Remember Them Days: The 10 Best Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel Collabos
Let’s be honest: before Beanie Sigel came along, Roc-A-Fella records was kind of a joke. Maybe not a joke, but it was at best nothing more than Jay-Z’s vanity brand, a crew that consisted of limited MCs like Memphis Bleek and Sauce Money, and R&B acts like Rell and Christión. But it wasn’t until the Broad Street Bully came into the crew in the late ’90s that the Roc finally got a lyrical heavyweight who could really go toe-to-toe with the the God MC, Jay-Hova.
10 years later, the New York-Philly alliance is finally over. After floundering in the wake of the Roc-A-Fella breakup, Beans finally put out a diss song directed at Jay-Z last night, along with an in-depth interview about his reasons. We can’t say we didn’t see it coming, but it’s still a sad day for old fans of the Roc. Follow us as we look back at the good days with The 10 Best Jay-Z/Beanie Sigel Collaborations…
#10:
Jay-Z f/ Beanie Sigel, The LOX and Sauce Money “Reservoir Dogs” (1998)
Hova’s young gunner from Philly first popped up on this Eric Sermon-produced posse cut from Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life. When we heard him rhyme “testicle” and “vestibule,” we knew Beans was onto something.
#9:
Memphis Bleek f/ Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel “Murda Murda” (2003)
This joint was originally a Jay-Z-only outtake from The Blueprint, but it always seemed a little weird that Beans wasn’t on it, since the chorus includes the line “South Philly muthafuckas kill at will!” Luckily they recorded an official version for Bleek’s third album with the Broad Street Bully.
#8:
Beanie Sigel f/ Jay-Z “It’s On” (2003)
This stand-out track from the second State Property album is a laid-back duet from Hov and Beans. Jay even spits the line, “Young Vito, voice of the young people/If my life a movie, then Sieg gon’ be the sequel.” Damn.
#7:
Jay-Z f/ Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek “Change The Game” (2000)
Hov’s fourth album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia prominently featured Beans on nine songs, including this West Coast-flavored hit that was produced by Rick Rock. Something about Beans on a crip-walk beat just works.
#6:
Jay-Z f/ Beanie Sigel “Ignorant Shit” (2007)
This Just Blaze-produced outtake from The Black Album popped up as an official version on Hov’s American Gangster concept album in 2007. With the exception of a forgettable album cut on Beanie’s The Solution, which dropped a month after American Gangster, this stands as their final collaboration.
#5:
Scarface f/ Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel “Guess Who’s Back” (2002)
There’s something magical that happens every time these three get on the same track, most famously on this hit collaboration from Scarface’s sole Def Jam album, The Fix. We’re still smellin’ crack on our clothes.
#4:
Jay-Z f/ Beanie Sigel “Where Have You Been?” (2000)
The emotional crux from The Dynasty features Jay and Beans rapping about their twisted relationships to their fathers. You thought Ghostface and The Game were the only rappers crazy enough to actually cry on tracks? Think again.
#3:
Freeway f/ Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel “What We Do” (2003)
This classic posse cut from Freeway’s debut Philadelphia Freeway features an amazing performance from both MC’s. Their chemistry is especially apparent in the way that they actually flow from one verse to the other. “B. Sieg in the third lane!” MAYNE.
#2:
Jay-Z f/ Beanie Sigel & Amil “Do It Again (Throw Your Hands Up)” (1999)
The lead single from Vol. 3…The Life & Times of S. Carter seemed to catch people a little off-guard when it came out, with its unusual beat that sampled a go-go song. But as the years have gone by, this stands as one of Hov’s most reliable club-bangers, aided greatly by Beans’ memorable verse: “Got bitches in the back bounce-in-to-Jig-ga-what. Got ya hands up and I ain’t even stick ya’ll up.” Just make sure you change the record before Amil comes on!
#1:
Jay-Z f/ Beanie Sigel & Scarface “This Can’t Be Life” (2000)
The original Jay/Beans/Face collabo from The Dynasty remains one of Jay-Z’s greatest songs ever. On the classic early Kanye beat, each MC shows their vulnerable side, telling autobiographical stories about loss and personal frustrations. “Don’t worry, if it was meant to be, it’ll be soon.”
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GWL14 October 30, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Dumb comment to say that Sauce wasn’t enough for Jay.
“Bring It On”, “Face Off”, “Pre Game” “Resevoir Dogs” “Marcy to Hollywood” “What the Game Made Me”?
I agree Beanie is overall better than Sauce but as far as going to toe-to-toe, Sauce is more of a threat than Beans.
ol head October 30, 2009 at 6:42 pm
i’ll basically will co sign this list except #2 should have been #1.
copperkid October 30, 2009 at 6:46 pm
beans, jay and scarface collabos were classic….now beans is a disgruntled, ungrateful ex-employee! how u gonna be mad at someone that made u millions and put u on!
zonebx1160 October 30, 2009 at 10:40 pm
beans aint got mills, if he had mills he wouldnt be talkin about he got played outta made money from his clothing line deal & shit. jay got dude signed but he always did his own thing. he aint ungrateful cuz he aint sayin fuck hov. he just pretty much fed up wit his shady shit this dude has held this shit in for like 5 yrs now shit maybe even longer. he said it himself he still got love 4 jay but he aint fuckin wit him like dat no more.
by the way complex got shit wrong dynasty was hovs 5th album not his forth
shaq28 October 30, 2009 at 9:17 pm
beans put himself on and hes been dope by himself. he dont need jay z to be sick, they were sick on the same tarck loved rocafella in early 2000’s. good list
copperkid November 2, 2009 at 9:40 pm
beans didnt put himself on the roc, he didnt give himself millions, he didnt give himself a clothing line…he should be grateful and keep it moving if he wants nothing else to do with jay
Slim October 30, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Where is “Crew Love”????
Venom October 31, 2009 at 12:04 am
what happened to “Somehow, Someway”??
mike October 31, 2009 at 1:30 am
some dude posted this nas verse on RR:
perfect for the beans & jay situation
How you a man waitin’ for the next man to get rich?
Yo’ plan is to stick out yo’ hand real quick
So if he feed ya family and he serve you shit
Then he need that head you get and he deserve your bitch
Since you wishin’ cash fall from the sky all ya life
Dwellin’ on the past when you was alright
When you was gettin’ cash but wasn’t too bright
Now ya luck down you feel like, bustin’ them shells
Nobody owe you, can’t do nothin’ for self
Want niggaz to show you, how to come up wit’ green
I scheme since I’m fourteens, what the fuck was your dream?
Rental cars, little broads, sayin’ you was seen
Wit’ little niggaz wit’ a chain you was doin’ ya thing
How high was I? You the thousandth guy
That came around thinkin’ we can see, eye to eye
We on a different echelon, coulda got bread together
Now you gets deaded on
ChuckDofdaSouth October 31, 2009 at 3:26 am
Beanie definitely got some things he need to get off his chest. Its like working on a job and they treat you like a number. If the Roc was a “family”, I can feel him. This is therapy for him. Certain verses Jay has dropped sound like therapy for him…I thought the purpose of “us” getting our own record labels and clothing lines was to be bigger than this…we may as well go back to the old days and go out like Prince or MJ
certifiedgfunk October 31, 2009 at 10:30 am
no 1-900-HUSTLER?? that shits fuego
mike October 31, 2009 at 4:12 pm
jayz’s answer at beanie sigel
worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh3y9GglyNlsvB9X7e
beanie sigel interview also on the site.
T.A. October 31, 2009 at 4:51 pm
what happened to “i still got love for you”- Jay X Beans X Rell
mike October 31, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Jay & Beans
Solution’s joint
was good too already
“forgettable” what!
banga
mike October 31, 2009 at 6:43 pm
the jigga the face and the beanie
the jones the face and the cube
face & bun (duo) frank & jess
hiphop needs those joints
scarfaces king of south
not king, fuck!
emperor
mike October 31, 2009 at 6:45 pm
jigga/face/beans LP
C.L. November 1, 2009 at 10:46 am
on crew love he was jigga just was on the chorus
wordsworthisthetruth November 1, 2009 at 7:11 pm
That newest song “Gutted” with Beans and Jay should definitely be on here-that beat was ridic and the song goes hard too {||}
Can’t be life is the best though.
Adrian November 2, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Somehow, Someway
1-900-hustler
gutted
Gonzo November 2, 2009 at 12:39 pm
“You ME Him and Her” should have made this list
Da November 2, 2009 at 3:07 pm
yea id take out “This cant be life” and “Where have you been” and replace with “1900 Hustler” and “Crew Love”
Da November 2, 2009 at 3:08 pm
actually nevermind, Beans was barely on “1900 Hustler” my bad
Stoutstanding November 2, 2009 at 3:39 pm
YOU,ME,HIM,AND HER of “The Dynasty” !!!!!!!!!!!!! Beans verse was crazy, that ignorant shit was terrible…….
hbkon2ive November 2, 2009 at 4:55 pm
4 da fam should be here on here…dynasty niggas!