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Jay does an exact rhyme with “weight up” from the lines above, just like he does with “I ain’t done” in the next two lines.
Jay has achieved SO MUCH in his life already, but he’s not done: you should be afraid of what he’s gon' do next.
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What is this?
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When you shoot a gun it usually smokes due to the difference between the temperature of the hot bullet and the cold air outside.
This line accompanies the previous one, Jay sees cat plotting moves on him but they don’t see him making counter/preemptive moves so they dream about actually taking him off guard, but they won’t. This shows how ahead of the competition Jay is.
To the West Coast, what 'Face is to Houston JAY-Z (Ft. Pharrell Williams) – Change Clothes
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Jay Z is an icon of East Coast rap, similar to how Snoop Dogg is an icon of West Coast rap and Scarface is to the Houston rap scene. Hova doesn’t feel the whole West/East – South/North feud and pays respect to every rapper who deserves it, no matter where they are from.
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“Me, Myself, and I” is a song by the late 80s/early 90s rap group De La Soul, Trugoy is a member of the group.
Hova refers to his father, who left him when he was only 11, and probably to all the friends he lost and didn’t have the time to hang out with due to work.
Ain't no different from a block that's hittin' JAY-Z – My 1st Song
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Just stay busy, stay working
Puff told me, like, "The key to this joint—
The key to staying on top of things is treat everything like it's your first project, know what I'm saying?
Like it's your first day, like, while—when you was an intern
Like, that's how you try to treat things—like, just stay hungry" JAY-Z – My 1st Song
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Jay uses a Biggie Small interview in the intro to pay homage to his friend and to keep the Brooklyn legacy alive. After Notorious died, Jay stepped up and claimed the east coast crown. With these words he wants to remember that even if he made it to the top, he still remembers about the beginning and wants to keep innovating. As Steve Jobs would say:
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It's like Tony La Russa on how you play your cards JAY-Z – American Dreamin'
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Tony La Russa is the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals (the “Cards”) – so an easy Poker Pun
Jay Z knows that it’s not about reading your horoscope (It’s all in the stars) but it’s rather about how you play your cards that determines your fate.
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