Released: December 28, 1999

Songwriter: Sean “SAF” Francis Russell “Russ” Howard Alana Davis JAY-Z

Producer: Chauncey Mahan Sean “SAF” Francis Russell “Russ” Howard

{*Gunshots*}
{*Woman screamin' in pain*.. cops yellin' "Go! Go! Go! Go!"}
{*Police sirens*}

[Chorus: Alana Davis sample]
Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh
I ahh, think there's been a..
I.. I think there's been a..
Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh
I ahh, think there's been a..
I.. I think there's been a..

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
I hustle from, night to morning, dawn to dusk
Kidnap and robberies like, (c'mon nigga) "You goin' with us"
I held roundtable meetings so we could go on and discuss
Not only money but all the emotions goin' through us
Why we don't cry when niggas die, that's how the street raised him
Look in the air, say a prayer (hail Mary), hopin' God forgave him
Cop liquor, twist it, tap it twice, pour it to the pavement
We live dangerous, often findin' ourself in the eyes of strangers
(Who the fuck is you?) My dream is big and in it my team is rich
As seen through the eyes of a nigga who ain't seen shit
Back to live action, I'm packin', I'm still in the mix
Like new hits, I think I'm goin' over your head a lil' bit
But I let you know I changed names when I roam through town
Stay free and be who I'm professional known as now
Jay-motherfuckin'-Z; and with that said
Back to Shawn Carter the hustler, Jay-Z is dead, and I ahh

[Chorus: Alana Davis sample]
Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh
I ahh, think there's been a..
I.. I think there's been a..
Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh
I ahh, think there's been a..
I.. I think there's been a..

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
My infatuation with autos led to autos gettin' sprayed
Houses gettin' broken in, quarters gettin' trayed
Bricks gettin' chopped, mom's pots gettin' used
One thrown in that water, try the soda if there's two (bring it back)
Expensive shoes worn, Louis Vuitton seats, roof gone
Coke cheap, my face is like a coupon
I gotta do Shawn, 'cause even when Jay-Z was lukewarm
I was gettin' my loot on, nigga I'm too strong
Eat 'til the food's gone, they placed me on this earth
The twin brother of Rich Porter, separated at birth
I got the soul of a hustler, quiet noise like a muffler
Fuck with us, walk through the ghetto
See the place that corrupted us
Learn why we buck at the guys that come up with us
Ain't enough bucks for us to split in this shit
Plus ain't nobody lovin' us; and with that said
Back to Shawn Carter the hustler, Jay-Z is dead, and I ahh

[Chorus: Alana Davis sample]
Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh
I ahh, think there's been a..
I.. I think there's been a..
Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh
I ahh, think there's been a..
I.. I think there's been a..

[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
See my life is like a see-saw
And until I move this weight it's gon' keep me to the floor
Travel with me through my deep thoughts
Y'all can't learn Jigga by the shit y'all be readin' in The Source
It's deeper of course
Follow the life of this reckless minor
At sixteen in the 600, unlicensed driver
Playin', cops and robbers, like shots can't stop us
Flippin' a bird to the choppers (fuck you coppers!)
Buck-thirty on the turns
Reckless abandon, when I'm standin' on this pedal
Hand on my metal, mind is on this time they tryin' to give me
Lord help me, all I ever wanted to be was wealthy or
Somebody to tell me that they felt me
I tried to play the hand you dealt me
But you gave me five funnies an' shit
I was hungry I needed menage money
Nothin' less than a 520; and with that said
Back to Shawn Carter the hustler, Jay-Z is {*gunshot*}

[Outro: Alana Davis sample]
{Think there's been a murder-errra-ahhh-hahh-ahhh}

JAY-Z

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.