inspired soundscape bring a summer vibe to ‘Caught Their Eyes’. The first verse has Hov going back to his project days while verse two explores his connection with Prince and distaste about how his estate was handled. Despite the upbeat sound the subject matter is less than light. Standout bars include, “This guy had ‘Slave’ on his face/You think he wanted the masters with his masters?/You greedy bastards sold tickets to walk through his house/I’m surprised you ain’t auction off the casket”.

4:44

From the production to subject matter, the album’s title track feels like ‘Song Cry’ part 2. It’s Jay bearing his soul on wax. “I apologize, often womanize,” kicks off the track and a long list of apologies. It’s honest and way too much to unpack right now. I never listened to Lemonade but from what I’ve heard about it, this seems like the response.

Family Feud

Jay gets on his black billionaire vibe while Beyonce sings the backing. Jay finds himself exploring his odd position, feeling like he’s never been embraced by the older generation and not one of the young cats. Verse two also has him throwing nods to lemonade with, “Yeah, I’ll fuck up a good thing if you let me/Let me alone, Becky
A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich/I’ll watch Godfather, I miss that whole shit”

Bam

“Fuck all this pretty Shawn Carter shit nigga, HOV….Shawn was on that gospel shit, I was on the total fucking opposite…” With an opening like that, and a Damien Marley feature, ‘BAM’ flips the script. Hov isn’t fucking around and goes hunting season with piercing verses. Expect a ton of quotes popping up on you socials from this one. I mean…“Put that drum in your ear don’t get Srem’d/ I’ll Bobby Shmurda anybody ya heard of/Niggas could not be further, I fathered your style/Birth of a Nation, Nat Turner style” This is some ‘Threats’ level Jay-Z.

Moonlight

With a Fugees sample (“La La La”) Jay explores how the rap game is stuck in La La Land. From rappers posing with fake guns to everyone doing the same shit (women, watches, flows, etc.). It’s the king coming home to check the game and it is a stark reminder at how fucked up rap actually is.

Marcy Me

Opening with an homage to B.I.G. this one is dripping with nostalgia. No ID crafts the perfect tapestry for Jay to take us back in time to his hometown Marcy houses. It’s rich with imagery from Slick Rick to Lisa Bonet. It’s ‘Where I’m From,’ 20 years removed.

Legacy

As the title suggests ‘Legacy’ has Jay reflecting on his legacy. Passing on everything he’s built to his family. It’s an auditory will that also serves as checklist of Hov’s achievements and ownership. It also has him looking inward at his lineage and family tree; a further example of the personal perspective sprinkled through 4:44.

4:44 First Impression

Like all Jay albums 4:44 leaves fans with a lot to unpack. Upon first listen it’s everything I hoped for. The production is on point, the lyrics and song concepts are well thought out. It’s rich with double entendres and wordplay. It’s a Jay-Z album. It’s great. How great? Time and many more listens will tell. Given the last time he took this much time off between albums we got Kingdom Come, 4:44 is looking very strong. This is not Kingdom Come, let me get the rust off Jay-Z. This is Hov in his most mature and reflective form. And it sounds good.

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https://www.audiomack.com/song/frang-koshin/biking

Words by Ryan Konarsky.

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“I got the US open, advantage Jigga,
serve like Sampress, play fake rappers like a campus”
– Can’t Knock the Hustle

Who doesn’t love some good tennis wordplay? Jay tells listeners he’s running the US with his drug game (serving fiends) all while playing on the biggest tennis tournament (US Open), the sport’s scoring structure (advantage Jigga) and while referencing the star who’s serve was the greatest in the game.

“My pops knew exactly what he did when he made me,
tried to get a nut and he got a nut and what”
-Can’t Knock the Hustle

The double entendre is classic Jay. It’s simple yet intelligent. His pops was just looking to get off but ended up with Hov. It’s hard not to crack a smirk and nod at the cleverness.

“You ain’t seen money in your life, when it
Comes to this cheese y’all like Three Blind Mice”
– Politics As Usual

Some might say this line is cheesy (sorry) but we love it.

“Jay-Z, Big’ Smalls, nigga shit your drawers
Brooklyn represent y’all, hit you fold
You crazy, think your little bit of rhymes can play me?
I’m from Marcy, I’m varsity, chump, you’re JV”
– Brooklyn’s Finest

From the iconic repeat of the hook to Jay reppin’ his home and schoolin’ the youth, Hov proves he was always on a higher level.

“I dabbled in crazy weight,
without rap I was crazy straight,
partna I’m still spending money from 88″
– Dead Presidents II

This one isn’t about the complexity of the rhyme or wordplay but the swagger in which it is delivered and the impact. How many rappers from Rick Ross to Pusha T have you heard bragging about how they’re still spending drug money? Best believe they got it from Jay.

“Murder is a tough thing to digest, it’s a slow process
and I ain’t got nothing but time”
– Dead Presidents II

Interesting line to pick from a track like this, but there’s a reason why we did. Jay has always been a businessman, but when he’s killing the competition, he makes it clear that he’ll make the time to ensure the job gets done right.

“Transactions illegitimate cause life is still a bitch, and then you die,
but for now, life, close your eyes and feel this dick.”
– Feelin’ It’

Many have flipped Nas’ classic line “Life’s a Bitch and then you die” but this is arguably the best. Jay realizes that life isn’t easy and death is a given but for the time being he’s going to fuck it for all it’s worth. Sure it’s graphic but it’s also inspiring and anytime those two converge you’ve done something special.

“I keep it tight for all the nights my momma prayed I’d stop,
said she had dreams a sniper hit me with a fatal shot…those nightmares ma”
– Feelin’ It

This is truly the epitome of Jay Z’s sharp wit and humour. The set-up is poignant while the punchline is comical. Despite his mother’s concern for her son’s life Jay keeps it light by correcting her. The delivery is incredible and it displays Hov’s mastery over the English language and semantics.

“Even if it ain’t sunny, hey, I ain’t complaining,
I’m in the rain doing a buck 40, hydroplaning,
What, shorty? (Where you disappear to, son?) Maintaining,
putting myself in a positions most of these rapper ain’t in, I’m living
– Feelin’ It

Much like the lyrics above this is all about the set-up, delivery and humour. On ‘Feelin It’ Jay packs the timing of stand-up comedian with the insight of a philosopher. Considering the violence within rap at the time and the untimely deaths of the two greatest within a year of its release, this line only became more striking and impactful with time.

“9 to 5 is how you survive, I ain’t trying to survive,
I’m tryna to live it to the limit and love it a lot”
– D’evils

This has to be one of the most sampled, borrowed and flipped lines in rap. Jay perfectly encapsulates the allure of the underworld while also delivering a motivational call to action. It’s one of Jay’s most iconic bars of all time; timeless, thought-provoking and inspiring. It makes anyone who’s working a 9 to 5 want more, cause really who’s just trying to survive? I want to live it to the limit and love it a lot too, don’t you?

“My hand around her collar, feeding her cheese,
she said the taste of dollars was shitty, so I fed her fifties,
about his whereabouts I wasn’t convinced,
I kept feeding his money til’ her shit started to make sense.”
– D’evils

This is some next level wordplay right here. Jay used the association between food and money to its fullest extent. He’s bribing her but the way it’s laid out it feels as though she’s being force-fed. The use of cheese furthers this. At first she resists but as he increases the money her story becomes more believable. The wordplay on sense/cents rounds this one out perfectly.

“No more big Willie, my game is grown,
prefer you call me William”
– Can I Live

Stuntin’ with cleverness. While rappers are claiming they were willie (translation: ballin’) Jay proved he was more grown then them. Soning the game back in 96′.

“While I’m watching every nigga watching me closely,
my shit is butter for the bread they want to toast me”
– Can I Live

Nothing like using a simple breakfast item to explain how Jay’s success bred jealously and longing for his demise. Whether it’s raps or street life his shit is butter and because he’s getting crazy money (bread) his foes want to see him dead (toasted). All this murder talk is making me hungry…

“I’ve been sinning since you was laying with Barbie and Ken’n,
You can’t change a player’s game in the ninth inning.”
– Ain’t no Nigga

Jay being Jay, soning everyone who was trying to come up in that era. His reference to baseball here is really just a cool way of saying, the game’s over because he’s already won.

“You draw, better be Picasso, you know the best, cause if this is not so, God Bless”
– Friend or Foe

Hov has always had a taste for the finer things in life. Since his debut his Picasso drops and references to high art have helped him paint a picture that tells a story. Here, Jay sends out a warning shot letting his friend-turned-foe know that he better be quicker to his pistol.

“The only thing I got in this world is my word and my nuts,
And won’t break them for nobody,
Hah, I like your resume, pick a day, you can start
From now until death do us part nigga”
– Coming of Age

The latter part of the back-and-forth between Jay and Bleek on this record showcases their chemistry and bond. It’s rich with wittiness and gems while documenting on record their life-long bond. The storytellling throughout the cut is legendary and unforgettable.

“Words worth a million like I’m rapping them through platinum teeth”
– Cashmere Thoughts

Jay has always had the braggadocio of a ball player and successful crack slinger. His experience in both makes him a great storyteller and that’s something even the haters can admire.

“Life’s short so play hard and stick hard,
and the only time you love them is when your dick hard”
– Cashmere Thoughts

Misogynistic? Surely. But this is the Iceberg slim era Jay, and this is just one piece of documentation that proves he was in fact “the coldest cat.”

“I dip, spit quicker than you ever seen,
administer pain, next the minister’s screaming your name,
at your wake as I peek in, look in your casket,
feeling sarcastic, “look at him, still sleeping”
– 22 Two’s

Jay borrows ATCQ’s ‘Can I kick it?’ throughout the track, but this is easily one of the most clever tracks he delivered on his debut. We pulled this line because really, this is classic Jay. He naturally raps playfully but with some aggressive words that really make you wish you heard a little more battle rap from him.

“Anyways I ain’t trying to hear it, I think I’m touched,
this whole verse I’ve been talking to your spirit a little too much”
– Regrets

Though Hov has never been soft, for him to humble himself and talk about more personal stories through his music is something he’s always been great at. That’s evident here, where Jay raps to a deceased friends’ spirit throughout the entire track.

Reasonable Doubt is easily one of the greatest rap classics of all time. Though we tried to capture all the quotable’s from the album, the fact of the matter is that you have to absolutely listen to the entire project to get an appreciation for it. Twenty years later, this album still holds rank and proves that Jay Z is in fact a living legend who crafted timeless music. Thank you Hov!

#RD20

The post The 20 Best Quotes from ‘Reasonable Doubt’ 20 Years Later appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

With Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt coming close to its 20 year anniversary, Hov has been popping up on guest appearances dropping pretty stellar verses over equally dope production. On the latest with Pusha T, Mr. Carter talks about the dangers and glamorous lifestyle that comes with being a drug dealer. Both of these former coke pushers drop great verses, but it’s even more exciting to hear Hov spit considering it has been quite some time since we got any new Jay Z. Listen below and if you feel like it’s worth it sign up for Tidal here.

[audiomack src=”http://www.audiomack.com/song/fresh/drug-dealers-anonymous”]

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