top 8 favorite jay-z lyrics

take away the image, the clothes, the rides, the wifey and you have who i consider my favorite rapper, jay-z. i grew up listening to jigga and to watch his trajectory into mainstream, is both exciting and bittersweet. he was hard scrabble, product of marcy projects, rapping about stealing your bitch, slanging cocaine and heroin, dodging bullets. i didn't identify but he walked me through the "story" as if i were right there with him. i idolize him because he has the spirit of a survivor and a warrior.

He's the inspiration poster of music for me. he calls people on their shit all the time and is unapologetic...whereas his ego is grand, if not more grandiose than say Kanye or even Diddy - its his style, his lyricism and reserved nature that makes me hang on his every word and repeat it often. Oh and the beats and bass.

1.
"we dont believe you...you need more people"
-Takeover

2.
Try and lie on Hov' cause I ride on the road, in what, most would describe as a Rolls
NO, that's that Continental T, The only car that fit intercontinental me, not guilty -
- Guilty Until Proven Innocent

3.
Rich niggas, black bar-mitzvahs, Mazel Tov its a celebration bitches,
L'Chayim I wish for you a hundred years of success but it's my time
Cheers, toast to crime number one d-boy damn he could rhyme...
- Roc Boys

4.
I got this African chick with Eddie Murphy on her skull
She like, "Jigga Man, why you treat me like animal?"
I'm like excuse me Ms. Fufu, but when I met your ass
you was dead broke and naked, and now you want half....
-Girls, Girls, Girls

5.
I'm ten years removed, still the vibe is in my veins
I got a hustler spirit, nigga period
Check out my hat yo, peep the way I wear it
Check out my swag' yo, I walk like a ballplayer
No matter where you go, you are what you are player
And you can try to change but that's just the top layer
Man, you was who you was 'fore you got here
Only God can judge me, so I'm gone, either love me, or leave me alone
-Public Service Announcement

6.
I don't think it's meant to be, be
But she loves her work more than she does me
And honestly, at twenty-three, I would probably love my work more than I did she
So we, ain't we, It's me, and her
'Cause what she prefers over me, is work
And that's, where we, differ, So I have to give her
Free, time, even if it hurts, So breathe, mami, it's deserved
You've been put on this earth to be, All you can be, like the reserves
And me? My timing in this army, it's served, So I have to allow she, her, time to serve
The time's now for her, The time she'll mature
And maybe we, can be, we, again like we were
Finally, my time's too short to share, And to ask her now, it ain't fair
So yeah, she lost one
-Lost Ones

7
Hov' did that so hopefully you won't have to go through that - Izzo

8.
I never asked for nothin' I don't demand of myself / Honesty, loyalty, friends and then wealth / Death before dishonor and I tell you what else / I tighten my belt 'fore I beg for help / Foolish pride is what held me together through the years / I wasn't felt which is why I ain't never played myself / I just play the hand I'm dealt, I can't say I've never knelt / Before God and asked for better cards at times to no avail / But I never sat back feelin sorry for myself / If you don't give me heaven I'll raise hell ('Til it's heaven)
-Justify My Thug