Just Blaze's production of the song was inspired by a record that his friend Big Jack had played for him. Sampling a loop from "Seed of Love" by The Little Boy Blues, he created the beat in about ten minutes. That same day, Jay-Z took part in listening sessions for the press in promotion of The Black Album. One session was with The Village Voice reporter Elizabeth Mendez Berry. In his 2010 autobiography and memoir Decoded, Jay-Z described the interaction with Berry:
After we listened to the album the reporter came up to me and said the strangest thing: "You don't feel funny?" I was like, Huh?, because I knew she meant funny as in weird, and I was thinking, Actually, I feel real comfortable; this is one of the best albums of my career. ... But then she said it again: "You don't feel funny? You're wearing that Che T-shirt and you have–" she gestured dramatically at the chain around my neck. "I couldn't even concentrate on the music," she said. "All I could think of is that big chain bouncing off of Che's forehead." The chain was a Jesus piece–the Jesus piece that Biggie used to wear, in fact. It's part of my ritual when I record an album: I wear the Jesus piece and let my hair grow till I'm done.
Before leaving, Berry gave Jay-Z a copy of a critical essay she wrote on his albums Reasonable Doubt, Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter, and The Blueprint. It inspired him to write the second verse of the song. The next day, Just Blaze played the beat he had produced to Jay-Z. The beat, which Jay described "opened with dark minor organ notes and then flooded them with brassy chords" and was "beautiful", became the foundation of the song. Jay-Z rapped two verses and no chorus over the track because of limited time and called the song "Public Service Announcement". In an interview with Revolt in 2013, Just Blaze stated that Jay-Z recorded four lines at a time, in between meetings with the press.
The subject of the first verse centers on Jay-Z rapping about how good of a rapper he is. Jay-Z has regarded the verse as a "test of creativity and wit". Furthermore, in Decoded he wrote, "I call rhymes like the first verse on 'Public Service Announcement' Easter-egg hunts, because if you just listen to it once without paying attention, you'll brush past some lines that can offer more meaning and resonance every time you listen to them." The second verse is almost unrelated to the first and contains a response to Berry's comments: "I'm like Che Guevara with bling on, I'm complex".
Public Service Announcement
Jay-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sponsored by Just Blaze and the good folks at Roc-A-Fella Records
"Fellow Americans, it is with the utmost pride and sincerity
That I present this recording, as a living testament and recollection
Of history in the making during our generation"
Allow me to reintroduce myself
I used to move snowflakes by the O-Z
I guess even back then you can call me
CEO of the R-O-C, Hov
Fresh out the frying pan into the fire
I be the music biz number one supplier
Flier than a piece of paper bearing my name
Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain, that's right
Hov (oh), not DOC
But similar to them letters, "No One Can Do it Better"
I check cheddar like a food inspector
My homey Strict told me, "Dude, finish your breakfast"
So that's what I'ma do, take you back to the dude
With the Lexus, fast-forward the jewels and the necklace
Let me tell you dudes what I do to protect this
Shoot at you actors like movie directors
This ain't a movie, dog (oh, shit)
"Now before I finish, let me just say
I did not come here to show out, did not come here to impress you
Because to tell you the truth, when I leave here, I'm gone
And I don't care what you think about me, but just remember
When it hits the fan, brother, whether it's next year, ten years
Twenty years from now, you'll never be able to say
That these brothers lied to you Jack
Ving ain't lie
I done came through the block in everything that's fly
I'm like Che Guevara with bling on, I'm complex
I never claimed to have wings on
Nigga, I get my "by any means" on whenever there's a drought
Get your umbrellas out because that's when I brainstorm
You can blame Shawn, but I ain't invent the game
I just rolled the dice, trying to get some change
And I do it twice, ain't no sense in me
Lying as if I am a different man
And I could blame my environment but
There ain't no reason why I be buying expensive chains
Hope you don't think users are the only abusers
Niggas getting high within the game
If you do then, how would you explain?
I'm ten years removed, still the vibe is in my veins
I got a hustler spirit, nigga, period
Check out my hat, yo, peep the way I wear it
Check out my swag, yo, I walk like a ballplayer
No matter where you go, you are what you are, player
And you can try to change but that's just the top layer
Man, you was who you was 'fore you got here
Only God can judge me, so I'm gone
Either love me or leave me alone
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program
L'Album Noir: The Black Album
The lyrics of the song Public Service Announcement speak to Jay-Z’s personal journey and success in the music industry. The opening lines of the song present it as a “public service announcement,” with Jay-Z introducing himself as Hov, the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records. He reflects on his past, referencing his drug-dealing days, and compares his ability to make money from the music industry to his past success selling drugs. He also acknowledges that he surrounds himself with a luxurious lifestyle, from having the hottest woman in the game wearing his chain to shopping for expensive jewelry and cars.
However, Jay-Z notes that his past does not define him, and he is not trying to impress others. He references his hustler spirit and that he's a complex individual who does not apologize for his past mistakes. He acknowledges the struggle of those still caught up in the game and the continuing generational cycle of drug abuse and poverty. In the final lines, he asserts that he is beyond judgment because he's living his truth and that people have to take him as he is or leave him alone.
Overall, the lyrics of Public Service Announcement offer a glimpse of Jay-Z’s personal journey from selling drugs on the streets of Brooklyn to becoming a successful musician and business mogul. The song is both a reflection on his past and a statement of his present success and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a public service announcement
Jay-Z is making an announcement to the public.
Sponsored by Just Blaze and the good folks at Roc-A-Fella Records
The announcement is sponsored by Just Blaze and Roc-A-Fella Records.
"Fellow Americans, it is with the utmost pride and sincerity
That I present this recording, as a living testament and recollection
Of history in the making during our generation"
Jay-Z presents this recording as a testament to the history being made in his generation.
Allow me to reintroduce myself
My name is Hov (oh), H to the O-V
I used to move snowflakes by the O-Z
I guess even back then you can call me
CEO of the R-O-C, Hov
Jay-Z is introducing himself as Hov, the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records who used to sell drugs ('snowflakes') as a young man.
Fresh out the frying pan into the fire
I be the music biz number one supplier
Flier than a piece of paper bearing my name
Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain, that's right
Hov (oh), not DOC
Jay-Z is boasting about being the top supplier in the music industry, having a hot girlfriend who wears his chain, and being more important than Doctor Dre ('not DOC').
But similar to them letters, "No One Can Do it Better"
I check cheddar like a food inspector
My homey Strict told me, "Dude, finish your breakfast"
So that's what I'ma do, take you back to the dude
With the Lexus, fast-forward the jewels and the necklace
Jay-Z is saying that he's the best ('No One Can Do it Better'), he's good at managing money ('check cheddar like a food inspector'), and he's going to take listeners back to the early days of his career before he had all his 'jewels and necklace'.
Let me tell you dudes what I do to protect this
Shoot at you actors like movie directors
This ain't a movie, dog (oh, shit)
Jay-Z is saying that he'll shoot people who threaten him ('shoot at you actors like movie directors') and that he takes his life seriously ('This ain't a movie, dog').
"Now before I finish, let me just say
I did not come here to show out, did not come here to impress you
Because to tell you the truth, when I leave here, I'm gone
And I don't care what you think about me, but just remember
When it hits the fan, brother, whether it's next year, ten years
Twenty years from now, you'll never be able to say
That these brothers lied to you Jack
Jay-Z is saying that he didn't come to impress listeners and he doesn't care what they think of him. He's warning them that when things get tough in the future, they will know that he was truthful.
Ving ain't lie
I done came through the block in everything that's fly
I'm like Che Guevara with bling on, I'm complex
I never claimed to have wings on
Nigga, I get my "by any means" on whenever there's a drought
Get your umbrellas out because that's when I brainstorm
Jay-Z is saying that he's honest ('Ving ain't lie') and he's been successful in everything he's done ('everything that's fly'). He compares himself to Che Guevara because he's complex and has bling. Jay-Z is saying that he'll do whatever is necessary to succeed ('by any means'), even when things get tough ('whenever there's a drought').
You can blame Shawn, but I ain't invent the game
I just rolled the dice, trying to get some change
And I do it twice, ain't no sense in me
Lying as if I am a different man
And I could blame my environment but
There ain't no reason why I be buying expensive chains
Hope you don't think users are the only abusers
Niggas getting high within the game
If you do then, how would you explain?
I'm ten years removed, still the vibe is in my veins
I got a hustler spirit, nigga, period
Check out my hat, yo, peep the way I wear it
Check out my swag, yo, I walk like a ballplayer
No matter where you go, you are what you are, player
And you can try to change but that's just the top layer
Man, you was who you was 'fore you got here
Only God can judge me, so I'm gone
Either love me or leave me alone
Jay-Z is saying that he's not responsible for the state of the music industry, he's just trying to make money like everyone else ('I ain't invent the game'). He's admitting that he's made mistakes ('rolling the dice') but he's still the same person. He blames himself and not his background or environment for buying expensive things. He's saying that drugs are a part of the music industry ('Niggas getting high within the game'). He's reminding everyone that he's been around for a long time and he still has the same drive ('ten years removed, still the vibe is in my veins'). Jay-Z has a hustler spirit and he's proud of it ('nigga, period'). Finally, Jay-Z is saying that he's leaving and people can either love him or leave him alone.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program
L'Album Noir: The Black Album
Jay-Z is signaling the end of his announcement and returning to his album ('the regularly scheduled program').
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Raymond Levin, Shawn Corey Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind