Wait how did Jay-Z really gain success ... did he sell his soul?

[BK The Great]

no even those songs are still hiphoppy....if thats a word

but all rappers try to go that route at some point, i cant think of one rapper that didnt make a female record or club record at some point

true, they are more in the essence of hip hop records than most of these other guy's crossover records, for instance Candy Shop, Just A Lil Bit & Best Friend

 

[DrX]

true, they are more in the essence of hip hop records than most of these other guy's crossover records, for instance Candy Shop, Just A Lil Bit & Best Friend

see thats what im saying, jay is so hiphop, hes hiphop even when he trys not to....but hes sitting next to elvis..in terms of numbers....

im not even talking about money, because u can get money doing anything and be unknown to the world....but in terms accomplishments and fame

we all know jay is a hustler's fave hustler and a rapper fave rapper but how did he crush iconic whites numbers.....if it was just about marketing and going pop, why is 50 not close to hov? 50 is the one that actually tried to go pop at one point

 

[JetFueledThoughts]

I dumbed down for my audience to double my dollars
They criticized me for it, yet they all yell "holla"

This is the answer really.

Kinda a dumb question to ask, considering that no artist has ever so plainly laid out a strategy as complex as his, in just two bars.

 

[Breh Obama]

Illuminati

 

[DrX]

This is the answer really.

Kinda a dumb question to ask, considering that no artist has ever so plainly laid out a strategy as complex as his, in just two bars.

EVERY artist dumbed down their music to make money at some point, even nas....so whats your point?

and todays hiphop thats the goal....u almost look crazy if u do make music with substance...so dont tell me hes next to elvis by simply dumbing down and making some damn club records

 

[DrX]

I actually like jay, hes in my top 3...i think his lyrics, flow, beat selection is genius....hiphop genius....and hiphop genius isnt mainstream genius...if that was the case nas would he held in american culture as a Iconic figure

 

[JetFueledThoughts]

EVERY artist dumbed down their music to make money at some point, even nas....so whats your point?

and todays hiphop thats the goal....u almost look crazy if u do make music with substance...so dont tell me hes next to elvis by simply dumbing down and making some damn club records

You're talking about the game today when comparing Jay-Z, who had the game in his hand 15 years ago. They're different things fam.

Jay-Z found a way to marry together some catchy melodies while still using streetwise lyricism and wordplay. Not to mention that the soul sampling made up for a lot of what he lacked in hook making, catchiness, 'earworm' ability etc.

I'm more interested in how his comeback after The Black Album shot him into a whole other stratosphere, not a question as simple and banal as "Man Jay got big QUICKLY, did he sell his SOUL???"

 

[Knicksman20]

Incredible skills & great timing. He also benefited from Big's association & death

 

[DrX]

You're talking about the game today when comparing Jay-Z, who had the game in his hand 15 years ago. They're different things fam.

Jay-Z found a way to marry together some catchy melodies while still using streetwise lyricism and wordplay. Not to mention that the soul sampling made up for a lot of what he lacked in hook making, catchiness, 'earworm' ability etc.

I'm more interested in how his comeback after The Black Album shot him into a whole other stratosphere, not a question as simple and banal as "Man Jay got big QUICKLY, did he sell his SOUL???"

"
You're talking about the game today when comparing Jay-Z, who had the game in his hand 15 years ago. They're different things fam.

Jay-Z found a way to marry together some catchy melodies while still using streetwise lyricism and wordplay. Not to mention that the soul sampling made up for a lot of what he lacked in hook making, catchiness, 'earworm' ability etc."

true but even at the time....jays club records were as popping as busta joints....cant get a, bounce with me were hot but no more hotter then missy, busta, dmx and whoever else had the club on lock during that time

---------------------------------------------

"I'm more interested in how his comeback after The Black Album shot him into a whole other stratosphere, not a question as simple and banal as "Man Jay got big QUICKLY, did he sell his SOUL???"

marketing played a role in that...the superbowl commerical, hanging with famous ppl, wifing beyonce, hanging with obama.....

but my problem is how on a musical level and sale level how he got so far,,,the money isnt important, u dont gotta be famous to get rich

 

[OnlyInCalifornia]

There is a lot to anyone that successful. Some of it is him, his talent, and just luck.

He is a very talented MC and he is business savvy. You mix in a little bit of luck with him being the rapper who could step in the mainstream after the Biggie/Pac dust settled and you get what you have now.

 

[BK The Great]

There is a lot to anyone that successful. Some of it is him, his talent, and just luck.

He is a very talented MC and he is business savvy. You mix in a little bit of luck with him being the rapper who could step in the mainstream after the Biggie/Pac dust settled and you get what you have now.

he slowly crept up claiming the throne when Pac & BIG passed, that's why he's where he's at right now.

 

[I love Latina women]

we gone act like his entire catalog is boom bap records and d'evils

this nikka rapped over an Annie sample

he got production and hooks from prime Kanye, Swizz, Timbaland and Neptunes

Big Pimpin' ..Jigga My nikka...Cant I Get A fukk U...yeah those records are for young suburban kids



the nikka made hit record after hit record then wifed up the biggest pop star over the pass decade, on top of business chess move after chess move

*wala*

icon

^this^ sums it up

 

[Dotcom]

looking back on it, he had no attributes to gain mainstream appeal....he was a pure emcee, a rappers rapper but dude is battling the Beatles, Elvis, Mike Jackson...WTF how? his songs are pure hiphop, even his mainstream joins were pure hiphop....

His personality is introverted and his content is very complex and metaphorical...and u know damn well some little white kid from suburban USA is going to understand a track as complex as like devils...little white girls are def not going to don't understand HOV, and they're the ones that actually purchase rap music, they're the ones that actually spend real money....most others just listen

So the question is, how did jay become this mega icon in not only hiphop history BUT world history? look at his contemporaries ... nas is real next to him in the hiphop world and outside of it nas is another face, but jay is closing the largest festivals in the world...

the question is how did jay get so large? yes I understand hes a marketing genius and close deals...Im not even talking about money ...hell gucci mane got mad money and hes just a niche rapper within a rap niche...and rap is niche itself....so u can get money many ways....but in terms of popularity jayz is a household name. I understand marketing and he understand how to leech off other popular bases aswell by hanging out with influential ppl: ex obama, timberlake, cold play, blink182 and even his wife....hes def extremely intelligent, scary intelligent if u get the little subtle things about the business, he understand marketing better arguably anybody on earth

But what what im trying to figure out is....how even with all that, a 90s raw boom bap lyricist with a D boy niche following become possibly a 10 top most recognizable face in the world and stay on top so long....I think jay had to do something dark behind the scenes....jay wouldve been rich anyway, because the man is clearly a genius....but he wanted ALL...ii think his ambition led him to really soul his soul for the top elite

sell soul? thats all mumbo jumbo.. stop listening to dumb people LOL
if selling your soul was the ticket to fame... it wouldn't be a soul left in the world

 

[Pop123]

 

[Dotcom]

The Eye of Ra or Eye of Horus...on the Egyptian Eye...the ALL SEEING... isn't the devil.. its the 3rd EYE.. its the pineal gland in the center of your foehead that is the size of a pea ( EYE ) ... Set would be the Moon.. and Horus would be the Sun.. Osiris is the Spirit .. There is no selling souls u fools... these people just don't believe in the European bs you all been brain washed to believe in.. these tribes looked at spirits and knowledge for the secrets of the world
selling your SOUL doesn't get u rich and fame.. HAVING KNOWLEGE AND WISDOM is your guide
@ 1
I don't even like speaking of this stuff because its always fools with dumb things thinking everything is SATAN..satan is a liar too