Top 25 Jay-Z Songs

Jay-Z is one of the rare MC’s to drop multiple classic albums.  It’s even rarer that he drops them during different eras in hip-hop.  His 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt came during the end of hip-hop’s Golden Era from the mid-80s until the mid-90s.  Backed by Kanye West and Just Blaze, his soul-influenced 2001 album The Blueprint created a dynamic shift in production style and arguably led to the death of the “bling-bling era.”   Two years later, he was ready to call it quits with The Black Album, which would have been up there with Scarface’s Emeritus as textbook examples on how to make a final album had Jay-Z stayed retired.

With almost 20 years in the game, Jay-Z has a wealth of jams that cannot be contained in a Top 25 list.  Much like Kevin Nottingham and Michael Jordan, you can’t stop them, you can only try to contain them.

25. “I Just Wanna Love U”
From: The Dynasty, Roc La Familia (2000)

The biting of/homage to Biggie lyrics aside, the beat and Pharrell hook are undeniable.

24. “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…)”
From: American Gangster (2007)

A celebratory jam as Jay celebrates being on top of the rap game and the crack game.

23. “Blue Magic”
From: American Gangster (2007)

A Neptunes beat that grows on you exponentially, Jay takes it back to his Reasonable Doubt hustling days.

22. “Bitches & Sisters”
From: The Blueprint 2 (2002)

When people ask the difference, this song provides the blueprint.

21. “Friend or Foe ‘98″
From: In My Lifetime… Vol 1 (1997)

A rarity in hip-hop: a superior sequel.  It’s even more impressive, considering how good the first one was.

20. “22 Twos”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

I’ll put my West Coast-bias and anger towards the first line aside, it’s a pretty creative track, and the shouting at the end is pretty funny as well.

19. “Brooklyn (Go Hard)”
From: Notorious [Soundtrack] (2009)

The most recent on this list, and deserves a spot on the Jackie Robinson lines alone

18. “Can I Live”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

A beat that would have been at home on The Chronic and a celebration of materialistic life.

17. “Meet the Parents”
From: The Blueprint 2 (2002)

Showing his versatility, Jay comes correct with one of the most underrated story tracks in hip-hop.

16. “Lucifer”
From: The Black Album (2003)

Jay effortlessly crosses thugging with religious references over one of Kanye’s best beats.

15. “The Takeover”
From: The Blueprint (2001)

A vitriolic attack against Nas and Mobb Deep that was an integral part of Nas and Jay-Z’s epic feud.

14. “Moment of Clarity”
From: The Black Album (2003)

Insight into his father’s death and the infamous “dumbed down for my audience and doubled my dollars” line that defines the music industry.

13. “Public Service Announcement”
From: The Black Album (2003)

Pure fire, mixing his hustling background and his prowess and success as an MC, over more fire from Just Blaze

12. “Heart of the City”
From: The Blueprint (2001)

One of the beats that brought soul back to the beatmaking game.  Interchangeable with “Never Change” in style and dopeness.

11. “Brooklyn’s Finest”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Two of the best ever on one track will always be a recipe for success.

10. “99 Problems”
From: The Black Album (2003)

Rick Rubin’s guitar-driven banger was a fitting backdrop to Jay’s oft-quoted and sampled single off  The Black Album.

9.  “U Don’t Know”
From: The Blueprint (2001)

Just Blaze brought the horns in full force as Jay spits numerous hustling quotables.

8.  “This Can’t Be Life”
From: The Dynasty, Roc La Familia (2000)

A nice lineup with Beans and Scarface as they ponder the trials and tribulations of this thing called “life.”

7.  “Reservoir Dogs”
From: Vol 2… Hard Knock Life (1998)

The “Shaft”-sampled backdrop is evidence 1-A that you don’t always need a hook.

6.  “Renegade”
From: The Blueprint (2001)

It would have made this list, even without Eminem.  Eminem just makes it one of the hottest tracks ever.

5.  “Dead Presidents II”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Nas made it a hot line, Jay-Z made it a hot song.

4.  “Can’t Knock the Hustle”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

The Scarface intro and the Mary J. Blige hook served as a memorable intro into one of the greatest Mafioso hip-hop albums ever.

3.  “Hard Knock Life”
From: Vol 2… Hard Knock Life (1998)

I remember where I was and exactly what I was doing when I first heard it on the radio, and it was my unforgettable introduction to Jay-Z.  Unmatched swagger over an “Annie” sample.

2.  “Song Cry”
From: The Blueprint (2001)

The saddest, most heartfelt song in Jay-Z’s catalog.  Also see Remot’s remix on Viva La Hova for a remix that damn near surpasses the original.

1.  “D’evils”
From: Reasonable Doubt (1996)

A bonafide classic, From the Snoop and Prodigy samples to the immortal line that has come to define Mafioso rap, “I don’t pray to God, I pray to Gotti.”

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