Okay, i was waffling over posting a blog over this song. To be honest, i think Jay-Z's lyrics are garbage- he has a good flow, and he got lucky by working with good artists (not to mention the Grey Album and Jaydiohead), but he just doesn't do it for me. And in the same vein Kanye West isn't trying to have much depth, but he is better, in my opinion, than Jay-Z; im sure i'll catch some flack for that comment. But the real reason im posting on this song is because of J.Ivy. His one verse is easily one of the best ever recorded. Is his 'flow' as good as Jay-Z's? No, but is Jay-Z using multi-syllabic words? No. So, im just going to post the lyrics of J. Ivy's verse, because it's short enough.
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We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don't need a curriculum to know that you are part of the math
Cats think I'm delirious, but I'm so damn serious
That's why I expose my soul to the globe, the world
I'm trying to make it better for these little boys and girls 5
I'm not just another individual, my spirit is a part of this
That's why I get spiritual, but I get my hymns from Him
So it's not me, it's He that's lyrical
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven-sent instrument
My rhythmatic regimen navigates melodic notes for your soul and your mental 10
That's why I'm instrumental
Vibrations is what I'm into
Yeah, I need my loot by rent day
But that is not what gives me the heart of Kunte Kinte
I'm tryina give us "us free" like Cinque 15
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I'm talking to you, my many inspirations
When I say I can't, let you or self down
If I were of the highest cliff, on the highest riff 20
And you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life in my grip
I would never, ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it been known that God's penmanship has been signed with a language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the deaf 25
And why my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I, too, dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
Cuz whenever I open my heart, my soul, or my mouth
A touch of God reigns out 30
You don't need a curriculum to know that you are part of the math
Cats think I'm delirious, but I'm so damn serious
That's why I expose my soul to the globe, the world
I'm trying to make it better for these little boys and girls 5
I'm not just another individual, my spirit is a part of this
That's why I get spiritual, but I get my hymns from Him
So it's not me, it's He that's lyrical
I'm not a miracle, I'm a heaven-sent instrument
My rhythmatic regimen navigates melodic notes for your soul and your mental 10
That's why I'm instrumental
Vibrations is what I'm into
Yeah, I need my loot by rent day
But that is not what gives me the heart of Kunte Kinte
I'm tryina give us "us free" like Cinque 15
I can't stop, that's why I'm hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I'm talking to you, my many inspirations
When I say I can't, let you or self down
If I were of the highest cliff, on the highest riff 20
And you slipped off the side and clinched on to your life in my grip
I would never, ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it been known that God's penmanship has been signed with a language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the deaf 25
And why my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I, too, dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
Cuz whenever I open my heart, my soul, or my mouth
A touch of God reigns out 30
There isn't enough that i can say about this verse. I'm going to treat it like a poem, citing specific lines, instead of quoting, cus that takes up a lot of space. Ivy starts off by saying that his life is not for him to live (lines 1&2). He definitely believe in God, but he doesn't make religion known, which is a good choice i think. He doesn't stoop to the level of Jay-Z, who raps about "When you hot, I'm hot. When your feet is cold, mine is sizzlin'". Thanks for that contribution to my psyche Jay. Instead Ivy says that he is trying to make the world a better place (5). He exposes his soul to the world, because as Augustine said: The world is a book, and those that have not traveled, have read but a page. He gives credit to God for his gift (5-10). And although he needs money to live (13), money is not the point to his life (14). Then he mentions Kunta Kinte, who is the primary character in the book "Roots: the Saga of an American Family", by Alex Haley. This alludes to his religion, without stating it explicitly. Kunta refuses to accept his new name of Toby, and fights back. Line 15 is a quote from Joseph Cinque, memorable from the film Amistad, in which he chants 'Give us, us free'. So, while Ivy is referencing these historical tragedies, he is juxtaposing them with contemporary society, saying that we are in a slavery of our own. We are slaves to the world. The next couple lines explain that the people he sees around him are his inspiration- why he writes. He then uses a few metaphors to explain how his writing is almost a metaphysical experience. I think that line 27, based on earlier reasoning, is a reference to Martin Luther King. I say this because of Ivy preoccupation with Black History, and this line would follow the chronological progression of historical events (Kunta Kinte, Cinque, MLK). Thats all i really have to say about this verse. Its a shame that you don't hear too much about J.Ivy these days. He is a fantastic poet, and spends most of his time doing spoken word. Its a shame that we as an audience are subjected to Jay-Z's lines of "Every fourth quarter i like to Michael Jordan-em".
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