Initially, the song appears to be just another rap song about having fun ("I ball so hard muhfuckas wanna fine me") accompanied by awesome beats. However, besides being a great song, I think its background is quite interesting. I think it refers to how black people used to be slaves, especially in Europe, and now they are part of the high society and elite segment ("What's Gucci my nigga? What's Louie my killa? What's drugs my deala? What's that jacket, Margiela?"). This is like an "in your face" statement. In addition, this song does a lot of bragging obviously. "What's 50 grand to a muhfucka like me, can you please remind me?" means that 50 grand mean nothing to Jay-Z because he's so damn rich. They also brag about how much crime or bad things they have gotten away with as stated in the following lines: "We ain't even spose to be here" and "I'm shocked too. I'm supposed to be locked up too. If you escaped what I've escaped, you'd be in Paris getting fucked up too". Moreover, Jay-Z is so huge and popular now that it's okay for him to go "psycho" or "crazy" just like other famous celebrities as stated here: "Psycho, I'm liable to be go Michael. Take your pick, Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6" -who are all black people also :)
I like your interpretation, only one thing, I believe that Europe, especially Paris embraced black performers...like Josephine Baker. They were allowed to walk thru the front door, not like back in the US. That's only my thoughts and not meant to be negative. :)
I like your interpretation, only one thing, I believe that Europe, especially Paris embraced black performers...like Josephine Baker. They were allowed to walk thru the front door, not like back in the US. That's only my thoughts and not meant to be negative. :)
Initially, the song appears to be just another rap song about having fun ("I ball so hard muhfuckas wanna fine me") accompanied by awesome beats. However, besides being a great song, I think its background is quite interesting. I think it refers to how black people used to be slaves, especially in Europe, and now they are part of the high society and elite segment ("What's Gucci my nigga? What's Louie my killa? What's drugs my deala? What's that jacket, Margiela?"). This is like an "in your face" statement. In addition, this song does a lot of bragging obviously. "What's 50 grand to a muhfucka like me, can you please remind me?" means that 50 grand mean nothing to Jay-Z because he's so damn rich. They also brag about how much crime or bad things they have gotten away with as stated in the following lines: "We ain't even spose to be here" and "I'm shocked too. I'm supposed to be locked up too. If you escaped what I've escaped, you'd be in Paris getting fucked up too". Moreover, Jay-Z is so huge and popular now that it's okay for him to go "psycho" or "crazy" just like other famous celebrities as stated here: "Psycho, I'm liable to be go Michael. Take your pick, Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6" -who are all black people also :)
I like your interpretation, only one thing, I believe that Europe, especially Paris embraced black performers...like Josephine Baker. They were allowed to walk thru the front door, not like back in the US. That's only my thoughts and not meant to be negative. :)
I like your interpretation, only one thing, I believe that Europe, especially Paris embraced black performers...like Josephine Baker. They were allowed to walk thru the front door, not like back in the US. That's only my thoughts and not meant to be negative. :)