Jay-Z hails Rakim and Biggie Smalls’ songwriting abilities
Jay-Z has given Rakim and Biggie Smalls their flowers.
Hov is one of the greatest rappers of all time and has been inspired by other hip-hop stars who have perfected their craft.
Speaking to The New York Times, Jay praised two of New York’s finest, Rakim and Biggie, for their talent with words.
“Most times, I come up with the flow first,” he said. “I’m trying to work out the pockets, and then I fill it with words. We knew Rakim came from a jazz background. We understood he’s mimicking a horn. But Biggie was so unorthodox. That’s just jazz. And then the one – one word – was so powerful. ‘However.’ Anything he said after that was going to be amazing.”
He added, “Those are little tricks as a writer that everyone’s trying to accomplish, to make a word mean more. A triple entendre, quadruple entendre – that’s when I feel like I’m at my best.”
Jay collaborated with Biggie on three songs: ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’ from Reasonable Doubt, ‘Young G’s’, and ‘I Love the Dough’ from Life After Death.
He previously praised Rakim at the Grammy Awards in 2023. He told him, “Look at the God! Thank you, brother. Thank you for everything. Thank you for the roads you paved.”
Rakim also revealed he was a fan of Jay in 2017, both as an artist and in how he handles his business.
“I remember Jay when he first started up until this day,” he told Billboard. “I’m a fan of Jay-Z, from the negotiating table to the booth. I like what he’s doing, and I like how he’s trying to grow with it inside. He’s trying to push the envelope.”
He continued, “At this point, he inspires me to do what I do again – whether it’s business, or the mic, too. The joints that I heard, I love what Jay do. I can’t front. That’s my dude. Big up Jay. Keep rocking and do your thing.”