How is Jay Z so popular?

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StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
No idea. I loved his combo with linkin park but when I went back to his original songs minus the linkin they were extremely blah.
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
1
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Most commercially successful rap songs can trace their success back to catchy rhythms and a memorable hook. They're designed for the club scene, so they need to be loud, with a pronounced rhythm, preferably bass driven, and a fairly simple hook so that people can scream along to it while they dance (irrelevant of the complexity of the lyrics in the verses). Jay-Z has a number of songs that fit this mold (such as Izzo, Hard Knock Life, Encore, 99 Problems, Run This Town, etc.). Let's face it, even if you've never heard 99 Problems before in your life, by the end of the song you'll have no problem singing along to the hook: I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one.

Jay-Z has worked with a number of talented producers who are very skilled at producing good club tracks. Jay-Z has proven adept at coming up with catchy hooks to put over these beats. But I think at the end of the day, the beat is much, much more important to the success of the song than the lyrics. How else do you explain Soulja Boy?
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
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At least there will be a 1 year hiatus on new garbage from him on my radio

There are plenty of tracks he recorded before going in (at shot 9 music videos). Thus far, there has been a nice stream of new tracks. I doubt he'll be in for the whole year though.
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
Most commercially successful rap songs can trace their success back to catchy rhythms and a memorable hook. They're designed for the club scene, so they need to be loud, with a pronounced rhythm, preferably bass driven, and a fairly simple hook so that people can scream along to it while they dance (irrelevant of the complexity of the lyrics in the verses). Jay-Z has a number of songs that fit this mold (such as Izzo, Hard Knock Life, Encore, 99 Problems, Run This Town, etc.). Let's face it, even if you've never heard 99 Problems before in your life, by the end of the song you'll have no problem singing along to the hook: I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one.

Jay-Z has worked with a number of talented producers who are very skilled at producing good club tracks. Jay-Z has proven adept at coming up with catchy hooks to put over these beats. But I think at the end of the day, the beat is much, much more important to the success of the song than the lyrics. How else do you explain Soulja Boy?

I agree completely.

Same reason I think Kanye West is so successful. You collaborate with other artists (like Common) who can produce good beats, and that turns your rap (mediocre to good) into highly marketable hip-hop.
 
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BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,990
3,346
146
Most commercially successful rap songs can trace their success back to catchy rhythms and a memorable hook. They're designed for the club scene, so they need to be loud, with a pronounced rhythm, preferably bass driven, and a fairly simple hook so that people can scream along to it while they dance (irrelevant of the complexity of the lyrics in the verses). Jay-Z has a number of songs that fit this mold (such as Izzo, Hard Knock Life, Encore, 99 Problems, Run This Town, etc.). Let's face it, even if you've never heard 99 Problems before in your life, by the end of the song you'll have no problem singing along to the hook: I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one.

Jay-Z has worked with a number of talented producers who are very skilled at producing good club tracks. Jay-Z has proven adept at coming up with catchy hooks to put over these beats. But I think at the end of the day, the beat is much, much more important to the success of the song than the lyrics. How else do you explain Soulja Boy?

I think you have nailed it for me. I hate clubs. I don't understand them, and will try to avoid them the rest of my life. This is probably why I don't understand the artistic merit of a lot of modern music. It's meant to be listened to obscenely loud while you are drunk and crushed together with 100's of desperate horny people.
 

brblx

Diamond Member
Mar 23, 2009
5,499
2
0
all popular rappers are terrible at rapping. everyone knows this.
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
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I really don't like lil wayne all that much but the guy has some talent, you've got to admit it. soulja boy on the other hand, completely worthless shit.

Jay Z is a lyrical genius, I think a lot of his fame surrounds the 'beef' between him and NAS who is also on the same level lyrically.
Ahahahahahahahhahahah.

Millions of fans and 4 grammy awards (out of 4 nominations) suggest that there a good amount of people who agree w/ Pantlegz1 and myself. :)
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
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Millions of fans and 4 grammy awards (out of 4 nominations) suggest that there a good amount of people who agree w/ Pantlegz1 and myself. :)
So a bunch of sheep that jump at any person who is hot at the moment buy his records and that means he is great.
K.

His first solo album dropped back in 1999, when he was 17. It went platinum. He's been "hot" for more than a moment.

Also, Wayne is really a different animal on his mixtapes (particularly Drought III and No Ceilings). That's where he really shines. Most people who I ran across who aren't too hot on Wayne haven't even heard this stuff.
 

pray4mojo

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2003
3,647
0
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link to a song where Jay-Z mumbles. I've never heard a song from him I didn't understand.
 

pray4mojo

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2003
3,647
0
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His first solo album dropped back in 1999, when he was 17. It went platinum. He's been "hot" for more than a moment.

Also, Wayne is really a different animal on his mixtapes (particularly Drought III and No Ceilings). That's where he really shines. Most people who I ran across who aren't too hot on Wayne haven't even heard this stuff.

you have to admit that his mainstream stuff is complete shit though. for example listen to him in t-pain - can't believe it. can you understand a damn word he says?
 

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
I used to like Lil Wayne, then he started being "featuring" on other artists songs with stupid verses that make no sense and I lost all respect. Lil Wayne being in jail without him being featured on anymore songs is good for me. Now if he goes back to his old school ways of rapping that's fine by me.

Jay-Z is a good rapper, but an even better businessman. A lot of people come and go with rap but those who stay are either the best or have made something else out of their talent.
 
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
His first solo album dropped back in 1999, when he was 17. It went platinum. He's been "hot" for more than a moment.

Also, Wayne is really a different animal on his mixtapes (particularly Drought III and No Ceilings). That's where he really shines. Most people who I ran across who aren't too hot on Wayne haven't even heard this stuff.
you have to admit that his mainstream stuff is complete shit though. for example listen to him in t-pain - can't believe it. can you understand a damn word he says?

I agree that some of the mainstream stuff is garbage, but not all. can't believe it is a terrible song. I think him and Pain got a little carried away after the success of "got money." That should have been the beginning and end of that collaboration duo.

As I said in my previous post, he still goes on the mixtapes.
 

pray4mojo

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2003
3,647
0
0
Jay-Z is a good rapper, but an even better businessman. A lot of people come and go with rap but those who stay are either the best or have made something else out of their talent.

and this. hes got lots of money in other places other than rap.
 

pray4mojo

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2003
3,647
0
0
I agree that some of the mainstream stuff is garbage, but not all. can't believe it is a terrible song. I think him and Pain got a little carried away after the success of "got money." That should have been the beginning and end of that collaboration duo.

As I said in my previous post, he still goes on the mixtapes.

I've got friends that say he's good on his mixtapes as well so I dont doubt that. If his mainstream stuff sells and makes money, good for him.