By the age of twelve, Jadakiss was a freestyle rapper, engaging in competitions. He and some of his friends were given the opportunity to compete in the "Jack the Rapper Competition" in Florida, where Jadakiss was noticed for his battle rap ability. He met Dee and Wah of the Ruff Ryders (then a management company), and began hanging out and battling outside of the Ruff Ryders' studio where artists like DMX made their first hits.
Jadakiss founded the rap group the Warlox in 1994 with friends Jamaal, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They later signed to Bad Boy Entertainment, where it was suggested that they change their name simply to "The LOX", which came to stand for Living Off eXperience. They made their first appearance on The Main Source's 1994 LP "Fuck What You Think" on the track "Set it Off".
The group, especially Jadakiss, developed a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss was taken under Biggie's wing. The LOX's first multi-platinum hit was the tribute to Biggie called "We'll Always Love Big Poppa" (the B-side to Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You") in 1997. In 1998, the LOX released Money, Power, Respect. Following this album, they left Bad Boy Records.
Jada's debut solo album, Kiss the Game Goodbye, was released in August 2001 under the Ruff Ryders/Interscope label. The album featured popular guests and producers such as Snoop Dogg and Swizz Beatz, but was written off as repetitive and uninspired. Jadakiss has acknowledged the criticism as, generally speaking, valid, saying the record was done less out of inspiration and more out of contract obligations to Bad Boy. The album produced the single "Put Ya Hands Up" with the chorus "Put ya hands up/nah, f**k that/ Put ya hands down" reflecting Jada's distance from the album.
Jadakiss' second album, Kiss of Death, was released in June 2004. Prior to the release, his fans were polled, and most claimed the rapper wasn't personal enough in his lyrical stylings.[citation needed] As a result, Jadakiss released the song, "Why?", which bared his innermost thoughts,[citation needed] and it became one of the biggest hits of that year, spawning a remix featuring Styles P, Common, Nas, and Anthony Hamilton. It remains as his biggest hit, peaking at #11 on the Hot 100. Another single from the record, "You Make Me Wanna" featured Mariah Carey and was a much more commercially driven love song. Kiss of Death did not reflect the popularity of its lead single, but it was better-received than his first effort, eventually achieving platinum-selling status.
Recently, in late 2007, Jadakiss signed to Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella Records, a move Jay had been trying to arrange for a long period of time. He reportedly will have an as-yet-untitled album on Roc-a-Fella in 2008, executive produced by both Jay-Z and the Ruff Ryders CEOs/management team of Dee and Wah. The move comes on the heels of increased D-Block/Roc-a-Fella collaborations; in 2006, Kiss and former rival Beanie Sigel collaborated on DJ Khaled's album Listen..., and in 2007, on Freeway's album Free At Last, while Styles P has appeared on a radio freestyle with Freeway and Sigel. He has also appeared briefly in Jay-Z's latest video for his American Gangster second single, Roc Boys, in which he appears throwing up the famous Roc-a-Fella sign, "the Diamond."
On May 26th 2008, The New York Post reported in its Page Six section that Jadakiss has signed on to play a gang leader in Russell Costanzo's provocative movie-directing debut, "The Tested"
Why?
Jadakiss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why is the industry designed to keep the artist in debt?
And why them dudes ain't riding if they part of your set?
And why they never get it popping but they party to death?
Yea, and why they gonna give you life for a murder?
Turn around only give you eight months for a burner? It's going down
Why they selling niggas CD's for under a dime?
And if it's all love, daddy, why you come with your 9?
Why is a brother up north better than Jordan
That ain't get that break?
Why you don't stack instead of trying to be fly?
Why is ratting at an all time high?
Why are you even alive?
Why they kill 2pac n' Chris?
Why, at the bar, you ain't take straight shots instead of poppin Cris?
Why them bullets have to hit that door?
Why did Kobe have to hit that raw?
Why'd he kiss that whore?
Why?
All that I've been given
Is this pain that I've been living
They got me in the system
Why they gotta do me like that?
Tried to make it my way
But got sent up on the highway
Why? Oh why
Why they gotta do me like that?
Why do niggas push pounds and powder?
Why did Bush knock down the towers?
Why you around them cowards?
Why Aaliyah have to take that flight?
Why my nigga D ain't pull out his Ferrari
Why he take that bike?
Why they gotta open your package and read your mail?
Why they stop letting niggas get degrees in jail?
Why you gotta do 85% of your time?
And why do niggas lie in 85% of they rhymes?
Why a nigga always want what he can't have?
Why I can't come through in the pecan Jag?
Why did crack have to hit so hard?
Even though it's almost over
Why niggas can't get no jobs?
Why they come up with the witness protection?
Why they let the Terminator win the election?
Come on, pay attention!
Why I sell in the stores what you could sell in the streets?
Why I say the hottest shit but we sellin' the least?
All that I've been given
Is this pain that I've been living
They got me in the system
Why they gotta do me like that?
Tried to make it my way
But got sent up on the highway
Why? Oh why
Why they gotta do me like that?
Why Halle have to let a white man pop her to get a Oscar?
Why Denzel have to be crooked before he took it?
Why they didn't make the CL6 with a clutch?
And if you don't smoke why the hell you reaching for my dutch?!
Why rap? Cause I need air time
Why be on the curb with a "Why lie? I need a beer" sign?
Why all the young niggas is dying?
Cause they moms at work, they pops is gone, they living with iron
Why they ain't give us a cure for AIDS?
Why my diesel have fiends in the spot on the floor for days?
Why you screaming like it's a slug? It's only the hawk
Why my buzz in L.A. Ain't like it is in New York?
Why they forcing you to be hard?
Why ain't you a thug by choice?
Why the whole world love my voice?
Why? Try to tell 'em that it's the flow son
And you know why they made the new twenties?
Cause I got all the old ones
That's why
All that I've been given
Is this pain that I've been living
They got me in the system
Why they gotta do me like that?
Tried to make it my way
But got sent on up the highway
Why? Oh why
They gotta do me like that?
Why
Oh why
Oh
The song, “Why” by Jadakiss addresses a number of social and political issues that plague urban communities in America. The lyrics express a lot of frustration with the state of the world and the unfairness and inequality that exist. Some of the issues addressed in the lyrics include the fact that the music industry seems to be designed to keep artists in debt, the disparity in sentencing that exists for crimes like murder and drug possession, and the prevalence of violence and crime in urban areas. Jadakiss also questions why certain things happen, such as why some people never seem to get ahead despite their best efforts, and why there is so much hypocrisy and dishonesty in the world.
The song also raises questions about why certain tragedies happen, like the deaths of 2pac and Aaliyah. Jadakiss wonders why success is so elusive for some people, why life is so unfair, and why society seems to be set up to benefit those in power rather than the most vulnerable members of the community. Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that there are no easy answers to these questions and that the only way to make things better is to keep fighting for what is right and just.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, why is Jadakiss as hard as it gets?
Why is Jadakiss perceived as the toughest rapper in the game?
Why is the industry designed to keep the artist in debt?
Why are musicians regularly exploited by their labels and kept in financial bondage?
And why them dudes ain't riding if they part of your set?
Why aren't your supposed friends supporting you and your music career?
And why they never get it popping but they party to death?
Why do they always party hard but never succeed in achieving anything significant?
Yea, and why they gonna give you life for a murder?
Why do they hand out life sentences for murder convictions?
Turn around only give you eight months for a burner? It's going down
Why do they give lighter sentences for gun-related crimes compared to homicide?
Why they selling niggas CD's for under a dime?
Why are they undervaluing the music of talented artists and selling albums so cheap?
And if it's all love, daddy, why you come with your 9?
If we're cool and friendly, why do you bring a gun to our interactions?
Why my niggas ain't get that cake?
Why aren't my friends and I rich like we should be?
Why is a brother up north better than Jordan
That ain't get that break?
Why are lesser-known basketball players able to gain more fame and success than Michael Jordan?
Why you don't stack instead of trying to be fly?
Why aren't you saving money and investing in your future instead of spending it on material items?
Why is ratting at an all-time high?
Why are more and more people snitching to save themselves from trouble?
Why are you even alive?
Why am I bothering to ask these deep questions when I may never get the answers?
Why they kill 2pac n' Chris?
Why were Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. murdered in their primes?
Why, at the bar, you ain't take straight shots instead of poppin Cris?
Why do people waste money on expensive champagne instead of drinking directly from the bottle?
Why them bullets have to hit that door?
Why did those bullets have to hit that innocent person's door?
Why did Kobe have to hit that raw?
Why did Kobe Bryant have to cheat on his wife with that woman?
Why'd he kiss that whore?
Why did he engage in sexual activity with her even though he was married?
All that I've been given
Is this pain that I've been living
They got me in the system
Why they gotta do me like that?
Why are the systems and institutions around me causing me only suffering and pain?
Tried to make it my way
But got sent up on the highway
Why? oh why
Why they gotta do me like that?
Why did my efforts to achieve success result in my imprisonment or incarceration?
Why do niggas push pounds and powder?
Why are people so eager to sell drugs and make quick money?
Why did Bush knock down the towers?
Why was 9/11 perpetrated and who was responsible?
Why you around them cowards?
Why are you hanging out with people who lack bravery and courage?
Why Aaliyah have to take that flight?
Why did Aaliyah have to pass away in that tragic plane crash?
Why my nigga D ain't pull out his Ferrari
Why he take that bike?
Why did my friend have to settle for a bike when he could have driven his fancy Ferrari instead?
Why they gotta open your package and read your mail?
Why are people's mail and personal packages being intrusively scrutinized and monitored by authorities?
Why they stop letting niggas get degrees in jail?
Why are inmates no longer allowed to earn college degrees while incarcerated?
Why you gotta do 85% of your time?
Why are prison sentences often so unnecessarily long and brutal?
And why do niggas lie in 85% of they rhymes?
Why are rappers so prone to exaggeration, hyperbole, and outright lies in their lyrics?
Why a nigga always want what he can't have?
Why are people always chasing after things they cannot realistically achieve or attain?
Why I can't come through in the pecan Jag?
Why can't I afford to drive a luxurious automobile like a Jaguar?
Why did crack have to hit so hard?
Why did the crack epidemic impact so many people adversely and ruin countless lives?
Even though it's almost over
Why niggas can't get no jobs?
Even though hard times may be ending, why are people still struggling to find gainful employment?
Why they come up with the witness protection?
Why do we need a program like Witness Protection to ensure people's safety and security?
Why they let the Terminator win the election?
Why did former actor Arnold Schwarzenegger become Governor of California?
Come on, pay attention!
Wake up and start asking tough questions!
Why I sell in the stores what you could sell in the streets?
Why sell my music in stores for cheap when I could be selling it on the streets for a greater profit?
Why I say the hottest shit but we sellin' the least?
Why are my most impressive and creative lyrics not translating into album sales?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Anthony Hamilton, Pierre Moerlen, Kejuan Muchita, Jason Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@didactic318
Yo, why is Bill Gates acting like a doctor?
Why is the industry controlled by the Almighty dollar?
And why'd Bill co-host a pandemic simulation just a few months before?
And if your treatments are holistic, why is it you are ignored?
Why's this coronavirus different from the rest?
This is messed, why they say our only option is a vaccine they won't test?
And if vaccines are safe, why do they want indemnity?
And why doesn't Bill Gates vaccinate his family?
If there's no injuries, why do we compensate?
Why do we think the same guy will save us who said we should depopulate?
Why are governments protected from peoples' scrutiny?
And why won't they let us get natural immunity?
Why they wanna keep us inside where illnesses thrive?
And to get safety, why do we give up our rights?
Why they spread fear and then use it for control?
Why are you fined if you choose to take a stroll?
Why they skewing the death toll?
Why?!
Why they think a history of lies won't make us doubt?
Why is Fauci talking outta both sides of his mouth?
Why'd he fund research at the Wuhan lab?
And if you ask questions, why do they put you on blast?
Yeah, why does the CIA control the media?
Why did Big Pharma give AIDS to hemophiliacs?
Why do the powers that be practice the occult and pedophilia?
And why they sacrifice to the owl of Athena?
Why they been misleading ya since Operation Mockingbird?
Instead of answering these questions, why they gotta mock and hurt
And deflect them as "conspiracy theories"?
Why'd the CIA push that term when people weren't convinced with Lee Harvey?
Why do a few own all the corporations?
Why they read your conversations?
Why have COVID kits had contaminations?
If they care about our health, why they rollin' out 5G?
Why are countries havin' their soldiers patrolling in the streets?
Why?
Why is their cure worse than the virus?
Why they want my phone to be unlocked and entered with my iris?
Why's the government wanna get inside my home and my body?
Why they passing laws to track us with our phones?
Illuminati, why they want chips in everything?
Why'd Rockefeller make education 'bout conformity and not critical thinking?
Why'd his funds help Hitler build Auschwitz to experiment in?
And then why'd the U.S. get these war criminals working?
Why they treat symptoms and not treat the host?
Why we need a vaccination ID like we in a Nazi ghetto?
Why's FEMA got camps?
Like Northwoods, why we been scheming false flags?
And why do they spray poison for us to eat and inject?
Why the news reporters' words all controlled?
Why's the truth learned and never told?
And if we in this together, why we go on and hoard?
And you know why they resorting to force?
'Cause the people got too woke -- that's why!
@nokioqaun
"Why" can’t we have music like this anymore! 💯
@alexlevinson8629
We might have it, they’re still trying to interpret the mumble to figure out if there’s any soul in it. Check back next year my guy.
@nokioqaun
🤣🤣That's real! @@alexlevinson8629
@stephaniepadin3372
BIIIIG FACTSZXXXXXX ❤lol*
@Wyatt6661
Because y’all keep playing them bs ones
@michaelkushner5469
Why
@toneredcross9148
In my opinion, Jadakiss and Anthony Hamilton shoulda got a grammy for this song💯
@ucanthandledatruth01
White society hate facing the truth so they would not stand for such truth being celebrated
@jayduecesjaydueces1148
@@ucanthandledatruth01 You got that right!
@brycewhitney2861
"💯th" like/agree‼