[Verse 1: Jaz-O] I'm discussing it, so buss it, cold profiling Spent a little while in the Hawaiian Islands Off the plane and hospitality came correct A gang of leis places round my neck Bathed by the sunshine and the seas of pearls Fanned by tanned skinned beautiful girls A twitch of a grass skirt caught my eye I said "Aloha baby, word life, you're looking fly" I said "My name is Jaz, and you did amaze me" When she said "The rapper?" "Yeah, me and partner Jay-Z" My witness, wasn't she stacked? Wasn't she pumping slamming working? "So true indeed, black" She said "I'd love to stay and chat, but I'll See you at the luau, won't that be nice now? Later on we can examine each other more closely And by the way—my name is Sophie"
[Instrumental break]
[Verse 2: Jaz-O & JAY-Z] The luau was sharp, right Jay? (On the strength money) Laughter good food and tons of honeys Eat and be merry, festive drums playing A real cool atmosphere, you know what I'm saying? Tipped through the crowd, aloha aloha Mingled like a single, then yo I Stopped dead in my tracks, and my heart did freeze Eyes wide surprised to find Sophie's Smiling at the Jaz for some reason or other Clocking a brother, but standing with another Who just so happened to catch her expression Look in my direction as a sign of aggression Approaching me and yo I ain't lying Was this big coconut eating barefoot giant Face to face, I mean ,chest to face My fist prepared to hook off in haste Then Sophie sweeter than sugar a good looker Broke in between, before homeboy shook her Grabbed her took her away on the wild tip On a macho trip, that ain't hip Look to my partner Jay (Yeah, I saw it) Shrugged his shoulders said (Hey, I can't call it) I said I think she should just up and go free Then I can be with a girl named Sophie
[Instrumental break]
[Verse 3: Jaz-O] Walked along the beach by self til dawn Askin myself what the hell goes on She's so thorough, but she got a man he ain't right though And besides she's a stranger to me quite so Those thoughts were troubling 'Til the sunlight shone on a figure and I was bubbling Like a dream it seemed when she approached me Talking about none other than Sophie! Looked into my eyes, anxiety gone Told me she's been thinking bout me all night long I asked about the island, kid she said "What of him?" I said "Ain't he your man, whassup, don't you love him?" Sophie screamed she need a woman's dream Not a cartoon sucker from a comic scene Close embracing her eyes full of tears But we spoke of the devil, and slap, he appeared Speeding toward us like a heat-seeking missle But yo, I ain't no cat with that "P" initial Homeboy was large, I must've been crazy Sophie said "No!" I said "Yo, get out the way baby!" No words spoken, major slugfest Twenty minutes and homeboy's head put to rest All for the best, 'cause the big prize, the trophy Was my heart of Hawaii, whose name is Sophie
Embed
About
Genius Annotation3 contributors
Recorded in London in 1989, “Hawaiian Sophie” is one of Jay-Z’s early appearances on wax alongside his fellow Brooklyn MC and mentor Jaz-O.
Expand
+8
Share
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Ask a question
What did Jaz-O say about "Hawaiian Sophie"?
Genius Answer
1 contributor
The song began as a single rhyme I used to perform on stage. It became popular and when I signed to EMI, the A&R had heard about it and suggested I make it a song. I was against it at first, but saw the vision of it being a novelty hit. We recorded and mixed at Battery Studios in London, England. It was fun to record; awkward at first, due to the emergence of political and street rap.
Jaz-O describing how he came up with the concept of the song via Hype Magazine