Jay-Z Research

Today’s topic: a little term I like to refer to as “referencing”. Referencing is a broad term used to define the technique of mentioning the tangibles of hip hop culture through allusions, direct musical quotations, shout outs, or metaphors.

In his beats and his lyrics, Jay-Z is constantly referencing different people, places, and things familiar to pop-culture, starting with himself. I think the song that best exemplifies what I’m talking about is “What More Can I Say?” off his 2003 release, The Black Album.

The track begins with an audio sample from the 2000 blockbuster hit film, Gladiator, which sets the tone for the song as we hear actor Russell Crowe addressing the roaring crowd of the coliseum, “Are you not entertained? Is that not why you were here?” Sentiments that reflect this song and are a crucial theme to the Black Album as a whole.

After giving a shout out to Brooklyn, Jay-Z begins verse one with:

There’s never been a nigga_ this good_ for this long,
This hood - or this pop
this hot - or this strong_…

and he ends the track with

…the real shit you get when you bust down my lines
Add that to the fact I went plat’ a bunch of times.
Times that by my influence on pop culture.
I’m supposed to be #1 on everybody’s list.
We’ll see what happens when I no longer exist.

Confident rhymes like this recur throughout the song, my favorite being, They don’t paint pictures\ They just trace me. In the same song he references other important artists and figures in the music industry of past and present such as Busta Rhyme, Biggie Smalls, Beyonce Knowles, Steve Lillywhite, and Prince’s Purple Rain.

He also mentions major TV personalities and business people Martha Stewart and Donald Trump. He cleverly refers to his own music, shoes, and his chain/record label. He also refers to himself as God and his nickname “Hova” which is short for Jehovah.

Self-promotion is a large part of his game. Listener’s also have to understand these references- the who, the what, and the where- that are important in grasping the message of the song. Often, it requires learning about music that has influenced Jay-Z as well as the music he has produced up to that point.

In closing, I’d like to pose a question: Do these references make Jay-Z’s music community inclusive or exclusive?