Producer Ski Beatz created the beat for “Politics As Usual” with a sample from “Hurry Up This Way Again” by The Stylistics, which producer Clark Kent also sampled and submitted to Jay later but Ski’s version was used for the album. Ski talked about the track in an interview with Complex:
"We was working on "Reasonable Doubt" at the time. Anything I made hot, Jay was trying to have dibs on it.
The system we had, we would make music first, he would reference it in my house. […] We would do pre-production at the crib, he would go home and get the lyrics memorized even more, and then go to the studio and re-lay it. He would just get in his own place, stare into space, and next thing you know, an hour later he got a song. He just wrote them and went in the booth, it took him two or three takes at most and it was done.
I had done ‘Politics As Usual’ for Jay-Z, but Camp Lo wanted the beat because of the horns. And they was like, ‘Yo how you gonna give that beat to Jay-Z? What about us? You always giving Jay the dope beats!'"
Ski added:
"That’s one of my favorite records to this day. I think that was the blueprint to what Kanye [West] and Just [Blaze] are doing now, the whole soulful voice thing."
Politics As Usual
Jay-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skating through your town putting it down y'all relating
No waiting I'll make your block infrared hot I'm like Satan
Y'all feel a nigga's struggle, y'all think a nigga love to
Hustle behind the wheel, trying to escape my trouble
Kids stop they greeting me, I'm talking sweet to keys
Cursing the very God, that bought this wreath to be
My life is, based on sacrifices, jewels like ices
You get your guys hit, they built me to be filthy
On some I-do-or-die shit, for real
The price of leather's got me, deeper than ever and
Just think, with this here, I'm trying to feel made nigga
Politics as usual, I took my
Frito to Tito in the district, blessed me with some
VS somethings I can live with, stop fronting
And for the dough I raise, gotta get shit appraised
No disrespect to you, make sure you word is true
I'm taking wages down in Vegas just in case Tyson
Have a major night off, that's clean money, the tax write-off
You ain't seen money in your life, when it
Comes to this cheese y'all like Three Blind Mice
A smoking bro, who pump Willie Ike spokes
The furthest you Chiles been is the Pocanos
My portfolio reads, leads to Don Corleone, nigga please
Ten year fel-eon, heavy on the wrist, our face used
With the diamond blooded Jesus and blind your face
You's for life, that's right, Jigga, I keep it tight nigga
Politics as usual
You feel my triumph never, feel my pain I'm lyin'
Low in the leather Zion, the best that's ever came
The game changes like, my mind just ain't right
We 'gwan get this dough, I guess it ain't your night
Sucking me in like a vacuum, I remember
Telling my family I'll be back soon, that was December
Eighty-five and, Jay-Z rise ten years later
Got me wise still can't break my underworld ties
I wear black a lot, in the Ac', act a lot
Got matching VCR's, a huge Magnavox
To nitch, green like spinach pop wines that's vintage
It's a lot of big money in my sentence
Hitting towards a mil', lip a, written I kill like that
Chick faked me one-two cat, yeah, I do that
Ain't no stopping the champagne from popping
The drawers from dropping, the law from watching, I hate 'em
Politics as usual
In Jay-Z's "Politics As Usual," he talks about his life as a hustler and the sacrifices he made to get to where he is. He speaks of skating through towns, making the block "infrared hot," and escaping his troubles behind the wheel. He also talks about the price of his lifestyle and the things he has to do to maintain it. In the second verse, he speaks of taking his earnings to Tito, getting things appraised, and raising wages down in Vegas. Jay-Z also talks about his past and how he cannot break his ties with the underworld. He mentions the importance of keeping his street credibility and keeping a low profile, wearing black a lot and matching VCRs. The song is a commentary on the hustle and the struggles that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
You know how we do, Roc-a-Fella, forever, You can catch me Skating through your town putting it down y'all relating
I am Jay-Z, representing Roc-A-Fella records. You can catch me going around town leaving a lasting impact, and y'all know that I'm representing for the people.
No waiting I'll make your block infrared hot I'm like Satan
I'm not one to waste time, and I have the ability to make your block hot, just like Satan himself.
Y'all feel a nigga's struggle, y'all think a nigga love to Hustle behind the wheel, trying to escape my trouble
I know that y'all can relate to the struggles that I face as a black man, and sometimes I feel like hustling just to stay ahead and avoid trouble.
Kids stop they greeting me, I'm talking sweet to keys Cursing the very God, that bought this wreath to be
Even though kids stop me on the street to greet me, I still have moments where I curse God for giving me this life of luxury and fame.
My life is, based on sacrifices, jewels like ices And fools that think I slip, you fuck around You get your guys hit, they built me to be filthy On some I-do-or-die shit, for real
My life is built on sacrifice and hard work, and I have accumulated great wealth along the way. I won't tolerate anyone who thinks I'm slipping, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect what I've built.
The price of leather's got me, deeper than ever and Just think, with this here, I'm trying to feel made nigga
The expensive items I own have taken a hold of me, but I continue to strive for more wealth and success to feel truly fulfilled.
Politics as usual, I took my Frito to Tito in the district, blessed me with some VS somethings I can live with, stop fronting And for the dough I raise, gotta get shit appraised No disrespect to you, make sure you word is true
I am referring to the world of politics and the deals that have to be made. I brought my money to Tito in the district and received items that are valuable to me. I make sure to get my assets appraised and hold those who make deals with me accountable.
I'm taking wages down in Vegas just in case Tyson Have a major night off, that's clean money, the tax write-off
I am smart with my investments and am taking advantage of clean money that can also be used as a tax write-off. I'm specifically betting on Mike Tyson and his potential to have a great night in Las Vegas.
You ain't seen money in your life, when it Comes to this cheese y'all like Three Blind Mice A smoking bro, who pump Willie Ike spokes The furthest you Chiles been is the Pocanos
I am frequently exposed to large sums of money that most people can't even imagine. To me, the people who are still chasing after little bits of money are like blind mice. I'm like the flashy guy on the block, with a car that has customized spokes, while others have never left their small town.
My portfolio reads, leads to Don Corleone, nigga please Ten year fel-eon, heavy on the wrist, our face used With the diamond blooded Jesus and blind your face You's for life, that's right, Jigga, I keep it tight nigga
My portfolio of investments leads up to a powerful figure like Don Corleone. I also have spent time in prison, and I'm not afraid to show off my expensive watches and jewelry, including a diamond-studded Jesus piece. You're stuck with me for life, and I always keep things on point.
You feel my triumph never, feel my pain I'm lyin' Low in the leather Zion, the best that's ever came The game changes like, my mind just ain't right We 'gwan get this dough, I guess it ain't your night
You see me experiencing triumph and success, but you'll never truly know the struggles and pain that I've endured. Even while facing challenging times, I remain the best in the game. The circumstances may change, but my drive to get money can't be swayed.
Sucking me in like a vacuum, I remember Telling my family I'll be back soon, that was December Eighty-five and, Jay-Z rise ten years later Got me wise still can't break my underworld ties
The allure of fame and success can be overwhelming, and I remember promising my family that I would return, although I ended up sticking around. In ten years, I have gained wisdom but am still connected to the streets and that lifestyle.
I wear black a lot, in the Ac', act a lot Got matching VCR's, a huge Magnavox To nitch, green like spinach pop wines that's vintage It's a lot of big money in my sentence
I often wear black and act high class when I'm in my luxury vehicle or at home watching my large Magnavox TV. I enjoy little luxuries like smoking weed and drinking vintage wine, but these things also come with a large expense and keep the money coming in.
Hitting towards a mil', lip a, written I kill like that Chick faked me one-two cat, yeah, I do that Ain't no stopping the champagne from popping The drawers from dropping, the law from watching, I hate 'em
I'm making my way towards making a million dollars, and I'm not afraid to be straightforward and kill it when it comes to writing rhymes. I even faked out a girl who thought she had me caught up. There's no stopping the good times, even though the police may be watching and I hate them for it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cynthia De Mari Biggs, Dexter Wansel, David Wills, Sean Carter, Shawn Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind