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I don't know what the fuss is, my career is illustrious
My rep is impeccable; I'm not to be fucked with, with JAY-Z (Ft. Nas) – Success
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Jay-Z has released 13 number one albums, more than anyone except the Beatles. He has sold at least 55 million albums worldwide, and won a record 21 Grammy Awards. His ground-breaking music career includes three undisputed rap classics in Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album – all three are included on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.

Hov is one artist most cannot touch, or, “fuck with.”

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‘Cause every time I try to tell 'em "no" (No)
They won't let me ever let 'em go (Go) Eminem (Ft. Dina Rae) – Drug Ballad
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This is a reference to First Lady Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No Campaign” from the 1980s and early 1990s. The aim was to discourage children from engaging in illegal recreational drug use by offering various ways of resisting peer pressure.

The campaign received widespread criticism for among other things being too simplistic, reducing harmful substance use to a short slogan. Em points out one of the flaws with this line; for individuals who are addicted it is impossible to just say no. A 2009 analysis of 20 controlled studies on enrollment in one of the most popular “Just Say No” programs, DARE, showed no effect on drug use.

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Yo you got the juice now 2Pac (Ft. Big L & Big Pun) – Juice (DJ Cinema remix)
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The last sentence spoken in the movie Juice.
SPOILER ALERT

After Bishop falls off the roof of the high rise during an altercation with Q, where Q in the end tries to save him a bystander tells Q that “he has the juice now” meaning the power and respect.

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brembo
11 years

yes. but it’s also a warning: “you got the juice now”, meaning that he’s the one that the power-hungry oldheads and youngun’s alike will be gunning for.

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[2Pac]
This nigga is scared

[Big L]
Ain nobody scared man I just told you how to do this anymore

[2Pac]
Fuck that shit
You're goin Saturday night and that's it 2Pac (Ft. Big L & Big Pun) – Juice (DJ Cinema remix)
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This conversation comes from the movie Juice which starred Tupac Shakur as the main antagonist Bishop. Big L is playing the part of Bishop’s friend Q, the main protagonist. In the movie Bishop wanted to rob a liqour store but Q only wanted to go to his DJ competition.

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1

8 years

Q is played by Omar Epps

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Oh, you a Muslim now? No more dope game 2Pac (Ft. Danny Boy Steward) – I Ain't Mad At Cha
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Converting to Islam whilst in jail was (and still is) very prevelant for inmates, especially black males. This goes back to periods of Black enlightment and Nationalism in the early 20th century. There were significant changes happening with the black consciousness concerning faith and community. The Nation of Islam and other new-age practices and religious groups (often Islam-inspired) were becoming popular amongst Black Americans.

While in jail, it is common for serious self-reflection to take place. Inmates often read, learn and obtain school diplomas or degrees. Reading the Quran and other religious texts is common.

Drugs are forbidden in Islam as well as selling drugs. Also many of the moral deficiencies involved in drug dealing are also forbidden. So once his friend was released, he wanted to stay clean and not commit acts that are “haram” (unpermitted in Islam).

In this line Tupac is definitely not rapping about Napoleon, a member of the Outlawz, as he converted to Islam in 2002, several years after Tupac’s death.

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Q8148ft64vj

221

3 years

you explained it very good man, but i have a question: was hussein fatal a muslim? a long time ago, i read that he converted to islam. is that true?

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C73606e0263ffe5a2fe829587e2dd1d7

419

3 years

Im so glad you wrote that it’s NOT about Napoleon because everyone makes that mistake, and it’s frustrating because Mutah himself has said times and times again that it is not about him.

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5 years

Mike Tyson and Tupac were good friends throughout the 90s, it could be argued that this line in particular regards to Tyson’s conversion to Islam between ‘92 and '95.

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Kids stop they greetin' me, I'm talking sweet to keys
Cursin' the very God that brought this grief to be JAY-Z – Politics as Usual
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During the video for “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” Jay evokes this persona perfectly, although it’s not necessarily a true depiction. During his Drink Champs podcast (15 minute mark) Memphis Bleek explained how Jay saw him selling drugs as a youth and stepped in, gave him a career.

Jay speaks about the power hustlers had over him as a youth, most notably on “Pray”:

I hear a car go, “Vroom”
Drug dealer in the BM with the top down
As the girls start to giggle
I ask, “Why you laughing?”
They say, “You’re too little;
One day you’ll understand
When you become a man
About things you have to get you”

He’s caught in the act. “Talking sweet to keys” is selling drugs, praying to drug dealers, and kids see his success and question him. He knows he’s influential, but he’s influencing them in the wrong way.

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4b4857cf643aa1f1751c8de834992d25

13,280

12 months

Wow, always thought he said “Can’t stop the greed in me”

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The devil's last wish is a queen that rise past bitches Talib Kweli – Ms. Hill
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Lauryn Hill is a queen, rising above being a bitch. She is a woman with self respect, who is kind and talented and can bring hope to many. She is uplifting women and discouraging the one-sided image of women as “bitches” often found in rap music, rising above the limits put on her by others.

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Can I get a woop woop
To these niggas from all of my bitches
Who don't got love for niggas without dubs JAY-Z (Ft. Amil & Ja Rule) – Can I Get A…
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The female response, refusing to mess with a guy who is broke. Her verse embodies this message. This was the first track Amil featured on with Jay, shockingly similar to Foxy Brown’s star turn on “Ain’t No,” an aggressive female presence going toe to toe with Jay.

Amil’s sentiments here would be echoed in TLC’s hit single “No Scrubs” just a few months later.

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I call all the shots, rip all the spots
Rock all the rocks, cop all the drops The Notorious B.I.G. (Ft. Diddy & Ma$e) – Mo' Money Mo' Problems
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Puff is one of the biggest shot-callers in the music business, as the head of Bad Boy Records.

  • “rip the spots” = rock the stage at concert venues

  • “rock the rocks” = wear diamonds

  • “cop the drops” = buy drop-top convertible cars

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You can get ya cash on nigga if ya peep
Other niggas close they eyes
Seein' dreams in they sleep
But don't fall asleep 2Pac (Ft. Chamillionaire & Young Buck) – Sleep
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He’s saying that people who take time off to dream and sleep never get the cash and success they wished for. If you don’t waste your time sleeping you can focus on getting those wishes fulfilled

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