90059

Album: 90059 (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title track of Jay Rock's second album 90059, this is named after the zip code of his hometown of Watts. The song was produced by by frequent collaborator Tae Beast of Top Dawg Entertainment in-house production team Digi+Phonics and features Lance Skiiiwalker.
  • The song's music video features fellow TDE artist SZA driving a masked and straightjacketed Jay Rock to an abandoned area where she frees him. The clip's concept references the rapper's long-awaited and often-delayed second studio album. "You haven't seen Jay Rock in four years," Top Dawg Entertainment President Dave Free told MTV News. "You've seen him on features and small pieces like that, but you haven't seen him in four years with his own material. So, the concept was, he's been gone and he's insane at this point. Then, SZA metaphorically broke him out, or mentally broke him out."
  • Jay Rock raps about little kids ("snotty nosed rascals") carrying guns ("big ratchet toters") in his hood. MTV News asked Rock why this was important to highlight. He replied: "Because I was one of them. Growing up in the hood, young n----s is out here starving, trying to get it. I was one of them, trying to do what I had do to make a dollar."

    "I feel these young n----s out here that be trying to grind. I respect it. That's why I touched on that. Everything is a repeated cycle, but I still try to be that big brother that might come through like, 'You could do the right thing.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."