Jay name drops some jewelry staples such as Jacob Arabo, Baubles and Lauraine Schwarts to emphasize the exclusivity of the blings he wears. The wedding ring he bought for Beyoncè is also a Lauraine Schwartz piece.

Jay Z is the guy from the streets who got on the same level of CEOs by hustling. As he’d later say on “Devil Is A Lie”:

Gettin white money but I’m still black

Jay Z used to have to hustle on the street corner in order to have enough money to eat, but now he is so rich that he owns the block.

We used to fight for building blocks
Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killing

Jay also pronounces “I be’s” to make it sound like “I B’s the block”, creating a contrast between “Big Pimpin” Jay and husband Jay.

The R.O.C. isn’t all bout Jay-Z, his whole team is composed of quality rappers, but not everyone sees that. The first line recalls the famous quote:

There’s no I in team.

Jay’s focus was always on Roc-a-fella and promoting those around him the same level he had achieved.

The cover of XXL, a popular hip-hop publication. Roc-A-Fella was on it in December 1999, you can see Amil sitting on the car.

Nickel for your thoughts means that he has a nickel-plated bullet with which he’ll shoot you in the head, leaving brain matter on the sidewalk. There won’t be an ambulance, only the cops as the dead guy has no chances of being saved.

He wishes that his nephews won’t have a career in the entertainment business, as it’s little better than life on the streets.

The same idea will be spit in New Day by Kanye in a song featuring Jay.

Hmmm seems as if at least two of Jay’s 4 nephews continued writing and have become rappers, presumably aspiring for stardom.

Jay will never surrender to his enemies, he’ll stand still ‘till the end fighting for everything he cares about. The idea is taken from a Emiliano Zapata’s quote:

It’s better to die upon your feet than to live upon your knees.