he may have 99 problems but making great music certainly ain’t one of them
music certainly ain’t one of them
music certainly ain’t one of them welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 jay-z song for this list we’ve chosen
jay-z song for this list we’ve chosen
jay-z song for this list we’ve chosen our entries based on a combination of
our entries based on a combination of
our entries based on a combination of the artists fan favorites and their most
the artists fan favorites and their most
the artists fan favorites and their most commercially successful songs we’ve
commercially successful songs we’ve
commercially successful songs we’ve excluded songs where he was not the lead
excluded songs where he was not the lead
excluded songs where he was not the lead artists and/or was merely featured
[Music]
[Music] number 10 Big Pimpin
[Music]
[Music] although Big Pimpin received its fair
although Big Pimpin received its fair
although Big Pimpin received its fair share of criticism based on accusations
share of criticism based on accusations
share of criticism based on accusations of it being misogynistic it’s Egyptian
of it being misogynistic it’s Egyptian
of it being misogynistic it’s Egyptian influenced production as well as a guest
influenced production as well as a guest
influenced production as well as a guest appearance from Houston’s UGK don’t make
appearance from Houston’s UGK don’t make
appearance from Houston’s UGK don’t make this track one of Jays most distinctive
this track one of Jays most distinctive
this track one of Jays most distinctive [Music]
achieve jay-z may have also been sued
achieve jay-z may have also been sued over the tune thanks to the use of the
over the tune thanks to the use of the
over the tune thanks to the use of the sample but the hip-hop number remains
sample but the hip-hop number remains
sample but the hip-hop number remains one of his most commercially successful
one of his most commercially successful
one of his most commercially successful and hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot
and hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot
and hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts
100 charts
100 charts [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number nine is Oh hlv a G’s first-ever
number nine is Oh hlv a G’s first-ever
number nine is Oh hlv a G’s first-ever top-ten single as a lead artist on the
top-ten single as a lead artist on the
top-ten single as a lead artist on the Billboard Hot 100 came not only thanks
Billboard Hot 100 came not only thanks
Billboard Hot 100 came not only thanks to a very recognizable Jackson 5 sample
to a very recognizable Jackson 5 sample
to a very recognizable Jackson 5 sample but also as the lead single to the
but also as the lead single to the
but also as the lead single to the blueprint which would be acclaimed by
blueprint which would be acclaimed by
blueprint which would be acclaimed by some as his very best when you aren’t
some as his very best when you aren’t
some as his very best when you aren’t hearing the catchy chorus J’s pretty
hearing the catchy chorus J’s pretty
hearing the catchy chorus J’s pretty much telling you his life story in the
much telling you his life story in the
much telling you his life story in the 4-minute number taking us back to his
4-minute number taking us back to his
4-minute number taking us back to his days when he dabbled in drug dealing as
days when he dabbled in drug dealing as
days when he dabbled in drug dealing as well as his life growing up in
well as his life growing up in
well as his life growing up in Brooklyn’s Marcy projects
Brooklyn’s Marcy projects
Brooklyn’s Marcy projects [Music]
number eight I just want to love you
number eight I just want to love you give it to me one of several excellent
give it to me one of several excellent
give it to me one of several excellent jay-z singles that were produced by
jay-z singles that were produced by
jay-z singles that were produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo otherwise known as the dynamic
otherwise known as the dynamic
otherwise known as the dynamic production duo The Neptunes this track
production duo The Neptunes this track
production duo The Neptunes this track was declared the greatest song of the
was declared the greatest song of the
was declared the greatest song of the 2000s by Complex magazine charted within
2000s by Complex magazine charted within
2000s by Complex magazine charted within the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 and can
the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 and can
the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 and can still be heard at clubs and from
still be heard at clubs and from
still be heard at clubs and from subwoofers of people’s cars to this day
subwoofers of people’s cars to this day
subwoofers of people’s cars to this day [Music]
blending hip-hop and R&B I just want to
blending hip-hop and R&B I just want to love you is also accompanied by a cameo
love you is also accompanied by a cameo
love you is also accompanied by a cameo filled music video greatest number 7
filled music video greatest number 7
filled music video greatest number 7 dirt off your shoulder
dirt off your shoulder
dirt off your shoulder [Music]
[Music]
[Music] when your song gets referenced by none
when your song gets referenced by none
when your song gets referenced by none other than US President Barack Obama you
other than US President Barack Obama you
other than US President Barack Obama you know you’ve made something people are
know you’ve made something people are
know you’ve made something people are gonna remember and even before Obama
gonna remember and even before Obama
gonna remember and even before Obama that’s exactly what this track did it
that’s exactly what this track did it
that’s exactly what this track did it caused many people to pretend as if
caused many people to pretend as if
caused many people to pretend as if they’re actually brushing dirt off their
they’re actually brushing dirt off their
they’re actually brushing dirt off their shoulders the second single from the
shoulders the second single from the
shoulders the second single from the black album the Timbaland produced tune
black album the Timbaland produced tune
black album the Timbaland produced tune became a top 5 single in the States
became a top 5 single in the States
became a top 5 single in the States and was one of several jay-z songs
and was one of several jay-z songs
and was one of several jay-z songs matched up with Linkin Park song
or their collaboration album collision
or their collaboration album collision course
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
number six take over feedback running
number six take over feedback running shit
shit
shit freeway although it’s also known for
freeway although it’s also known for
freeway although it’s also known for being one of many solid tracks from the
being one of many solid tracks from the
being one of many solid tracks from the blueprint takeover is even better known
blueprint takeover is even better known
blueprint takeover is even better known for being a diss song against James
for being a diss song against James
for being a diss song against James former rival nas and Mobb Deep’s a
former rival nas and Mobb Deep’s a
former rival nas and Mobb Deep’s a prodigy No so what’s your whole album
prodigy No so what’s your whole album
prodigy No so what’s your whole album soul in my first week in it jay-z mocks
soul in my first week in it jay-z mocks
soul in my first week in it jay-z mocks nas for putting out subpar albums after
nas for putting out subpar albums after
nas for putting out subpar albums after his classic debut Illmatic and claims
his classic debut Illmatic and claims
his classic debut Illmatic and claims that he used the line from nas’s the
that he used the line from nas’s the
that he used the line from nas’s the world of yours better as a sample in his
world of yours better as a sample in his
world of yours better as a sample in his own song dead presidents too swiftly
own song dead presidents too swiftly
own song dead presidents too swiftly responded a few months later with a
responded a few months later with a
responded a few months later with a great disc track of his own ether
right next to the narrow truck one of
right next to the narrow truck one of many great anthems about the Big Apple
many great anthems about the Big Apple
many great anthems about the Big Apple this track came to life after to
this track came to life after to
this track came to life after to Brooklyn songwriters who were missing
Brooklyn songwriters who were missing
Brooklyn songwriters who were missing their hometown pitched the song projeto
their hometown pitched the song projeto
their hometown pitched the song projeto [Music]
[Music]
[Music] of sorts to the city and with fellow New
of sorts to the city and with fellow New
of sorts to the city and with fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys on its huge
Yorker Alicia Keys on its huge
Yorker Alicia Keys on its huge sing-along chorus
Empire State of Mind ended up becoming
Empire State of Mind ended up becoming Jays first ever Hot 100 chart topper as
Jays first ever Hot 100 chart topper as
Jays first ever Hot 100 chart topper as a lead artist city of Santa City on the
a lead artist city of Santa City on the
a lead artist city of Santa City on the wind good girls gone bad cities built
wind good girls gone bad cities built
wind good girls gone bad cities built with them it also bagged him two Grammy
with them it also bagged him two Grammy
with them it also bagged him two Grammy Awards four renegade it’s easy to say
Awards four renegade it’s easy to say
Awards four renegade it’s easy to say that this track belongs more to mm than
that this track belongs more to mm than
that this track belongs more to mm than to Jay not only because Slim Shady did a
to Jay not only because Slim Shady did a
to Jay not only because Slim Shady did a lot of the production but also because
lot of the production but also because
lot of the production but also because many think he out rapped
many think he out rapped
many think he out rapped Jay on it and this even led nas to claim
Jay on it and this even led nas to claim
Jay on it and this even led nas to claim and murdered Jay on his own track in
and murdered Jay on his own track in
and murdered Jay on his own track in ether whatever your thoughts on the
ether whatever your thoughts on the
ether whatever your thoughts on the matter
matter
matter there’s no denying renegade is one sick
there’s no denying renegade is one sick
there’s no denying renegade is one sick number on the track the two rap
number on the track the two rap
number on the track the two rap heavyweights trade verses about Jays
heavyweights trade verses about Jays
heavyweights trade verses about Jays problems during his childhood and
problems during his childhood and
problems during his childhood and Shady’s problems with the music industry
Shady’s problems with the music industry
Shady’s problems with the music industry [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Iijima time
number three hard-knock life
number three hard-knock life ghetto anthem though it definitely
ghetto anthem though it definitely
ghetto anthem though it definitely stands out for its use of a sample from
stands out for its use of a sample from
stands out for its use of a sample from the musical annie’ hard-knock life is
the musical annie’ hard-knock life is
the musical annie’ hard-knock life is also notable as the track that helps
also notable as the track that helps
also notable as the track that helps establish jay-z as a commercial rapper
establish jay-z as a commercial rapper
establish jay-z as a commercial rapper outside the United States charting
outside the United States charting
outside the United States charting highly in a number of European countries
highly in a number of European countries
highly in a number of European countries it landed just shy of the number one
it landed just shy of the number one
it landed just shy of the number one spot in the UK and was nominated for a
spot in the UK and was nominated for a
spot in the UK and was nominated for a Grammy in addition to its memorable East
Grammy in addition to its memorable East
Grammy in addition to its memorable East Coast hip hop flavors the song was also
Coast hip hop flavors the song was also
Coast hip hop flavors the song was also cemented into pop culture when it was
cemented into pop culture when it was
cemented into pop culture when it was parodied in Austin Powers in Goldmember
parodied in Austin Powers in Goldmember
parodied in Austin Powers in Goldmember [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number two dead presidents
number two dead presidents
number two dead presidents shit see you Michael I’m a bit caught up
shit see you Michael I’m a bit caught up
shit see you Michael I’m a bit caught up in the Primus shoot Jays first ever
in the Primus shoot Jays first ever
in the Primus shoot Jays first ever promo single is also one of his very
promo single is also one of his very
promo single is also one of his very best watch I won’t because even the
best watch I won’t because even the
best watch I won’t because even the devil we know can trying to strike the
devil we know can trying to strike the
devil we know can trying to strike the ball get hoping that they might get one
ball get hoping that they might get one
ball get hoping that they might get one she actually came in two different
she actually came in two different
she actually came in two different versions one released as the single and
versions one released as the single and
versions one released as the single and featured in the tracks music video while
featured in the tracks music video while
featured in the tracks music video while the other with a completely different
the other with a completely different
the other with a completely different set of lyrics was released on the album
set of lyrics was released on the album
set of lyrics was released on the album and is known as dead presidents two
and is known as dead presidents two
and is known as dead presidents two [Music]
[Music]
[Music] years later both versions are still
years later both versions are still
years later both versions are still considered by critics as one of the
considered by critics as one of the
considered by critics as one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever made and
greatest hip-hop songs ever made and
greatest hip-hop songs ever made and multiple remixes have come out from many
multiple remixes have come out from many
multiple remixes have come out from many rappers that came after Jay rather stop
rappers that came after Jay rather stop
rappers that came after Jay rather stop bitching ain’t you ready to stop
bitching ain’t you ready to stop
bitching ain’t you ready to stop snitchin ain’t you
snitchin ain’t you
snitchin ain’t you I’m where do we get something dis ain’t
I’m where do we get something dis ain’t
I’m where do we get something dis ain’t you not bad at all from a track from
you not bad at all from a track from
you not bad at all from a track from your debut shitty ass you know you want
your debut shitty ass you know you want
your debut shitty ass you know you want to be involved with the underworld
to be involved with the underworld
to be involved with the underworld business can we get some back Millers
business can we get some back Millers
business can we get some back Millers east coast body is west coast before we
east coast body is west coast before we
east coast body is west coast before we unveil our top hip here are a few
unveil our top hip here are a few
unveil our top hip here are a few honorable mentions big small shit you
honorable mentions big small shit you
honorable mentions big small shit you George
George
George Brooklyn represent y’all hit you bald
Brooklyn represent y’all hit you bald
Brooklyn represent y’all hit you bald you crazy pink a little bit around to
you crazy pink a little bit around to
you crazy pink a little bit around to play me and formación bosses jump you
play me and formación bosses jump you
play me and formación bosses jump you Jamie
my mind is infested with Z close the
my mind is infested with Z close the circle like a Lexus and driven wrong and
circle like a Lexus and driven wrong and
circle like a Lexus and driven wrong and should I hurt you
should I hurt you
should I hurt you yeah I don’t know my expenses I gotta
yeah I don’t know my expenses I gotta
yeah I don’t know my expenses I gotta buy bigger place and more bags why you
buy bigger place and more bags why you
buy bigger place and more bags why you all edgy respect the game that should be
all edgy respect the game that should be
all edgy respect the game that should be it
it
it what you eat don’t make me shit one two
what you eat don’t make me shit one two
what you eat don’t make me shit one two spin this one
if you having girl problems that feel
if you having girl problems that feel bad for you son got number one 99
bad for you son got number one 99
bad for you son got number one 99 problems this song was the first hip-hop
problems this song was the first hip-hop
problems this song was the first hip-hop track Rick Rubin had produced in some
track Rick Rubin had produced in some
track Rick Rubin had produced in some time and boy did he ever make the most
time and boy did he ever make the most
time and boy did he ever make the most of it the hard rock beat simply blares
of it the hard rock beat simply blares
of it the hard rock beat simply blares from your speakers and jay-z’s got
from your speakers and jay-z’s got
from your speakers and jay-z’s got verses and a catchy hook to match got 99
verses and a catchy hook to match got 99
verses and a catchy hook to match got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one
we son I got 99 problems but a bitch
we son I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t telling the story of Jays run-in
ain’t telling the story of Jays run-in
ain’t telling the story of Jays run-in with the cops in New Jersey 99 problems
with the cops in New Jersey 99 problems
with the cops in New Jersey 99 problems is considered one of the greatest tracks
is considered one of the greatest tracks
is considered one of the greatest tracks of the 2000s and it’s black and white
of the 2000s and it’s black and white
of the 2000s and it’s black and white music video received tons of acclaim
music video received tons of acclaim
music video received tons of acclaim upon its release a hot 100 top 40 track
upon its release a hot 100 top 40 track
upon its release a hot 100 top 40 track it also won Jeezy a Grammy for Best Rap
it also won Jeezy a Grammy for Best Rap
it also won Jeezy a Grammy for Best Rap solo performance do you agree with our
solo performance do you agree with our
solo performance do you agree with our list which jay-z track is your all-time
list which jay-z track is your all-time
list which jay-z track is your all-time favorite
entertaining top 10s published every day
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