What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Jay splashes them with bullets from a Heckler & Koch automatic weapon, which are rendered “holy” because of the supposed just cause of Jay’s revenge mission. Jay also emphasizes Heckler here, thus taking on a dual meaning, as Jay is going to wet his hecklers or haters
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Five six seven o'clock, eight o'clock, Roc
11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, the party 'bout to pop
Then, Roc-A-Fella y'all, it's your boy S. Dot JAY-Z – Justify My Thug
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
This is a reference to “Rock Around the Clock,” a popular 1950’s song recorded in its most well-known form by Bill Haley and His Comets.
The original song’s lyrics are used as a reference to Hova’s label, Roc-A-Fella Records and the legendary parties that our boy S. Carter would throw.
Hov omits 4, 9 and 10 here – does this have any sort of intentional significance, or was he just in a hurry?
And two wrongs don't make a right
But when you been wronged and you know all along that it's just one life
At what point does one fight? (Good question, right?) JAY-Z – Justify My Thug
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Jay-Z is questioning the common retort to the Biblical saying “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” and the famous Gandhi quote “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” and the related saying “two wrongs don’t make a right”. He wants to know how much he must be wronged before it is OK to fight back and retaliate.
Hov thus attempts to ‘justify his thug’ by referring to the crushing poverty as the first wrong and the ruthlessness of the drug and rap game as the second wrong. His question is when does one stop following the rules that are only going to continue the poverty cycle and fight against the system by taking control of their own wealth and destiny?
The rest of this verse describes the war between society and the impoverished individual.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
He’s in love with her, but the love has grown old. It’s not the same as it was at the beginning of their relationship.
He’s saying that his love isnt puppy love. He loves her even though they have been having more fights than when they first began dating (honeymoon phase)