He’s talking about both his biological family, the family he’s helped to create (with wife Beyoncé), and the people surrounding him that he considers to be his family, hence the mention of Emory Jones, formerly incarcerated and the topic of “Do U Wanna Ride?”
Jay positions himself as the head of all these families. He’s the main breadwinner (just) in all three. He’s helped his friends and cousins find jobs, he helped his mother cultivate the Shawn Carter Foundation, and facilitated a lavish upbringing for Blue Ivy.
La Familia
JAY Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I wanna love you back, I)
(You're busy?)
(I wanna love you back, I) Family first
(You're busy?)
(I wanna love you back, I love you back, the group of my fam') Honor, integrity, R.O.C.
Head of the family
Welcome home to Emory
Let's get back to this dinero
Uh niggas wanna kidnap wifey
Good luck with that bruh
You must gon' hide your whole family
What you think we wearing black for
Ready for that war
Ready for that war ready
You ain't ready yo, you radio you ain't really ready
Real shit chyea
Alpo bought his bricks here
Elvis got his records took
It's like we got our seventh gear
Yeah, NFL investigations
Oh, don't make me laugh
FBI investigation
We stood up to that
Facts only, everything real in my raps only
Every nigga real in my clique really
Everyone's a movie star you got to film me
La familia
Head of the family
El Padrino
Welcome home to Emory
Let's get back to this dinero
Ready for that war
Ready for that war, ready
You ain't ready yo, you radio you ain't really ready
Head of the Family
El Padrino
My brothers is my brother like my brother is
My niggas is my brother
Like my mother kids
Not just in good times
That's that sucka shit
But in war times
It's just what it is
Head of the family
All my niggas bosses though
Y'all don't understand we
We talk that shit bosses know
Uh, triple fuckin' O.G.
What's up to my nigga Juan
Tell these niggas pull their fuckin' skirt down
I could see their ovaries
Niggas snitching switching teams
Out here telling bitches things
Industry talk behind your back
Ain't nobody got time for that
Facts only
Everything real in my raps only
Every nigga real in my clique really
Even the girls keep it two hundred and trilly
It's la familia
Head of the family
El Padrino
Welcome home to Emory
Let's get back to this dinero
Ready for that war
Ready for that war, ready
You ain't ready yo, you radio you ain't really ready
Head of the Family
El Padrino
(I wanna love you back, I)
(You're busy?)
(I wanna love you back, I)
(You're busy?)
(I wanna love you back, I love you back, the group of my fam')
In "La Familia," JAY-Z contemplates the importance of family, loyalty, and honor, especially in the criminal underworld. The song was included in his highly acclaimed 2013 album "Magna Carta Holy Grail." In the opening lines, JAY-Z declares his loyalty to his family and how they should always come first. The repetition of the phrase "I wanna love you back" indicates the importance of reciprocation in love and loyalty.
JAY-Z also refers to himself as the head of the family, El Padrino (the godfather in Spanish), which is a term often used to describe a leader of a criminal organization. He then welcomes his friend Emory Jones back home, indicating that Emory might have been away for some time, and the two of them need to get back to making money ("denero").
The rest of the song deals with the theme of War and the importance of being ready for it. JAY-Z mentions the threat to his wife's safety, ready to fight against those who wish to harm his family. He also mentions the crackdown of the federal government on his organization, saying that the group is ready to take on anyone who stands in their way, with JAY-Z comparing his crew to Alpo Martinez (an infamous drug dealer) and Elvis Presley (a famous musician).
Overall, JAY-Z combines his personal life with the catchy rhymes and cadences that make him one of the greatest rappers of all time - this song another example of his ability to tell a story in a unique and engaging way.
Line by Line Meaning
You're busy?
Do you have a moment to talk?
I wanna love you back, I
I want to show you the same love and affection you've given me.
You're busy?
I understand if you don't have time right now, but when you do, I want to express my love for you.
I wanna love you back, I love you back, the group of my fam'
I want to show love and appreciation to my family, who always has my back.
Family first
My family is my top priority and I will always put them first.
Honor, integrity, R.O.C.
I hold these values in high regard and they are integral to who I am as a person and as a member of the Roc Nation organization.
Head of the family
I am the leader of my family and will do everything in my power to protect and provide for them.
El Padrino
I am the godfather and am respected and feared in my community.
Welcome home to Emory
I am happy to see my friend Emory back and want to catch up on business.
Let's get back to this dinero
Let's focus on making money and securing our financial future.
Uh niggas wanna kidnap wifey
There are people who want to harm my wife, but they won't succeed.
Good luck with that bruh
They will need all the luck they can get if they try to harm my family.
You must gon' hide your whole family
If someone wants to harm my family, they will have to hide their own in the process.
What you think we wearing black for
We are prepared for any danger that may come our way and black is a symbol of our readiness.
Ready for that war
We are prepared for any conflict that may arise and will defend ourselves and our family.
You ain't ready yo, you radio you ain't really ready
Our attackers may think they are ready for war, but they are not prepared for our response.
Alpo bought his bricks here
Alpo, a well-known drug dealer, got his supply from us.
Elvis got his records took
Even a famous musician like Elvis Presley faced consequences for his actions.
It's like we got our seventh gear
We are in top gear and ready to take on anything that comes our way.
Yeah, NFL investigations
We are not intimidated by investigations from powerful organizations like the NFL.
Oh, don't make me laugh
We find these investigations to be a joke and are not worried about the outcome.
FBI investigation
Even the FBI has investigated us, but we have nothing to hide.
We stood up to that
We have faced adversity before and come out stronger on the other side.
My brothers is my brother like my brother is
My friends are like family to me and I value them just as much.
My niggas is my brother
My friends are like brothers and I will always have their back.
Like my mother kids
I care for my friends as if they were my own kin.
Not just in good times
I am loyal to my friends and will support them through thick and thin.
That's that sucka shit
Betraying your friends in tough times is cowardly and dishonorable.
But in war times
Friendship is even more important in times of conflict and danger.
It's just what it is
Loyalty to friends and family is non-negotiable.
All my niggas bosses though
My friends are all leaders in their own right and are successful in their own endeavors.
Y'all don't understand we
People don't understand our success and the bond we share as friends.
We talk that shit bosses know
We speak confidently because we are successful and respected in our respective fields.
Triple fuckin' O.G.
I am a revered and respected OG (original gangster) three times over.
What's up to my nigga Juan
Greetings to my friend Juan, who is also a respected OG.
Tell these niggas pull their fuckin' skirt down
I am calling out those who are not authentic and urging them to stop acting fake.
I could see their ovaries
I see that these people are acting like they have female organs, lacking courage and authenticity.
Niggas snitching switching teams
There are people who are betraying their friends and joining the enemy.
Out here telling bitches things
These traitorous people are revealing secrets to people they shouldn't trust.
Industry talk behind your back
In the music industry, people are gossiping about me without my knowledge or consent.
Ain't nobody got time for that
I am too busy and successful to concern myself with petty gossip and drama.
Even the girls keep it two hundred and trilly
Even the women in my life are authentic and honest, just like my male friends.
It's la familia
We are a close-knit group that considers itself to be like family.
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEROME HARMON, SHAWN CARTER, TIMOTHY MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind