Hip-hop icon and mogul Jay-Z is rarely on social media. But the “God MC” hopped on Twitter Wednesday just in time to see praise from another legend. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James shouted out Hov’s four-minute verse on DJ Khaled’s “God Did.” The internet went crazy when the song dropped last week, with many saying it was Hov’s best verse in years.
“Listen! Then listen again to make sure you got the point. HOV DID!!!! And so did the reporter! 🐐TALK,” LeBron tweeted.
Listen! Then listen again to make sure you got the point. HOV DID!!!! And so did the reporter! 🐐 TALK https://t.co/ni8vSyjOAY
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 31, 2022
“My only goal is to make the real “ones” feel seen , forgive me that’s my passion talking ….. haa,” tweeted Hov.
My only goal is to make the real “ones” feel seen , forgive me that’s my passion talking ….. haa . https://t.co/yRzFlyie3f
— Mr. Carter (@sc) August 31, 2022
Bron included an MSNBC report from Ari Melber, who referenced Hov’s four-minute verse while talking about the U.S.’s failed war on drugs policies from the Richard Nixon administration to the Donald Trump administration.
The “war on drugs” was a global policy instituted by then President Richard Nixon in 1971. A failed policy that caused irreparable damage domestically to poor Black and Brown communities. One of the biggest indicators of its failure was the 100 to 1 sentencing disparity for the trafficking or possession of crack when compared to penalties for trafficking of powder cocaine.
Black and Brown people were more likely to use crack cocaine, while white people would more likely use powder cocaine.
The war on drugs has been a subject of many rap verses over the years, so this wasn’t anything particularly new from Hov.
Still, the rhyme scheme and Hov commenting on how he left the drug game with a “clean record” and became a billionaire was an interesting juxtaposition.
Hov’s longtime friend and producer “Young Guru” did confirm that Hov dropped the verse in one take, as is his custom.
“People think I’m still not amazed when he walk in and do these verses,” he said. “And this one was different because normally, we’ll sit down, we’ll do a song, three verses, two verses or whatever, and he’ll have a verse and then we’ll figure out what’s next.
“No, he walked in and this was completely, he’s spitting the verse to me. One take. He’s literally asking me, ‘Guru, put the beat on.’ I’m like, ‘Khaled didn’t send me the beat, you didn’t send me the beat. Send me the beat.’ So then he sends me the joint and I started trying to loop it, and he was just like, ‘No, no, no, hit Khaled and get the whole instrumental,’ so he could spit the whole verse.”
Hov and Bron at this stage of their careers are master craftsmen. They’ve been plying their respective trades for decades. This is what they do.
Bron received a mention from Hov during his verse, along with Kanye and Rihanna, as billionaires Hov helped create.
GOATs and wealthy people, something we mere mortals know nothing about.
Bron is about to begin his 20th season in the NBA and is hoping to lead the Lakers back to the playoffs and a possible championship.
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