Throwback Thursday is a big thing on the Internet, a day when people feel compelled to share old pictures of themselves as awkward kids and ugly babies. But on this day, for my own #TBT, I plan on waxing poetic on random old shit I come across on the 'Net. Sometimes I like to spark an L and surf the Web for mixtape cuts, old articles, etc. This space will give me an excuse to talk about my favorite era in rap history: the late '90s and early '00s. Ghostface and Jay Z are my favorite rappers.
I already wrote about my love for the Almighty GFK, so now I'm writing about Jiggaman. If you're like me, you have some of these tracks already, but with so much new music popping up, I find it hard to make the time to go back and listen to old cuts.
Hopefully I put you on to some shit, or at the very least we can reminisce. Listen to these, and remember the Jay from way back when he was coming for the crown. Check out these 5 Jay Z Songs You Probably Haven't Heard in a While.
Angel Diaz is a staff writer for Complex Media. Follow him @ADiaz456.
Jay Z “I Shot Ya (Freestyle)” (1996)
Shai f/ Jay Z “I Don't Wanna Be Alone (Remix)” (1996)
Jay Z f/ Sauce Money “Dead or Alive Pt. 1” (1997)
Forgotten in the pockets of history because Pac was gunned down around the time this track popped up on mixtapes. The second part was featured on DJ Clue's Show Me the Money tape.
Jay and Sauce send shots Pac's way without saying his name. Subliminals are nothing new in rap.
Scarface f/ Jay Z “Get Out” (2000)
Facemob and Jigga plot on a drug spot over Mr. Lee production that sounds like a Scooby-Doo mystery. Jigga picks Face up from an undisclosed New York airport and the co-d's waste no time pulling their heist. It's like a continental episode of Money & Violence. This is from Scarface's The Last of a Dying Breed and is one of their first collaborations.
"And when the money get low then the hungriness show, niggas better get the fuck out the house."
Sheesh, that line makes me want to fire up the ole PS4 for a lil GTA action.
DJ Envy f/ Jay Z "H.O.V.A." (2003)
Listen, Envy's The Desert Storm Mixtape: Blok Party Vol. 1 is underrated just because it had this, Styles' "What, Why, Where, When," and Triangle Offense's "Grand Theft Audio" on it. Self Service blacked on this beat and Jigga snapped.
"Get your mind right or get it on your left sleeve."
That first verse is ridiculous. Jigga was in the middle of the Nas beef and had just dropped Blueprint 2. He was showing off on this.
Update: A commenter pointed out that this beat was indeed produced by Self-Service. The original version of this post credited Envy as the producer.
