Older Brehs, was Jay-Z's "Imaginary Players" considered a "Dreams & Nightmares"-type hit back in the day?

[satam55]

it was never a "hit" because it was never a single. One of Jay's best albums that got overshadowed by 2 of the worst songs on the album as lead singles. So many dope songs on the album that are far better than Sunshine and The City is Mine

Yeah, I know "Imaginary Players" wasn't an official single. But the way Ray Daniels described it in the clip, I'm thinking the track was a very popular album cut that every normie casual rap fan was familiar with even if they hadn't listened to whole album.

 

[HollywoodP]

no. It was never a single. Didn't even release an official video. What we see now as the video was just a part of the Streets is Watching movie. I dont believe he even performed it regularly (he did on B-sides I think) But it did grow in popularity from just a classic album cut to a bit of a cult following to where casual fans became familiar with it.

"Do them shyts even got leathers"

 

[Barney Rubble]

Nah, but everyone used to quote it. "Like 30 to 40 grand cocksucker, beat it" It was probably the most popular non-single from the album along with Where I'm From.

 

[PHamm]

Wasn't no one checking for Jay back then

 

[T.H.E. Goat]

Another example of Jay's words having no weight because bustdowns are the rap standard now

 

[bigde09]

More camel propaganda

 

[King Harlem]

I understand what he's saying. It's up there for Hov songs that people recite the song word for word. I think Where I'm From might be the real answer, but I have to think about it some more.

 

[boogers]

speaking of imaginary players who the hell thought cristal was beer in the first place

 

[SunZoo]

Absolutely not, more like a deep cut that got extra life off being dope and SIW

And as far as Cardi's version, I love it. I love nikkas acknowledging Jay's greatness, doing a remake of a song that wasn't even a single in an era where people act like Jay is just known for being Beyonce's husband. I wasn't expecting her to rhyme as nice as Jay, I just appreciate her for introducing it to her fans. I don't see how you can be mad about it if you're seeing it from that perspective.

 

[TheMailMan]

Wasn't even a hit. Who u wit got more play then that

 

[lib123]

I'm young, but from what I vaguely remember I don't think Jay had a nationwide hit until "Can I Get A…", and even that got a major push from being on the Rush Hour soundtrack.

 

[Rasille]

Who U Wit and Imaginary Players videos got played on BET.

 

[Awesome Wells]

"Imaginary Players" is a classic album cut that birthed the whole argument about 4.0 vs. 4.6.

Land Rover released a statement in '98, saying they couldn't say "for sure" if the song shifted their sales of the 4.0, but that they did notice a "considerable decline" in that model's popularity. Russell Simmons was so happy about that, he had the article tacked on his wall in his office and mentioned it in mad interviews. That's how influential "Imaginary Players" was. One line had people staying away from buying a particular SUV model.

Meek is trash. Always has been. I'll leave it there.

 

[Metal Face]

dreams and nightmares is sooo

 

[-DMP-]

You have to remember reasonable doubt had just gone like 8x platinum out the gate so when Jay dropped this as a Mass diss, the streets went insane