Jay’s “Moonlight” functions as a critique of how the rap game has become stale, repetitive and fake.
Producer No I.D. samples “Fu-Gee-La” by Fugees. Nas and DJ Khaled recently sampled the iconic Lauryn Hill song on “Nas Album Done.”
Moonlight
Jay-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah
We stuck in La La Land
Even when we win, we gon' lose
We got the same fuckin' flows
I don't know who is who
We got the same fuckin' watch
We stuck in La La Land
We got the same fuckin' moves
Y'all fuck the same fuckin' chicks
I'm in the skrt with ya, yeah, right
I'm the skrt with ya, cool story
I'm on the ch, 'nough of this
Look, I know killers, you no killer, huh?
Bathing Ape maybe not a gorilla, huh?
Glorified seat filler, huh?
Stop walkin' around like y'all made Thriller, huh?
Fake Dracos all in the videos
We sure, we shoot 'em in my city though
I don't post no threats on the Internet
I just pose a threat, blame Lenny S for that
I don't be on the 'Gram goin' ham
Givin' information to the pork, that's all spam
Please don't talk about guns
That you ain't never gon' use
Y'all always tell on y'all self
I'm just so fuckin' confused
Y'all stuck in La La Land
Even when we win, we gon' lose
Y'all got the same fuckin' flows
I don't know who is who
We got the same fuckin' watch
She don't got time to choose
We stuck in La La Land
We got the same fuckin' moves
Y'all niggas still signin' deals? Still?
After all they done stole, for real?
After what they done to our Lauryn Hill?
And y'all niggas is 'posed to be trill?
That's real talk when you behind on your taxes
And you pawned all your chains
And they run off with your masters
And took it to Beverly Hills
While we in Calabasas
And my head is scratchin'
'Cause that shit is backwards
That shit ain't right
Lucian is cool but Lucian don't write
Doug ain't this tight, so
Fuck what we sellin'
Fuck is we makin'?
'Cause their grass is greener
'Cause they always rakin' in mo'
Nah, nah, nah, nah
Nah, nah
In the beginning of Jay-Z's song "Moonlight", he speaks on the rap game and how it's stuck in "La La Land", a metaphor for the entertainment industry. Jay-Z discusses a lack of authenticity still present in the industry, with artists copying each other's styles, flow, and even boasting about the same watches. He goes on to call out rappers for using fake guns in their music videos and pretending to be something they're not. Jay-Z places emphasis on the fact that while some rappers are still signing deals, major record labels have taken advantage of artists, which is seen through the struggles and hardships of legendary artists like Lauryn Hill. He questions the industry’s direction as a whole and whether or not artists are truly making a difference or just catering to making money.
The music video of this song is a remake of the classic TV show Friends. The video features all-black cast members lip-synching to the lines. "Moonlight" also samples "Fu-Gee-La" by the Fugees which is an ode to Lauryn Hill’s outstanding vocal skills. The song also borrows a line from Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya?" in one of the lyrics: "We don't have time to waste time." "Moonlight" was produced by No I.D, an American record producer and DJ, who also produced Hov’s 2017 album, 4:44. The song features a sample from "A Garden Of Peace" by Lonnie Liston Smith.
In addition to this, the song was co-written by the actor and screenwriter, Jerrod Carmichael. The single is a commentary on the state of Hip Hop and its performers, which Jay-Z believes are being exploited for financial gain by the music industry. The title of the album, 4:44, was inspired by a moment when Jay-Z woke up to write the song with that title. The album itself is a response to Beyonce’s album Lemonade. The album was awarded the first-ever Platinum plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America for an album where none of the tracks were sold. Many speculated that 4:44 was Hov’s apology album to Beyonce for his infidelity.
The chords for "Moonlight" are not publicly available.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, got Lil' Cos up here with me
Jay-Z has Lil' Cos with him
We stuck in La La Land
Jay-Z feels trapped in the world of entertainment
Even when we win, we gon' lose
No matter the success, there is always more to lose
We got the same fuckin' flows
I don't know who is who
Artists all sound the same and are difficult to differentiate
We got the same fuckin' watch
She don't got time to choose
Materialism is rampant among artists
We got the same fuckin' moves
Artists are all doing the same thing and there is a lack of creativity
Y'all fuck the same fuckin' chicks
I'm in the skrt with ya, yeah, right
I'm the skrt with ya, cool story
I'm on the ch, 'nough of this
Artists all engage in the same promiscuous behavior
Look, I know killers, you no killer, huh?
Bathing Ape maybe not a gorilla, huh?
Glorified seat filler, huh?
Stop walkin' around like y'all made Thriller, huh?
Artists exaggerate and lie about their lifestyles
Fake Dracos all in the videos
We sure, we shoot 'em in my city though
I don't post no threats on the Internet
I just pose a threat, blame Lenny S for that
Artists pretend to be violent but it's just an act
I don't be on the 'Gram goin' ham
Givin' information to the pork, that's all spam
Please don't talk about guns
That you ain't never gon' use
Y'all always tell on y'all self
I'm just so fuckin' confused
Artists boast about things they will never do and give away too much information on social media
Y'all niggas still signin' deals? Still?
After all they done stole, for real?
After what they done to our Lauryn Hill?
And y'all niggas is 'posed to be trill?
Artists still sign contracts even after the industry has screwed over other artists
That's real talk when you behind on your taxes
And you pawned all your chains
And they run off with your masters
And took it to Beverly Hills
While we in Calabasas
And my head is scratchin'
'Cause that shit is backwards
That shit ain't right
The industry takes advantage of artists and it's unfair
Lucian is cool but Lucian don't write
Doug ain't this tight, so
Fuck what we sellin'
Fuck is we makin'?
Record label executives are not the reason for artists' success
'Cause their grass is greener
'Cause they always rakin' in mo'
Nah, nah, nah, nah
Nah, nah
Record labels are making more money than the artists themselves
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Allen Mcgrier, Dion Wilson, Lauryn N. Hill, Mary Brockert, Pras Michel, Salaam Remi Gibbs, Shawn C. Carter, ERNEST DION WILSON, LAURYN HILL, SALAAM REMI, SHAWN CARTER, TEENA MARIE, WYCLEF JEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@altart8102
Saw too many comments of people who have an issue with this video or don't get it, and I'm like....did you guys watch the video all the way through? Like where the one guy (Hannibal Buress) is literally telling him that the show and his acting is wack because it's just like a white demographically aimed show except with all black actors? So the dude starts to realize how unrealistic the show he's playing in is, question what he's even doing on this set that's got an all black cast as if it's supposed to be groundbreaking for African American culture, supposed to be some sort of win and representation of black people, but nothing about the show resembles that culture besides their black faces. So what's the point. Same candy just in a brown wrapper, being marketed as something that it's not.
Some comment was bothered that this was a white vs black thing and was ranting about it. How black people are doing the woe-is-me thing and how we're just complaining about not being acknowledged, etc. ...pretty annoying. There's complaints because the identity of African Americans in media has often been an issue (both in music and film). That's kinda why a ton of shows were made and are still being made that more accurately depict African American lives realistically (even at the cost of popularity and viewer consumption which at times seems to not want to support or market that kind of media much). So beyond being a white vs black issue, I took from the video the message of not losing your identity to get ahead and appeal to people that don't even want to accept you unless you act different. Identity is the issue for me.
Honestly, I still haven't watched Moonlight and when Friends was popular back in the day, I didn't really care to watch it unless my fam was watching it. But even on my first watch-through of this video, I get at least some basic points. Media issues, shows being ripped off of each other and just packaged with a different color, misrepresentation, the La La Land - Moonlight issue where it seems like even with an incredible movie like Moonlight, the system still doesn't want to allow it to win. Some dude in the comments was saying how Jay-Z made that whole mix-up issue to be too deep and that there was nothing really to it in reality. But really, regardless of it just being a mistake, it had impact, and to Jay Z, it meant somethin. Anything's as deep as you wanna make it, and the social commentary that he made from that issue onto this song and this video shows it was deep for him (and a ton of others in the comments).
But ya know, seeing as I didn't watch much of either media talked about in this video, feel free to discredit everything I say. I just wanted to add something since alot of people were lost and/or hating on people that gave explanation.
Walks off the set, through all the blinding lights, out the back door, out into reality, lets the moonlight shine some light onto his situation. Because that Moonlight issue pretty much summarizes it. "Even when we win, we gon' lose."
@HipHopUniverse
I would love to see a video for "Marcy Me", that was one of my favorite songs of the album.
The beat fits perfectly to JAY's flow and style. I would love to see him in the video.
@stlyaace8722
Hip-Hop Universe best jay z solo song in a long time
@frankjum
Don't worry it looks like he'll get around to each song on the LP.
@naruto1coolestfan
Cancer of youtube
@markusmims16
I like marcy but smile is the best to me
@Phucduybao104
OLD HEAD ALERT
@AGGIEFURY101
The meaning: The song Moonlight has an overall theme that while we dream about fitting into a world that doesn't belong to us once we take it over they find a way to diminish it. Moonlight refers to a movie which was in the running for best picture against La La Land. The winner of Best Picture usually receives more money due to the prestige of winning and usually elevates the careers of cast. This particular year even though Moonlight won they announced LaLa Land won mistakingly overshadowing the accolades of Moonlight.
The video refers to black people being interchangeable with what white people deem as quality and it becomes better because of black involvement. Notice how people in the comment section say this would be a dope show even though it's a parody of Friends. Jerrod consults his conscious,Hannibal, who tells him the show is wack. Jerrod realizes he's stuck in a weird place because he now knows this was never meant for him no matter how good he plays the role he just isn't "Friends". Issa tells him to be quiet to not mess it up for the ones who don't know and sends him to a place where he can breathe and reflect on why they are there.
The backstage area is the truth behind the truth. That we are stuck in La La Land and once we make something ours they find a way to down play it. Moonlight
@leahhugie5167
I refuse to believe they said lalaland by accident. Lalaland... Moonlight. They don't look alike. So unless they all can't read, I don't believe it was an accident.
@leahhugie5167
Also, friends is a parody of living single.
@brock985
leah hugie Well the cue card said La La Land on it, they gave the presenter the wrong one