BBC

Album: Magna Carta... Holy Grail (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This cut finds Nas joining Jay as they spit rhymes about drug pushing and Hip-Hop fashion of the '80s. It was Hova's fourth musical collaboration with his former nemesis following their five year feud. Previous hook-ups include Nas's track "Black Republican" Ludacris's joint "I Do It for Hip-Hop" and Jay's own tune, "Success."
  • Nas takes the first verse and references D'usse a brand of cognac that Hova has been seen drinking. Jay was photographed drinking his D'usse straight out of one of the trophies that he had won at the 2013 Grammys.
  • Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, and Timbaland also contributed to the lively all-star collaboration.
  • The song title is a reference to the Billionaire Boys Club, which is a clothing line founded by Pharrell Williams. The track was recorded following the Tenth Anniversary Dinner of the Billionaire Boys Club. Jay-Z explained during an interview with BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe that he took Pharrell to Swiss Beatz's Jungle Studios following the event. The pair found Justin Timberlake there, who was recording with Swizz Beatz, then Timbaland brought in Nas to chop up some tracks. When Jay saw this all-star cast come together in the same studio, he knew they needed to take advantage of the opportunity. "If we don't make a record tonight, shame on us," he said. The result was this song.
  • The beat was supplied by Pharrell Williams and Timbaland. Jay-Z and Pharrell first linked up in 2000 to create "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)," which was the lead single from The Dynasty: Roc La Familia.
  • Jay borrows some lines from Ma$e's opening verse of his 1997 single, "Feel So Good," when he spits, "What you know about going out, head west. Maybach, 3 TV's all up in the headrest."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.