What was the "it" factor that Jay-Z had?

[Knives Amilli]

So from the posts in this thread I can tell that u tryin to make some type of point with this so let me just ask wut U think his "it" factor was/is since its obviously u know the answer

forreal tho

 

[usmarin3]

He obviously, knows who he is as an artist and what works for him. Which is why he has manage to last while his peers fell off from the 90s and 2000s

When you think about Jay-z has remained the same as an artist, but you can clearly see the growth as a artist (he clearly as gotten more personal on tracks the older he got).

Then i think he has been ahead of the curb with most shit, he started the trend, he never followed it. He was fucking with Kanye, Just, Neptunes, Timbo,etc and wearing shit before it was the cool thing to do.

A big part of why he has transcended the youth culture too is, he never came off as a hater like them 90's niggas like the Wu, Redman, DMX,etc who continuously hated on the new niggas. He actually embraced a lot of the artist.

 

[Supreme_Mind999]

The change of the times allowed Jay to live in the industry..Alot of cats wasn't feeling jay fresh out the gate..His hustle and corporate ass kissing is the reason he's big now

 

[Disciplined InSight]

Nah. I didn't see too many White Jay-Z fans until after Blueprint.

Jay was selling records to Black women. Thats who he crossed over to. Ladies loved Big Pimpin, Best of Me, Fiesta Remix, and Can I Get A.

My freshman year at college the entire city was playing The Dynasty album and then BP leaked the first week of classes. He had the whole city of Philly locked down.

Snoop, Dre, and Wu-tang had more White and Asian fans than any other rappers or group until Eminem and 50 Cent came along.

Nah..that Annie sampled tune had White fans bombarding for Volume 2....plus the aformentioned Can I Get A...as well which was really supposed to be JaRule's debut single, but politicking with Irv Gotti, it ended up being Jay's breakout commercial single for the Rush Hour soundtrack.

As far as you saying he was selling to Black women..let's think: The aforementioned song "Big Pimpin" according to Jay's account in his Decoded book was so harsh to women, he regretted for even thinking of that verse. And songs before that: "Cashmere Thoughts", "Ain't No Nigga", "Who U Wit" etc...weren't too friendly to the opposite sex neither. So him selling records to Black women..nah, I can't see that.

 

[usmarin3]

Of course it is but how many people would have even listened to it if he didnt switch up his style and kicked them commercial joints? We all know RD was classic material but no one cared about it back then.

Cosign this statement! Funny shit is how everyone is a Reasonable Doubt fan now, yet barely anyone bought it, revisionist niggas. They love the old Jayz but the truth of the matter is, it was the POP Jay-z (Vol 2) that made them back track and discover Reasonable Doubt. If people would of cop RD like they were suppose to, they would of had that dude his whole career (well rhyming and flow wise, not content).

 

[Bigavelli]

1 thing about Jay Z is he isn't charismatic at all and has always lacked the ability to make catchy records

I think he got really luck with 2pac and Biggie dying

Cos Jay Z lacks too much he lacks Emotion in his Music, Catchy Hook Making ability, Substance, diverse range of topics

Jay Z is all about Flow

 

[Bigavelli]

Cosign this statement! Funny shit is how everyone is a Reasonable Doubt fan now, yet barely anyone bought it, revisionist niggas. They love the old Jayz but the truth of the matter is, it was the POP Jay-z (Vol 2) that made them back track and discover Reasonable Doubt. If people would of cop RD like they were suppose to, they would of had that dude his whole career (well rhyming and flow wise, not content).

That's what Jay Z always lacked for the most part is Substance and Content

He always stuck to his lane of Rapping about selling coke, money and materalism

I think Jay Z is a Rapper but not an Artist or creative

And Reasonable Doubt is his only debatable classic as far as universal thought

 

[Nah Son]

Bitch stfu.

 

[Disciplined InSight]

Cosign this statement! Funny shit is how everyone is a Reasonable Doubt fan now, yet barely anyone bought it, revisionist niggas. They love the old Jayz but the truth of the matter is, it was the POP Jay-z (Vol 2) that made them back track and discover Reasonable Doubt. If people would of cop RD like they were suppose to, they would of had that dude his whole career (well rhyming and flow wise, not content).

I bought the TAPE in '96...lol.

 

[ustreet_monsta]

Nah..that Annie sampled tune had White fans bombarding for Volume 2....plus the aformentioned Can I Get A...as well which was really supposed to be JaRule's debut single, but politicking with Irv Gotti, it ended up being Jay's breakout commercial single for the Rush Hour soundtrack.

As far as you saying he was selling to Black women..let's think: The aforementioned song "Big Pimpin" according to Jay's account in his Decoded book was so harsh to women, he regretted for even thinking of that verse. And songs before that: "Cashmere Thoughts", "Ain't No Nigga", "Who U Wit" etc...weren't too friendly to the opposite sex neither. So him selling records to Black women..nah, I can't see that.

Son, since when did women not buy an album or support a song because it was offensive? Thats the BEST way to get women checking for you unless you wanna go completely left with it like Drake or Wale. Ladies were playing the shit out of Can I Get A. Doesn't matter if you can see it. I have yet to meet a woman who listens to rap that doesn't own a cd by Luke, Too Short, Jay-Z, or Snoop. Women love the hard on hoes movement. Throw "Bitches Aint Shit" or "It Aint No Fun" on sometime at a party and see how the ladies react.

And again, White people didn't really start checking for Jay until BP.

 

[Knives Amilli]

Nah..that Annie sampled tune had White fans bombarding for Volume 2....plus the aformentioned Can I Get A...as well which was really supposed to be JaRule's debut single, but politicking with Irv Gotti, it ended up being Jay's breakout commercial single for the Rush Hour soundtrack.

As far as you saying he was selling to Black women..let's think: The aforementioned song "Big Pimpin" according to Jay's account in his Decoded book was so harsh to women, he regretted for even thinking of that verse. And songs before that: "Cashmere Thoughts", "Ain't No Nigga", "Who U Wit" etc...weren't too friendly to the opposite sex neither. So him selling records to Black women..nah, I can't see that.

There's a difference between white people buying your shit and white people loving you. People as a whole didn't love Jay till Blueprint (DMX was that guy from NY during the vol 1-3 era). It wasn't until Jay showed that he was consistent and could run with a new sound that people started to love him (plus X's crack habit was getting out of control).

And you and I both know that demeaning Black women in songs doesn't mean they won't flock to it like bugs to a zapper.

 

[T. Sanford]

Jay-Z was Dame Dash's business intern at Roc-a-fella

 

[usmarin3]

That's what Jay Z always lacked for the most part is Substance and Content

He always stuck to his lane of Rapping about selling coke, money and materalism

I think Jay Z is a Rapper but not an Artist or creative

And Reasonable Doubt is his only debatable classic as far as universal thought

Yes, because rapping about raping and killing people is substance and content. Better yet so is making fun of defenseless pop stars.

 

[NothingButTheTruth]

The same it factor Wayne has.

 

[Disciplined InSight]

Son, since when did women not buy an album or support a song because it was offensive? Thats the BEST way to get women checking for you unless you wanna go completely left with it like Drake or Wale. Ladies were playing the shit out of Can I Get A. Doesn't matter if you can see it. I have yet to meet a woman who listens to rap that doesn't own a cd by Luke, Too Short, Jay-Z, or Snoop. Women love the hard on hoes movement. Throw "Bitches Aint Shit" or "It Aint No Fun" on sometime at a party and see how the ladies react.

And again, White people didn't really start checking for Jay until BP.

I stand corrected and emphasize it better for you.: Chicken head BITCHES love the hard on hoes movement because it represents their frame of mind and persona, so yeah..that's true. But don't act like they were supporting Jay because of his dope lyrics and nice ear for beats. Most females are gonna buy those albums for 2 reasons: to dance/shake their ass to or because said rapper looks good to them.

And don't think the majority of those who bought 5 million copies of Volume 2 was ALL BLACK..be for real now.

 

[T. Sanford]

Jay-Z dont have any emotions in his music, at which he is not the goat.

 

[illogics]

Lol, niggas still making dumb ass agenda threads. I didn't even know the term "IT factor" was definable. I mean the name of the term itself even suggests that.

 

[Lorenzo de Medici]

strategy. Timing everything just right. Knowing when to hop on and off a bandwagon.

 

[Disciplined InSight]

Lol, niggas still making dumb ass agenda threads. I didn't even know the term "IT factor" was definable. I mean the name of the term itself even suggests that.

There is no agenda and why you're so touchy about it? Plus this thread wasn't trying to define the term but to spotlight on Jay on what other factors gave him the "it" quality besides his lyrics or his so-called uncanny business sense.

Simple what made Jay-z Pop was the ILLUSION of him having money. Even when he didnt.

So basically he faked it 'til he made it...of course.

 

[Disciplined InSight]

the ability to balance out content, delivery, flow, and hit records.

The same thing Tupac and Biggie did better before him..okay.