Aww man, this song so perfectly captures the feelings, emotions and resentment that come from deep heart-wrenching betrayal. This song is obviously Jay's interpretation and misgivings about the events that transpired surrounding the fall of his record label/imprint roc-a-fella records.
Business and creative differences between himself and Dame Dash, the fallout with Beanie Siegel, Cam'Ron, State Property etc. The decision Kanye made about his future...all of these things contributed to a complete and utter disaster which was the fall of one of the greatest hip hop dynasties of the era.
In the song Jay states
"I tried to teach niggas how to be kings
And all they ever wanted to be was soldiers"
Powerful powerful statement. I'm sure this line can apply across all color lines and creeds, but in my opinion, none so much as in the black community. Differences in opinion, the willingness to put your ego aside, the willingness to accept mentorship and grow into something larger than yourself. All symptoms of illness that are perpetuated and cast amongst our youth by the very same music and lifestyle that we adore. I wouldnt even have to be in the room to tell you that there was probably always a strong resentment toward Jay for the direction he was taking in his lead. It's obvious now as we see Jay-Z has risen to prominence, and all of those who have fallen by the wayside publicly express the ill will they've had all along (Of course this is assuming the talk about secret societies, selling of the soul, human sacrifice and all that other unsubstatiated BS you hear about Jay-Z isn't true...another conversation for another time)
Anyway, other notable lines...
"Showed love to you niggas
You ripped out my heart and you stepped on it
I picked up the pieces, before you swept on it
God damn this sh*t leaves a mess don't it
Shit feelin' like death don't it"
How can I expand upon that? Betrayal...the loss of companionship...the loss of trust, the money, the time, the energy, the secrets, the future, mutual friendships, the intimate moments, the life lessons and experiences you had with this person, that space in your heart and mind that you lean upon when you think about the best of times in life...all lost. It feels like death, don't it?
Pretty much the entire last verse, but the Caesar line was especially poignant.
"Caesar didn't see it so it ceased to exist
So the nigga that killed him had keys to his sh*t"
The possibility just didnt exist...Ceasar would not have imagined in a million years that the MF that would stab him in the back would be Brutus, his main man. How?
Love this album, this is my favorite song on the album, great stuff.
Aww man, this song so perfectly captures the feelings, emotions and resentment that come from deep heart-wrenching betrayal. This song is obviously Jay's interpretation and misgivings about the events that transpired surrounding the fall of his record label/imprint roc-a-fella records.
Business and creative differences between himself and Dame Dash, the fallout with Beanie Siegel, Cam'Ron, State Property etc. The decision Kanye made about his future...all of these things contributed to a complete and utter disaster which was the fall of one of the greatest hip hop dynasties of the era.
In the song Jay states
"I tried to teach niggas how to be kings And all they ever wanted to be was soldiers"
Powerful powerful statement. I'm sure this line can apply across all color lines and creeds, but in my opinion, none so much as in the black community. Differences in opinion, the willingness to put your ego aside, the willingness to accept mentorship and grow into something larger than yourself. All symptoms of illness that are perpetuated and cast amongst our youth by the very same music and lifestyle that we adore. I wouldnt even have to be in the room to tell you that there was probably always a strong resentment toward Jay for the direction he was taking in his lead. It's obvious now as we see Jay-Z has risen to prominence, and all of those who have fallen by the wayside publicly express the ill will they've had all along (Of course this is assuming the talk about secret societies, selling of the soul, human sacrifice and all that other unsubstatiated BS you hear about Jay-Z isn't true...another conversation for another time)
Anyway, other notable lines...
"Showed love to you niggas You ripped out my heart and you stepped on it I picked up the pieces, before you swept on it God damn this sh*t leaves a mess don't it Shit feelin' like death don't it"
How can I expand upon that? Betrayal...the loss of companionship...the loss of trust, the money, the time, the energy, the secrets, the future, mutual friendships, the intimate moments, the life lessons and experiences you had with this person, that space in your heart and mind that you lean upon when you think about the best of times in life...all lost. It feels like death, don't it?
Pretty much the entire last verse, but the Caesar line was especially poignant.
"Caesar didn't see it so it ceased to exist So the nigga that killed him had keys to his sh*t"
The possibility just didnt exist...Ceasar would not have imagined in a million years that the MF that would stab him in the back would be Brutus, his main man. How?
Love this album, this is my favorite song on the album, great stuff.