Here are a bunch of my favorite Jay-Z songs, mostly album cuts with a few freestyles and secret joints thrown in for good measure. Since Jay “retired” and came back, his music hasn’t sounded as urgent or hungry to me. He sounds like he’s coasting along, so I wanted to go back and pull out a bunch of his music that made you bob your head, marvel at his flow, puff out your chest, or even raise the little hairs on the back of your neck. The feelings you got from songs like “Where I’m From,” “D’Evils,” “1-900-Hustler” and “You Don’t Know.” Not included: #1 singles you’ve heard a million times, lazy one-take flows, lyrics about inventing the button-down shirt, songs dissing rappers who would later be signed to Jay-Z’s label, and songs produced by Eminem.

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Tracklist:

Hova Song / Intro
Where I’m From
PSA (Just Blaze Remix)
Crew Love (ft. Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel)
Squeeze First
Lyrical Exercise
Watch Me
Snoopy Track
Parking Lot Pimpin’ (ft. Beanie Sigel)
Threat
D’evils
It’s Like That
Coming of Age (ft. Memphis Bleek)
Coming of Age (Da Sequel ft. Memphis Bleek)
A Week Ago (ft. Too $hort)
Calling My Name
Laser in Your Ear
22 Two’s
44 Four’s (live)
Blunts and Army
Rap Game Crack Game
South Philly Niggaz
I Am Hov
Reservoir Dogs (ft. The Lox, Beanie Sigel and Sauce Money)
People’s Court
Can I Live
U Don’t Know (remix ft. M.O.P.)
Early This Morning
1-900-Hustler (ft. Beanie Sigel, Freeway & Memphis Bleek)
Young Black and Gifted
The Streets (ft. R-Kelly)
This Can’t Be Life (ft. Beanie Sigel)
Soon You’ll Understand
In My Lifetime (Big Jaz radio remix)