Metaphorically Speaking: Jay Z’s 14 Most Creative Songs - Page 13

It’s December 4 and that makes it Shawn “Jay Z” Carter’s 44th birthday. The number four has made a tremendous impact on his career akin to the way his artistry has made him arguably the best rapper in many a debate.

The proud owner of the 40/40 Club has had four number one Billboard Hot 100 hits to his name since getting his first break of stardom as Big Daddy Kane’s hypeman in 1994.

He even created a track called “44 Four’s,” a sequel to “22 Two’s” off his first album Reasonable Doubt. The Brooklynite has always been noted for his lyricism amongst critics, peers and fans alike and that’s where our gift to him and you comes in.

With all due respect to the hits that “kept the registers ringing,” we dug deep in his catalog and came up with his 14 most creative songs with regard to metaphors (and similes), concepts and of course, originality.

We may have thrown a bonus in there for good measure too. We love the “4” like just the next man, but this is the library of a legend we’re talking about. Dig in and enjoy the read.

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Photo: Brooklyn Nets

“D’Evils”

Classic Line: “Nine-to-five is how to survive/I ain’t trying to survive/I’m trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot…”

The title only scratches the surface of the track’s greatness. The moral conflict. DJ Premier. All fuego.

“Intro”

Classic Line: “Knowing I can go, just switching a spare/On the highway of life/N***a it’s sharp in my sight/Oh!”

He gave us food for thought and left us scrambling for the Brillo Pad.

“I Know”

Sorry 50 Cent. Jay taught us how to properly personify heroin in 2007.

“Coming Of Age (Da Sequel)”

Classic Line: “These young n****s think I fell out the loop/Cause the last time they seen me hopping out the coupe/I hopped out in a suit…”

The original “Coming of Age” became an afterthought after this Roc staple dropped.

“Girls, Girls, Girls”

Classic Line: “I got this h*e that after twelve million sold/Mami’s a narcoleptic/Always sleeping on Hov’/Gotta tie the back of her head like Deuce Bigalow…

Beyoncé may hate it but the way Hov tied in his side pieces at the end of the verses was pure genius.

“Imaginary Player”

Classic Line: “Where is all the ice with all the platinum under that?/Those ain’t Rolex diamonds/What the f**k you done to that?”

Even before he was an official member of the yacht club, Jay never had a problem calling out fake Willies who were gambling their re-up.

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“B*****s & Sisters”

Classic Line: “Sisters give up the ass/b*****s give up the ass/Sisters do it slow/B*****s do it fast”

Yes, there’s a difference and Mr. Carter outlined them like your 8th grade health teacher.

“Dopeman”

Classic Line: “And is true you operate the criminal enterprise?/Known as Roc-A-Fella in charge of its meteoric rise…”

Sadly that song became eerily too surreal. Bonus points for nabbing Serena Altschul, though.

“Friend Or Foe”

Classic Line: “You draw…better be Picasso/Y’know the best/Cause if this is not so then…ah, God bless…”

A degree in street pharmaceutical science automatically qualifies you for a real estate license.

“1-900-Hustler”

Classic Line: “And if you free tomorrow night we can meet and discuss price/FYI, I never been robbed in my life…”

A hotline for the hardcore knuckleheads. Gotta love it.

“Song Cry”

Classic Line: “They say, ‘You can’t turn a bad girl good/But once a good girl’s gone bad/she’s gone forever…'”

Creating an emotional love song without getting sappy is a feat in itself.

“Soon You’ll Understand”

Classic Line: “Wasn’t fair to tell you to wait/So I told you to skate/You chose not to, now look at the sh*t we gotta go through…”

Jigga showed us the even the bad guy in a relationship can have plenty of valid points.

“Intro/A Million & One Questions/Rhyme No More”

Classic Line: “I used to be O.T./Applying the force/Shoot up the whole block/Then the iron I toss/Come back with the clique playing Diana Ross/I’m the boss and this is how it’s gonna be…”

Can we get a “Woo-ha!” for all the rhymes galore in (both) songs?

“Dead Presidents I & II”

Classic Line: One day you’re cruising in your 7/Next day you’re sweating, forgetting your lies/Alibis ain’t matching up/Bullsh*t catching up/Hit with the RICO/They repo your vehicle/Everything was all good just a week ago…”

Every rapper talks about money but the “Dead Presidents” installments were just as detailed as the coding printed on actual currency. Only the Wu-Tang Clan stand a chance of rivaling it for the crown.