“Some [lyrics] become really profound when you see them in writing. Not ‘Big Pimpin.’ That’s the exception. It was like, I can’t believe I said that. And kept saying it. What kind of animal would say this sort of thing? Reading it is really harsh … We have to find our way back to true emotion. This is going to sound so sappy, but love is the only thing that stands the test of time. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was all about love. Andre 3000, The Love Below. Even N.W.A, at its core — that was about love for a neighborhood.”
— Jay-Z speaks to The Wall Street Journal about his new book Decoded, in which he explains his past lyrics. The song that he refers to, “Big Pimpin,” is all about having women available to him when ever he wants one. Jay makes a good point about hip hop getting back to love, but I wonder if he’ll ever regret helping to usher in this age of conspicuous consumption, greed, and ballin’ that has had hip hop by the balls for more than a decade. [The YBF] Keep reading »
