Troops on the left, fight to the death
Fam on the right, infrared lights
Wolves in the back, ready to attack, for what!
Soldiers in the front, let the heat pump Raekwon (Ft. Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck & Method Man) – House of Flying Daggers
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What is this?
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Referencing the 1972 Chicago White Sox game where there was a ‘Disco Demolition Night’ where they blew up disco records. It did not end well
You'll never have me like Christina Aguiler-y JAY-Z – Threat
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The “___, ___, and ___” structure featuring both young and Black might be inspired by Big Daddy Kane’s “Young, Gifted and Black”. It’s clearly an influential song to Jay, as he made his own own “Young Gifted and Black”, released on his mixtape less than a year before this album came out, rapping over the same beat as Kane’s song.
Christina Aguilera’s second album was Stripped when she entered her “dirty girl” phase.
Jay is comparing it to how the police/government want to strip him of all his riches and clothes to search him.
Also note how “strip me naked” is followed by “but” (butt). Clever, Jay.
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Everybody get your hand off my jeans JAY-Z – "Grammy Family" Freestyle
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You layin' on your balcony with holes in your dream JAY-Z – "Grammy Family" Freestyle
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A poetic reference to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was killed on a motel balcony on April 4, 1968. The “holes in your dream” line refers to King’s most famous speech, the one he gave in August 1963 that became known as “I Have A Dream”
See success is like suicide JAY-Z – "Grammy Family" Freestyle
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Jay uses some of the best-known examples in all of history to point out the idea that when you get too successful, those once closest to you will stab you in the back. See an example from Hov’s own life here
Rhyming “Judas” and “Brutus” with the first two syllables of “suicide” is a notably creative rhyme pattern.
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Possible reference to conspiracy theorists who critically analyse corrupt powers and events with the intention of exposing them. The level of detail and expansive methodology conspiracy theorists practice makes them the most experienced and knowledgeable in their field.
Another interpretation is that such evil is horrible beyond comprehension and cannot be captured and expressed by the mere words of human philosophers & theologists.
Did you miss these rhymes when I was gone?
As you listen to these crazy tracks
Check them stats then you know where I'm at
And that's that MF DOOM – That's That
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