D.O.A.
Jay-Z Lyrics
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Hey hey hey goodbye (good riddens)
Hold up
Only rappers to re-write history without a pen
No I-D on the track let the story begin, begin, begin
This is anti auto-tune, death of the ring-tone
This ain't for iTunes, this ain't for sing alongs
This is Sinatra at the opera, bring a blonde
Preferably with a fat ass who can sing a song
Wrong, this ain't politically correct (arh!)
This might offend my political connects (arh!)
My raps don't have melodies
This shit make niggas wan' go and commit felonies
Get your chain tooken
I may do it myself, I'm so Brooklyn
I know we facing a recession
But the music y'all making going make it the great depression (arh!)
Or your lack aggression
Put your skirt back down, grow a set man
Nigga this shit violent
This is death of auto-tune, moment of silence
La da da da da da
Hey hey goodbye
Hold up
Only rappers to re-write history without a pen
No I-D on the track let the story begin, begin, begin
Hold up,
This ain't a number one record (arh!)
This is practically assault with a deadly weapon (arh!)
I made it just for Flex and
Mister Cee, I want niggas to feel threatened (arh!)
Stop your bloodclot crying
The kid, the dog, everybody dying, no lying
You niggas jeans too tight
You colors too bright, your voice too light (arh!) (arh!)
(It's too far nigga)
I might wear black for a year straight
I might bring back Versace shades
This ain't for z100
Ye told me to kill y'all to keep it one hundred
This is for Hot 9-7
This shit's for Clue, for Khaled, for we the best in
Nigga this shit violent
This is death of auto-tune, moment of silence
La da da da da da
Hey hey hey goodbye
Hold up
Only rappers to re-write history without a pen
No I-D on the track let the story begin, begin, begin
Hold up,
This shit need a verse from Jeezy
I might send this to the mix-tape Weezy
Get somebody from B-M-F to talk on this
Get this to a blood, let a crip walk on it (arh!)
Fifty thou' to style on this
I just don't need nobody to smile on this (arh!)
Y'all niggas singing too much
Get back to rap you t-paining too much (arh!) (arh!)
I'm a multi-millionaire
So how is it I'm still the hardest here (arh!)
I don't be in the project hallway
Talking about how I be in the project all day (arh!)
That sound stupid to me
If you a gangsta this is how you prove it to me (arh!) (arh!)
Nigga just get violent
This is death of auto-tune moment of silence
La da da da da da
Hey hey hey goodbye
Hold up
In "D.O.A." by Jay-Z, he addresses the oversaturation of auto-tune in the music industry and declares the death of the trend. The song also serves as a commentary on the state of rap music and calls for a return to traditional rap values. In the first verse, Jay-Z boasts that he and his peers are the only rappers to rewrite history without a pen and then declares that the song is anti-auto-tune and the death of the ringtone. He then compares the track to a Sinatra opera and calls for a woman with a "fat ass" who can "sing a song." Jay-Z then attacks the politically correct nature of the music industry and his competition's lack of aggression, calling for them to "grow a set." The chorus repeats the phrase "La da da da da da, Hey hey hey goodbye" which is a reference to the iconic song "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by the Steam.
In the second verse, Jay-Z declares that the song is not made to be a number one record but a threat to those who have been misusing auto-tune. He calls out the tight jeans, bright colors, and light voices of his competition before claiming to be the only multi-millionaire that is also the hardest. He scoffs at rappers who claim to be from the projects but don't use that experience in their music, calling them out as inauthentic. The chorus is repeated again before the song ends with Jay-Z calling for someone from B-M-F to talk on the track, offering to pay fifty thousand dollars for a verse from Jeezy, and ending with a call for violence and a moment of silence for the "death of auto-tune."
Line by Line Meaning
La da da da da da
Jay-Z is mocking the use of auto-tune with a repetitive, nonsensical sound
Hey hey hey goodbye
Jay-Z is saying good riddance to auto-tune and the poor quality of music it produces
Hold up
Jay-Z pauses the song to emphasize his point
Only rappers to re-write history without a pen
Jay-Z is saying that he has changed the course of rap history through his talent and work ethic without the need for gimmicks like auto-tune
No I-D on the track let the story begin, begin, begin
Jay-Z wants the listener to focus on his raw talent and the message of the song rather than the production value or features on the track
This is anti auto-tune, death of the ring-tone
Jay-Z is declaring war on auto-tune and the trend of making songs just to sell ring-tones
This ain't for iTunes, this ain't for sing alongs
Jay-Z's music is not intended to be catchy or easy to sing along with; he wants to challenge his listeners with meaningful lyrics
This is Sinatra at the opera, bring a blonde
Jay-Z is comparing himself to Frank Sinatra, a legend in his field, and is inviting a beautiful woman to witness his performance
Preferably with a fat ass who can sing a song
Jay-Z's desire for a woman with a big butt and vocal ability is not meant to be taken too seriously
Wrong, this ain't politically correct (arh!)
Jay-Z is aware that his message could offend some people but he refuses to sugarcoat his thoughts
This might offend my political connects (arh!)
Jay-Z is aware that his criticism of auto-tune could upset some in the music industry but he stands by his opinion
My raps don't have melodies
Jay-Z is distinguishing himself as a true rapper who relies on his lyricism rather than singing or using auto-tune to make catchy hooks
This shit make niggas wan' go and commit felonies
Jay-Z's rhyme style is so raw and powerful that it can inspire listeners to do things that may lead to trouble with the law
Get your chain tooken
Jay-Z is warning other rappers that he may take their jewelry if they don't step up their game
I may do it myself, I'm so Brooklyn
Jay-Z is willing to take matters into his own hands and steal another rapper's chain; his pride and loyalty to his hometown of Brooklyn makes him bold
I know we facing a recession
Jay-Z is aware of the economic struggles facing America at the time of the song's release
But the music y'all making going make it the great depression (arh!)
Jay-Z is critiquing the quality of modern rap music and predicting that it will lead the country into further economic turmoil
Or your lack aggression
Jay-Z is challenging other rappers to step up their game and be more aggressive in their approach to music
Put your skirt back down, grow a set man
Jay-Z is calling out other rappers for being soft and unassertive
Nigga this shit violent
Jay-Z is unwavering in his message and knows that it may upset some listeners
This is death of auto-tune, moment of silence
Jay-Z has effectively killed off the trend of using auto-tune in rap music with this song and wants his listeners to acknowledge the significance of the moment
This shit need a verse from Jeezy
Jay-Z wants his fellow rapper Jeezy to add a verse to the song
I might send this to the mix-tape Weezy
Jay-Z is considering sending the song to the rapper Lil Wayne for use on a mix-tape
Get somebody from B-M-F to talk on this
Jay-Z wants someone from the Black Mafia Family gang to contribute a spoken-word section to the song
Get this to a blood, let a crip walk on it (arh!)
Jay-Z is reaching out to members of different street gangs to collaborate on the song and make it more powerful
Fifty thou' to style on this
Jay-Z is willing to spend $50,000 to make the song as powerful and effective as possible
I just don't need nobody to smile on this (arh!)
Jay-Z doesn't want anyone to water down his message or diminish the impact of the song
Y'all niggas singing too much
Jay-Z is accusing other rappers of relying on their singing ability rather than their rap skills
Get back to rap you t-paining too much (arh!) (arh!)
Jay-Z is telling other rappers to focus on their rhyming instead of trying to sound like T-Pain, who was known for his heavy use of auto-tune
I'm a multi-millionaire
Jay-Z is drawing attention to his immense wealth as a way of establishing himself as the top dog in the rap game
So how is it I'm still the hardest here (arh!)
Jay-Z is questioning how he can maintain his status as the best rapper in the game despite his incredible wealth and success
I don't be in the project hallway
Jay-Z is distancing himself from his humble beginnings in the projects and asserting his current status as a wealthy and powerful figure
Talking about how I be in the project all day (arh!)
Jay-Z is criticizing other rappers for bragging about their tough upbringing in the projects as a way of establishing their street cred
That sound stupid to me
Jay-Z is saying that bragging about life in the projects is not something to be proud of and is actually foolish
If you a gangsta this is how you prove it to me (arh!) (arh!)
Jay-Z is challenging other rappers to prove their status as real gangsters by focusing on their rhyming skills rather than their past experiences in the projects
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, LIBRARY GOLD APM
Written by: Dale Frashuer, Ernest Dion Wilson, Gary De Carlo, Janko Nilovic, Louis Auguste Jean Delacour, Paul Leka, Shawn C. Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WelcomeToThe92503
Lol...that's crazy.
I believe I was just turning 30... and HOV was pretty much if not number 1 on my top 5 list..he was somewhere lingering in the top 5 list.. I remember BEING SUPER HYPED ABOUT THIS SONG WHEN ALL THE BLOGS POSTED IT...and pulling up to my then girlfriend.. now wife's house ......going on about how dope it is.. and that ALL THE EMCEES WERE BACK. This that.... and asking her little brother if he heard the song .
He was around 14 or 15 at the time
He said NO.
THEN I DID SOME MATH IN MY HEAD and then asked him..."DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO JAY Z IS???" As if I was in disgust at the notion that he might possibly not be familiar with him
He then responded..."I think so"
"Aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww MANNNNNNNNNNNN... cmon dawg. You serious?!?!?!...hova...jay z ... YOU KNOW BIG PIMPIN...HARD KNOCK LIFE???."
he responds with a blank stare and I HAD AN EPIPHANY about how lucky I was that my evolution as a man has almost been synonymous with hip hops..and I've been around and been a fan of almost every era..except it's super infant state in the late late 70s.
This song was definitely a Moment tho. As was/is most of jays singles when they first drop
@mateomags
The beat of this song is legendary
@emestea1898
Doa
https://youtu.be/AlNs6lcTlHA
@Eastpointe
That’s because JayZ had one of jazz music’s best young drum cats on the scene; in case you don’t know. Aka Tony Royster whose father was a jazz great.
@sleepydreadstar
@@emestea1898 %
@ericajordan8725
Right
@monicainnis34
@@emestea1898 aaaaaaaaaaaaaq!
A!!!aaaa+aaaaa!aaa!aaaaaaaaaaaaaqaaaaa!aaa!a!aa!!!
@blackcobra1981
"I don't be in the Project's hallway, talking about how I be in the Projects all day"....
Alot of NYC niggas living in the Projects needs to hear that
@elijahashman9716
He was talking About the ones that made out it out coming back trying act hard because they still feel like they have be in the hood!
@safiyaraphael6221
Jay-Z - "this aint for sing-a-long"
Me - singing along
@emestea1898
Doa
https://youtu.be/AlNs6lcTlHA