I like to do this with rappers that have had longevity in the rap game with a crazy catalog. They have over 100 songs to their name, but we have to pick the top 10 best, and let the world see why they have been around for so long. Those kind of rappers are just a handful, and
Jay Z is definitely one of them. Today, I am going to list Kaysrapzone's Jay Z's Top 10 Songs.
It was when I started writing down the songs I remembered how great this guy really is. I will always say
Nas is a better rapper technically, but this dude makes great rap songs. Dude is probably the greatest if you really look at it critically. I ain't saying he is THE best, I'm saying he is the greatest. I had this crazy nostalgic feeling all through while putting this list together, and it is cos I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard all the songs on the list for the first time.
10. Song cry
I could put all the songs on The Blueprint album on this list, and I wouldn't be wrong. That album is a classic, and Jay Z's best in my opinion. Out of that album is this really soulful rap song. Jay Z took his time with every rap line, and it made the message hit home. An emotional song, and
Just Blaze did his thing on the production.
9. 99 problems
Jay Z successfully riding the scattered beat of this song alone deserves an applause. And he took it a step further to tell stories of his past successfully. This was one of the high points for
The Black Album to me, because
Jay was rapping on an unfamiliar beat (produced by Rick Rubin), and he did a great job at it.
8. Empire State of Mind
Who doesn't love this song? Jay Z's delivery, his message, Alicia Key's voice, and the hard knocking beat made this song a perfect blend. It's no surprise that it earned Jay Z his first Billboard Number 1. song as a solo artist. It's funny he had to drop 8 albums, retire and come back before he got his first solo number One single on his 11th album (Blue Print 3).
7. Where I'm From
On this song off his second album,
Jay Z is telling you stories about where he is from. Some of the most vivid stories about the hood, all (w)rapped up in one song. There are deep lines are all over the song. He did the slow flow on the first verse, and switched things up to the fast flow on the second verse. Rapping..."
I'm from where people pull your car and argue all day about who's best MCs, Biggie, Jay Z, and Nas."
6. Izzo (H.O.V.A)
This was when
Kanye West didn't really have a face to his name; he was just that upcoming producer who made crazy beats for Jay Z's albums, and this was one of them. The song is catchy, but it doesn't take away the street knowledge Jay Z was spitting on the song. One of my favorite lines from the song is..."
...He who does not feel me is not real to me, therefor he doesn't exist, so poof...vamoose son of a bitch." I like how the line looks quite simple, but on closer examination, it is a deep line.
5. Dirt Off My Shoulder
Timbaland gives some of his best beats to Jay Z, and this is one of them. The beat is just totally out of this world. And you got to trust Jay Z to murk it...switching flows every 6-8 bars.
4. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
This is the song that set Jay Z for life. Before this song, he was only appealing to the black community, and never going platinum. This was one of the first crossover songs that Jay made that got him the attention of White America. Jay went from selling 500,000 copies of his second album in 1997, to selling 5,000,000 copies of his third album in 1998...incredible quantum leap in one year. That
Annie sample did the magic. And this was no pop song, it was Jay Z opening Hip Hop music to the larger market. He was still rapping the same way on the song, and talking his ghetto politics.
3. Young Forever
Another great crossover song by Jay Z. He spit some deep philosophical lines on this song; talking about living forever through music. And about the highs and lows of the music, and the fears of losing it all. Great song, and very melodious chorus by
Mr. Hudson.
2. Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Off The Blue Print (2001) album; another great soulful song produced by
Kanye West. It is almost like
Just Blaze and
Kanye West were in competition with each other on who would make the best beats for
Jay on the Blueprint album.
1. Can't Knock The Hustle
This song features
Mary J. Blige, and it gave
Jay Z a certain level of status in Hip Hop. Coming in the game with your first album, and already respected and doing songs with the best of the best. And not doing the song as newbie, but shining on the song like a peer. I guess it has to do with the age
Jay dropped his first album. Most rappers at the time were getting into the game in their late teens;
Jay was already a matured man of 26-27, and that showed in his music and what he talked about. He had already seen it all; the hustling on the streets, and the struggles of getting into the game (he struggled to get signed for 6 years, till he started his own label with
Damon Dash and
Kareem Biggs). This song is a great song, by two great artists in their respective fields. The song has aged well. Even till this day, when I hear the song, it sounds like it was released yesterday.
Whoa! It's tough listing the best 10 Jay Z songs of all time. It's hard narrowing all his songs down to the 10 best, cos he has so many great songs. I have some honorary mentions...
The Watcher 2,
Lost One,
Part 2 (On The Run),
Allure, and
Takeover. You can add yours too.
