03. 99 Problems – Jay-Z (2003)
When it comes to Jay-Z, give me black over blue. The Black Album is Shawn Carter at his strongest, most mature. “99 Problems” is a soaring, crunching song, filled with interesting wordplay and backed by a Rick Rubin-laden riff-fest. Jay-Z’s more commercial tracks come to mind when many people think of the performer, but, to me, this scorcher is the first track that hits when I ponder his work.
notable lyrics:
The year’s ’94 and my trunk is raw
In my rear view mirror is the mother fuckin’ law
I got two choices y’all pull over the car or (hmmm)
Bounce on the double put the pedal to the floor
Now I ain’t tryin’ to see no highway chase with Jay,
Plus i got a few dollars i can fight the case
So I pull over to the side of the road
I heard “Son do you know why I’m stoppin’ you for?”
Cause I’m young and I’m black and my hats real low?
Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don’t know
Am I under arrest or should I guess some mo’?
“Well you was doin fifty-five in a fifty-fo’ ”
“Liscense and registration and step out of the car”
“Are you carryin’ a weapon on you I know a lot of you are”
I ain’t steppin out of shit all my paper’s legit
“Well, do you mind if I look round the car a little bit?”
Well my glove compartment is locked so are the trunk in the back
And I know my rights so you gon’ need a warrant for that
“Aren’t you sharp as a tack, you some type of lawyer or something’?”
“Or somebody important or somethin’?”
Nah, I ain’t passed the bar but i know a little bit
Enough that you won’t illegally search my shit
“We’ll see how smart you are when the K9 come”
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one
Hit me.
Kyle is a writer and editor from Ohio. He has written for 
