Here Are the 50+ Rappers Jay Z Credits as His Personal Inspiration
Rising from street hustler to hip-hop novice to being part of the industry elite to being a world-renowned business magnate, Jay Z has embodied the soar to the pinnacle of success in its truest form.
But the upward climb didn’t go without rungs of inspiration from several fellow industrymates — both past and present, old and young and male and female — along the way. Taking us back to hip-hop’s golden years with names like Grandmaster Caz, Chuck D and Slick Rick, Jay handed out over 90 salutations to several hip-hop influencers in a series of tweets. As the newest inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Jay thanked the named individuals for their impact on the esteemed accolade.
He took his hat off to the femcee circle with Lauryn Hill and MC Lyte, shot a thumbs-up to millennial hip-hop novices like Playboi Carti, Chance the Rapper and Young Thug. Jay even tossed one up for icons like megastar songstress and his wife of nine years Beyoncé and the Big 44, otherwise known as President Barack Obama. The 44th president's inclusion was especially welcomed, considering he did the honors of inducting Jay into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
Aside from a few hilarious typos (see Jay’s disclaimer about not having used Twitter in God knows how long), the lengthy list may take some time to work through.
BET.com is here to help with that (and Jay for the next time he goes on a tweet spree), as we compile all the names we spotted on Jay’s list of big influences below.
Rakim
Big Daddy Kane
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Chuck D
Ice Cube
Jaz-O
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Eminem
Andre 3000
Nas
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Tupac
J. Cole
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Kendrick Lamar
Chance the Rapper
Jay Electronica
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Lauryn Hill
Nicki Minaj
MC Lyte
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Queen Latifah
Common
Kanye West
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Drake
Meek Mill
RUN-D.M.C.
- advertisement
Grandmaster Caz
LL Cool J
2 Chainz
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Cameron
Q-Tip
Nef The Pharaoh
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Scarface
De La Soul
Ice T
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Lil Wayne
Juvenile
B.G.
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Nipsey Hussle
Lil' Kim
Slaughterhouse
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Wale
MC Eiht
Too Short
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E-40
Mac Dre
Kool G Rap
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Melle Mel
Kurupt
The LOX
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DMX
Schoolboy Q
Ab-Soul
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Mos Def
Foxy Brown
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Rick Ross
Quavo
Future
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Travis Scott
Tee Grizzley
Redman
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Ghostface Killah
Raekwon
Wu-Tang Clan
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Busta Rhymes
Treach
Young Thug
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Beyoncé
50 Cent
Big L
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Showbiz and A.G.
Nice & Smooth
Fat Joe
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Big Pun
Digable Planets (Butterfly, especially)
Beanie Sigel
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Young Chris
Freeway
Young Jeezy
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Pusha T
Playboi Carti
A$AP Mob
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Sean Price
Mobb Deep
Kid Cudi
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Tyler the Creator
Earl Sweatshirt
Snoop Dogg
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President Barack Obama
Slick Rick
Pimp C
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Bun B
Big Sean
Sauce Money
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Fabolous
Black People Everywhere
Mac Miller
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