The Story of Jay Z

Hector Villanueva Jr
 Rakim: The Inspiration

William Michael Griffin, otherly known as Rakim, was born on January 28th,
1968. Music runs deep in his blood as his aunt is R&B singer Ruth Brown.
Rakim began to rap before he was in high school. He is most known from
his duo with Eric B and for their 1987 hit, “Paid in Full”. He is highly regarded
as one of the “greatest MC’s” and as an early “trailblazer” for Hip-Hop.
 Jay-Z: The Artist
Shawn Corey Carter was born on
December 4th, 1969. He grew up in the
ghettos of Brooklyn, New York and used
rap as an escape. He often rapped about
his own experiences growing up. He is one
of the most successful rappers as of today.
He is also a successful producer and
entrepreneur, owning a clothing brand,
streaming company Tidal, Roc-a-fella
Records and more! He has three children
and is married to Beyoncé.
 How Jay-Z Was Inspired

In mid-June 2017, Jay-Z took to Twitter to thank all of his

inspirations. Rakim, was among the very first of all the people
thanked. Both were born and raised in New York and Rakim is part
of one of the greatest rap duo’s.
 Microphone Fiend - Eric B. & Rakim
I was a fiend before I became a teen
I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream

Music orientated so when hip hop was originated

Fitted like pieces of puzzles complicated
'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say " Yes y'all!"

They tried to take it and say that I'm too small

Cool 'Cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker pull the plug then I jet
Microphone Fiend Interpretation

In Microphone Fiend, Rakim recalls the adversity he faced

early. He was doubted as a rapper because his early age.
Rakim uses this as motivation to better himself as a rapper.
According to Rakim’s biography.com page, DJ Belal recalled
in an interview, “This dude sounded so good at 12… that most
MCs could not even come close.”
 D’Evils - Jay-Z
This stuff is wicked on these mean streets

None of my friends speak

We're all trying to win, but then again

Maybe it's for the best though, 'cause when they're seeing too much

You know they're trying to get you touched

Whoever said illegal was the easy way out couldn't understand the mechanics

And the workings of the underworld, granted

Nine to five is how to survive, I ain't trying to survive

I'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot

 D’Evils Interpretation

In D’Evils, Jay-Z describes the struggles of growing up

hustling, saying it is harder than a 9 to 5 job. The song has a
“survival by all means” type of feel to it. He also accounts that
he’d live life to the fullest and enjoy the luxuries of life.
 Follow The Leader
Follow me into a solo, get in the flow
And you could picture, like a photo

Music makes mellow, maintains to make Literary Devices:

Alliteration: days, displays,
Melodies for MCs, motivates the breaks x-rays
I'm everlasting; I can go on for days and days Assonance: follow, into,
solo, flow
With rhyme displays that engrave deep as x-rays Slant Rhyme: solo, photo
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard End Rhyme: make, breaks
Personification: motivates
Flip it now it's a daily word the breaks
I can get illin' at normal killin'
 Dead Presidents II
Ahh, who wanna bet us that we don't touch leathers
Stack cheddars forever, live treacherous all the
etceteras
To the death of us, me and my confidants, we shine Literary Devices:
Alliteration: dough, snow,
You feel the ambiance, y'all people just rhyme
show
By the ounce dough accumulates like snow Assonance: from, would,
We don't just shine, we illuminate the whole show you love
feel me? End Rhyme: shine, rhyme
Factions from the other side would love to kill me Inner Rhyme: cheddars,
etceteras
Spill three quarts of my blood into the street, let alone
Symbolism: who...
the heat
 “Final Words”
From the cradle to the grave
Found poem pulled
In all possible ways, know the Feds is buggin my life
from Rakim’s, Follow
Hospital days, reflectin’ when my man laid up The Leader & Jay-Z’s
Dead Presidents II
In this journey, you're the journal, I'm the journalist
Am I eternal or an eternalist?
That made him smile though his eyes said, Pray for
me
From century to century, you'll remember me
In history, not a mystery or a memory
 Works Cited
1. “Jay-Z Biography.” Entertainmentwise, 29 June 2017,
www.entertainmentwise.com/bio/jay-z/.
2. “Eric B. & Rakim Biography.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 2017,
www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/eric-b-rakim/biography.
3. Staff, Bio. “Rakim.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 30 May
2017, www.biography.com/people/rakim-582017.
4. Staff, Bio. “Jay-Z.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 31 Aug.
2017, www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696.
5. Officialdon. “2015 Power 30: #3, Jay Z.” The Source, 9 Oct. 2015,
thesource.com/2015/10/09/2015-power-30-3-jay-z/.
6. “Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader.” Discogs, 2017,
www.discogs.com/Eric-B-Rakim-Follow-The-Leader/master/12874.
 Works Cited Continued
1. Espinoza, Joshua, et al. “Jay-Z Tweets List of People Who Have Inspired
Him.” Complex , Complex, 16 June 2017, www.complex.com/2017/06/jay-z-
tweets-list-of-people-who-have-inspired-him+.
2. Griffin, William Michael. “Eric B. & Rakim – Microphone Fiend.” Genius,
Genius, 1 Jan. 1988, genius.com/Eric-b-and-rakim-microphone-fiend-lyrics.
3. Griffin, William Michael. “Eric B. & Rakim – Follow The Leader.” Genius,
Genius, 26 July 1988, genius.com/Eric-b-and-rakim-follow-the-leader-lyrics.
4. Carter, Shawn Corey. “JAY-Z – D'Evils.” Genius, Genius, 25 June 1996,
genius.com/Jay-z-devils-lyrics.
5. Carter, Shawn Corey. “JAY-Z – Dead Presidents II.” Genius, Genius, 20 Feb.
1996, genius.com/Jay-z-dead-presidents-ii-lyrics.