Drug dealer. Label boss. Dope spitter. Genius writer. Club owner. Grammy winner. Multiplatinum seller. Trend setter. Def Jam president. King of New York. Presidential BFF. Hip-hop CEO.
What more can I say? Jay’s killing ’em.
Ever since he blew up in ’98 with Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, Jay-Z has consistently set new standards for the hip-hop culture. Hip-hop heads love Nas but they look up to Hov.
Let’s take a look at the top 15 hip-hop facts about Jay-Z:
1. Hip-Hop Gem: “Ain’t No Nigga” Helped Jay-Z Get A Deal With Def Jam
Hip-hop heads, did you know that his 1996 hit single “Ain’t No Nigga” was the song that helped Jay-Z secure a partnership deal with Def Jam?
2. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Lied To The Annie Composer To Clear The Sample
Hip-hop heads, did you know that Jay-Z lied to the Annie original songwriters, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, in order to clear the song’s sample?
3. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Wrote “Still D.R.E.” For Dr. Dre
Hip-hop heads, did you know that the lead single off The Chronic 2001, “Still D.R.E.,” was written by Jay-Z for Dr. Dre?
4. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Passed On The Beat For Black Rob’s “Whoa”
Hip-hop heads, did you know that Jay-Z passed on the beat for Black Rob’s 2000 hit single “Whoa”?
5. Hip-Hop Gem: Q-Tip, Slick Rick & Biz Markie Appear on Jay-Z’s “Girls, Girls, Girls”
Hip-hop heads, did you know that Q-Tip, Slick Rick and Biz Markie made uncredited vocal appearances on Jay-Z’s 2001 single “Girls, Girls, Girls”?
6. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z’s First Appearance Was On High Potent’s “H.P. Gets Busy”
Hip-hop heads, did you know that the first time Jay-Z ever appeared on a song was on High Potent’s “H.P. Gets Busy” back in 1986?
7. Hip-Hop Gem: “Empire State of Mind” Was Jay-Z’s First Number 1 Single
Hip-hop heads, did you know that Jay-Z’s 2009 hit single “Empire State of Mind” was actually his first single to hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
8. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Almost Signed Big L To Roc-A-Fella Records
Hip-hop heads, did you know that before Big L passed away, he was very close to being signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records?
9. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z And Biggie Planned To Form A Supergroup Called The Commission
Hip-hop heads, did you know that Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. were planning to form a supergroup together called The Commission?
10. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Chose The Scratches On “D’Evils” For DJ Premier
Hip-hop heads, did you know that it was Jay-Z who chose the scratches on “D’Evils” not DJ Premier?
11. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay and DMX Battled Back In The Early ’90s
Hip-hop heads, did you know that while still on the come up, Jay-Z and DMX battled each other in the Bronx during the early 1990s?
12. Hip-Hop Gem: Biggie, Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes Attended the Same High School
Hip-hop heads, did you know The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes all went to the same high school in Brooklyn, New York?
13. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Shot His Brother When He Was 12
Hip-hop heads, did you know that when Jay-Z was 12 years old, he shot his older brother for stealing his jewellery?
14. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Helped The Roots Clear A Radiohead Sample
Hip-hop heads, did you know that if it wasn’t for Jay-Z’s help at the last minute, The Roots’ “Atonement” may never have made it on to their 2006 album Game Theory?
15. Hip-Hop Gem: Jay-Z Signed J. Cole Because Of “Lights Please”
Hip-hop heads, did you know that Jay-Z signed J. Cole to Roc Nation after he heard “Lights Please”?
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