Jay Z's "GOD DID" verse is incredible. His Twitter Spaces breakdown... not so much. But Hov is really an entry point for broader conversation. I find myself thinking about a particular Kendrick Lamar quote quite a bit. "Where the Hypocrites at? What communities feel they the only ones relevant?" In my opinion, Billionaires is that community. 700 away from 100K Thank you all for all the support 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
After you left Hip-Hop DX I was sad these breakdowns would not happen anymore. But now you get to do it on your own terms and own it. I'm all for people having ownership over their work. I look forward to every drop.
one of your best breakdowns, ever; really well thought out. i believe that we've idolized jay-z's artistry for so long that we forget his deficiencies as a human being. his wealth gives him access to certain privileges, but also disconnects him from the wider audience. it's true that we need more POC's in position of power and wealth in the west. but if we think the same way as our white rich counterparts when we get money, then we just become like them; detached from reality.
"we need more POC's in position of power and wealth in the west." In other words you're saying black people need neo-colonialism? Robert Allen dismantled this view in "Black Awakening in Capitalist America" 50 years ago. Sad the black liberation struggle, such as it is, is still mired in this sort of thinking.
@@billyconnelly3568 mans just took one part of the comment and ran with it... did you not read the rest where it says that if we think like our white counterparts when we get money, we become detached from the reality? the reality being the suffering and struggle. liberation isn't a monolith; everyone needs to play their part.
All your breakdowns are fantastic but this one is especially a great piece to add to the conversation. Please keep up the work that's informative, thoughtful, and tempered. I think this is what great modern journalism looks like.
Dre was the first rap billionaire but Hov is a walking verse of the year. I’m glad he’s successful but all this “God talk” makes me roll my eyes. Bella goth hit it on the nail. You can’t be Warren Buffet AND Malcom X at the same time. Dame Dash was poppin bottles on boats with white people and when he got kicked out the club and he’s all pro black now. Kanye West tries to act all woke about people spending they last dime to buy designers but YOU wanna be apart of their world and glorified it. Jay defending Obama and calling himself the MJ of rap is just par for the course. MJ never gave AF about social issues either. Jay is a capitalist NOT a revolutionary. These types of titles should go to Talib Kweli and KRS ONE. Dead Prez and such. These rich rappers want to be the establishment. Not fight for the people. Great breakdown.
@@TheCompanyMan I honestly don’t know but I don’t think so. I don’t think you change the system. The system changes you. I think black folks have spent so much time being have nots that now that they have money they don’t want some poor folks like us raining on their parade. But like Bella Goth said. If you’re a capitalist pos just say that and stop trying to martyr yourself. I love Jay music but hip hop was supposed to be about bringing power to the people. Not protecting rich folks from criticism. I’m glad you addressed this.
@@J_Chips Also his criticism of the Democratic Party which he got attacked for when he had the audacity to asked democrats what they would do for black people. How dare he?
I can respect the shit outta Jay Z as an artist and any help he’s chosen to give to anyone… But a decent civil society shouldn’t need to rely on the benevolence of landlords, billionaires and dare I say capitalists generally. None of the above should exist in a just society. Same way as we generally consider monarchs to be an outdated feudal throwback that’s only accepted in weird countries like my own lol 😅 People don’t want crumbs, they want solidarity, empowerment, a genuine sense of democracy uncorrupted by wealthy donors and oligarchs - and the collective freedom that brings, which means ending the extraction of value taken by capitalists… My comments are in no way to suggest there aren’t well meaning people that happen to be capitalists. It’s a critique of the structure rather than any individual… We want freedom not oligarchs whose financial position can only exist off of extraction of value….
Capitalism can often be misrepresented. Every society with liberty and prosperity relies on strong militaries and business infrastructure which relies on some large level of capitalism to acheive and secure. If a people doesn't have that, they're impoverished and likely oppressed by other societies who have these things. If you don't belong to a group of people who doesn't have these things and are trying to tell them that society ideally shouldn't have these things while benefitting at their expense due to your society having these things and using them to exploit the audience you're talking to, then ultomatepy you are a self-serving hypocrite, virtue signaling to deceive a people into feeling adverse to the things that are ultimately necessary elements to them acheiving liberation.
You can't be a billionaire and a good person. nobody can make that amount of money without exploiting everyone bellow them. wealth like that is not good for the people, but y'all too focus on getting in this position so you can do the same go others. "When education is not enlightening, the dream of the oppressed is to be the opressor"
That's just the truth but people get butt-hurt when you point it out. They entice the poor by telling them, this could be you! You can have this life too. The people need to wake up.
Excellent breakdown once again. The only point of contention I have is the point at 9:00 about him doing things for communities that directly support him. You're right about the support he has given, but I'd argue its more important to consider if he has done enough, rather than has he done anything or nothing. Just approaching it in that way--not mentioning whether or not he could be doing more with his power--detracts from the main idea you discussed in the outro. Like I said tho it was overall excellent. These are the kinds of conversations everybody needs to have brought into their life. Wishing you the best of luck with your family.
While I disagree with jay-z of course, however him, J. Cole, Kendrick, pretty much every rapper who even attempts to speak about politics, especially liberatory or radical or anti-capitalist politics never seem to do the Noname diligence of shutting the fuck up, listening to people who've spent their lives understanding politics, reading any of the books about our history, white history, european history, latin history, any of the the thousands of references that go back over 100 years of analysis. They just say their dumb ass comments that sound like it's the first time they've ever thought about what they're saying, get essentially meaningless pushback, play victim, then drop another platinum, hit another grandslam, shoot another buzzer beater, whatever. honestly, i wish when things like this happen, someone politically knowledgeable would get them to sit down and debate, or more likely just casually chat. at least then i'd feel like we've made a step forward so that the next time this happens we can look back to the time where we can verify that someone tried. because there's plenty of people, especially black people, who desperately want to be where jay-z is, plenty who are where jay-z was 30 years ago and they think the exact same way. words like capitalist are basically brand new to them and can easily be received out of context and proper definition. the history of radical black politics, if not all of african american history, is one of the struggle of mass education and the consequences of its failures.
I initially didn't really think about what was said with any seriousness. I assumed exactly what you said at the end of your first paragraph "meaningless pushback, play victim," wash, rinse, repeat. After Justin's video and your comment I'm def thinking different about this whole subject.
@@traplover6357 maybe that's because revolutions need funding, contrary to the opinions shared on this video, I don't see Jay-Z as whining about being scrutinized for being rich. What I think he is saying is the moment it's kinfolk getting the wealth "they" want to tell you it's their new rich that's taking from them, framing them as capitalist grabbers.. It's not in "their" interest to have the Jay-Zs partner with the Shaun Kings, so they try to pit them against each other.
We're glad you're back. You inspired us to start our our own TH-cam channel to focus on South African Hip Hop which is, where we stay. Hopefully, in the future we get to break bread with you.
Thank you so much for returning & continuing to share your talent. Life is hard & this content isn’t easy to write & consistently create. Your content is a blessing to Hip-Hop nerds & the black community.
Tbh Jay isn’t lying about their presence being a gift. He’s at a level of wealth where he can fuck off for the rest of life with Beyoncé and his kids and be good. They shattered the glass ceiling for us. There is the moral argument about billionaires, I wouldn’t put jay and Beyoncé in the same category of Bezos and co. I don’t hear anything about people in jays companies pissing in bottles to meet work quotas while still not getting paid enough to make ends meet. Jay is in his 50s still pushing verses at a higher quality 30 years later and is the only one doing it like this. We talk about his deal with the NFL like he didn’t get 100 million from them for criminal justice reform for our benefit. And on the surface the Super Bowl goes from Katy Perry and maroon 5 to dr dre and Rihanna. He also got tidal to pay artists more than any other platform and depending on your listening behavior 10$ of each of our membership goes to support whatever artist we listen to the most. However, we’re stuck on Apple Music and not supporting while telling him he needs to do more. We can go on and on. I think it’s dangerous to lump him together with other billionaires because of wealth. Also it’s kind of weird to say he ran to Islam during a controversy when we know he references it often in his music when he’s being retrospective. 2017 -> “… I told my wife this spirtual shit really works, Alhamdulillah, I run through em all. Hovi’s home all these phonies come to a halt” The image they give to the world is unapologetic black excellence and there’s no mistaking it. Obama cleaned up for the masses, Jay grew free from locs and did business with the biggest brands in the game. 20 years ago you couldn’t do that. You had to look like Obama to do it. Imagine a Jewish man on CNN in the 90s breaking down the lyrics of a verse for its insight into the illusion of American exceptionalism.
Isn't "eating the rich" something Tupac talked about? I think your video title puts it perfect - Jay-Z has been rich way too long. No one should be a billionaire.
Man, those 'Pac clips flying around this week in reaction to Hov's Twitter Spaces just hit different. AND WAS ONLY TALKING ABOUT $32 Million! Thanks for the comment, John.
This video sums my entire ambivalence with Jay-Z. He’s a legend and my favorite rapper’s favorite rapper, but I just am not impressed by the “aspiration rap” sub-genre, reminds me too much of the prosperity gospel preachers out there who so obvious out to run people’s pockets. Great job as always, Justin👍🏾👍🏾
I think that's a fair comparison: aspirational rap and prosperity gospel. Never really thought about it that way. Maybe theres a breakdown in there somewhere. Down to be quoted in it should I do it?
@@TheCompanyMan I’d be honored. I mean just looking at the interesting parallels of certain Atlanta rappers and Atlanta mega-church preachers should give you plenty of material lol
I alway find it SUPE CRINGEY when people like Kaled and Ross talk all this God shit. 😂 Like God is just speaking to them to make money while everybody starves.
I disagree. Jay isn’t even asking for money. He’s appearing on albums and dropping gems for free. Not even charging artists to appear on their album. Comparing him to one shifty for profit preachers is kinda disrespectful.
You killed this one like usual man. Couldn't have asked for a better breakdown. Hopefully Jay can learn that people care about having a life that isn't based on rich people handouts.
Hov went crazy on God Did🔥Hov’s biggest sin was allowing himself to be used by the Nets so they can build a stadium 🏟 in the middle of his old Brooklyn neighborhood. They gentrified it and out priced the original residence 🤔 It would’ve been beautiful and meaningful and probably an easier sell for the Nets to go back to Long Island where they started 💡
Stadiums always feel like the worst possible use of tax base revenue. They promise a bunch of new jobs but the vast majority of those are seasonal low wage jobs. I lived in BK when that deal went through and so many people were displaced. Super sad.
@@TheCompanyMan my dad is from there. When I went to visit a couple of years back, I seen white people walking their dogs late at night, I noticed a Star Bucks😲 the town was just unrecognizable!😒
Yo Justin long time viewer and this video is a wonderful succinct statement on the ”woe is me” billionaires and say I haven’t been a fan of Jay Z it’s easy to see that he and many other black celebrities adopt this type of thinking so great video! ps i hope your doing ok I’m gonna keep you in my prayers
Wealth is a mindset, just because you have a billion dollars doesn't mean you will keep a billion $ your habits, hobbies, understanding and execution of your understanding will determine your financial goals if that's your objective. We are so focused on what billionaires should do for us that we don't do for self.
Great video, just listened to Pound cake by Drake and Hov . The bar in 2013 was " I've done made more millionaires than the lotto did " , Jay cites " Dame, Biggs,Ye , Lyor, Cam " . Now he's talking about making billionaires. Blew my mind with the bars he just dropped.
Been keeping up with you since the breakdown was on hiphopdx - so good to see you back in the pocket again uploading this consistently incredible shit 🙏
Ok. I'm admittedly a big Jay-Z fan. It's hard to just assume he misspoke but I do get the impression that what he meant when he said "invented" is "applied". Not that literally they invented the word 'capitalist' for the newly rich but that after all these generations of subjugation through predominantly economic means, as they now see some of 'Us' at the top of the hierarchy it becomes convenient to invalidate all of this progress by turning it into a negative. While speaking casually even a Word-God like Hov is Human. IF that is what he meant, I think it's valid. Yes, there are some obscenely rich people and I think it sucks to have that while folks can't account for necessities in their day to day lives but think about this: Hov is 52. What if he had died at 20 y.o.? Reasonable Doubt dropped when He was 26. I'm saying this to say, we look at Jay-Z like an icon of wealth but through his eyes He's nearly spent half of his life building this alone... but to your average 30 year old, Jay-Z has been rich for as long as they've known who he was. The first half of his life was spent in some of the most treacherous environments this country has ever known, where the laws(legislation) literally were designed to discriminate against you, the law(enforcement officers) targeted you just the same and even the folks that look like you often hated to see you win and worked to harm you. So if I'm Hov... I climbed out of this hole of the Reagan Era, crack infested ghetto. I defy the odds and become successful at a craft, build a platform from scratch and aid in creating substantial Black wealth (and Woman wealth) to help free us from these infrastructures (because even our successful artists and athletes get jerked) and now the solution to the problem IS the problem? Jay-Z helped started Roc-A-Fella but he isn't a Rockefeller. He isn't some trust fund baby. In fact, that's the element of his story that has the most gravity, the fact that he's one of us. He didn't go get a good job, he's a dirty hustler that forged a path to freedom for himself and others. Not just the money he's made for himself but all the opportunities he's created. That is the essence of sharing the wealth. Give a man a fish he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a life time. Cook up your own fish scale and make yourself the plug.
10 books to learn more about capitalism from some of our revolutionary Ancestors and Elders who already did the work: • "The Wretched of the Earth" by Frantz Fanon • "Assata" by Assata Shakur • "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" by Walter Rodney • "Blood in My Eye" by George Jackson • "Maurice Bishop Speaks" by Maurice Bishop • "The War Before" by Safiya Bukhari • "Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare" by Kwame Nkrumah • "Revolutionary Suicide" by Huey P. Newton • "Black Marxism" by Cedric Robinson • "Left of Karl Marx" by Carole Boyce Davies BONUS: • "I Mix What I Like! A Mixtape Manifesto" by Jared Ball
Interesting note: Marx doesn't use the word "Capitalism" not once in his published work or private letters tho the word "Capital" appears often. The word Capitalism did gain common usage in the time of Marx but was not coined by him. He would often talk about the rule of capital and its domination over society and government "Capitalism" is the shorthand for that.
This is a beautiful breakdown! Even though I personally was not really that impressed with the verse, because subject matter-wise, I have heard this before. I still appreciate the technique as you have pointed out. However, your nuance about the world as it is now as regards Jay's worldview is 100% spot on.
Great breakdown. Jay-z is becoming better lyrically, but I can't get jiggy with his perspective anymore. Prayers up to your family. Shoutout to SC🙌🏾✊🏾👌🏾
Jay-Z’s “you’re trying to stop black progress” rebuttal is evil but brilliant. HE & a few others can be billionaires, great. For the rest of us?! No, that’s not “black progress”. For the rich to stay rich, most of us have to remain poor while keeping money in their pockets. Jay was flipping it on people for knowing this.
Using identity politics to deflect accountability is one of the oldest tricks in political playbook but it still works brilliantly to silence genuine criticisms of POC billionaires. It’s like criticizing human rights abuses in Israel and then being labeled antisemitic. It’s so disingenuous and brilliant because what can you say after that?! You’ve been labeled “antisemitic” now any valid criticisms you have of Israel’s politics will be viewed as you just harboring bigoted discriminatory views toward Jewish people. It’s so nefarious. But so strategically sound.
@@mrwillard95 There’s a lot of brainwashing and faux fear instilled, a lot of “divide & conquer” tactics that have worked & still work. So I don’t have all the answers but it’s definitely not “if one of us makes it, all of us make it”.
It's funny how people will loudly support a black person trying to move up financially and "make it out the hood", but the moment that person gets too rich then they say dumbshit like , "no one deserves that much money" or "they're just another billionaire now". Pure "crabs in a bucket" mentality that will lead no one anywhere.
Thanks Dizo! I'm not sure where I got it, actually. But here's a link to one that's available. iconsapparelandco.shop/products/new-jack-city-vintage-tee
Jay Z's "GOD DID" verse is incredible. His Twitter Spaces breakdown... not so much. But Hov is really an entry point for broader conversation.
I find myself thinking about a particular Kendrick Lamar quote quite a bit. "Where the Hypocrites at? What communities feel they the only ones relevant?" In my opinion, Billionaires is that community.
700 away from 100K Thank you all for all the support 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Man you deserve all the success, hope everything turns out ok with you🙏🏾
@@KMO325 Not all the success, wouldn’t want him to become a billionaire
A black Capitalist Billionaire makes change in the black community and yall side with the ones who point the finger and complain.
He's overrated in America ! Globally 50cent IS better !
@@gn3596 Im about a dollar, WTF is 50 cent?
After you left Hip-Hop DX I was sad these breakdowns would not happen anymore.
But now you get to do it on your own terms and own it. I'm all for people having ownership over their work.
I look forward to every drop.
. nod same - etc^
To quote Fred Hampton "we’re not going to fight capitalism with black capitalism, but we’re going to fight it with socialism"
And dude actually had the nerve to compare himself to Fred Hampton. Like dude u are the antithesis of everything he and the Panthers stood for.
one of your best breakdowns, ever; really well thought out. i believe that we've idolized jay-z's artistry for so long that we forget his deficiencies as a human being. his wealth gives him access to certain privileges, but also disconnects him from the wider audience. it's true that we need more POC's in position of power and wealth in the west. but if we think the same way as our white rich counterparts when we get money, then we just become like them; detached from reality.
Great points. Well said. Thanks ariq
a hundred percent
"we need more POC's in position of power and wealth in the west."
In other words you're saying black people need neo-colonialism?
Robert Allen dismantled this view in "Black Awakening in Capitalist America" 50 years ago. Sad the black liberation struggle, such as it is, is still mired in this sort of thinking.
@@billyconnelly3568 mans just took one part of the comment and ran with it... did you not read the rest where it says that if we think like our white counterparts when we get money, we become detached from the reality? the reality being the suffering and struggle. liberation isn't a monolith; everyone needs to play their part.
@@malikshabazz7636
So you have higher expectations of black capitalists than white capitalists? Let's not be naive. That's not how capitalism works.
All your breakdowns are fantastic but this one is especially a great piece to add to the conversation. Please keep up the work that's informative, thoughtful, and tempered. I think this is what great modern journalism looks like.
Thank you for that, Benjamin. I really appreciate it.
Touche ! Amazing work, refined and sublime. Family. Keep being great! and pushing that P (pen)
Dre was the first rap billionaire but Hov is a walking verse of the year. I’m glad he’s successful but all this “God talk” makes me roll my eyes. Bella goth hit it on the nail. You can’t be Warren Buffet AND Malcom X at the same time. Dame Dash was poppin bottles on boats with white people and when he got kicked out the club and he’s all pro black now. Kanye West tries to act all woke about people spending they last dime to buy designers but YOU wanna be apart of their world and glorified it. Jay defending Obama and calling himself the MJ of rap is just par for the course. MJ never gave AF about social issues either. Jay is a capitalist NOT a revolutionary. These types of titles should go to Talib Kweli and KRS ONE. Dead Prez and such. These rich rappers want to be the establishment. Not fight for the people. Great breakdown.
Thanks CHB. Love the username btw.
Do you think you can change the system if you’re not in the system?
@@TheCompanyMan I honestly don’t know but I don’t think so. I don’t think you change the system. The system changes you. I think black folks have spent so much time being have nots that now that they have money they don’t want some poor folks like us raining on their parade. But like Bella Goth said. If you’re a capitalist pos just say that and stop trying to martyr yourself. I love Jay music but hip hop was supposed to be about bringing power to the people. Not protecting rich folks from criticism. I’m glad you addressed this.
@@crackheadbiden7269 “the system changes you” BIGFAX thanks for that
Ice Cube should definitely be put on that list. Check out his recent deal/partnership with the NFL and black businesses.
@@J_Chips Also his criticism of the Democratic Party which he got attacked for when he had the audacity to asked democrats what they would do for black people. How dare he?
"For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house" - Audre Lorde
Deep and dope.
*
Love the breakdowns man so glad you came back
Thank you DID! I appreciate you.
I can respect the shit outta Jay Z as an artist and any help he’s chosen to give to anyone… But a decent civil society shouldn’t need to rely on the benevolence of landlords, billionaires and dare I say capitalists generally. None of the above should exist in a just society. Same way as we generally consider monarchs to be an outdated feudal throwback that’s only accepted in weird countries like my own lol 😅
People don’t want crumbs, they want solidarity, empowerment, a genuine sense of democracy uncorrupted by wealthy donors and oligarchs - and the collective freedom that brings, which means ending the extraction of value taken by capitalists… My comments are in no way to suggest there aren’t well meaning people that happen to be capitalists. It’s a critique of the structure rather than any individual… We want freedom not oligarchs whose financial position can only exist off of extraction of value….
Spot on
Absolutely on point!
Oligarchs will exist no matter the system.
Capitalism can often be misrepresented. Every society with liberty and prosperity relies on strong militaries and business infrastructure which relies on some large level of capitalism to acheive and secure. If a people doesn't have that, they're impoverished and likely oppressed by other societies who have these things. If you don't belong to a group of people who doesn't have these things and are trying to tell them that society ideally shouldn't have these things while benefitting at their expense due to your society having these things and using them to exploit the audience you're talking to, then ultomatepy you are a self-serving hypocrite, virtue signaling to deceive a people into feeling adverse to the things that are ultimately necessary elements to them acheiving liberation.
You can't be a billionaire and a good person. nobody can make that amount of money without exploiting everyone bellow them. wealth like that is not good for the people, but y'all too focus on getting in this position so you can do the same go others. "When education is not enlightening, the dream of the oppressed is to be the opressor"
That's just the truth but people get butt-hurt when you point it out. They entice the poor by telling them, this could be you! You can have this life too. The people need to wake up.
Great point, NJ! Thank you.
Lol imagine concluding that someone was a bad person simply by the number in their bank account. Prejudice to the max.
@@tevinvezina1766 ikr true socialist mindset
In my lifetime I gotta see a whole lotta doh
I'm loving this return to content akin to your older videos, keep going man it's great 🙏🏽
Thank you! I'm having fun!
My favorite authentic Hip hop breakdowns! Also good insight on seeing Jay-Z's weakness and strengths. 💯
Thank you Echo!!
I’m so glad your back you’re back!!!
Thanks Desmond!
Justin pointing out the false dichotomy in Elon's tweet between politicians and billionaires is why I'm subscribed.
Thank you!!!
Excellent breakdown once again. The only point of contention I have is the point at 9:00 about him doing things for communities that directly support him. You're right about the support he has given, but I'd argue its more important to consider if he has done enough, rather than has he done anything or nothing. Just approaching it in that way--not mentioning whether or not he could be doing more with his power--detracts from the main idea you discussed in the outro. Like I said tho it was overall excellent. These are the kinds of conversations everybody needs to have brought into their life.
Wishing you the best of luck with your family.
amen. a few token contributions but they want to act like they are malcolm x
While I disagree with jay-z of course, however him, J. Cole, Kendrick, pretty much every rapper who even attempts to speak about politics, especially liberatory or radical or anti-capitalist politics never seem to do the Noname diligence of shutting the fuck up, listening to people who've spent their lives understanding politics, reading any of the books about our history, white history, european history, latin history, any of the the thousands of references that go back over 100 years of analysis. They just say their dumb ass comments that sound like it's the first time they've ever thought about what they're saying, get essentially meaningless pushback, play victim, then drop another platinum, hit another grandslam, shoot another buzzer beater, whatever.
honestly, i wish when things like this happen, someone politically knowledgeable would get them to sit down and debate, or more likely just casually chat. at least then i'd feel like we've made a step forward so that the next time this happens we can look back to the time where we can verify that someone tried. because there's plenty of people, especially black people, who desperately want to be where jay-z is, plenty who are where jay-z was 30 years ago and they think the exact same way. words like capitalist are basically brand new to them and can easily be received out of context and proper definition.
the history of radical black politics, if not all of african american history, is one of the struggle of mass education and the consequences of its failures.
Great comment! Never thought about how to certain communities capitalism is a new term. Very important point.
I initially didn't really think about what was said with any seriousness. I assumed exactly what you said at the end of your first paragraph "meaningless pushback, play victim," wash, rinse, repeat. After Justin's video and your comment I'm def thinking different about this whole subject.
There was a transition from black revolutionary thought to black capitalist thought
@@traplover6357 maybe that's because revolutions need funding, contrary to the opinions shared on this video, I don't see Jay-Z as whining about being scrutinized for being rich. What I think he is saying is the moment it's kinfolk getting the wealth "they" want to tell you it's their new rich that's taking from them, framing them as capitalist grabbers.. It's not in "their" interest to have the Jay-Zs partner with the Shaun Kings, so they try to pit them against each other.
@@iRepNGR mlk and Mr. x and other ppl got the support and funding from the ppl itself
We're glad you're back. You inspired us to start our our own TH-cam channel to focus on South African Hip Hop which is, where we stay.
Hopefully, in the future we get to break bread with you.
I'm glad someone shared this with me. You were what I loved about hiphopdx videos and I was wondering where you went. Great video. Instant subscribe.
Thank you!
“They run to Islam” is the truest thing I’ve ever heard in my life
Thank you so much for returning & continuing to share your talent. Life is hard & this content isn’t easy to write & consistently create. Your content is a blessing to Hip-Hop nerds & the black community.
Thank you so much, Tanya. I needed to hear that today. I appreciate you.
I look forward to these every weekend
Let’s get this Man his well deserved silver button! I am glad your hard work is being recognized. Great video as always. It’s all happening.
Thank you JP!
Tbh Jay isn’t lying about their presence being a gift. He’s at a level of wealth where he can fuck off for the rest of life with Beyoncé and his kids and be good.
They shattered the glass ceiling for us. There is the moral argument about billionaires, I wouldn’t put jay and Beyoncé in the same category of Bezos and co. I don’t hear anything about people in jays companies pissing in bottles to meet work quotas while still not getting paid enough to make ends meet.
Jay is in his 50s still pushing verses at a higher quality 30 years later and is the only one doing it like this. We talk about his deal with the NFL like he didn’t get 100 million from them for criminal justice reform for our benefit. And on the surface the Super Bowl goes from Katy Perry and maroon 5 to dr dre and Rihanna.
He also got tidal to pay artists more than any other platform and depending on your listening behavior 10$ of each of our membership goes to support whatever artist we listen to the most. However, we’re stuck on Apple Music and not supporting while telling him he needs to do more.
We can go on and on. I think it’s dangerous to lump him together with other billionaires because of wealth. Also it’s kind of weird to say he ran to Islam during a controversy when we know he references it often in his music when he’s being retrospective. 2017 -> “… I told my wife this spirtual shit really works, Alhamdulillah, I run through em all. Hovi’s home all these phonies come to a halt”
The image they give to the world is unapologetic black excellence and there’s no mistaking it. Obama cleaned up for the masses, Jay grew free from locs and did business with the biggest brands in the game. 20 years ago you couldn’t do that. You had to look like Obama to do it.
Imagine a Jewish man on CNN in the 90s breaking down the lyrics of a verse for its insight into the illusion of American exceptionalism.
Love these videos, hoping all is well with the fam!
Thanks Segaro.
Isn't "eating the rich" something Tupac talked about?
I think your video title puts it perfect - Jay-Z has been rich way too long. No one should be a billionaire.
Man, those 'Pac clips flying around this week in reaction to Hov's Twitter Spaces just hit different. AND WAS ONLY TALKING ABOUT $32 Million! Thanks for the comment, John.
Bill Gates has been a billionaire since 1986.
@@tevinvezina1766 I think you're lost. This is Hip Hop Discussions. Billionaire Dick Riding is down the hall and to the left.
@@jeffreyrezendes7656 Sorry I forgot that smooth brains get offended by facts.
It's real easy to say what someone should'nt have when you never had it yourself
So glad you're doing these again. 🌻
Thanks Jocelyn!
Love your breakdowns!
This video sums my entire ambivalence with Jay-Z. He’s a legend and my favorite rapper’s favorite rapper, but I just am not impressed by the “aspiration rap” sub-genre, reminds me too much of the prosperity gospel preachers out there who so obvious out to run people’s pockets. Great job as always, Justin👍🏾👍🏾
I think that's a fair comparison: aspirational rap and prosperity gospel. Never really thought about it that way. Maybe theres a breakdown in there somewhere. Down to be quoted in it should I do it?
@@TheCompanyMan I’d be honored. I mean just looking at the interesting parallels of certain Atlanta rappers and Atlanta mega-church preachers should give you plenty of material lol
I alway find it SUPE CRINGEY when people like Kaled and Ross talk all this God shit. 😂 Like God is just speaking to them to make money while everybody starves.
Great point. I would love to see a breakdown.
I disagree. Jay isn’t even asking for money. He’s appearing on albums and dropping gems for free. Not even charging artists to appear on their album. Comparing him to one shifty for profit preachers is kinda disrespectful.
Another Saturday, Another great TBD! Really glad they are back.
Me too!
You a real one for speaking on this
Thanks, Adam. I appreciate that.
Glad these are back on the regular
Me too!
Did Jay actually listen to D'Evils?
Or did he just skim through it?
- billy woods
Perfect comment. Thanks Kushal.
Wow, you have rally great input on this. A much needed analysis
Thank you Yusef!
You killed this one like usual man. Couldn't have asked for a better breakdown. Hopefully Jay can learn that people care about having a life that isn't based on rich people handouts.
Excellent breakdown, missed your content brother
Thank you RK!
. Luv what you doing as always big homie. prayers to whatever you and your fam is going thru atm.
Not a palmetto lmao great piece . And you in my prayers fam.
lol "they invented the word capitalist to make us feel shame for being rich" is the probably the dumbest take i've heard in a while
Love the breakdowns. Plz keep them coming.
Prayers to you and your family as well.
This is such a succinct breakdown! Great job !
Praying for you and your family! Wishing you well
🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Great "having you back" man! After you and Murs stopped doing breakdowns I really missed this. Thanks for all you do!
I love your breakdowns, also you have a beautiful smile
Thank you Diana. I’m both fronts. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
This shit is wild. Appreciate all the work you contribute.
I appreciate you, Robert.
TALK TO EM FAM!!! This was dope Justin.
Preciate you daveny.
Love your videos.
Thanks Ricky!
Keep up the awesome content, Justin. Much love from South Africa.
Hov went crazy on God Did🔥Hov’s biggest sin was allowing himself to be used by the Nets so they can build a stadium 🏟 in the middle of his old Brooklyn neighborhood. They gentrified it and out priced the original residence 🤔 It would’ve been beautiful and meaningful and probably an easier sell for the Nets to go back to Long Island where they started 💡
Stadiums always feel like the worst possible use of tax base revenue. They promise a bunch of new jobs but the vast majority of those are seasonal low wage jobs. I lived in BK when that deal went through and so many people were displaced. Super sad.
@@TheCompanyMan my dad is from there. When I went to visit a couple of years back, I seen white people walking their dogs late at night, I noticed a Star Bucks😲 the town was just unrecognizable!😒
@@phrelancelotmusic it wasn’t like that when I went to college either. They’re trying which is good. They did a great job investing in the colleges
He’s a vulture capitalist, it’s what they do.
@@TheCompanyMan as someone who lives in Miami with that albatross of a ballpark, I can concur with this
yo you really make the best hip hop breakdown videos, don’t ever stop I love these videos 🤘🏼
Thank you, CI! I really appreciate your support.
Yo Justin long time viewer and this video is a wonderful succinct statement on the ”woe is me” billionaires and say I haven’t been a fan of Jay Z it’s easy to see that he and many other black celebrities adopt this type of thinking so great video! ps i hope your doing ok I’m gonna keep you in my prayers
Another great breakdown from The Company Man, Greenville SC is my hometown I hope everything is well with the fam and you enjoy your stay 💯
Thank you MW! What part of Greenville you from?
@@TheCompanyMan Poe Mill/Crest View area on the west side
@@middletonwilliams7608 word up. I’m from the east side. Roper mountain estates
@@TheCompanyMan I didn't know you were from the city that's what's up keep going strong bro 💪🏾💯
@@middletonwilliams7608 Thanks man. I went to JL Mann. Greenville Represent. All the best to you too.
Wealth is a mindset, just because you have a billion dollars doesn't mean you will keep a billion $ your habits, hobbies, understanding and execution of your understanding will determine your financial goals if that's your objective. We are so focused on what billionaires should do for us that we don't do for self.
Well said RC.
Keep up the great content man!
🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Praying for health, wealth and happiness for you and your family Justin much love never stop x
I appreciate that Freddy.
Great video, just listened to Pound cake by Drake and Hov . The bar in 2013 was " I've done made more millionaires than the lotto did " , Jay cites " Dame, Biggs,Ye , Lyor, Cam " . Now he's talking about making billionaires. Blew my mind with the bars he just dropped.
THE FUCKIN COMPANY MAN…every drop I’m tuning in
Thank you Sergio!!!
Been keeping up with you since the breakdown was on hiphopdx - so good to see you back in the pocket again uploading this consistently incredible shit 🙏
Great video. Loved the personality mixed in and the editing
This breakdown was GODLY. Geesh! You've got impeccable delivery and your knowledge of the culture is commendable. 🙏🏼
Totally agreed. Love that you are back!
Live long enough to see yourself become the villain
Exactly.
"I tell you half the story the rest you fill it in
Long as the villain win" - dead presidents
I'm mad the bell didn't tell me you were back, ayyy
Great video
BEEN SUBSCRIBED FOR YEARS!
Thank you for the support Nelson! It's priceless. I mean it.
Support always! You were the first journalist I started really following and now I appreciate music just that much more.
@@nelsonomarvalencia-garcia3403 that’s what it’s all about!!!
I'm a simple man, I see a TCM upload, I watch and like.
Dope vid Justin,hopefully everything in your family is handled with grace
Thanks, Tre. That means a lot. It's all happening.
Love your work bro 😎 ! If you don’t sling that 1 ‘ loc back 😂
It’s all happening 🤷🏿♂️😂🤷🏿♂️
great analysis!
Thank you!
Good job justin, you're killing it since coming back. Stay in the zone!
Thank you PotatoCheese! Great username by the way. Easily emoji'd. 🥔🧀
Ok. I'm admittedly a big Jay-Z fan. It's hard to just assume he misspoke but I do get the impression that what he meant when he said "invented" is "applied". Not that literally they invented the word 'capitalist' for the newly rich but that after all these generations of subjugation through predominantly economic means, as they now see some of 'Us' at the top of the hierarchy it becomes convenient to invalidate all of this progress by turning it into a negative. While speaking casually even a Word-God like Hov is Human.
IF that is what he meant, I think it's valid. Yes, there are some obscenely rich people and I think it sucks to have that while folks can't account for necessities in their day to day lives but think about this: Hov is 52. What if he had died at 20 y.o.? Reasonable Doubt dropped when He was 26. I'm saying this to say, we look at Jay-Z like an icon of wealth but through his eyes He's nearly spent half of his life building this alone... but to your average 30 year old, Jay-Z has been rich for as long as they've known who he was. The first half of his life was spent in some of the most treacherous environments this country has ever known, where the laws(legislation) literally were designed to discriminate against you, the law(enforcement officers) targeted you just the same and even the folks that look like you often hated to see you win and worked to harm you.
So if I'm Hov... I climbed out of this hole of the Reagan Era, crack infested ghetto. I defy the odds and become successful at a craft, build a platform from scratch and aid in creating substantial Black wealth (and Woman wealth) to help free us from these infrastructures (because even our successful artists and athletes get jerked) and now the solution to the problem IS the problem?
Jay-Z helped started Roc-A-Fella but he isn't a Rockefeller. He isn't some trust fund baby. In fact, that's the element of his story that has the most gravity, the fact that he's one of us. He didn't go get a good job, he's a dirty hustler that forged a path to freedom for himself and others. Not just the money he's made for himself but all the opportunities he's created. That is the essence of sharing the wealth. Give a man a fish he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a life time.
Cook up your own fish scale and make yourself the plug.
Fantastic breakdown. Thank you
Thank you for checking it out Jonathan
10 books to learn more about capitalism from some of our revolutionary Ancestors and Elders who already did the work:
• "The Wretched of the Earth" by Frantz Fanon
• "Assata" by Assata Shakur
• "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" by Walter Rodney
• "Blood in My Eye" by George Jackson
• "Maurice Bishop Speaks" by Maurice Bishop
• "The War Before" by Safiya Bukhari
• "Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare" by Kwame Nkrumah
• "Revolutionary Suicide" by Huey P. Newton
• "Black Marxism" by Cedric Robinson
• "Left of Karl Marx" by Carole Boyce Davies
BONUS:
• "I Mix What I Like! A Mixtape Manifesto" by Jared Ball
Thanks for sharing. This is great stuff.
@@TheCompanyMan my pleasure... comrade ✊🏾😌
Also, I can't believe I wasn't already subscribed! I'm a long time fan, prayers to you and yours!
Thank you!
Interesting note: Marx doesn't use the word "Capitalism" not once in his published work or private letters tho the word "Capital" appears often. The word Capitalism did gain common usage in the time of Marx but was not coined by him. He would often talk about the rule of capital and its domination over society and government "Capitalism" is the shorthand for that.
you snapped off!! i appreciate you! i hope your family is okay!
Love that you mentioned my hometown of Jackson, MS. Corruption is bleeding all over that place.
I love your content. Thanks for another great video.
Thank you!
Another great breakdown, so glad you're back. All the best to your family 🙏
Amazing work with this one, Justin. Very urgent. This felt necessary.
Edit: And I agree! Jay’s in rare form these days. Ever since “4 : 44”
Thanks PP!
Prayers coming your way Big Dawg. Hope all is well. Thank you again for another profound breakdown.
crushed it, keep slaying Justin
Prayers up for you and your family Justin. Excellent breakdown 🙏🏾
This was great!
Thanks VMM!
Can’t tell you how much I e missed these breakdowns
I don't know about Jay-Z, but I do know that J-Hunte's journalism is deep. Brilliant.
That’s love!!! Thank you for saying that and for watching the video
this was important stuff!
Thank you!
My fav youtuber
Thank yoU!
Bless Bro!
Great breakdown. What’s that Statik Selktah beat playing at the end? It’s dope
Thanks Tom. It’s the TBD theme song. He gave it to me for the show.
This is a beautiful breakdown! Even though I personally was not really that impressed with the verse, because subject matter-wise, I have heard this before. I still appreciate the technique as you have pointed out. However, your nuance about the world as it is now as regards Jay's worldview is 100% spot on.
I appreciate that, RTK. Thank you.
Great breakdown. Jay-z is becoming better lyrically, but I can't get jiggy with his perspective anymore. Prayers up to your family. Shoutout to SC🙌🏾✊🏾👌🏾
Thank you NS. “I can’t get jiggy to dis sheet” - Michael blackson, Next Friday
Thank you for the well wishes 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Jay-Z’s “you’re trying to stop black progress” rebuttal is evil but brilliant. HE & a few others can be billionaires, great. For the rest of us?! No, that’s not “black progress”. For the rich to stay rich, most of us have to remain poor while keeping money in their pockets. Jay was flipping it on people for knowing this.
Using identity politics to deflect accountability is one of the oldest tricks in political playbook but it still works brilliantly to silence genuine criticisms of POC billionaires. It’s like criticizing human rights abuses in Israel and then being labeled antisemitic. It’s so disingenuous and brilliant because what can you say after that?! You’ve been labeled “antisemitic” now any valid criticisms you have of Israel’s politics will be viewed as you just harboring bigoted discriminatory views toward Jewish people. It’s so nefarious. But so strategically sound.
So what does "black progress" look like?
@@mrwillard95 There’s a lot of brainwashing and faux fear instilled, a lot of “divide & conquer” tactics that have worked & still work. So I don’t have all the answers but it’s definitely not “if one of us makes it, all of us make it”.
Congrats on 100k, just subscribed! 🥳
another week, another banger
God Bless your family ! 🙏🏽🙇🏽
Thank you BW 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Boxden brought me here...congrats on the 100k
Thanks Jake!
It's funny how people will loudly support a black person trying to move up financially and "make it out the hood", but the moment that person gets too rich then they say dumbshit like , "no one deserves that much money" or "they're just another billionaire now". Pure "crabs in a bucket" mentality that will lead no one anywhere.
I feel like people, especially black people, have largely supported Hov his whole journey.
@@TheCompanyMan Maybe, but people in this commnet section sure don't support him.
Great breakdown. I think small business capitalism is the only way forward for all communities.
I had to listen to this twice and I agree with everything you said sn# where can I buy that shirt
Thanks Dizo! I'm not sure where I got it, actually. But here's a link to one that's available.
iconsapparelandco.shop/products/new-jack-city-vintage-tee
company mann backkk!!!