4. Jay-Z – “The Ruler’s Back”
Produced By Bink! ~ Album: The Blueprint (2001)
Gearing up for a war of words over the throne to NYC’s rap kingdom Hov hit us over the head with this gem. This opening track set the entire tone for this album which is classic.
Some say Jay was biting his rhymes from the likes of Slick Rick and Biggie while others (including Jay) stated that the imitation was a form of paying homage.
Either way Jay was churning out classics like it was going out of style.
Memorable Lines:
Yo, gather round hustlers – that’s if you still livin
And get on down to that ol’ Jig rhythm
