Feelin' It: A History Of Jay-Z Borrowing Nas' Lyrics

October 29, 2013 - 5:29 pm by Max Weinstein

Everyone knows that Jay Z has helped himself to plenty of other rappers' lines, whether Cappadonna or Special Ed (but usually the late great Biggie Smalls). We were spinning Reasonable Doubt the other day when it occurred to us that Jay has even left a few teeth marks in former foe Nas' rhyme book. So we decided to backtrack and find all of the instances where Jay played like a spotter and lifted some bars from Esco. Take a look and see if we missed any. —Max Weinstein

"Dead Presidents" (1996) Nas says: “I’m out for dead fuckin’ presidents to represent me”—"The World Is Yours (Q-Tip Remix)" (1994) And then Jay samples: "I'm out for dead fuckin' presidents to represent me"

"Feelin’ It" (1996) Nas says: "Life's a bitch and then you die" —"Life's A Bitch" (1994) And then Jay rapped: “Transactions illegitimate cause life is still a bitch/And then you die, but for now, life, close your eyes and feel this dick”

"Come and Get Me" (1999) Nas says: "If you ill come get me, cause I ain't running/If your gun's off the hook then we'll both be gunning/Come get me if you real, cause I ain't scared" —"Come Get Me" (1999) And then Jay rapped: "I got, shots to give come and get me nigga/Y'all wanna rob the kid? Come and get me nigga/I won't, part with this come and get me nigga/I worked, hard for this come and get me nigga"

Never Change (2001) Nas says: "From the womb to the tomb, presume the unpredictable/guns salute life rapidly, that's the ritual" —Raekwon's "Verbal Intercourse" (1995) And then Jay rapped: "From the womb to the tomb/from now until my doom/drink Army from one cup, pass it around the room"

"Supa Ugly" (2001) Nas says: I'm the N, the A, to the S-I-R/and if I wasn't, I must have been Escobar" —"Got Ur Self A Gun" (2001) And then Jay rapped: “I’m the J, the A, to the fuck this broad/This nigga never sold Aspirin, how he Escobar?”

Rap City Basement Freestyle (2002) Nas says: "They shootin! I made you look/You a slave to a page in my rhyme book" —"Made You Look" (2001) And then Jay rapped: "They shootin! Nobody dyin'/somebody better put somebody body, on somebody iron"

"What More Can I Say?" (2003) Nas says: "Suede Timbs on my feet/make my cipher complete" —"The World Is Yours" (1994) And then Jay rapped: “S. Dot’s on my feet make my cipher complete”

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