Jay-Z In His Own Words
What Would Jigga Do?
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is one of the most prolific figures in the music industry. Besides launching countless award-winning artists and business ventures, Hov remains one of the sharpest lyricists to date. Jay’s rhymes are raw, real, and carefully crafted from words that prompt personal
thought. With so many current rappers still rhyming “Glock” with “block,” I am overjoyed to have Jay-Z’s music available. Without it, my daily routine would sometimes seem unbearable. The journey from poverty and crime to success never seemed so possible. The following is a respectful collection of the 200 most profound and clever quotes of his discography.
What Would Jigga Do?
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is one of the most prolific figures in the music industry. Besides launching countless award-winning artists and business ventures, Hov remains one of the sharpest lyricists to date. Jay’s rhymes are raw, real, and carefully crafted from words that prompt personal
thought. With so many current rappers still rhyming “Glock” with “block,” I am overjoyed to have Jay-Z’s music available. Without it, my daily routine would sometimes seem unbearable. The journey from poverty and crime to success never seemed so possible. The following is a respectful collection of the 200 most profound and clever quotes of his discography.
“I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man…”
“Nigga, I be Spiked out; I could trip a referee…”
“I got watches I ain’t seen in months;
apartment at the Trump I only slept in it once.”
apartment at the Trump I only slept in it once.”
“I do this in my sleep;
I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CDs.”
I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CDs.”
“Fear not where, fear not why, fear not much while we’re alive;
Life is for living not living uptight, until you’re somewhere up in the sky.”
Life is for living not living uptight, until you’re somewhere up in the sky.”
“The allure of breaking the law was always too much for me to ever ignore.”
“Blame Reagan for making me into a monster, blame Oliver North and Iran-Contra;
I ran contraband that they sponsored, before this rhyming stuff, we was in concert”
I ran contraband that they sponsored, before this rhyming stuff, we was in concert”
“I hate all girls with ulterior motives;
that’s why I’m 20+ years old, no sons, no daughters.”
that’s why I’m 20+ years old, no sons, no daughters.”
“Nigga had very bad credit, you helped me lease that whip.
You helped me get the keys to that V dot six.”
You helped me get the keys to that V dot six.”
“You know in more than one way cocaine numbs the brain;
all I did was think about how the funds once came.”
all I did was think about how the funds once came.”
“This is food for thought, you do the dishes.”
“He who does not feel me is not real to me, therefore he doesn’t exist;
so poof, vamoose, son-of-a bitch.”
so poof, vamoose, son-of-a bitch.”
“All hustlas who ever bought an eighth from me, take the time out to set the record straight for me.”
“When I start spitting them lyrics, niggas get very religious.
Six Hail Mary’s, please Father forgive us.”
Six Hail Mary’s, please Father forgive us.”
“I’m way too important to be talking extorting;
asking me for a portion is like asking me for a coffin.”
asking me for a portion is like asking me for a coffin.”
“Back when rappers wouldn’t play lyrical roulette;
with an automatic weapon, I was reppin’ with a Tec.”
with an automatic weapon, I was reppin’ with a Tec.”
“MDMA got you feeling like a champion;
the city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien.”
the city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien.”
“Get stoned every day like Jesus did.”
“I’m a hop, skip, and a jump from grippin the pump.”
”My favorite hue is Jay-Z Blue.”
“Most niggas don’t know a brick from a bite, they keep buying hard white.”
“Cops pulling it over, Jigga react militant.”
“How could you falter, when you the Rock of Gibralter.”
“I ain’t perfect; nobody walking this earth’s surface is.”
“Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week.”
“I get my ‘by-any-means’ on”
“Sisters work hard; bitches work your nerves.”
“…somehow, I beat them charges like Rocky.”
“Hospital days, reflectin when my man laid up,
on the Uptown high block he got his side sprayed up.”
on the Uptown high block he got his side sprayed up.”
“Rappers with no relation,
there’s 7 degrees of separation and I’m Kevin Bacon.”
there’s 7 degrees of separation and I’m Kevin Bacon.”
”When the twin towers dropped I was the first in line.”
“My name is Hov; H to the O-V. I used to move snowflake by the OZ.”
“I ain’t even wanna be famous;
niggas is brainless to unnecessarily go through these changes.”
niggas is brainless to unnecessarily go through these changes.”
“Seen them Rovers roll up with ribbons;
I’ve seen em repoed, resold, and redriven.”
I’ve seen em repoed, resold, and redriven.”
“I’m gonna get richer through any means, with that thing that Malcolm palmed in the picture.”
“I know how this movie ends and still I play; starring role in “Hovito’s Way.”
“Factions from the other side would love to kill me, spill three quarts of my blood into the street, let alone the heat.”
“I ain’t passed the bar but I know a little bit;
enough that you won’t illegally search my shit.”
enough that you won’t illegally search my shit.”
“I’ll do anything necessary for her;
so don’t let the necessary occur.”
so don’t let the necessary occur.”
“Used to tell they friends I was ugly and wouldn’t touch me;
then I showed up in that dubbed-out buggy.”
then I showed up in that dubbed-out buggy.”
“Just sent a million dollars through a hands-free;
that’s big-money talk, can you answer me?”
that’s big-money talk, can you answer me?”
“I do this for my culture;
to let em know what a nigga look like, when a nigga in a Rossa.”
to let em know what a nigga look like, when a nigga in a Rossa.”
“Your house is your house, I didn’t respect the rules;
brought crack past your door, beefed with rival crews.”
brought crack past your door, beefed with rival crews.”
“I don’t always wanna be this drug dealing motherfucker.”
“I ain’t with foreclosure; I will never forfeit.”
“Saw the devil in your eyes, high off more than weed.
Confused, I just closed my young eyes and squeezed.”
Confused, I just closed my young eyes and squeezed.”
“I’m forever young; my name shouts survive.”
“Clap whoever stand between Shawn and figures.”
“Since diapers, had nothing to live for like them lifers…”
“…and the Haven introduced me to the game; Spanish hoes they introduced me to caine.”
“Time don’t go back, it go forward.
Can’t run from the pain, go towards it.”
Can’t run from the pain, go towards it.”
“Y’all don’t wanna witness shit;
we squeeze hammers man, bullets squeeze bayou like Louisiana man.”
we squeeze hammers man, bullets squeeze bayou like Louisiana man.”
“I was raised in the projects;
roaches and rats. Smokers out back, selling they mama’s sofa.”
roaches and rats. Smokers out back, selling they mama’s sofa.”
“Girls and guns, all I want.”
“I swear to everything, when I leave this Earth,
it’s gonna be on both feet, never knees in the dirt.”
it’s gonna be on both feet, never knees in the dirt.”
“FYI, I’ve never been robbed in my life.”
“Look man, a tree grows in Brooklyn.”
“Could you see yourself with a nigga working 9 to 5;
then 10 to 6, two jobs to survive?”
then 10 to 6, two jobs to survive?”
“I know you love me like cooked food;
even though a nigga gotta move like a crook move.”
even though a nigga gotta move like a crook move.”
“I ain’t never been afraid of a drought,
since I was six-seventeen getting money down south.”
since I was six-seventeen getting money down south.”
“Flyer that a piece of paper bearing my name.”
“…I keep it ghetto like sunflower seeds and quarter-waters.”
“Living adventurous, not worrying about expenditures.”
“Slimmy at the Rucker want to leave and spend with me,
I consistently take em out the park like Ken Griffey.”
I consistently take em out the park like Ken Griffey.”
“Like a running back, get it man? I’m straight off the block.”
“Even if it ain’t sunny, hey I ain’t complaining;
I’m in the rain, doing a buck-forty hydroplaning.”
I’m in the rain, doing a buck-forty hydroplaning.”
“I was just fuckin’ them girls;
I was gon' get right back.”
I was gon' get right back.”
“Let him unlock doors off my keys.”
“Rare porsches, rare portraits,
rare guns if you dare come near the fortress.”
rare guns if you dare come near the fortress.”
“I check cheddar like a food inspector.”
“As a youngen, dumb and gun in the waist;
sold crack to those who couldn’t take the pain and had to numb it with base.”
sold crack to those who couldn’t take the pain and had to numb it with base.”
“I rock my jewels, I’m not a fool;
in the small of my back I got this big ass tool.”
in the small of my back I got this big ass tool.”
“I see Euros, that’s right plural;
I took so much change from this rap game, it’s your go.”
I took so much change from this rap game, it’s your go.”
“You can try me fucker, but when I squeeze it hurts. Fine;
we’ll lose two lives, yours and mines.”
we’ll lose two lives, yours and mines.”
“We can talk; but money talks, so talk mo bucks.”
“When my situation ain’t improving,
I’m trying to murder everything moving.”
I’m trying to murder everything moving.”
“Men lie, women lie; numbers don’t.”
“I drove by the fork in the road and went straight.”
“I meant no malice; I just met his challenge and won.”
“They got the Maybach coupe now; look like the Batmobile.”
“…saving me the hassle of speaking to half of these assholes…”
“…no two days are alike, except the first and fifteenth pretty much.”
“Born in sewage; born to make bomb music.
Flow tight like I was born Jewish.”
Flow tight like I was born Jewish.”
“…Hov’s the audio equivalent of Braille.”
“My president is black, in fact he’s half white;
so even in the racist minds he’s half right.”
so even in the racist minds he’s half right.”
“They say you can’t turn a bad girl good;
but once a good girl’s gone bad, she’s gone forever”
but once a good girl’s gone bad, she’s gone forever”
“…at age 9, saw my first hate crime.”
“When you live by the gun you die by the same fate.”
“I can’t justify genocide,
but I was born in a city where the skinny niggas die.”
but I was born in a city where the skinny niggas die.”
“Where are you victory, I need you desperately;
not just for the moment, to make history.”
not just for the moment, to make history.”
“Since this is a new era, got a fresh new hat.”
“You better hope a rich rapper never attacks you.”
“Could not stress me I wasn’t grown;
especially on nights I brought something home to quiet the stomach rumblings.”
especially on nights I brought something home to quiet the stomach rumblings.”
“When it comes to relationships, I don’t have the patience.”
“Nigga I’m home on these charts, y’all niggas visiting.”
“We all fish, better teach your folk.
Give him money to eat, the next week he’s broke.”
Give him money to eat, the next week he’s broke.”
“Can’t be too safe cause niggas is two-faced,
and they show the other side when they catch a new case.”
and they show the other side when they catch a new case.”
“Last nigga that fronted, two shots spun him around.”
“Intuition is there, even when my vision’s impaired.”
“I’m a hustler, homie; you a customer, crony.”
“Told the judge, didn’t budge, it was him or me.
And I ain’t trying to be hard, but I’m guilty as charged.”
And I ain’t trying to be hard, but I’m guilty as charged.”
“…bring em a lot closer to the block where they pop toasters;
and they live with their moms, got dropped roasters from botched robberies…”
and they live with their moms, got dropped roasters from botched robberies…”
“Coke is still my sponsor. Cola, yeah, Hova;
still getting it in with soda.”
still getting it in with soda.”
“I’ve been rich, I’ve been poor, I’ve saved and blown
bread…”
bread…”
“…heron got less steps then Britney…”
“…I’ll Castor Troy you…”
“…so I stretched the game out;
etched your name out…”
etched your name out…”
“Got a chick from Peru, that sniff Peru;
she got a cousin at Customs that get shit through.”
she got a cousin at Customs that get shit through.”
“I’ll spend Japan yen at ten major events.”
“Damn, Im’ma be a failure;
surrounded by thugs, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.”
surrounded by thugs, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.”
“I should take him in back of the building and blaze
him.”
him.”
“This is crew love; move music or move drugs. Rival crews, get your black suits up.”
“I’m a legend; you should take a picture with me. You should be happy to be in my presence; I should charge you a fee.”
“I’m living proof that crime do pay.”
“I had to hustle; my back to the wall, ashy knuckles.”
“Peter Park, Spiderman; all I do is climb the charts.”
“I got no patience; and I hate waiting.”
“I went to school, got good grades, could behave when I wanted;
but I had demons deep inside that would raise when confronted.”
but I had demons deep inside that would raise when confronted.”
“Pass the reefer over to this freak;
breathe mami, this is good weed mami.”
breathe mami, this is good weed mami.”
“…sitting courtside; Knicks and Nets give me high-fives.”
“Told you put away some cheddar, now you crying for bail.”
“I’m retarded with the Glock nigga, clip by clip;
the competition is none, they just cease to exist.”
the competition is none, they just cease to exist.”
“…I’ll Sinatra, shot ya, goddamn you.”
“Caught him with his feet up and shoes off;
bout to snooze off.”
bout to snooze off.”
"Hear the hate in my voice, right? I hate that you noticed.”
“…so I move keys, you can call me the piano man.”
“Who wants to be the mother of the son who sold drugs?
Coworkers saw me on the corner slinging Larry Love.”
Coworkers saw me on the corner slinging Larry Love.”
“The world’s facing terror; Bin Laden been happened in Manhattan.”
"I used to give a shit, now I don’t give a shit more; truth be told, I had more fun when I was piss poor”
“I caught smaller cases, but I had capital.
Hypocritic system let me right back at you.”
Hypocritic system let me right back at you.”
“I take off the blazer, loosen up the tie;
step inside the booth, Superman is alive.”
step inside the booth, Superman is alive.”
“Traded in the gold for the platinum Rolexes,
now a nigga wrist match the status of my records.”
now a nigga wrist match the status of my records.”
“Gucci this, Prada that.”
“Plead the 5th when it comes to the fam;
I’m like a dog, I’ll never speak, but I understand.”
I’m like a dog, I’ll never speak, but I understand.”
“Three-times felons in shorts with jealous thoughts. Trying to figure where you mail is, guestimate the weight you’re selling,
so they can send shots, straight to your melon. Wait!”
so they can send shots, straight to your melon. Wait!”
“Look at that fake smile he just gave me it’s breaking my heart;
should I school him or pull the tools out and just break him apart?”
should I school him or pull the tools out and just break him apart?”
“You put on two tube socks; you couldn’t walk in my shoes.”
“Got the city drinkin’ Crystal raise up the fee; rappers going broke tryin’ to keep up with me.”
“Before they look up, you selling the town cook up.”
“Pop pills and stay in beat.”
“Trust is a word you never hear from us;
hustlers we don’t sleep we rest one eye up.”
hustlers we don’t sleep we rest one eye up.”
“…brought that crack back like a yo-yo.”
“I hated algebra, but I loved to multiply.”
“Murder is a tough thing to digest;
it’s a slow process, and I ain’t got nothing but time.”
it’s a slow process, and I ain’t got nothing but time.”
“Impregnate the world when I come through your speakers.”
“…I can’t see past the girl’s greed to call her wife.”
“All this stress, all I got is this big house.
Couple cars, I don’t bring half of them shits out.”
Couple cars, I don’t bring half of them shits out.”
“We run streets like drunks run street lights;
we collide with life as we speak.”
we collide with life as we speak.”
“…ESPN; see me in action Monday nights, when the half ends.”
“Roy Jones couldn’t steal us.”
“…I pack heat like I’m the oven door.”
“My President is Black, my Maybach too;
and I’ll be godamned if my diamonds ain’t blue.”
and I’ll be godamned if my diamonds ain’t blue.”
“I’ll put the wolves on you; put a price on your head.
The whole hood will want you; you’re starting to look like bread.”
The whole hood will want you; you’re starting to look like bread.”
“…I’ll probably never see jail.
Each tale contains more of the truth, but the statute allows me to go into detail.”
Each tale contains more of the truth, but the statute allows me to go into detail.”
“The next time you’re thinking heist, better be precise.
Cause I’m fully prepared; one of us is gonna leave here.”
Cause I’m fully prepared; one of us is gonna leave here.”
“Like a stranger damn I just shot my nigga;
and ran off into the night as if it was not my nigga.”
and ran off into the night as if it was not my nigga.”
“Hit with the RICO, they repoed ya vehicle;
Everything was all good just a week ago.”
Everything was all good just a week ago.”
“Out the country, but the blueberry still connect.”
“You dudes is noodles; I got more ziti to bake.”
“Now my name’s being mentioned with the martyrs;
the Biggies and the Pacs, and the Marleys, and the Marcuses.”
the Biggies and the Pacs, and the Marleys, and the Marcuses.”
“I’m not looking at you dudes; I’m looking past you.”
“Y’all niggas want war, y’all got it backwards y’all should want raw;
y’all should want more…”
y’all should want more…”
“…at the 40/40 club ESPN on the screen.”
“Abide by the block rules, I buy my Glock used with bodies on it;
let me know anybody want it.”
let me know anybody want it.”
“This is the shit you dream about with the homie steamin’ out…”
“I’ll make you and your wack mans fold like bad hands…”
“…a life like Grand Theft Auto, PSP.”
“On repeat, the CD of Big’s “Me and My Bitch.” Watchin Bonnie and Clyde pretendin to be that shit;
empty gun in your hand sayin, “Let me see that
clip…”
empty gun in your hand sayin, “Let me see that
clip…”
“Had to play with fire and get burned;
only way the boy ever gonna learn.”
only way the boy ever gonna learn.”
“I’ll put holes through your hoes too;
through your clothes, through the fours, through the niggas close to you.”
through your clothes, through the fours, through the niggas close to you.”
“Hate that I can’t roam the street without the clip and chrome;
knowing one day Im’ma have to flip, come on.”
knowing one day Im’ma have to flip, come on.”
“I’ve seen hoop dreams deflate like a true fiend’s weight.”
“I taught em about fish scale, they want me to fish for them;
they want me to catch clean, then cook up a dish for them.”
they want me to catch clean, then cook up a dish for them.”
“He who hesitates is lost.”
Also, I’m so fly I’m on auto…pilot, while guys just stare at my wardrobe.”
“But I don’t see the ending through these millionaire lenses;
just the two M’s on the emblem.”
just the two M’s on the emblem.”
“Step One in this process, scramble up in your projects,
and head to the Heights, where big coke is processed.”
and head to the Heights, where big coke is processed.”
“Keep coke in coffee, keep money smelling mothy.”
“Perfect time to say goodbye;
when I come back like Jordan, wearing the 45.”
when I come back like Jordan, wearing the 45.”
“Know why they call a project a project? Because it’s a project;
an experiment and we’re in it, only as objects.”
an experiment and we’re in it, only as objects.”
“Fuck rap; coke by the boatload.”
“Slamming Bentley doors, hopping out of Porsches; popping up on Forbes list; gorgeous.”
“…had girlies in girldles weighing more than they supposed to.”
“We wiled out in Vegas; styled on haters.”
“Males shouldn’t be jealous that’s a female trait. What, you mad cause you push dimes and he sell weight?”
“I’ll dig a hole in the desert and build the Sands on you;
lay out blueprint plans on you.”
lay out blueprint plans on you.”
“I’m like a Russian mobster, drinking distilled vodka;
til I’m under field with Hoffa.”
til I’m under field with Hoffa.”
“Let your hair down baby, I just hit a score, pick any place on the planet, pick a shore.
Take what Forbes figured then figure more, cause they forgot to account what I did with the fraud.”
Take what Forbes figured then figure more, cause they forgot to account what I did with the fraud.”
“Just read a magazine that fucked up my day.”
“Streets robbed me, wasn’t educated properly.
Well fuck y’all, I needed money for Atari.”
Well fuck y’all, I needed money for Atari.”
“Hov’s a Blackberry Bold, shawty is a Sidekick…”
“More fire, more Rocawear attire.”
“…kingpin of the ink pen; monster of the double-entendre…”
“Can’t even enjoy myself at a party unless,
I’m on the dance floor, hot ass vest.”
I’m on the dance floor, hot ass vest.”
“Baby girl’s so thorough, she been with me from the start;
hid my drugs from the narcs, hid my guns by the park.
hid my drugs from the narcs, hid my guns by the park.
“I’m new in town, I don’t know my way around;
but I got some soft white that’s sure to come back around.”
but I got some soft white that’s sure to come back around.”
“My repitition with riches will bring the kilo business,
I got Creole C-O bitches, for my niggas who slipped/became prisoners.”
I got Creole C-O bitches, for my niggas who slipped/became prisoners.”
“Life like a treadmill, niggas running in place;
getting nowhere fast, a whole year done passed.”
getting nowhere fast, a whole year done passed.”
“Built the Roc from a pebble;
peddled rock before I met you.”
peddled rock before I met you.”
“Hanging out the window when she first seen him fight;
she was so turned on that she had to shower twice.”
she was so turned on that she had to shower twice.”
“Wood grain, four and change; Armor-All-ed down.”
“North Beach leathers, matching Gucci sweater;
Gucci sneaks on to keep my outfit together.”
Gucci sneaks on to keep my outfit together.”
“What you call money, I paid more in taxes.”
“Holsters for my open hand.”
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