Jay-Z is one of the most versatile lyricists in hip-hop. In honor of Hov's lyrical skills, we've collected the 10 best Jay-Z lyrics. The New York rapper's verbiage and the complexity of his words have been decoded and studied in classrooms at colleges and universities. Whether Jay-Z is the "Greatest Rapper of All-Time" remains a debatable topic, but there's no question that he is Brooklyn's finest. Check out his wordplays on PopCrush's Top 10 list of Jay-Z lyrics and let us know which is your favorite line from the God MC.
"We used to fight for building blocks / Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killing / The closest of friends when we first started / But grew apart as the money grew and soon grew black-hearted / Thinking back when we first learned to use rubbers / He never learned, so in turn, I'm kidnapping his baby's mother..."
- 'D'Evils' (From the Album 'Reasonable Doubt')"I'm from where n----s pull your card, and argue all day about who's the best MCs, Biggie, Jay-Z or Nas..."
- 'Where I'm From' (From the Album 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1')"I father, I Brooklyn Dodger them / I jack, I rob, I sin / Aww man, I'm Jackie Robinson / 'Cept when I run base, I dodge the pen…"
- 'Brooklyn Go Hard' (From the Album 'Notorious')"But I'm still big pimpin', spendin' cheese / With Bun B, Pimp C, and Timothy / We got chicks in the back of the truck, laughing it up / Jigga Man: that's what's up…"
- 'Big Pimpin' (From the Album 'Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter')"See I was born in sewage / Born to make bomb music / Flow tight like I was born Jewish / Used the streets as a conduit…"
- 'This Can't Be Life' (From the Album 'The Dynasty: Roc La Familia')"When I was pushing weight, back in '88 / You was a ballerina, I got the pictures, I seen ya / Then you dropped 'Shook Ones,' switched your demeanor / Well, we don't believe you, you need more people…"
- 'Takeover' (From the Album 'The Blueprint')"While I'm watching every n---- watching me closely / My s--- is butter for the bread, they wanna toast me / I keep my head, both of them, where they supposed to be / H--s will get you sidetracked, then clap from close feet, I don't sleep…"
- 'Can I Live' (From the Album 'Reasonable Doubt')"Rocafella forever, Hov for life / Debuts a classic first album four mics / Shoulda gotta five but n----s lack fore-sight / But I don't give a f--- I ain't do it for the hype / I do it for the hustlas for the ghetto for their plight / For the struggle for those who bubble white…"
- '44 Fours' (From the Album 'Kingdom Come')"I was conceived by Gloria Carter and Adnes Reeves / Who made love under the sycamore tree / Which makes me / A more sicker emcee / And my momma would claim / At 10 pounds, when I was born I didn't give her no pain…"
- 'December 4th' (From the 'Black Album')"Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game / S---, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can / You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip, though / But I got a gang of n----s walking with my clique though…"
- 'Empire State of Mind' (From the Album 'Blueprint 3')
Did We Miss Your Favorite Jay-Z Lyrics?
Do you have a favorite Jay-Z verse that we failed to include on our list? Leave a comment below and share your favorite Hov line!
