JAY-Z

Released: September 11, 2001

Songwriter: B. Miller Kanye West JAY-Z

Producer: Kanye West

[Produced by Kanye West]

[Intro: JAY-Z + sample]
Never, never, never, never change
I never change, this is Jay every day
I never change!
I never change, this is Jay every day
I never change!
I never change, this is Jay

[Verse 1: JAY-Z]
I am a Roc representer, (Hov'), summer to winter
(Hov'), dead or alive, (uhh), 24/7, 365
One CD or three hundred and sixty pies
What's up to E and Kirk? Welcome home to Taj
Let no amount of money ruin this thing of ours (uhh)
We run streets like drunks run street lights
We collidin' with life as we speak
We knee-deep in coke, we ki deep in ice
We flood streets with dope, we keep weed to smoke
We all fish, better teach your folk
Give him money to eat, the next week he's broke
'Cause when you sleep he's reachin' for your throat
Word on the skreet, you reap what you sow
Not out of fear but love, love for the game
Roc family first, we never change, man

[Chorus: Kanye West, sample & (JAY-Z)]
Never, never, never, never change
I'm still fuckin' with crime 'cause crime pays
I never change!
Out hustlin', same clothes for days
I never change!
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change
(Who you know like Hov'?)
Never, never, never, never change
I'm still fuckin' with crime 'cause crime pays (that's right)
I never change!
Out hustlin', same clothes for days
I never change!
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change

[Verse 2: JAY-Z]
What's up to my Miami and St. Thomas connects? (whattup)
I'll never mention your name, I promise respect
Death before dishonor, correct?
Yup, that's what you promised me, since the Bomber League
Along with, if we stay strong
We can get paper longer than Pippen's arms (woo!)
Plead the fifth when it comes to the fam
I'm like a dog: I never speak, but I understand
Where my dogs at? Where my soldiers at war?
Where your balls at? Whoa, gotta pause that, whoa
Lost 92 bricks, had to fall back
Knocked a nigga off his feet, but I crawled back
Had A-1 credit, got more crack
From the first to the fifth, gave it all back
If I'm not a hustler, what you call that?
This is before rap, this is all fact; I never change

[Chorus: Kanye West, sample & (JAY-Z)]
Never, never, never, never change
I'm still fuckin' with crime 'cause crime pays
I never change!
Out hustlin', same clothes for days
I never change!
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change
(Who you know like Hov'?)
Never, never, never, never change
I'm still fuckin' with crime 'cause crime pays (never change)
I never change!
Out hustlin', same clothes for days (come on)
I never change!
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change

[Verse 3: Jay Z]
What, the streets robbed me, wasn't educated properly
Well, fuck y'all, I needed money for Atari
Was so young my big sis' still playin' with Barbie
Young brother, big city, eight million stories
Old heads taught me, youngin, walk softly
Carry a big clip, that'll get niggas off me
Keep coke in coffee, keep money smellin' mothy
Chains is cool to cop but more important is lawyer fees
(Uhh) That's how it is now, (uhh) that's how it always be
(Uhh) I never change, this is always me
From the womb to the tomb, from now until my doom
Drink Army from one cup, pass it around the room (that's a family nigga)
That's the ritual (yup), Big Ran, I ain't forget you, fool
And all that bullshit you tryin' to get through
This is crew love, move music or move drugs
Rival crews, get your black suits up; I'll never change

[Chorus: Kanye West, sample & (JAY-Z)]
Never, never, never, never change
I'm still fuckin' with crime 'cause crime pays (come on)
I never change!
Out hustlin', same clothes for days
I never change!
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change
(Who you know like Hov'?)
Never, never, never, never change
I'm still fuckin' with crime 'cause crime pays
I never change!
Out hustlin', same clothes for days (come on)
I never change!
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change

[Outro: Jay Z]
This is Jay, every day
Who you know like Hov', nigga?

Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, and holding the solo artist record of 14 Billboard 200 #1 albums, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter is possibly the most talented, accomplished and respected rapper of all-time. He has released 13 studio albums and five collaborative albums over his 30-year career.

Three of his albums, Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album, are considered landmarks in the genre, with all of them featured in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Hov has won 21 Grammy Awards from sixty-four nominations, making him the 10th most awarded artist of all-time.

Legendary for never writing down his lyrics, JAY-Z’s flow is considered one of the greatest to grace the genre, his wordplay and metaphorical ability is unmatched, and his live shows push the envelope of what it means to be a hip hop artist. His MTV Unplugged appearance introduced the idea of having a full band (The Roots) backing up a hip hop artist at major concerts, and during his 2004 documentary Fade to Black he doubled down, selling out Madison Square Garden (in mere minutes) while featuring an enormous live band performance.

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From the albums

The Blueprint (2001)
Get Well Soon... (2002)

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