A Jay-Z verse is still an event

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

We can argue about this later, but I’d wager that there are maybe a handful of rap artists whose releases of any sort count as events at this point. I’m about to show my age, and I’ll ask my nephews who I’m missing but here’s my take at a list: Kanye, J Cole, Drake, Kendrick, André 3000, Lauryn Hill (debatable, I know) Future and depending on the circumstances Lil Wayne, Nas and Eminem. I’m sure there are others you can add or folks you can subtract from this list, but that’s not the point of this. The point is that some rappers exist in a space where when they release something, everybody listens. 

Jay-Z is one of those artists. And for several reasons. For starters, he’s literally been in the game since the late ’80s (if you watch The Murder Inc. Story on BET, you’ll hear Irv Gotti talking about them working in London in the late ’80s), but he’s been a top-shelf, GOAT-level MC since 1996 when he released my favorite of his albums, Reasonable Doubt. And he’s been must-see TV since then not only because of his business success, but also because he’s stayed pretty bar’d up since then. Sure, the type of bars and the substance has changed somewhat (from drug talk to art talk, etc.), but you almost never have to question if what you’re going to get from Jay is worth the listen. Usually, the answer is yes, even if nobody is thinking “this is the greatest verse of all time.” 

And then there are times like now when Jay-Z hops on DJ Khaled’s song “GOD DID” (featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and John Legend) and reminds you that you should never, ever sleep on Shawn Corey Carter in your life. My goodness. Over what feels like 64 bars (I didn’t count but it has to be the longest verse Jay has performed in quite a while), Jay gives you bars about success; how much money he’s around and how it’s connected to him; changing societal norms (marijuana being legal in places now and his foray into the business); .

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