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“First the Fat Boys break up, now every day I wake up/

Somebody got a problem with Hov”

– Jay-Z “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)

The Blueprint

The funny thing about it is, these days; everyone’s got a problem with Hov. Since the self-proclaimed best rapper alive allegedly retired his mic only to return to the rap game with mixed results, it’s like big homey can do no right. Sure, critics pronounced American Gangster a classic, but that jawn took forever and a day to hit platinum marks while Lil’ Wayne touched a milli in a week. But while Jay-Z has his full set of detractors, haters and even some old dude claiming to the be the father of his swag, those guys will never be Jay-Z.

Just ask them why they’re “jocking” him?.

Jay’s music, unlike most of the music that litters the airwaves these days, is like a fine wine; it just gets better with age. The Blueprint record dropped in 2001—seven years ago—and every time “U Don’t Know” or “Izzo” drops at the club or block party, people act like it’s the first time they heard the song. That, my friends, is music with permanence relevance. And while most will argue that those tracks represent the high point of the legacy of Shawn Carter, they forget that he’s one of the few rappers who have managed the transition from rapper to business mogul.

Lest you forget, Jay’s cosign is like Caesar giving the thumbs-up at a gladiator fight. Dude can literally make or break something just by acknowledging its existence. Why do you think so many rappers are always taking shots at him? They know as soon as he mentions their name they’re the next thing to get played on Hot 97. But keep acting up and they may be the next contestant on that Summer Jam screen.

So, please spare the thinly veiled jabs at Hov, all you people wishing that he wasn’t rapping anymore or saying that he’s now Jordan in the Wizards area. Because Jordan, like Jay, will still serve anyone right now and have enough clout left over to not even pay you no mind.