Jay Z's Most Gangster Samples

The best of Hov's beat jackings.

“I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)” / “Give It to Me Baby” - The Neptunes flipped through the stacks of the original R&B gangster Rick James's catalog when they rolled out the production carpet for Hov to get his freak on with 2000’s “I Just Wanna Love U.” Pharrell even channeled Slick Rick as he gave his interpretation of James’s classic line “Give it to me” on the hook. (Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records)
Amazing Music Documentaries - Brooklyn keeps on taking it. Yesterday, Dec. 4, Jay celebrated his birthday by releasing a 24-minute documentary that takes a look at his eight-show run at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which he co-owns. He's seen performing, walking the arena, and even taking the subway to the arena before the last show. Here, in light of Hov's latest win, BET.com takes a look at some incredible music documentaries. Lights, camera, action. —Alex Gale(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
On the Run - These two had us all jonesing for tracksuits and snapbacks after watching the video for Hov’s hit, “‘03 Bonnie and Clyde.”  (Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records)
“Excuse Me Miss” / “Take You Out” - If you’re going for the ladies, there’s no better artist to sample than Luther Vandross to help you get your point across. Jigga got his grown man on with the help of Skateboard P and suited up for this 2002 hit, which took some bites from Lutha’s catalog. (Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records) 'Forever Young' – Jay Z, Featuring Mr. Hudson - With the release of The Blueprint 3 in 2009, Jay Z scored a top-10 hit with his "Forever Young," featuring U.K. sensation and G.O.O.D. Music artist Mr. Hudson. (Photos from left: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images, Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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“Can I Live” / “The Look of Love” - Irv Gotti set the mood for Jigga’s hustler anthem from Reasonable Doubt  “Can I Live,” which took a page from the book of classic composers Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Hov’s version, however sampled a reworked version of "The Look of Love" popularized by the late great Isaac Hayes with a '70s backdrop that eventually made it Black Moses’s own. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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