Thrillist Editor Emeritus Mike Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever live, other than Shawn Kemp’s 17th kid. Now for the music credentials that make it okay for him to write a story like this: he’s worked for LaFace Records with Outkast, Goodie Mob, T.I., and Usher; Atlanta hip-hop station Hot 97.5 (with Ludacris!); So So Def Recordings, Jermaine Dupri's record label; and has also worked on projects for Motown Records, Bad Boy Records, Universal Records, and Arista Records.
With 225 album tracks included in his catalog, Jay-Z officially has more songs than he has problems. Obviously, many of them are truly great, while many others feature Memphis Bleek. Now that Jigga’s seemingly slowing down on full-time rap responsibilities, and has TOTALLY ABANDONED NEW YORK, we decided we’d send him off by analyzing and heartlessly ranking every single song that came out on a Jay-Z album -- no guest appearances with Beanie Sigel, sorry. Let’s go!
Oh, and we also turned them all into a Spotify playlist so you can listen while you read. Just click here or find it at the bottom of the article (in case you don't want any spoilers).
225. "Holy Grail" (feat. Justin Timberlake)
Magna Carta Holy GrailThis gets the ultimate fail award just for being spectacularly wack despite having two of the biggest stars in music. What the hell is Justin singing about? Why is Jay so far removed from the beat? Is God dead?
224. "I Know What Girls Like (feat. Lil' Kim & Puff Daddy)"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1They should have let a girl at Roc-A-Fella Records hear this after it was recorded so she could say girls don’t like lame music.
223. "Hate" (feat. Kanye West)
The Blueprint 3Nuff said.
222. "Things That U Do" (feat. Mariah Carey)
Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. CarterThese “things” must include making songs with two mics, Mariah, a bongo, and a slide whistle.
221. "BBC" (feat. Nas, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell & Timbaland)
Magna Carta Holy GrailNot one of the too-damn-many talented people on this sh*t-sausage beat were able to save it from sucks.
220. "Dig A Hole" (feat. Sterling Simms)
Kingdom Come219. "Do U Wanna Ride" (feat. John Legend)
Kingdom ComeDedicated to his friend Emory Jones, who apparently took a drug charge for Jay and did a few years in prison, the lyrics of the hook do not match the subject matter at all. Makes things weird. Play this right after you pick up a hitchhiker and see if he doesn’t bail while the car’s still rolling.
218. "Lucky Me"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1Unlucky us.
217. "La Familia"
Magna Carta Holy GrailDisowned. Uninvited to next year’s reunion. Possibly adopted.
216. "Don't Let Me Die"
Unfinished BusinessWell, don’t jump off a musical bridge.
215. "Jay-Z Blue"
Magna Carta Holy Grail214. "Beach Is Better"
Magna Carta Holy GrailThis is the sound of walking with sand between your ass cheeks.
213. "Feelin' You in Stereo"
Unfinished BusinessFunny; you’ll be feelin’ like you caught mono after hearing this.
212. "Versus"
Unfinished Business211. "N*gga Please" (feat. Young Chris)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse210. "H*A*M"
Watch The ThroneThis pork definitely isn’t honey-baked.
209. "We Got 'Em Goin'" (feat. Memphis Bleek)
Unfinished Business208. "Meet The Parents"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse207. "Hollywood" (feat. Beyonce)
Magna Carta Holy GrailSounds like Fresno.
206. "Anything" (feat. Usher and Pharrell)
Kingdom ComeThis is also the answer to the question, “What’s better than this song?”
205. "Crown"
Magna Carta Holy GrailYou’ll need a bottle of bagged whiskey to get through more than one listening of this.
204. "Pretty Girls"
Unfinished BusinessToo bad they ain’t listening!
203. "Mo Money"
Unfinished BusinessLess good music. These songs with R. Kelly? Boo-boo!!
202. "The Return (Remix)"
Unfinished BusinessPlease go back with your receipt and “Return” both of these wherever you bought them.
201. "The Return"
Unfinished Business200. "Picasso Baby"
Magna Carta Holy GrailIt’s a bastard.
199. "She's Coming Home With Me"
Unfinished BusinessThis is the exact same song as “Somebody’s Girl” from the first R. Kelly collab LP. Sheesh.
198. "Nickels and Dimes"
Magna Carta Holy Grail197. "Oceans"
Magna Carta Holy Grail196. "Heaven"
Magna Carta Holy GrailHell naw.
195. "Big Chips"
Unfinished BusinessIn terms of taste, this was more Fritos than Flamin’ Hot.
194. "Break Up (That's All We Do)"
Unfinished BusinessWell, not all... Sometimes you two (Jigga & Kellz) also make whole albums of bad songs!
193. "Stop" (feat. Foxy Brown)
Unfinished BusinessThis title would have been good advice to the studio engineer and producer.
192. "P*ssy"
The Best of Both Worlds191. "Shorty"
The Best of Both Worlds190. "Get This Money"
The Best of Both Worlds189. "Illest Motherf*cker Alive"
Watch The ThroneAll beat; no meat.
188. "Somebody's Girl"
The Best of Both Worlds187. "Shake Ya Body"
The Best of Both Worlds186. "Naked"
The Best of Both WorldsThe king has no clothes.
185. "Green Light"
The Best of Both Worlds184. "The Streets"
The Best of Both WorldsNoticing a pattern here?
183. "It Ain't Personal"
The Best of Both WorldsIt’s not? Then... why else would you hurt us with this song?
182. "Break Up to Make Up"
The Best of Both Worlds181. "I Did It My Way"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseFrank Sinatra and Montell Jordan would both say this isn’t how they did or do it.
180. "The Best of Both Worlds"
The Best of Both WorldsIt was the worst of times.
179. "Dope Man" (feat. Serena Altschul)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. CarterYou’d be excused for asking if this whole song was ghostwritten by the former MTV News anchor.
178. "Diamond Is Forever"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse177. "Off That" (feat. Drake)
The Blueprint 3Have you noticed all the good Drake/Jay-Z collabos are on Drake’s albums?
176. "Parking Lot Pimpin'" (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Lil' Mo)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia175. "A Ballad For The Fallen Soldier" (feat. Marc Dorsey)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse174. "As One" (feat. Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Omillio Sparks & Rell)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse173. "Some People Hate"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseSometimes rappers make things worth hating on.
172. "Hova Song (Outro)”
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. CarterBoth of these “Hova Song” joints are weird as hell. This may have been the beginning of those illuminati rumors.
171. "Hova Song (Intro)”
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter170. "The R.O.C."
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia169. "Poppin' Tags" (feat. Killer Mike, Twista & Big Boi)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse168. "Venus vs. Mars"
The Blueprint 3Both planets on this song should be hit by an asteroid.
167. "What They Gonna Do" (feat. Sean Paul & Michael W. Smith)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse166. "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter165. "Blueprint 2"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseThis one sounded like an emotionally injured Jay rapping while “in his feelings” (butthurt) about having lost the Nas battle, according to a Hot 97 listener poll taken after the release of “Ether.” You can’t be worried about explaining yourself when you’re beefing.
164. "There's Been a Murder"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter163. "Minority Report" (feat Ne-Yo)
Kingdom Come162. "2 Many Hoes"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse161. "Squeeze 1st"
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia160. "Girl's Best Friend"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter159. "Take You Home With Me a.k.a. Body"
The Best of Both Worlds158. "U Don't Know (Remix)" (feat. M.O.P.)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseEven though Billy Danze and Lil’ Fame went hard as ever, doing it twice dimmed the “Damn!” factor.
157. "You, Me, Him and Her" (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Amil)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia156. "Guns & Roses" (feat. Lenny Kravitz)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse155. "Pop 4 Roc" (feat. Beanie Sigel, Amil & Memphis Bleek)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter154. "Young Forever" (feat. Mr. Hudson)
The Blueprint 3153. "S. Carter" (feat. Amil)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter152. "Oh My God"
Kingdom ComeThe beat’s a bit much for Jay’s cooled-down delivery, and the subject material seems to be a repeat of “Moment of Clarity.”
151. "American Gangster"
American Gangster150. "The Bounce" (feat. Kanye West)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse149. "You Must Love Me"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1148. "What They Gonna Do Part II"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse147. "Pray"
American Gangster146. "Where Have You Been" (feat. Beanie Sigel & L. Dionne)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia145. "Real N*ggaz" (feat. Too $hort)
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1144. "American Dreamin'"
American Gangster143. "Justify My Thug"
The Black Album142. "A Week Ago" (feat. Too $hort)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life141. "Come and Get Me"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter140. "Fuck All Nite" (feat. Pharrell)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse139. "Welcome to the Jungle"
Watch The Throne138. "F.U.T.W."
Magna Carta Holy Grail137. "It's Like That" (feat. Kid Capri & Liz Leite)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life136. "Tom Ford"
Magna Carta Holy GrailJay will lean on a nice beat with the quickness when he doesn’t really have much to say.
135. "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" (feat. R. Kelly)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia134. "Beach Chair" (feat. Chris Martin)
Kingdom ComeNot bad in practice or theory, but way too heavy on the Coldplay. Leaves a weird feeling in your ear.
133. "Somewhere in America"
Magna Carta Holy Grail132. "Fallin'"
American Gangster131. "Watch Me" (feat. Dr. Dre)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter130. "Hovi Baby"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse129. "The City Is Mine (feat. Blackstreet)"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1128. "Bitches & Sisters"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse127. "Stick 2 the Script" (feat. Beanie Sigel & DJ Clue?)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia126. "Rap Game/Crack Game"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1125. "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
The Blueprint 3A dope beat and good intentions, but the only thing killed here was Jay’s individual power to alter the direction of rap music. Sure, he’s still a major influence, but he couldn’t stop the, ahem, Future.
124. "Streets Is Talking" (feat. Beanie Sigel)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia123. "Already Home" (feat. Kid Cudi)
The Blueprint 3122. "Jigga That N*gga"
The Blueprint121. "A Dream" (feat. Faith Evans & The Notorious B.I.G.)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse120. "Made in America" (feat. Frank Ocean)
Watch The Throne119. "I Made It"
Kingdom Come118. "Party Life"
American Gangster117. "Get Your Mind Right Mami" (feat. Memphis Bleek, Snoop Dogg & Rell)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia116. "My 1st Song"
The Black Album115. "NYMP"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter114. "Thank You"
The Blueprint 3113. "Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" feat. Memphis Bleek
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeFor all its early dramatic promise (a mentor sees his understudy becoming a threat... Bwahaha... Bleek?!), this song ended prematurely.
112. "Intro"
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia“This is food for thought; you do the dishes.” Jiggaman goes back to the streets; still has it.
111. "It's Alright" (feat. Memphis Bleek)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life110. "The Watcher 2" (feat. Dr. Dre, Rakim & Truth Hurts)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse109. "Friend or Foe ‘98"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1108. "A Star Is Born" (feat. J. Cole)
The Blueprint 3A fresh uptempo where Jay shows love to rappers of the past and Cole reconfirms Jay’s ability to mentor great new talent.
107. "Lost One" (feat. Chrisette Michele)
Kingdom Come106. "That's My Bitch"
Watch The ThroneA Q-Tip-/ Pharrell-produced dance jam that didn’t really matter but wasn’t necessarily bad.
105. "Snoopy Track" (feat. Juvenile)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter104. "Lift Off" (feat. Beyonce)
Watch The Throne103. "Reminder"
The Blueprint 3102. "Can I Live II" (feat. Memphis Bleek)
Reasonable Doubt101. "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" (feat. Lil Wayne)
American Gangster100. "New Day"
Watch The ThroneA heartfelt groove from Jay and Ye to their (then) unborn kids. Unfortunately they predicted boys, but they get points for getting personal.
99. "What We Talkin' About" (feat. Luke Steele)
The Blueprint 398. "Bring It On" (feat. Sauce Money & Jaz-O)
Reasonable Doubt97. "Hola' Hovito"
The Blueprint96. "Gotta Have It"
Watch The ThroneWhile not as mandatory as its name suggests, this Throne cut works well enough to keep.
95. "The Ruler's Back"
The Blueprint94. "Cashmere Thoughts"
Reasonable Doubt93. "The Prelude"
Kingdom ComeIn which Jay explains coming back after all those fibs about retiring over an orchestral bass groove.
92. "Coming of Age" (feat. Memphis Bleek)
Reasonable Doubt91. "Ride or Die"
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeA place-putting Ma$e diss, produced by Stevie J (yeah, that guy).
90. "Trouble"
Kingdom Come89. "Reservoir Dogs" (feat. The LOX, Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeA Shaft sample does the posse cut good.
88. "1-900-Hustler" (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Freeway)
The Dynasty: Roc La FamiliaGreat advice on starting a career as a narcotics distributor.
87. "Jigga My N*gga"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter86. "Face Off" (feat. Sauce Money)
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1Jay and Sauce flex the funk over the classic break beat “Soul Makossa.”
85. "Who Gon Stop Me"
Watch The Throne84. "No Hook"
American Gangster83. "If I Should Die" (feat. Da Ranjahz)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeWhoever these other guys are, they did a good job of flanking Jay on this test-of-time-standing, rap-for-rap’s-sake ditty.
82. "I Know"
American Gangster81. "30 Something"
Kingdom ComeGrown and confident.
80. "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" (feat. Beanie Sigel & Amil)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. CarterThe intro to this song probably hurt it more than the choppy beat, since by the time the drums kick in you’re totally confused on how to bob your head. Probably not the best choice for a lead single to Jay’s Vol. 3… The Life & Times of S. Carter, but then again that wasn’t exactly his best album.
79. "Honey"
The Best of Both WorldsOne of the few songs that’s actually good from those two (¡!) albums with R. Kelly.
78. "Threat"
The Black AlbumCedric The Entertainer’s ad libs added comic relief to Jay’s promises of violence.
77. "Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)"
The Blueprint76. "Some How Some Way" (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseThese three should have made a whole album together.
75. "Never Change" (feat. Kanye West)
The BlueprintLoyalty on wax.
74. "Sweet"
American GangsterThis is the ‘70s.
73. "The Joy" (feat. Curtis Mayfield)
Watch The Throne72. "Real As It Gets" (feat. Young Jeezy)
The Blueprint 3A cinematic street opus from Jigga and Young Jizzle.
71. "Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix)"
The BlueprintThe voice you hear at the beginning and end is said to be none other than Michael Jackson. Not that Jay didn’t record with M.J. (they hit the Summer Jam stage together in 2001 and collaborated on a dope remix to “You Rock My World”), but having the King of Pop sing about “trying girls out” was quite the epic coup.
70. "All Around The World" (feat. LaToiya Williams)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse69. "No Church in the Wild" (feat. Frank Ocean)
Watch The ThroneAtheism never sounded so godly.
68. "Success" (feat. Nas)
American Gangster
67. "Soon You'll Understand"
The Dynasty: Roc La FamiliaSure, it’s depressing as hell, and kinda spooky with whatever that whistling echo was. Still, a better song than a lot of rappers make when they’re high on happy drugs.
66. "Show You How"
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseA slow, brassy, and super-braggy rap presented as a bonus track to the overstuffed Blueprint 2.
65. "Murder to Excellence"
Watch The Throne64. "Where I’m From"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 163. "Friend or Foe"
Reasonable DoubtA study on how to completely deflate, outstyle (and rob) someone you caught trying to play you out.
62. "Why I Love You" (feat. Mr. Hudson)
Watch The ThroneJay burns Beans for venting his frustrations, and we can all feel it a little bit.
61. "So Ghetto"
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter60. "Blue Magic"
American GangsterHova borrowed a Rakim flow to “bring the ‘80s back” over a Pharrell track and an audio clip of Denzel Washington’s voice from the movie American Gangster.
59. "Change the Game" (feat. Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel & Static Major)
The Dynasty: Roc La FamiliaA bouncy West Coast beat with Jay boastfully challenging surging California rappers who’d dare consider robbing him at The Source and Soul Train Awards, this was Jigga appropriating a style not his own, which he’s done to mixed results throughout his career. This one, well-calculated for the times, happened to work.
58. "So Ambitious" (feat. Pharrell)
The Blueprint 357. "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)"
The BlueprintA slow-burning, gospel-centric family shout-out full of nostalgia for Jay’s childhood days.
56. "Imaginary Player"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1A continuously hilarious punchline aimed at fake/broke emcees who wear moissanites and lease base-model luxury cars.
55. "F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" (feat. Rick Ross)
Magna Carta Holy GrailA killer beat and a recorded interview soundbite from the late/great Pimp C made the mood right for this street-certified testimony.
54. "Renegade" (feat. Eminem)
The Black AlbumSome say they like Jay’s verse on “Renegade” more than Em’s. Those people are lying. This is a dope Eminem song on a Jay-Z album ( just ask Nas), and therefore can’t rank in Jay’s top 50.
53. "Show Me What You Got"
Kingdom ComeKeeping it real, the Lil’ Wayne mixtape version of this is better than Jay’s. Still, it was Jay’s song first, and it’s pretty hard not to groove to all that horn and drum action.
52. "Change Clothes" (feat. Pharrell)
The Black AlbumPharrell’s crisp drum patterns and airy vocal delivery on the hook made for an ‘80s lounge bounce. Hopefully there isn’t a Marvin Gaye song that sounds too similar.
51. “Part II (on the Run)” (feat. Beyonce)
Magna Carta Holy GrailThis would rank much higher if Jay would have been more fluid with stronger raps over this beach-at-night beat featuring Mrs. Carter-Knowles.
50. "Regrets"
Reasonable DoubtSurely one of his most depressing songs, it’s also one of the most honest.
49. "Moment Of Clarity"
The Black Album48. "Allure"
The Black Album47. "Money Ain't a Thang" (feat. Jermaine Dupri)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeJD did just enough to survive trading verses with Jay. Still, when Jay scored the infamous “chain reaction” line on the third verse it was clear who was the real baller.
46. "Who You Wit II"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1Featured on the soundtrack to the Jamie Foxx movie Sprung, this joint lasted the entire summer of ‘97 and had everybody saying “either or.”
45. "Prime Time"
Watch The ThroneA good and simple banger.
44. "Can I Get A..." (feat. Amil & Ja Rule)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeMore people know all the lyrics to this song than you might guess. Look around next time you hear it at a club.
43. "Lucifer"
The Black Album42. "Intro/A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1Not many rappers can admit to shooting up and circling a drug strip while blasting Diana Ross from their car. And not only is it tolerated, but it also made you consider buying a pistol and a Supremes album.
41. "Ignorant Sh*t" (feat. Beanie Sigel)
American Gangster40. "Otis" (feat. Otis Redding)
Watch The ThroneJay’s not lying about being the guy who started the whole “swag” thing. The beat’s kind of missing something, but the proper usage of Redding’s voice will ensure that this will be played in clubs for years to come.
39. "All I Need"
The BlueprintA perfect song for redlining your car on an open highway after cashing an unexpected bonus check.
38. "December 4th"
The Black Album37. "Say Hello"
American GangsterThe God MC gets his Scarface (the movie) on and stands on honesty, even possibly calling Reverend Al Sharpton a bitch for trying to say rappers should stop saying the word.
36. "Can't Knock the Hustle" (feat. Mary J. Blige)
Reasonable DoubtYou weren’t a big-time rapper in the ‘90s if MJB hadn’t sang on a track with you. Still, Jay didn’t slack on this timeless track.
35. "22 Two's"
Reasonable DoubtThere actually were twenty-two usages of the number “two” in this crafty freestyle-esque creation.
34. "Kingdom Come"
Kingdom ComePeople slept on this Rick James-jacked beat. On another album it would have been better remembered, but being the title track to Jay’s lukewarm “comeback album” (how many of those did he even have?), it fell into sleeper status.
33. "(Always Be My) Sunshine" (feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface)
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1More people might admit to secretly liking this song, despite the universally panned video, if asked. It’s better than it’s been treated by history.
32. "Run This Town" (feat. Kanye West & Rihanna)
The Blueprint 3You didn’t want to like this song as much as you did, but the gritty guitar riff, pounding drums, Rihanna hook and Kanye quotes came together to make magic.
31. "This Can't Be Life" (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia30. "D'Evils"
Reasonable Doubt29. "Streets Is Watching"
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1Talk to someone who actually made money from street business and they’ll tell you this is as close as a song can get to describing the paranoid lifestyle of the dopeman.
28. "Song Cry"
The BlueprintA breakup song from the man too busy for romance. You wonder who it was, as it sounds way too true to be made up, but no matter the name of the lady who inspired it, many men could relate.
27. "On to the Next One" (feat. Swizz Beatz)
The Blueprint 3Made during the phase when we all thought Jay was in the Illuminati (wait, that’s over, right?), the repeating ghost chamber chanting and down-drilling 808 bass groove brought out S-Dot’s colder side with such lines as, “Baby I’m a boss / I don’t know what they do / I don’t get dropped -- I drop the label.”
26. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (feat. Beyonce)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse25. "Politics As Usual"
Reasonable DoubtConversational, and playable anywhere at any time with slicked-back mackery and fly talk, this is million-dollar Cognac rap.
24. "Roc Boys (and the Winner Is)…"
American GangsterWith a “L’Chaim” shout-out to his Jewish peeps, Jigga celebrates the good life over this flashy, horn-heavy club hit. This is what it sounds like when Goldman Sachs traders get their annual bonuses. Straight ballin’.
23. "Feelin It"
Reasonable DoubtBack in the day, Jay pretended he was too focused to smoke weed. He even remarked about how Biggie once got him so high while hanging at a hotel that he retreated to his room in paranoia (much to Big’s amusement). His line, “Okay, I’m getting weeded now / I know I contradicted myself; look, I don’t need that now,” was on par with saying “B*tch don’t kill my vibe” today, over a classy, easygoing piano-driven beat.
22. "N*gga What, N*gga Who (Originator '99)"
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeThough the video had damn-near the exact same psychedelic blue strobe lighting as Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor,” Hovito went rapid-fire with his rhyme scheme to remind other rappers he was no stranger to double-timing the flow.
21. "Girls, Girls, Girls"
The BlueprintBiz Markie, Q-Tip, and Slick Rick take turns on the hook while Jay breaks down every type of lady he loves. You can’t knock it.
20. "Money, Cash, Hoes" (feat. DMX)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeThe later public discovery that Jay and X weren’t really all that cool only made this clashing of rap titans stronger, and Jay knew with Swizz in his prime he couldn’t lose, even as he stated, on the song, his awareness that people would criticize the song’s subject matter. He also stated that he didn’t care and reminded us that he was a crook.
19. "Encore"
The Black Album18. "Ain't No N*gga" (feat. Foxy Brown)
Reasonable DoubtThis simple, funk-laced track saw Jigga trading verses of romance and loyalty (while likely cheating) with Fox Boogie Brown back when she and Lil’ Kim were both equivalent to what Nicki Minaj is today.
17. "Takeover"
The BlueprintJay-Z’s full-on assault of Nas and Mobb Deep shook New York and the entire rap world. Prior to releasing it as part of The Blueprint, he’d recently put a pic of a preschool prodigy -- wearing a street-cred melting children’s dance outfit -- on Hot 97’s Summer Jam screen. He used “Takeover” to push his agenda for King of New York status, and also scored direct hits on the Illmatic emcee by pointing out Nasir’s inconsistent talent while alluding to an allegedly true tryst with the mother of his child without actually saying it. The debate over who really won the battle rages on to this day, and while the majority said “Ether” won, it must be said that it was a nuclear response to a massive attack.
16. "Big Pimpin'" (feat. UGK)
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. CarterRhythmic bass bumps, a poetic pan flute and the legendary mix of Pimp C and Bun-B provided pimpery that seems to have been banished from ever being performed again on stage, probably by Beyonce. You’ve gotta see her side when you hear Jiggaman say, “Me give my heart to a woman?! Not for nothing / never happen.”
15. "Excuse Me Miss" (feat. Pharrell)
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The CurseYou imagine this song was specifically written for Beyonce. With Pharrell on the hook and Luther Vandross-jacked chorus vocals, this song is basically a musical guide on how to mack the hottest chick in the game, gentleman-style.
14. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
The BlueprintA slowed-down Jackson 5 track and an approachable Hov explaining his drug-dealing past to listeners made for a great feel-good track.
13. "N*ggas in Paris"
Watch The ThroneThough it’s an equal contribution between Jay and ‘Ye, there’s no denying Jay’s upper-deck impression on Yeezy’s bravado, and there’s no use in pretending this song wasn’t an instant classic.
12. "What More Can I Say"
The Black AlbumSampling Gladiator was a little gutsy, but there was little left to doubt when Jay began his rap, explaining his noted affinity for putting the late Notorious B.I.G.’s rhymes in his own songs (“I say a Big verse, I’m only biggin’ up my brother...”), and hinting at his realization of reaching a level where explanations of anything he said were no longer necessary. We’ll see what happens when he no longer exists.
11. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeAs soon as you hear how producer Mark the 45 King matched voices from Annie with a street-certified bass line and that boom-bap, you feel the slow-burning impact of one of Shawn Carter’s most popular songs.
10. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
The BlueprintKanye produced this bluesy anchor to The Blueprint, which took us to church via a hook featuring Bobby “Blue” Bland’s vocals and lyrics that longed for days when rappers weren’t haters while dealing with the realities on the ground. The Fugees breakup, Richard Pryor’s “burnout,” and the fall of The Fat Boys are all mentioned as signs of the new times. Where is the love? All over this track.
9. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder"
The Black AlbumPeople were beginning to write Timbaland off as a chubby dude whose best work was relegated to Missy Elliot tracks (which still stand the test of time). With this bouncy breakbeat he provided the exact right platform that would later inspire none other than President Obama to brush the dust from his top torso bones as an answer to his own haters. You’re now tuned to the MF greatest.
8. "Can I Live"
Reasonable DoubtOver a soul-stirring Isaac Hayes sample, Jiggaman goes through the emotions of being an ambitious street pharmacist in search of higher ground. Over the beat he shows early integrity as not just a drug dealer but also a financial advisor, dropping jewels like, “We don’t lease, we buy the whole car / As you should!” Ch-ch-cheeeeaaaa!!
7. "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)"
The Black AlbumDave Chappelle admitted to blasting this song before contract negotiations during his $50 million valuation days. That intro: “Allow me to reintroduce myself! My name is HOV!” You can hear your greater self in Jay’s lyrics as he spits fact-based raps over this gospel-licious, organ-driven gangster groove.
6. "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" (feat. Pharrell Williams & Omillio Sparks)
The Dynasty: Roc La FamiliaFront all you want; you love this song. Your Grandmother loves this song, which is disturbing but still kind of cool. Everyone loves this song.
5. "Empire State of Mind" (feat. Alicia Keys)
The Blueprint 3With this cut, and help from Swizz Beats’ wife, Iceberg Slim became the new Sinatra.
4. "Brooklyn's Finest" (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)
Reasonable DoubtTwo Brooklynites (Biggie and Jay attended the same high school) go head-to-head over a hardcore track with both dropping classic lines including “N**** please / like short sleeves I bear arms,” (Jay) and Big’s scene-stealing wife/nemesis diss: “If Faye have twins she’ll probably have two Pacs... Get it? Tu... Pacs?” Brooklyn, stand up!
3. "99 Problems”
The Black AlbumJay-Z meets Rick Rubin. Beasties-level Rick Rubin, who people didn’t know still existed under all that beard. You busted some serious moves to this song, and you still do.
2. "Dead Presidents"
Reasonable DoubtThe lyrically remixed album version of DP, Jay’s very first promotional single, was featured on his debut, Reasonable Doubt, and is great on its own with a soul-on-steel melody sampled from jazz musician Lonnie Liston Smith; its braggadocious drug dealer quotables (“Patna, I’m still spending money from ‘88”), recall NYC’s infamous crack explosion, and Jay’s delivery is as slick as a surfboard riding a Champagne wave. Still, the true gem is the original version, which features lyrics that’ve since become part of the modern (bum) rapper’s study guide, including “Everything was all good just a week ago.” Word to Bobby Shmurda’s entire rap career.
1. "U Don't Know"
The BlueprintThis is Peak Hova -- a sonic exclamation point on the classic Blueprint album. It starts with a commandment to increase the volume, draws you in with its “One million, two million, three million, four…,” couplet chant where he explains navigating his way to what’s now a half-billion-dollar fortune, then just after the climactic “I… Will… Not... LOSE” moment it explodes with a power-scream at the end. Sure, Jay flexes power, influence, wealth, status, hustle, and flow on many other songs, but you feel everything and more over this powerhouse Just Blaze beat. There’s no Biggie Smalls, Kanye West, or Beanie Sigel to lean on, no Damon Dash, no models, and no R&B. It’s a one-man declaration of independence and dominance, which causes listeners to publicly pump their fists in the air as if they were beating down invisible barriers to Jay-Z’s level of wealth. Above every other song he’s made, “U Don’t Know” might be “The Blueprint” in and of itself.
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Mike Jordan, who was Thrillist Atlanta's founding editor, lives in East Point, Ga., which makes him the third member of OutKast and the Shogun of Southwest Atlanta. Help him reach 35k Twitter followers at @MichaelBJordan, but please don't ask about his character from The Wire--that's another guy. .