The 32-year-old rapper lately advised Instagram viewers that on the day she received Hov’s blessing to pattern his Vol. 1 fan favourite, he texted her supervisor at precisely 4:44 p.m. — the identical time his 2017 solo album is famously named for.
Cardi launched her 2025 replace, “Imaginary Playerz,” final Friday, and it rapidly sparked dialog. Some appreciated how she mirrors Jay-Z’s ruthless bravado. Others found (or revisited) Jigga’s condescending deep minimize, reportedly driving a 300% spike on Spotify. After which there are the underwhelmed purists, who maybe felt the enduring observe needs to be off-limits.
The Bronx rapper isn’t the primary to flip a Hov observe, and she or he rattling positive gained’t be the final. The God MC is certainly one of hip-hop’s extra recognizable touchpoints; flipping his music stays a ceremony of passage for artists constructing their legacies. Phrase to J. Cole’s two stabs at Jay’s “Useless Presidents” instrumental.
With “Imaginary Playerz” (and its gaudy music video) accumulating performs and views, there’s no higher time to look again on different notable songs that pattern Beyoncé’s hubby. Drawback is: There are actually hundreds to sift via. To whittle down the majority, we’re specializing in official studio releases. You gained’t discover freestyles (sorry “The Story of Adidon,” numerous Lil Wayne and Fabolous cuts) or remixes (Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Thoughts (Half II)”) right here, and mere lyric interpolations are deprioritized (peace to “Slide” by H.E.R). The included choices characteristic Jay’s DNA entrance and middle — his ideas, beats, or aura being recycled to craft one thing refreshing, sudden, and/or iconic.
Peep beneath for 10 songs that sampled Jay-Z to perfection, ranked.
10.“Cash Money Garments” (2022)
Artist: The Recreation that includes A$AP Rocky
Pattern: “Cash, Money, Hoes” that includes DMX (1998); “Extra Cash, Extra Money, Extra Hoes” that includes Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek (1999)
How the hell did The Recreation get Jay-Z to clear not one however three samples for his Drillmatic album? After years of dissing and praising Hov in equal measure, that magic trick alone earns this standout a slot. After a beat change on the 1:10 mark, Recreation and Fairly Flacko flip a Vol. 2 heater right into a flex about Maybachs, murses, and the muscle to protect each.
9.“Mama Knew Love” (2003)
Artist: Anthony Hamilton
Pattern: “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)” (2001)
Anthony Hamilton was no mixtape rapper, however he rattling positive jacked this Blueprint beat and made it his personal. The Charlotte crooner opens his sophomore LP, Comin’ From The place I’m From, with a tribute to his mom, acknowledging the struggles and sacrifices she made to lift him. These flowers won’t ever wilt.
8.“Situation 2000” (1999)
Artist: Eve that includes DMX, Drag-On, and The Lox
Pattern: “Jigga My Nigga” (1999)
“Jigga My Nigga” was the most important tune on Ruff Ryders’ first compilation album — and it didn’t characteristic a single lyricist from the crew. Yikes. Swizz Beatz switched up the situation for Eve’s debut album months later, rejiggering his beat for Jay-Z’s show-stealing anthem by elongating the opening synths, including file scratches and stops, and unleashing his labelmates to spit crimes in rhymes.
7.“Angels” (2010)
Artist: Diddy – Soiled Cash that includes The Infamous B.I.G. and Rick Ross
Pattern: “The place I’m From” (1997)
Rick Ross admiring his bling. Diddy Auto-Tuning via a breakup. Biggie imagining his personal loss of life. None of those components ought to coexist on one observe. However over a flip of a Jay-Z traditional? It’s a match made in heaven.
6.“Younger Black America” (2017)
![Meek Mill - Young Black America (feat. The-Dream) [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h-XIf-8N4eA/hqdefault.jpg)
Artist: Meek Mill that includes The-Dream
Pattern: “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)” (2001)
Meek delivers his ghetto report card over the identical ethereal Bink! backdrop Hov as soon as used to toast his internal circle. A-plus execution.
5.“Saint Pablo” (2016)
Artist: Kanye West (now Ye) that includes Sampha
Pattern: “The place I’m From” (1997)
Kanye capped The Lifetime of Pablo with the album’s sharpest verses, floating over a supercharged piano-and-synth tackle Jigga’s Marcy dedication. Fame, household, and funds weigh heavy; Ye will get all of it off his chest, no spotter obligatory.
4.“Hussle & Encourage” (2018)
Artist: Nipsey Hussle
Pattern: “Exhausting Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” (1998)
After famously sampling Annie for “Exhausting Knock Life,” Jay-Z reportedly secured sole authority to approve future reworkings of his breakout smash, which meant Nipsey didn’t must persuade the musical’s creators to clear his personal model. Contractual lore apart, the slowed-down instrumental preserves the spirit of Hov’s whereas standing firmly by itself, serving to to make Victory Lap a winner.
3.“I’m a Hustla” (2005)
Artist: Cassidy
Pattern: “Filth Off Your Shoulder” (2003)
Jay-Z visitor verses have been scarce after his supposed swan tune, The Black Album, however Swizz Beatz found a workaround. The producer chopped and looped the hell out of a Hov vocal pattern, turning a sizzling line right into a sizzling tune (and album title) for his personal protégé, Cassidy. Can’t knock the hustle, certainly.
2.“You’ve Modified” (2005)
Artist: Keyshia Cole
Pattern: “Tune Cry” (2001)
On “Tune Cry,” S. Carter effed round and discovered what occurs when a girl’s fed up. Keyshia Cole spun that narrative from the other perspective, singing over a pitched-up pattern a couple of man who did her soiled — and the way she received her lick again.
1.“Convey Em Out” (2004)
Artist: T.I.
Pattern: “What Extra Can I Say?” (2003)
Flipping Hov tracks wasn’t fairly a factor earlier than Swizzy laced this inescapable hit from T.I. However with one chop — itself a nod to Jay’s late buddy and peer, The Infamous B.I.G. — the producer up to date his synthesized sound and kicked off a pattern that proved repeatable (see: #3) however hardly foolproof. The top consequence was a banger match for a kang.
