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Jay-Z. An inspirational guy. Other startup folks think so too, given how often I see Jay-Z quotations on Twitter.

mynameishere 16y ago
Really? Example? I couldn't find one thing here that wasn't embarrassingly juevenile. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jay-Z http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jay-Z Niggas pray and pray on my downfall, But every time I hit the ground I bounce up like round ball I mean, seriously?
- benologist 16y ago
  How is that really any less embarrassing than slapping ads around fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd cat photos? Either way it's going to sound dumb explaining it to your grandchildren.
- icegreentea 16y ago
  It's from a rap. Can't judge the line all by itself. It exists in the context of the rest of the lines, and the delivery. Also, what you consider juvenile, others may just consider 'simple'. Jay-Z has frequently been criticized for his relatively simple lyrics and rhythm structure. But that's part of the reason why its so popular, AND inspirational. You don't need to sit there for a minute trying to wrap your head around it. You just get it.
  - najirama 16y ago
    I downvoted your(the above)comment. Why? #1 - You contradict yourself implicitly with this defense. If a quote needs more context to have impact, then it is a shitty quote, which is what the OP said plainly. #2 - 'Juvenille' and 'simple' are synonymous in this context. Period. Jay-z lyrics are more often then not, ridiculously vapid of substance or depth. Musical kool-aid. #3 - Jay-z is a man who made his money ruining the lives of thousands by selling drugs, and millions more by being a horrific influence. He is a man who has admittedly attempted murder on more than one occasion. He is a man who has used and debased women proudly. He is a man of many transgressions. And I could look past all of them if he did not glorify them so. Yet he does - so shamelessly in fact that its revolting to witness. His wealth and the adoration of the mindless sheep who buy his "music" are the justification he uses to continue to do so. He says he'll always rap about variations on the same themes: drug hustling, business boasts, luxury hopscotching from Gucci to Louis Vuitton to the new Dior suit he says is a perfect fit. I'm sorry his money and "accomplishments" and his poor excuse for music do not make this a praiseworthy man.
    - palish 16y ago
      Jay-z is a man who made his money ruining the lives of ... millions by being a horrific influence. ...?
      - untamedmedley 16y ago
        What's entertainment for a lot of Jay-Z's listeners is more like a guidebook for far too many young black men (and the women who chase men like him). I personally like rap and know that if you dig deeper into many of Jay-Z's songs, you'll find more substance, but that doesn't negate the fact that he has a far more negative than positive influence on people who need all the positive role models they can get. I upvoted the comment above yours because I see his (and other rappers) influence firsthand among friends and family members and it's really very depressing. Sometimes I don't know how I justify listening to his music...
        matwood 16y ago
        There are very few perfect role models. I would argue that the best roles models are the ones who made mistakes, learned from them and then kept moving forward. People also tend to hear themselves in music. They hear the parts they relate with and block out the parts they don't. I hear Jay-Z and hear a story about a kid who had nothing, did what he had to do to survive and kept working till he made it. You don't even have to go that deep into his tracks to start getting a lot of good motivational lyrics. He has an entire song (with some Notorious Big dubbed in) talking about never getting lazy to keep working and 'treat your last like your first.'
        trustfundbaby 16y ago
        > He has an entire song (with some Notorious Big dubbed in) talking about never getting lazy to keep working and 'treat your last like your first.' My 1st song ... favorite of mine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_1st_Song http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_1st_Song
        catshirt 16y ago
  - hugh3 16y ago
    I really wonder how many people would be saying the same thing if he were white.
    - GHFigs 16y ago
      Don't confuse the art with the artist. Being familiar with context and the tropes of the genre (like braggadocio) are important for understanding white rappers, too. It's the same as with any other lyrical genre of music or any other form of communication with language or any other performance art. Why would it be any different for rapping?
    - BrandonM 16y ago
      Ever heard of Eminem?
- carbocation 16y ago
  Blueprint 3 has a couple: The motivation for me / was them telling me what I could not be (So Ambitious) I'm on the practice field running two-a-days / so I don't drop the ball when it's threw my way (Off That)
- kenjackson 16y ago
  This is a Zuckerburg line: I heard motherfuckers saying they made Hov. Made Hov say, "Ok so, make another Hov" Another line I've always liked, about how you run with action, not the mouth: Now all the little soldiers wanna roll with my team, Cause I ain't sold em a dream, I just showed em the cream
PStamatiou 16y ago
I remember this being on HN last year: startup tips from Jay-Z http://themetricsystem.rjmetrics.com/2009/12/21/top-5-startup-tips-from-jay-z/ http://themetricsystem.rjmetrics.com/2009/12/21/top-5-startu... Adapt to Serve Your Market Be a Renegade Stay in Food and Beverage Be a Business, Man Data is King

Really? Example? I couldn't find one thing here that wasn't embarrassingly juevenile. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jay-Z http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jay-Z Niggas pray and pray on my downfall, But every time I hit the ground I bounce up like round ball I mean, seriously?

benologist 16y ago
How is that really any less embarrassing than slapping ads around fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd cat photos? Either way it's going to sound dumb explaining it to your grandchildren.
icegreentea 16y ago
It's from a rap. Can't judge the line all by itself. It exists in the context of the rest of the lines, and the delivery. Also, what you consider juvenile, others may just consider 'simple'. Jay-Z has frequently been criticized for his relatively simple lyrics and rhythm structure. But that's part of the reason why its so popular, AND inspirational. You don't need to sit there for a minute trying to wrap your head around it. You just get it.
- najirama 16y ago
  I downvoted your(the above)comment. Why? #1 - You contradict yourself implicitly with this defense. If a quote needs more context to have impact, then it is a shitty quote, which is what the OP said plainly. #2 - 'Juvenille' and 'simple' are synonymous in this context. Period. Jay-z lyrics are more often then not, ridiculously vapid of substance or depth. Musical kool-aid. #3 - Jay-z is a man who made his money ruining the lives of thousands by selling drugs, and millions more by being a horrific influence. He is a man who has admittedly attempted murder on more than one occasion. He is a man who has used and debased women proudly. He is a man of many transgressions. And I could look past all of them if he did not glorify them so. Yet he does - so shamelessly in fact that its revolting to witness. His wealth and the adoration of the mindless sheep who buy his "music" are the justification he uses to continue to do so. He says he'll always rap about variations on the same themes: drug hustling, business boasts, luxury hopscotching from Gucci to Louis Vuitton to the new Dior suit he says is a perfect fit. I'm sorry his money and "accomplishments" and his poor excuse for music do not make this a praiseworthy man.
  - palish 16y ago
    Jay-z is a man who made his money ruining the lives of ... millions by being a horrific influence. ...?
    - untamedmedley 16y ago
      What's entertainment for a lot of Jay-Z's listeners is more like a guidebook for far too many young black men (and the women who chase men like him). I personally like rap and know that if you dig deeper into many of Jay-Z's songs, you'll find more substance, but that doesn't negate the fact that he has a far more negative than positive influence on people who need all the positive role models they can get. I upvoted the comment above yours because I see his (and other rappers) influence firsthand among friends and family members and it's really very depressing. Sometimes I don't know how I justify listening to his music...
      - matwood 16y ago
        There are very few perfect role models. I would argue that the best roles models are the ones who made mistakes, learned from them and then kept moving forward. People also tend to hear themselves in music. They hear the parts they relate with and block out the parts they don't. I hear Jay-Z and hear a story about a kid who had nothing, did what he had to do to survive and kept working till he made it. You don't even have to go that deep into his tracks to start getting a lot of good motivational lyrics. He has an entire song (with some Notorious Big dubbed in) talking about never getting lazy to keep working and 'treat your last like your first.'
        trustfundbaby 16y ago
        > He has an entire song (with some Notorious Big dubbed in) talking about never getting lazy to keep working and 'treat your last like your first.' My 1st song ... favorite of mine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_1st_Song http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_1st_Song
      - catshirt 16y ago
- hugh3 16y ago
  I really wonder how many people would be saying the same thing if he were white.
  - GHFigs 16y ago
    Don't confuse the art with the artist. Being familiar with context and the tropes of the genre (like braggadocio) are important for understanding white rappers, too. It's the same as with any other lyrical genre of music or any other form of communication with language or any other performance art. Why would it be any different for rapping?
  - BrandonM 16y ago
    Ever heard of Eminem?
carbocation 16y ago
Blueprint 3 has a couple: The motivation for me / was them telling me what I could not be (So Ambitious) I'm on the practice field running two-a-days / so I don't drop the ball when it's threw my way (Off That)
kenjackson 16y ago
This is a Zuckerburg line: I heard motherfuckers saying they made Hov. Made Hov say, "Ok so, make another Hov" Another line I've always liked, about how you run with action, not the mouth: Now all the little soldiers wanna roll with my team, Cause I ain't sold em a dream, I just showed em the cream

PStamatiou 16y ago

I remember this being on HN last year: startup tips from Jay-Z http://themetricsystem.rjmetrics.com/2009/12/21/top-5-startup-tips-from-jay-z/ http://themetricsystem.rjmetrics.com/2009/12/21/top-5-startu... Adapt to Serve Your Market Be a Renegade Stay in Food and Beverage Be a Business, Man Data is King