Encore
Jay-Z ft Linkin Park Lyrics


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Yeah

Thank you, thank you, thank you
You're far too kind
Ready? Let's go

Can I get an encore, do you want more?
Cookin' raw with the Brooklyn boy
So for one last time I need y'all to roar (yeah)
Now what the hell are you waiting for?
After me, there shall be no more
So for one last time, nigga, make some noise

Get 'em Jay

Who you know fresher than Hov? Riddle me that
The rest of y'all know where I'm lyrically at
Can't none of y'all mirror me back
Yeah hearing me rap is like hearing G. Rap in his prime
I'm young H.O., rap's Grateful Dead
Back to take over the globe, now break bread
I'm in Boeing jets, Global Express
Out the country but the Blueberry still connect
On the low but the yacht got a triple deck
But when you young, what the fuck you expect? Yep, yep
Grand opening, grand closing
God damn, your man Hov cracked the can open again
Who you goin' find doper than him with no pen
Just draw off inspiration
Soon you goin' see you can't replace him
With cheap imitations for these generations

Can I get an encore, do you want more?
Cookin' raw with the Brooklyn boy
So for one last time I need y'all to roar
Now what the hell are you waiting for?
After me, there shall be no more
So for one last time, make some noise

What the hell are you waiting for?

Look what you made me do, look what I made for you
Knew if I paid my dues, how will they pay you?
When you first come in the game, they try to play you
Then you drop a couple of hits, look how they wave to you
From Marcy to Madison Square
To the only thing that matters in just a matter of years (yeah)
As fate would have it, Jay's status appears
To be at a all-time high, perfect time to say goodbye
When I come back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5
It ain't to play games with you
It's to aim at you, probably maim you
If I owe you I'm blowing you to smithereens
Cocksucker take one for your team
And I need you to remember one thing (one thing)
I came, I saw, I conquered
From record sales, to sold out concerts
So motherfucker if you want this encore
I need you to scream 'til your lungs get sore

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless
Lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure
Of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take

I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you

I've become so numb
Can I get an encore, do you want more? (More, more, more)





I've become so numb
So for one last time I need y'all to roar (one last time I need y'all to roar)

Overall Meaning

The song "Encore" by Jay-Z featuring Linkin Park was released in 2004 as the third single from their collaborative album "Collision Course." The song starts with a thank you message from Jay-Z to the audience and then kicks into high gear with the rapper asking for an encore performance in his Brooklyn style. Jay-Z boasts about his lyricism, comparing himself to G. Rap in his prime, and describes himself as the Grateful Dead in the rap world. He also speaks about his success and his plan to retire and come back like Jordan with the aim to take over the rap and music industry even more.


On the other side, the song features Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park's iconic lyrics about feeling lost and being under pressure while being in the music business. Shinoda talks about feeling numb and wanting to be himself and not follow the expectations of other people.


Overall, the song reflects on the success, struggles, and aspirations of artists in the music industry while showcasing the talent of two iconic performers from different genres.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Introduction to the song


Thank you, thank you, thank you / You're far too kind / Ready? Let's go
Jay-Z thanking the crowd before the start of the performance and getting them excited to kick off the show.


Can I get an encore, do you want more? / Cookin' raw with the Brooklyn boy / So for one last time I need y'all to roar (yeah) / Now what the hell are you waiting for? / After me, there shall be no more / So for one last time, nigga, make some noise
Jay-Z asking for the crowd's participation to put on a show-stopping performance, indicating that this is his last show, and urging them to make the most of the moment by making some noise.


Get 'em Jay
Jay-Z asking the crowd to hype him up before starting his rap sequence.


Who you know fresher than Hov? Riddle me that / The rest of y'all know where I'm lyrically at / Can't none of y'all mirror me back / Yeah hearing me rap is like hearing G. Rap in his prime / I'm young H.O., rap's Grateful Dead / Back to take over the globe, now break bread / I'm in Boeing jets, Global Express / Out the country but the Blueberry still connect / On the low but the yacht got a triple deck / But when you young, what the fuck you expect? Yep, yep / Grand opening, grand closing / God damn, your man Hov cracked the can open again / Who you goin' find doper than him with no pen / Just draw off inspiration / Soon you goin' see you can't replace him / With cheap imitations for these generations
Jay-Z boasting about his lyrical prowess and his achievements in life as a successful rapper, indicating that he is going out on top and that there is no one better than him with or without a pen.


What the hell are you waiting for?
Jay-Z urging the crowd to come alive by asking them what they are waiting for.


Look what you made me do, look what I made for you / Knew if I paid my dues, how will they pay you? / When you first come in the game, they try to play you / Then you drop a couple of hits, look how they wave to you / From Marcy to Madison Square / To the only thing that matters in just a matter of years (yeah) / As fate would have it, Jay's status appears / To be at a all-time high, perfect time to say goodbye / When I come back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5 / It ain't to play games with you / It's to aim at you, probably maim you / If I owe you I'm blowing you to smithereens / Cocksucker take one for your team / And I need you to remember one thing (one thing) / I came, I saw, I conquered / From record sales, to sold out concerts / So motherfucker if you want this encore / I need you to scream 'til your lungs get sore
Jay-Z reflecting on his journey in the music industry, having come a long way since he started. He acknowledges that he has achieved more than he ever imagined and the time has come for him to bid farewell to his music career. He hints that there's a possibility he might make a comeback in the future, but this time it won't be for fun and games but instead to aim and probably maim his competition. He urges the crowd to remember his legacy and scream for his encore performance.


I'm tired of being what you want me to be / Feeling so faithless / Lost under the surface / I don't know what you're expecting of me / Put under the pressure / Of walking in your shoes / (Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow) / Every step that I take is another mistake to you / (Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow) / And every second I waste is more than I can take
Linkin Park is referring to the pressure of society's expectations of them, struggling to keep up with those demands and expectations, illustrating the sense of feeling lost and faithless, and how every step they take seems to be wrong, indicating constantly being caught in the undertow.


I've become so numb / I can't feel you there / Become so tired / So much more aware / I'm becoming this / All I want to do / Is be more like me / And be less like you
Linkin Park speaks about feeling emotionally numb due to the stress and societal pressure, leading them to change their ways and become more introspective to see what they want to be instead of becoming what society wants them to be.


I've become so numb
Repetition of the previous lyric that reinforces the feeling of numbness.


Can I get an encore, do you want more? (More, more, more) / I've become so numb / So for one last time I need y'all to roar (one last time I need y'all to roar)
The song comes full circle with Jay-Z echoing his previous call to the crowd for an encore, and Linkin Park repeating their chorus referring to their numbness. Both artists again ask for the crowd's participation in their last show, needing them to roar one final time before the end of the concert.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rob Bourdon, Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington, Joseph Hahn, Brad Delson, David Farrell, Kanye West, Shawn Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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