Today’s Jay-Z track is another cut from 2001’s The Blueprint, which brought us yesterday’s team-up with Eminem.
‘Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)’ is one of the four tracks on this album produced by a then little-known Kanye West, and I’m very curious to hear it for that reason.
I like these lyrics, though the “faggot” reference sure dates the song. I bet he wouldn’t go there today. And dismissing jealousy as “a female trait” is the sort of sexism I haven’t seen from Jay-Z in the other songs this week. I’m sure Beyoncé will have none of that.
But these verses flow nicely, and I love the line “I pack heat like I’m the oven door” as well as all the references to rap and soul figures breaking up. Jay-Z clearly wants to take on the mantle of those greats and feels like saying he has will make it so.
Headphones on… ooh, that’s my jam! Great-sounding song, definitely Kanye’s work. It features in inspired sample of Bobby Bland’s ‘Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,’ both in the chorus and through the great horn part that backs up the verses.
It’s fascinating how so many old soul songs have found their way into modern rap. Hip-hop simply wouldn’t exist without those forerunners.
First the Fat Boys break up, now every day I wake up
Somebody got a problem with Hov’
Whassup y’all niggaz all fed up cause I got a little cheddar
and my records movin out the sto’?
Young fucks spittin at me, young rappers gettin at me
My nigga Big predicted the shit exactly
“Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems” – gotta move carefully
Cause faggots hate when you gettin money like athletes
Yung’uns ice-grillin me, ohh – you not feelin me?
Fine; it cost you nothin – pay me no mind
Look, I’m on my grind cousin, ain’t got time for frontin
Sensitive thugs, y’all all need hugs
Damn though mans I’m just tryin do me
If the record’s two mill’ I’m just tryin move three
Get a couple of chicks, get ’em to try to do E
Hopefully they’ll menage before I reach my garage
I don’t want much, fuck I drove every car
Some nice cooked food, some nice clean drawers
Bird-ass niggaz I don’t mean to ruffle y’all
I know you waitin in the wing but I’m doin my thing
Where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of the city..”
I said where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
Yeah..
And then the Fugees gon’ break up, now everyday I wake up
Somebody got somethin to say
What’s all the fuckin fussin for? Because I’m grubbin more
and I pack heat like I’m the oven door?
Niggaz pray and pray on my downfall
But everytime I hit the ground I bounce up like roundball
Now I don’t wanna have to kill sound bar
Don’t wanna have to cock back the four pound bwoy
Look scrapper I got nephews to look after
I’m not lookin at you dudes, I’m lookin past ya
I thought I told you characters I’m not a rapper
Can I live? I told you in ninety-six
that I came to take this shit and I did, handle my biz
I scramble like Randall Cunningham
cut in hand but the only thing runnin is numbers fam
Jigga held you down six summers; damn, where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of the city..”
Niggaz, where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
Holla at me!!
“Ain’t no love” (take ’em to church) “in the heart of the city..”
Uh, uh, uh – my nigga where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
Fuck
Then Richard Pryor go and burn up, and Ike and Tina Turner break up
Then I wake up to more bullshit
You knew me before records, you never disrespected me
Now that I’m successful you’ll pull this shit
Nigga I’ll step on your porch, step to your boss
Let’s end the speculation, I’m talkin to alla y’all
Males shouldn’t be jealous that’s a female trait
Whatchu mad cause you push dimes and he sell weight?
Y’all don’t know my expenses, I gotta buy a bigger place
Hehehe, and more baggies, why you all aggie?
Nigga respect the game, that should be it
What you eat don’t make me shit – where’s the love?
Where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of the city..”
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of the city..”
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of the city..”
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
I like this one, but probably more for the sampled song than the rap overlay.