Love the elimination of prepositions here!

Roc-A-Fella records, Jay-Z’s label

Hmmm

You’ve got your arm draped over some girl’s shoulders until Jay sweeps her away

“Bread” is money

Jay used to take the cab to Manhattan to sell cocaine. His projects were full of “raw” (uncut cocaine). Papi (his distributor — see other references to the mythical “Papi” here) would front you some product (“on consignment”) to sell if you were short on cash

Jay’s been able to rap (“flow”) since before 9/11. In fact, as far back as the early 1980’s when Ronald Reagan was president and cocaine was hugely popular. He is specifically referencing journalist Gary Webb’s story of how the CIA under Reagan’s administration created the North American crack cocaine trade in order to help fund the Contra armies in Nicaragua

Also, these two historical context clues also reference his two classic albums — Reasonable Doubt which was set during the crack epidemic and Blueprint, which of course came out on 9/11/2001. Young Hov is capable of dropping a political statement while at the same time giving shout outs to his own legacy! As Kanye West might say, “Malibooyow!”

This 2002 song was a very early statement against the war

TI didn’t get involved in prison drama — the yard (where “yardies” chill) is where shit (drug deals, violence, basketball) goes down in prison — he stayed inside and out of trouble (ostensibly so he would serve the minimum and get out quick to represent his friends serving longer sentences)

The “shoes” on a coupe are the wheels. The shoes on a “coop” are the jimmy choo’s or what have you worn by “birds” (women)