i think the problem here is, like somebody said, they dont know the difference between hustling and being a kingpin. in fact, MOST niggas who sell drugs are nickle and diming. most of them are niggas making the usual paper (500-1000 a week) and striving to get better. if u came from the hood ud know that. its a bunch of small time niggas fighting for the opportunity to be big time. in the book, jay z never claims he was some kind of kingpin, when he speaks about maryland or trenton, he never said he 'took the town over'
second thing is u gotta realize, the 80s and early 90s were completely different then things are now. these rappers, ESPECIALLY NY rappers, are talking about how shit USED to be. they all embellishing. because back then shit was wild. yes it wasnt anything crazy or unbelievable for a nigga to go out of state and set up shop. not saying they took over, they just went there and hustled.
the disconnect here is coming from what jay said in the book and what jay says in his rhymes. well...if u took what jay or any rapper said literally, then youre a dumbass. dont blame the rapper cuz u stupid. i been listening to jay since he started, and not once did i think 'well jay z was a crack kingpin and if he turns out to be anything different then im gonna be really disappointed'. CUZ ITS FUCKIN ENTERTAINMENT. rappers embellish everything, dont listen to an album and think its non fiction. of course i feel like a nigga is less of a hypocrite when he has at least a little experience in the life he portrays because it lends authenticity. but did i ever think jay was taking over towns and selling bricks left and right? hell no, cuz if he was he wouldntve been worried about bein a fuckin rapper. but even his detractors admitted he did hustle, which is all i expected in the first place. raps are not confessions, theyre raps. when niggas say theyre the dopest ever and they can pull any girl, even yours, in their raps...do i take that literally? no i take it as a fuckin rhyme
but on the topic, i did like the book...the rhyme breakdowns were obvious for us real rap fans, but i think he had some interesting things to say. i think hes a really smart dude who has an interesting perspective on things. i think the shit was mad safe tho, he didnt touch on the shit (shooting his brother, the roc break up) that we really wanted to hear, thats my only complaint