Welp, they got me. I'm not even into streaming as much as the Cool Teens™ are these days, so Jay Z Standom notwithstanding, I can give a damn about $20 lossless hi-fi or whatever. But, here I am, about to sign up for Tidal as soon as I publish this. Because a Jay Z, excuse me, Jaÿ-Z B-Sides concert?! Oh my goodness, word to Boogie, that's what fans have been asking for ever since Hova became the rap game Billy Joel and began putting on the same (albeit well-executed) show of hits year after year with special guests for added flavor. Sure, the Tidal catch is a big caveat, regrettable in its blatant two-birds-with-one-stone ploy. Still, it's the show fans have pleaded for, we just all know why it's finally happening now.
No matter, though, as long as the show itself is worth it. This can't be some half-assed joint for people who couldn't name a Jay song pre-"Empire State of Mind," like Miley. This has to be a real return to form for the Day Ones. Pain in da Ass has to intro him in. Maybe a few throwback alphets adorned. And of course, the B-sides themselves have to be well-curated. To be clear: this is not a list of Jay-Z deep cuts, nor unreleased songs. We've done that before. This is a list of Jay Z classics that otherwise, these days at least, get no setlist love. I'm trusting you, Jigga. Forget about the Tidal of it all and deliver the concert we've been asking for.
56. "Thank You"
Album: The Blueprint 3
The conclusion to the Blueprint trilogy is often met with mixed results but this is, inarguably, the best song on the album. For a time it was his go-to (admittedly on-the-nose) show closer but it's since been discarded from the setlist, long enough for it to quietly become one of his most underrated tracks and deserving of a revisit. The last verse still gives chills.
54. "Wishing on a Star"
Album: N/A
If fam really wants to take it to the vaults, this smooth Rose Royce-sampling cut that missed the final tracklist for Vol. 1 would be a good gesture.
52. "Girl's Best Friend"
Album: Blue Streak
It might be too lowkey for a full-on concert, but nevertheless, one of the best things Jay and Swizz have ever done together.
50. "Best of Me Part II"
Album: Backstage: A Hard Knock Life
One of the premier R&B rapper features that still manages to keep it less lovey-dovey and much more gutter is also one of Hov's best R&B contributions to date. Bonus points if he actually unearths Mya.
48. "Oh My God"
Album: Kingdom Come
His worse album, sure. But, backed by a thunderous Just Blaze beat, this is one of the project's few flashes of brilliance.
46. "Anything"
Album: The Truth
Or, as it's commonly known, "Hard Knock Life: The Wildly Less Successful But Still Fire Sequel."
44. "That's My Bitch"
Album: Watch the Throne
I still don't know why this song wasn't a crossover smash. I don't even think they performed this much, or at all, on the tour. This is, quietly, one of the best songs on the album. It deserves a surprise Kanye West appearance as the only Watch the Throne song of the night.
42. "Jay-Z Freestyle"
Album: The Professional Part 2
With Clue there on stage to interject his "CLUMINIATTI!!!!" ad-lib.
40. "Diamond is Forever"
Album: The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse
Underrated, mostly by people who dismiss the Blueprint 2 for it's length and filler tracks. This isn't one of them.
38. "American Gangster"
Album: American Gangster
The last Just Blaze beat Hov's rapped on to date. They went out on one hell of a high note.
36. "Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)"
Album: The Blueprint
It was a rare but real treat seeing Jay slot "Girls, Girls, Girls" into some of his Barclays opening shows. A B-Sides show has to take it a step further with the sequel tucked in the bonus space of Blueprint after "Momma Loves Me."
34. "Hey Papi"
Album: The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Or, as it's commonly known: "Big Pimpin: The Much Less Successful But Still Banging Sequel."
32. "Money, Cash, Hoes"
Album: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
You can't go Full Jigga Man™ without this on the set list. Maybe even the remix, too.
30. "Politics as Usual"
Album: Reasonable Doubt
It's a toss-up between this and "Cashmere Thoughts" for universally least-played-but-equally-classic song on Jay's debut.
28. "1-900-Hustler"
Album: The Dynasty—Roc La Familia
If health or personal issues bar Beans from participating, here's a peak Dynasty-era cut Hov can still get away with it. Beans only handles the in-between verses while Bleek delivers a solid sixteen only for Freeway to come through and absolutely crush his introduction ("First things first...").
26. "Change the Game"
Album: The Dynasty—Roc La Familia
Although, this couldn't be done sans Beans.
24. "Lobster and Scrimp"
Album: Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment
The flow, the verses, the beat—everything on this song is absolutely disgusting. It deserved better placement than Timbaland's forgotten debut album.
22. "Is That Yo Chick (The Lost Verses)"
Album: The Understanding
For what it's worth, Memphis Bleek absolutely gets off on this song. But before Lance "Un" Rivera intervened, this was meant to be Hova's only, for Vol. 3. The bars would make his Forbes friends blush but fuck it, this is a concert for the fans, political connects be damned.
20. "Dead Presidents (Original)"
Album: N/A
For the real Day Ones. The only thing more lit than this would be a performance of this, the classic album version, and the unreleased heater that leaked online a few years ago.
18. "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"
Album: Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter
If a surprise Beanie truce/appearance is in the works, he absolutely has to come out to this.
16. "La, La, La"
Album: Bad Boys 2
One of Jigga's most reliable bangers, dude really gave heat to the most random of soundtracks.
14. "Success"
Album: American Gangster
The best thing to come out of Jay and Nas' truce to date besides a bevy of bromantic photos (see above).
12. "A Million & One Questions/Rhyme No More"
Album: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Ugh, nice watch.
10. "D'evils"
Album: Reasonable Doubt
We know it as one of his best songs but the fact remains: it hasn't graced a set list in years.
8. "So Ghetto"
Album: Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter
The last song Hov ever made with DJ Premier. A B-Side if there ever was one.
6. "Hova Song"
Album: Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter
This has to be the concert opener. Just imagine those gothic chants swelling as Jay rises center stage. Pain in da Ass reciting his intro. The concert would instantly be one of the best of all-time.
4. "In My Lifetime (Remix)"
Album: Streets is Watching
Quite possibly the best Jaÿ-Z song of all time.
2. "Imaginary Players"
Album: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Peak Jay Z shit talking at its finest. Forget the endlessly classic barrage of brags—very few skits are as quotable as Jay asking, in his best fuccboi accent, "What the difference between a 4.0 and a 4.6?" If you don't know the answer, just beat it.
