J

Jay-Z

Brooklyn, NY

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hip-hop Popularity: 84 Popular Division

GOAT Standings

1
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0.02
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25
Times Served
Region: Northeastern Coastal Zone Conference: Northeast Regional Rank: #103

Weekly Trend

About Jay-Z

Shawn Carter, known globally as Jay-Z, is a hip-hop icon whose music is deeply intertwined with the landscape of his life. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, his work frequently references the city that shaped him, from the gritty streets evoked in "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" and "The Story of O.J." to the aspirational heights celebrated in "Empire State of Mind" (technically across the river in East Rutherford, NJ). His connection to New York City is undeniable, appearing in tracks like "BBC", "Beach Is Better (Interlude)", "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt", "Otis", and "Picasso Baby", solidifying his status as a true hometown hero.

Beyond New York, Jay-Z's music demonstrates a global perspective, with tracks like "Niggas in Paris" showcasing his reach. From the bright lights of Las Vegas in "Who Gon Stop Me" to political commentary from Washington, DC in "Open Letter", his discography paints a sonic map of both personal experience and broader cultural observations. Whether reflecting on his roots in "Numb/Encore" within his home borough of Brooklyn or contemplating legacy in "New Day" from Los Angeles, Jay-Z's music remains a powerful force in hip-hop.

Locations in Lyrics

120 location references across 38 songs

Songs & Places

Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
, MD , VA
"Was herbing 'em in the home of the Terrapins"
Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)
New York City, NY
New Day
Los Angeles, CA
"And I'll never let his mom move to LA"
Empire State of Mind
, NY Bronx, NY Brooklyn, NY Harlem, NY New York, NY Tribeca, NY , TX East Rutherford, NJ
Numb / Encore
Brooklyn, NY Chicago, IL New York City, NY
"From Marcy to Madison Square"
Otis
Havana New York, NY
"Welcome to Havana"
Song Cry
Brooklyn, NY Dallas, TX New York City, NY
"On repeat, the CD of Big's "Me & My Bitch""
Heaven
Chicago, IL New York City, NY
"From the south side of Chi to Brooklyn where I growed up"
Why I Love You
Rome, GA
"Rome's burning"
Tom Ford
, DC
"District of Columbia, guns on y'all Tumblrs"
Niggas in Paris
Brooklyn, NY Chicago, IL
"I'm moving the Nets, BK"
99 Problems
New York City, NY
Brooklyn Go Hard
Brooklyn, NY
Somewhereinamerica
Chicago, IL Hoboken, NJ Houston, TX Las Vegas, NV Los Angeles, CA Nashville, TN New York City, NY Port Arthur, TX Wilmington, NC
"bringing it back like Jordan Packs"
Bam
New York City, NY , VA
"I'll Bobby Shmurda anybody you heard of"
Public Service Announcement
New York City, NY
"Sponsored by Just Blaze and the good folks at Roc-A-Fella Records"
4:44
Rome
""Please come back to Rome, you make it home""
Run This Town
New York City, NY
"This is Roc Nation, pledge your allegiance"
Renegade
, UT
"Jesus Christ, the king of these Latter-day Saints here"
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
New York City, NY
"To drivin' some of the hottest cars New York has ever seen"
Kill Jay Z
Boston, MA
"13 bottles of Ace of Spade, what it did to Boston"
’03 Bonnie & Clyde
Boston, MA Dallas, TX Gibsland, LA New York City, NY Newark, NJ
"the new Bobby and Whitney"
Smile
, CO , LA
"Yet it's legal in Colorado, yet, we deny"
Takeover
East Rutherford, NJ Memphis, TN New York, NY Philadelphia, PA
"Don't be the next contestant on that Summer Jam screen"
The Story of O.J.
Brooklyn, NY
"I coulda bought a place in DUMBO before it was DUMBO"
Gotta Have It
Chicago, IL Miami, FL New York, NY
"Made a right on 79th, I'm coming down South Shore Drive"
No Church in the Wild
Rome
"Blood stains the Colosseum doors"
Family Feud
, MS
"Y'all whole pass is in danger, ten Mississippi"
D’Evils
New York City, NY
"I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti"
Open Letter
Atlanta, GA Brooklyn, NY Chicago, IL Hibbing, MN Houston, TX Washington, DC
"I done turned Havana to Atlanta"
Murder to Excellence
Brooklyn, NY Chicago, IL Paris, TX Philadelphia, PA
"Biggie flow"
Beach Is Better (Interlude)
New York City, NY
"Started out at The Darby, ended up at 1 Oak"
Picasso Baby
Miami Beach, FL New York City, NY
"Twin Bugattis outside the Art Basel"
BBC
New York City, NY
"Mace niggas at Madison Square Garden"
FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt
New York City, NY Rome
"Plays across the Verrazano"
Crown
Irvine, CA New York City, NY
"Scott Boras, you over baby"
Big Pimpin’
, TX
"Know about them Texas boys?"
Who Gon Stop Me
Las Vegas, NV New York City, NY
"I'm winning again, I'm at the Wynn"

Rivers & Roads in Song Nearby

Interstate 95 13 New Jersey Turnpike 4 Hudson River 8

Connected Places

Brooklyn, NY Atlanta, GA Boston, MA Bronx, NY Chicago, IL College Park, MD Crown Heights, NY Dallas, TX Detroit, MI East Rutherford, NJ Gibsland, LA Harlem, NY Hibbing, MN Hoboken, NJ Houston, TX Irvine, CA Las Vegas, NV Los Angeles, CA Memphis, TN Miami, FL Miami Beach, FL Nashville, TN New York, NY New York City, NY Newark, NJ Oakland, CA Paris, TN Paris, TX Philadelphia, PA Port Arthur, TX Rome, GA Tribeca, NY Washington, DC Wilmington, NC
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