Has Jay-Z taken Henny Youngman's throne?

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"I call you 'Fuh-Real' 'cause you the truth" is a current fave. Seems like on every song he's on he drops a classic line. For whatever reason, I think these prove Jay-Z's just a massive entertainer. It all appears effortless, it's memorable, and it's hard to dislike something like "I move ki's/keys, you can call me the piano man." And he's been doing it well for a while. These are just 2003 favs.

And if Jay's not the king of one-liners then who's consistently done it well for a long time? Rakim, GZA, Big Daddy Kane, Biggie, and a couple others (Eminem? Ice Cube?) are/were close, but I think Jay takes it. I remember his stuff instantly because it hits me in some way. I think Vast Aire's similar, but he's got a long way to go.

Hope somebody gets me...

― Adam Harrison-Friday, Friday, 8 August 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

It's one of the better cross-media (in a way) comparisons I've read in a while. :-) But was Youngman ever in the exact same center-of-universe position as Jay-Z?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 August 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"I move ki's/keys, you can call me the piano man" vs. "Take my wife...please"

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 8 August 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

> "I move ki's/keys, you can call me the piano man" vs. "Take my
wife...please"

I know what you mean, Mark. I'm simply using the name "The King of the One-Liners" as a way to describe how Jay-Z keeps coming up with them time and time again. It's a different kind of one-liner, but for what he does, I'd just like to know if people see Jay-Z that good. His stuff has aged well, even though it's only been seven years since his first album.

― Adam Harrison-Friday, Friday, 8 August 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Adam, I understood -- I love the comparison & agree re Jay-Z's one-liner prowess.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 8 August 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't much like the "fuh-real" line. but yeah, jay's good at this. my fave 2 for 2: "so move over - hoes,choose hova/ my food for thought's so hot it gives you dudes ulcers"

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Friday, 8 August 2003 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

"Like short sleeves, I bear arms"

― Ess, Friday, 8 August 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I know this sound rather ridiculous, given his media ubiquity, but I actually think that Jay-Z is underrated. I like the way he throws some little poignant details or personal details into his regular party jams...like the "sellin' they mama's sofa" line in Izzo....

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 8 August 2003 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"I take one of your chicks straight from under your armpit / the black Brad Pitt"

The entire first verse of "Beware" is so perfect, the way it's all pretty much just non-sequitors strung together based on total word association, the way the sounds (not even necessarily rhymes) rub up against each other and lead into the next line. Like the lyrics themselves, taken as a whole, call up brain synapses just firing violently nonstop in every direction, but it's delivered so lazily and confidently that it sounds like he's ordering takeout.

I think Clipse, especially Malice, is also great with the one-liners, though I think that comes more from delivery than actual content. I love the way Malice goes "guaranteed to lean ya man, whoa" on "What Happened to that Boy."

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Friday, 8 August 2003 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

ooo Clipse! They remind me of the way EPMD used to make amazing song with so-so lyrics just due to their charisma and delivery....I especially love the "One'll leave you frozen/the other/noddin' and dozin'/I'm grindin', Jack" the way the "I'm grindin' Jack" overlaps the beginning of the chorus....

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 8 August 2003 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Did Henny have a really really infectious winning laugh? If so, then yes, Jay-Z is Youngman Mk II. If not, still yes. (Exhibit A: "I've got a condo with nothin' but condoms in it." I sure would like to live in one of those!)

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I'm never sure if I like Clipse's lyrics or their performance of them.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 9 August 2003 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

"Said she loved my necklace / and she started relaxin / now that's what the fuck I call a 'chain reaction'!!"

haw haw

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 11 September 2003 09:50 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

"he two-ways her, so she writes back / smiley faces after all her phrases / either she's the one or i'm courtin' (caught in?) the matrix " (after that it's almost overkill - "but fuck it, let the fish burn(e)/ red or green pill, you live and you learn!")

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

and the other day i actually laughed out loud at "this necklace is the reason all of my dates been blind dates"

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Any other rappers with a Jay-like resume of funny quotables? Ludacris is pretty good at this. "The technique'll make ya sweat / But don't sweat the technique" line on that new 112 song is pretty great. And with Jay retiring and everything, Luda's the best bet to rule this category.

As much as Jay plays up how important, etc. he is, I think all the jokes balance him out. I know, blah blah.

I guess my point is, assuming Jay doesn't make another record (riiight), Luda will be my new current favorite. It seems logical, though I don't expect anyone to read this and really care.

― Adam Harrison-Friday, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

the whole exchange with the cop in the 2nd verse of 99 Problems...especially "well you were doin' 55 in a 54"

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Verse 3 of Nelly's "Greed, Hate, Envy":

One time out in the Range Rover
(WOOP WOOP, WOOP!) Aww shit they pulled me over
What tha hell y'all fuckin wit me fo?
Speed limit 30 just doin 34
"Yeah son, where the gun?" It's at home wit tha dope
"Oh you a smart ass ha?" Nah that's my lil joke
"How bout I tow yo truck in?" Ain't no need to be provoked
besides everything up in here done been smoked
I ain't got nuttin but tapes and CDs
Pocket full of G's and two tickets across seas
So me and my boo can lay under the palm trees
Ain't no more questions then hand me my ID
You could tell he was pissed
cuz the black man in the black range
doin black things wit his black change
Doin the right thing, drivin his ass insane
And if I wasn't in his face he probably be callin me names

I asked on another thread if people thought Jay was biting Nelly...

― Adam Harrison-Friday, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

there are none of Jay's "easter eggs" in that verse

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Luda is classic at this, if only for "Coming 2 America" and the Delta Airlines and Danny De Vito lines. Also;

"My diamonds is reckless, feels like a midget is hanging from my necklace."

― Nick H (Nick H), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 02:05 (twenty-two years ago)

some of Jay's Easter Eggs:

you got a couple of +beans+ and you don't have a +clue+?
Your situation is +bleek+, I'ma keep it +rell+ cause
Fuckin with me, you gotta drop +a mil+

or I'm mixin in Switzerland, tryin to +buy time+

Aiyyo, stand forward, +'fore+ you +take notice+
or +witness+ to me killin the track

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Please don't call them easter eggs.

― Rubashov (Rubashov), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, sir.

I'm using his own term, whether or not "accurate".

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:48 (twenty-two years ago)

arrgh, i was trying to remember where i got the "jay-z = henny youngman" thing for my review from! apologies to mr. harrison-friday.

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you provide a link to the review?

― Adam Harrison-Friday, Wednesday, 3 December 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

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