LogFAQs > #956080618

121. Jay-Z 99 Problems (2003)
from the album The Black Album

Key lyrics:
If you dont like my lyrics, you can press fast forward

Jay-Zs greatest hit acts as a deconstruction of his success. Built around a chorus ripped straight from Ice-Ts own 99 Problems, Jay-Z takes a literal interpretation. Instead of focusing on the women, his gaze is focused exclusively on the problems. The chorus thus acts as needless button-pushing, of which he tackles in the first verse. Do any of his critics understand the context of his success? Misogyny may be a common problem in hip hop, but the critics ignore why those songs exist. These are celebratory songs from a group which has been given little reason to do so. Those more upbeat if problematic tracks act as a necessary catharsis. He then bitterly descends into the real problems these critics demand.

The production is an absolute masterwork. Few songs manage such inseparable synthesis between voice and instrumentation. The beat stutters and stops, helping to emphasize every single word. A few guitar chords strike at the end of every other line, continually pushing us into the next section. Through this aggressive, minimalistic beat, Jay-Z paints a grimy picture of life as a black man in America. By doing so, he actually flips the chorus on its head a good woman might just be his one relief.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/