For a rapper to command your attention, it all comes down to the voice. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Public Enemys Chuck D had millions of fans hanging on to every word of his booming baritone. In the mid-1990s, The Notorious B.I.G.s steely poise and vocal precision led many critics and fans to proclaim him the best rapper of all time. Now, in 2006, get ready for the next rapper with a magnetic voice, someone whose pristine raps demand attention. His name: Jay Rock.
Born and raised in Watts, Californias notorious Nickerson Gardens Projects, Jay Rock got his first encouragement from his music-making relatives, who noticed the impact his deep, melodic voice made on song after song. They were like, youre hard. And youve got a voice for it, too. Youve got a real cool voice to it, Jay Rock recalls: "A lot of people started hearing me and they would tell me that my voice catches them. So, I started working it, working on my craft and got more and more confidence." His rap name is inspired by a character off the hit Canadian comedy show Trailer Park Boys.
Jay Rocks confidence led to a string of heated appearances on neighborhood mixtapes. The gifted rhymers clever phrasing, gritty realism, storytelling swagger and powerful voice grabbed the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment boss Dude Dawg. Once in the studio with an independent company backing him, Jay Rocks output increased and improved.
After shopping his demo to a number of major labels, Jay Rock and Top Dawg earned a deal with industry powerhouse Warner Bros. Records, also home to Lil Jons BME Recordings, E-40, The Federation and Talib Kweli, among others. The Warner Bros. executives were impressed with Jay Rocks distinctive flow, his vivid lyrics and, of course, voice. Already a star on the Internet, his always-updated myspace.com/jayrock page features three songs that have more than 100,000 plays.
One of those cuts is LA Shit, Jay Rocks stellar reworking of Busta Rhymes New York Shit. When I heard that song, I thought it was a hot-ass song, so I wanted to get on my LA shit about what we do out here, says Jay Rock, who has long been a fan of Busta Rhymes phraseology. I was paying respect to Busta and his song, and thats for the mixtapes right there. I want LA to get an ear for it.
LA will also appreciate the energetic California Soul, which details the treacherous reality of Californias streets. Game produced the record and he gave it to me. I met him at the studio about a week later and let him hear ithe went crazy! He liked it so much he recorded the hook on the spot. On the smooth Thats My Word, Jay Rock asserts his status as a man of his word, while To The Top documents his ascent from project resident to his present day successes. It was a struggle to get to where Im at now, he says. Im talking about going from the bottom to the top, what I was going through starting off. Im legal now. Im signed. I started off at the bottom, made something out of nothing and am going to run with it until I get all the way to the top.
As someone who looks toward the past as he pushes toward the future, Jay Rock holds the soulful Back In The Days in high regard. I just went back to when I was 6, 7, growing up listening to the oldies, he explains. That song meant a lot because I always dwell on the past, for some reason. I always think back and wish that I was a kid again. I know that will never happen, but some times I just wish I could go back in the days when I was young.
For now, though, Jay Rock is focused on recording his debut album and ushering in a new era of hard-core West Coast rap. Jay Rock is thankful that Comptons The Game was able to breakthrough with his multi platinum, The Documentary album. Game opened up the doors for a lot of people, Jay Rock says. Game opened the door and Im running right through with my people behind me. Were trying to bring it back home, bring the West back. Weve been down for a long time, so were trying to bring it back home.
With production on his forthcoming debut album from such A-List producers as KayGee (Jaheim, Naughty By Nature) and L.E.S. (Nas), as well up-and-coming beatsmiths Nephew, 4th Quarter and K-Fam, Soundwave and Aqua (Jay-Z), Jay Rock is set to live out a dream that seemed to be destined to happen.
His hard-working mother filled their home with the classic soul and blues music of such icons as the Temptations, Dramatics, Isley Brothers, Johnny Guitar Watson and B.B. King. She also had an affinity for rap, and enjoyed the music of such trendsetters as Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie. Her love for music carried over to her house parties. My mom threw parties damn near every weekend, Jay Rock recalls. Shed be stressing during the week, would come home and thats what theyd do, party all night long.
Jay Rock soon developed an interest in playing keyboards and, at age 12, writing poems. And, as he grew up in the volatile Watts streets, gangster rap began to take hold. You couldnt go up the street without hearing Snoop, Dre or N.W.A, he says. Much as N.W.A and others reported about their surroundings, Jay Rocks early poems documented his feelings -- about a person, about Los Angeles, about his experiences.
Jay Rock soon started getting into trouble at school, forcing him to attend a number of different schools. He also endured a harsh reality when cited and incarcerated for violating his areas gang injunction. I was hanging out with dudes I grew up with, dudes I went to school with, played Pop Warner with, he says. They saw us out there and took us downThey put me on it...I basically cant hang out where I liveI cant help where I stayThey got me again when I was hanging out of my own apartment, my own residence.
Jay Rocks legal struggles have made him appreciate what he has already accomplished, turning his childhood talent for writing into a career as a major-label recording artist. Getting signed and being from what Im from, thats a great achievement because nobodys really been signed from my projects, Jay Rock says: "Thats a big achievement for me. Its a blessing. It feels real good. I could be in the jail somewhere or in the grave, but Im right here doing what I need to do.
And it all starts with the voice.
They Say
Jay Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Im from the projects, i aint never had shit, me and my older brother, we had to share a mattress
No heat, no lights, had to keep them candles lit, my daddy left me at 8, in an out my life and shit
Gang bangas dope dealers replaced my father, neighborhood hustlas taught me to get them dollas
Thats when i became a problem, product of my environment, its hard to grow up be a doctor or a fireman
When you constantly seein that g ride tires screechin and them shots firin all the time it happens frequently
The hood inspired him to be a G, i bled for the game did it all for the letter B
The big homie gave me the name jay rock, this aint no rap gimmick its a real life story on watts livin nigga
You can take, me out the hood, but you cant take the hood out me, and thats the way it forever gon be, but i cant help it im gutta, i shoulda changed out, but all my life i been gang banged out
That project shit run deep in my veins now, and i cant help it, ooh who am i losin i cant help it
And all my life i been gang banged out that project shit runnin deep in my veins now
Let me take you on a detour, eastside watts, niggas will go in projects follow me home to my black n white appartments, police roll thru with caution, scared to death
The homies got tats across them, capitol BH over they necks, since birth bangin the set, even the hoes bangin the set, some aint, but most is hood rats lookin for that buck
Them trash cans lay in the street ghetto technique for drive bys, for the low them 5 dollas will get u high
Dice games, white Gs, fist fights, six fo's, el co's, g rides, and mini bikes
Might see a couple of zombies late night, off what? off pipe membrane dead right, no lie
Somethin in the bushes, either the AK or the .45, no lie
Raised in the ghetto, wit rats and roaches, smokers on porches, gettin high off yola its colda norther but my city's the coldest
Where we aint bond is the city of mornin??
(chorus)
You can take, me out the hood, but you cant take the hood out me, and thats the way it forever gon be, but i cant help it im gutta, i shoulda changed out, but all my life i been gang banged out
That project shit run deep in my veins now, and i cant help it, ooh who am i losin i cant help it
You could take me out the hood but the hood will never leave me
Im still bangin, im still hangin, the only difference is im not slangin nickles and dimes more like slangin these rap lines
Verse is the truth when i step in the booth, niggas know i pour my soul out for the strugglin youth
For that fatherless son who needed love so he ran wit a crew, grew up before his older brother did
Gin and juice, replaced the pain i knew, carryin them thangs to school
Them niggas was trippin i wasnt bangin the blue, but they had to respect me i never ran from who? nobody
Put my faith in god its amazin how i overcame them odds
On my momma this past year my life has slightly been revised, but notice i said slightly
Cuz me bein absent from where i came from, thats unlikely
(chorus)
You can take, me out the hood, but you cant take the hood out me, and thats the way it forever gon be, but i cant help it im gutta, i shoulda changed out, but all my life i been gang banged out
That project shit run deep in my veins now, and i cant help it, ooh who am i losin i cant help it
Jay Rock’s song “They Say” is a powerful reflection on the artist’s upbringing in Watts, where he faced significant hardship and violence growing up. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the projects, where Jay Rock and his brother shared a mattress and had to keep candles lit for light. His father was absent from his life, leaving him to be influenced by gangbangers and drug dealers. The constant violence and danger made it difficult for him to imagine a different life for himself, and he ultimately became a gang member himself.
Despite the hardships, Jay Rock is upfront about his pride in where he comes from. He feels that the hood will always be a part of him and that he cannot change that. The chorus repeats this sentiment, highlighting the fact that even if he were to leave the hood, it would not leave him. He acknowledges that he should have changed, but his upbringing and circumstances made it difficult for him to do so.
Throughout the song, Jay Rock provides vivid descriptions of what life was like in the projects, including various illegal activities such as drive-bys, drug use, and dealing. He also mentions the struggle many of his peers faced with fatherlessness and the fact that being a “G” seemed like the only way to survive. Despite reflecting on the violence and rampant drug use, Jay Rock emphasizes that these things are just a part of the reality of growing up in the projects.
Overall, “They Say” is a deeply personal and insightful track that showcases Jay Rock’s roots and the struggles he faced growing up in the projects. It’s both a tribute to his upbringing and a powerful critique of the systemic issues that contribute to the proliferation of gangs and violence in predominantly Black and brown communities in America.
Line by Line Meaning
Growin up i was a knucklehead, boy you never listen to me! thats wat my momma said
My mother used to call me a troublemaker and never listened to me as I was growing up.
Im from the projects, i aint never had shit, me and my older brother, we had to share a mattress
I come from the projects where we had nothing, and my older brother and I had to share a mattress.
No heat, no lights, had to keep them candles lit, my daddy left me at 8, in an out my life and shit
We had no heat or lights, and had to use candles. My dad left me at 8 years old and was in and out of my life.
Gang bangas dope dealers replaced my father, neighborhood hustlas taught me to get them dollas
Gang members and drug dealers replaced my father figure, and the local hustlers taught me how to make money.
Thats when i became a problem, product of my environment, its hard to grow up be a doctor or a fireman
With the influences around me, I became a problem. It's hard to dream of being a doctor or firefighter when the environment is full of negative influences.
When you constantly seein that g ride tires screechin and them shots firin all the time it happens frequently
When you constantly witness car chases and gunshots, you become desensitized to it happening frequently.
The hood inspired him to be a G, i bled for the game did it all for the letter B
My environment inspired me to become a gangster, and I was willing to do anything for the reputation of the letter 'B' associated with my gang.
Let me take you on a detour, eastside watts, niggas will go in projects follow me home to my black n white appartments, police roll thru with caution, scared to death
Let me take you on a detour to the east side of Watts where people from the projects used to follow me home to my black and white apartments. Police would patrol with caution, and I was scared to death.
The homies got tats across them, capitol BH over they necks, since birth bangin the set, even the hoes bangin the set, some aint, but most is hood rats lookin for that buck
My friends all have tattoos of the gang symbol and initials, as we've been part of this gang since birth. Even some of the women in the neighborhood are involved for financial gain.
Dice games, white Gs, fist fights, six fo's, el co's, g rides, and mini bikes
There were a variety of activities in the hood, including games of dice, drug deals, fights, and various car types.
Raised in the ghetto, wit rats and roaches, smokers on porches, gettin high off yola its colda norther but my city's the coldest
I was raised in the ghetto, where rats and roaches were common, smokers hung out on their porches and used drugs. It may be colder up north, but my city is the coldest.
You could take me out the hood but the hood will never leave me
Even if you take me out of the hood, it will always be a part of me.
Im still bangin, im still hangin, the only difference is im not slangin nickles and dimes more like slangin these rap lines
Although I'm not involved in drug dealing anymore, I'm still representing my gang through my music.
Verse is the truth when i step in the booth, niggas know i pour my soul out for the strugglin youth
When I rap, I speak the truth and pour my soul out for those who are struggling.
For that fatherless son who needed love so he ran wit a crew, grew up before his older brother did
I rap for the fatherless sons who need love and turn to gangs for a sense of family. They grow up faster than their older brothers may have.
Gin and juice, replaced the pain i knew, carryin them thangs to school
I used to drink gin and juice to replace my emotional pain, and even carried weapons to school.
Put my faith in god its amazin how i overcame them odds
I put my faith in God, and it's amazing how I was able to overcome the odds stacked against me.
On my momma this past year my life has slightly been revised, but notice i said slightly
I swear on my mother that my life has slightly changed in the past year, but only slightly.
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.