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Wednesday, September 2, 2009 | 7:09am
Jay-Z in XXL: He Can’t Win Beefing With The Game, Jim Jones
Why Jay-Z reluctance to address the haters has further destroyed Hip Hop
Jay-Z is by no means new to beef. Although rarely an instigator of these conflicts he has had his fair share of beefs both small and large. With Jay-Z status as a legend solidified, aspiring rappers have taken shots at the thrown as major marketing strategy.
Of late Jay-Z has become the target of numerous unanswered attacks from West Coast name dropper, The Game calling the emcee “old” and “washed up.”
In a new interview for the cover story of the October edition of XXL magazine, Jay briefly addressed the shots calling the Game a “groupie,” and says he’s proud to be the Game’s “idol.”
“Game, I’m his f***in’ idol,” said Jay. “If you ask him and he’s being truthfully honest with you … it’s just based off his insecurities and, for the most part, pretension.”
Jay goes on to illustrate his predicament with addressing beef lyrically.
“That type of competition doesn’t do anything for me,” Jay tells the mag. “It’s almost like someone trying to set you up, and everyone knows they’re to set you up, and everybody. It’s just dumb. It’s not in the spirit of competition, because he’s not competition for me. He’s not. Not then, not ever — he’d have to improve considerably. Competition for me competition is Nas, Eminem.
“How do I respond to that? I can’t win. If I win, then they’ll be like, ‘See. Now chill. You’re a f***in’ bully.’ And if manages to throw a haymaker from the West Coast, then it’s like ‘Oooooh.’ It’s not even fun.,” he continued.
Hov additionally explains that his intense schedule has essentially forced him to abandon all beef strategies.
“Like, before I did it, because I would diss anybody,” he admits. “Now who has time to do this sh** everyday? But before, when I was running after the little fat nigga from Ma$e’s camp, I was doing anybody.”
I’m guessing he’s talking about Jim Jones and his decade old hard on for irritating Jay. While Jay is right, responding to beef while you’re on top has very little upside so does taking fights as the heavyweight champ. When you’re the Superbowl Champs you hope the off-season never ends. However its the nature of being on top you have nothing to lose by competing with others. His attitude toward beef while appropriate is kind of…well…dare I say PUSSY!
Jay’s my man. I’ll rarely ever diss the dude but wouldn’t hip hop be better served with more direct quips made by the king at these young impersonators? D.O.A. was cool but imagine if he started pulling cards, dropping names. The game would be crazy right now. He has the skills and the clout to do it, he’s too comfortable and far too networked to rattle feathers at this point. Its a shame.
FILED IN Editorials, Need to Know
I agree. Who doesn’t like beef? Of course no one wants it to go as far as it did with Pac & Biggie, but it’s always good to hear a great battle. I am a little disappointed at Hov for not wanting to respond. Imagine how great it would be if he just went after everybody that was taking shots at him. Honestly he would kill them lyrically! I just wish he’d keep his ear to the street because whether you’re on top or not we still want to hear a response. Can’t be a legend if you’re known for having your tail between your legs. Bring the heat Hov……
While I see where jay is coming from I think he has to spit at least a few bars just put some of these in check and let them know who’s still running this rap game
Agreed. I’m not saying keep the beef going but remind these rappers why you really are EVERY RAPPER’S FAVORITE RAPPER.
I don’t even care about Jay putting anyone in check. I’m just thinking about Hip Hop music. It needs that. How can all these milktoast rappers with tattoos on their face claim to be the best? Because the best doesn’t say they’re not.
.
His D.O.A. said what a lot of people felt but he needed to pull cards for the record to be a classic. He didn’t.
Wow, good point Juan. Although D.O.A. is a good record he should have pulled some cards out. As far as Hip Hop music goes, it does need the unpresent balance.
Heil Hova.
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I dont think that Jay is bigger than Hip Hop but I beleive he thinks he is. Juan you right about D.O.A., the old Jay would have called everybody out. The mogul Jay seems to be reluctant to call people out, whats the point of denouning Auto-tune if you gone exclude the main mawfuckas who use it (Kanye & Wayne)? As for Game and Jim Jones, Game thinks he is alot bigger than what he is. Jim Jones is terrible, flat out wack, I never liked his music. If Jay can end their careers like he said, havent both of these guys ran their mouths enough to deserve a response? Jay need to come off this shit and dust these dudes off, thats hip hop right?
Well Jim is an executive now. So he won’t go away as an artist cause he puts out his own stuff but I agree about The Game. I’d appreciate the hype.
man, I heard Jim Jones either got dropped or is getting dropped by his lable
I’ll give it to Jay, he’s an extremely clever individual and I like how he has approached this beef, even though he hasn’t formally spit fire back at Game and Jim Jones. If there is one thing about Jay it’s that he’s got supreme confidence, he know’s he’s better than Game and J.J. With the world in the palm of his hand why would he even entertain a response, which in itself is a slight.
Now imagine if it was NAS, or Eminem coming at Jay, well then I’m sure a response would follow because he has a deep respect for those artists lyrically, he would feel challenged.
Unfortunately, the Game and Jim Jones are not a challenge to him. To me, jay is saying, “Game, Jimmy, you ain’t even good enough to get dissed by me, not even worthy of a response.”
The back and forth exchanges become lame after a while, when hov’s ready he’ll demolish them both at the same time.
But isn’t that what keeps emcees sharp? Isn’t the battle the lowest common denominator of rap?
Jay said this a long time ago, there should be a Hip-Hop board of Directors who get to determine who’s worthy of beefing or throwing shots b/c The Game and Capo wouldn’t pass the board. Jay has catalog these dudes have a couple of hit records. They’re not on his level so he shouldn’t waste time.
Yeah but what would it take for him to respond?
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