“Dead Presidents” is the debut single released in promotion by rapper Jay-Z’s from his debut album Reasonable Doubt. Its lyrics about the drug dealing underworld have made it a hip hop classic and a staple in Jay-Z’s collection of tracks. The song’s producer Ski samples Lonnie Liston Smith’s “A Garden of Peace” for the track’s melody and “Oh My God (Remix)” for its percussion. The single was a commercial success as indicated by its RIAA certification as a gold single in June of 1996.
The actual single “Dead Presidents” does not appear on Jay-Z’s debut album, but instead “Dead Presidents II” does. “Dead Presidents II” has the same beat and chorus as the original, but different lyrics. This version can be found on Jay-Z’s 2002 greatest hits compilation Chapter One: Greatest Hits.
Reasonable Doubt is the debut album of American rapper Jay-Z, released June 25, 1996 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States and on Northwestside Records in the United Kingdom. The album features production by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and guest vocals by Memphis Bleek, Sauce Money and The Notorious B.I.G. It peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200, received platinum status in 2002,[2] and sold 1.4 million copies as of 2006.[3] Four singles were released, the most popular being “Ain’t No Nigga” and “Can’t Knock the Hustle”. Both reached the top 40 in the United Kingdom, but were less popular in the United States; the former reached #50 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the latter reached #73.
Reasonable Doubt along with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… by Raekwon which came a year before are considered to have been the defining hallmarks of Mafioso rap, in addition to having “revolutionized the hip hop scene”.
I just think music was in its best form in this time. Songs were more than 3 minutes, videos had meaning, big budgets and better visuals. Nowadays it's 90 second videos with plenty of jewelry women and guns. Sadly that's all they have to offer the fans
Presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
Rock on, Roc-A-Fella y'all
While others spit that Wonderama shit, me and my conglomerate Shall remain anonymous, caught up in the finest shit Live out my dreams until my heart give out Involved with cream, you know exactly what this shit's about Fuck y'all mean? Handling since a teen, I dish out Like the point guard off your favorite team, without doubt My life ain't rosy but I roll with it My mind was fine 'til the dough hit it and told me that the Mo' did it And now it's kosher, shit is so Hasidic I blow a digit on a diamond in a minute but, no bitches Watch how I'm walking, 'cause even the thoroughest niggas be NARC'in Trying to strike a bargain, hoping that they might get pardoned Shit I'm involved with got me pins and needles And my cerebral breeds the wickedest evil, thoughts that this sport'll feed you Peep facts, in the game so deep fiends could catch a Freeze off my kneecap, can y'all believe that? Got the city drinking Cristals, re-up the fee Rappers going broke trying to keep up with me My rise to riches surprised the bitches: think harder You know this nigga: JAY-Z, Shawn Carter G.S. the fuck up, dree-ess the fuck up Watch me shine like a Breitling, Breguets the fuck up All rhymers forget it like Alzheimer's Small timers, I said it, I'm addressing all drama Talk to me!
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
So sick of niggas "I want money like Cosby" Who wouldn't? This the kinda talk that make me think you probably ain't got no pudding Niggas got them kinda dreams from jail You in the streets, nigga, make your moves, get your mail Niggas'll coast in the SL but can't post bail Niggas'll roast a L, but scared to throw your toast, well I'm here to tell niggas it ain't all swell There's heaven, then there's hell, niggas One day you're cruising in your 7, next day, you're sweating, forgetting your lies Alibis ain't matching up, bullshit catching up Hit with the RICO, they repo your vehicle Everything was all good just a week ago 'Bout to start bitching, ain't you? Ready to start snitching, ain't you? I'll forgive your weak ass: hustling just ain't you Aside from the fast cars, honies that shake their ass at bars You know you wouldn't be involved With the underworld dealers, carriers of MAC-millers East Coast bodiers, West Coast cap-peelers Little monkey niggas turn gorillas Stopped in the station, filled up on octane, and now they're not sane And not playing, that goes without saying Slaying day in and day out, when money play in, then they play you out Trying to escape my own mind, lurking the enemy Representing infinity with presidencies, you know?
Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose) Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose) Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose) Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get Money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!) I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
First time I saw this in like 25 years. Can't believe AZ was playing Monopoly with him. Nas on the chorus. What could have been.
Dead Presidents 1 over Dead Presidents 2
“My mind was gone till the dough hit it and told me that the no did it” wtf is the mo? Lol
Big with the little sneak diss "who shot ya" at the end
Nas style
1:57 Foxy Brown?
Can't find this version anywhere
I just think music was in its best form in this time. Songs were more than 3 minutes, videos had meaning, big budgets and better visuals. Nowadays it's 90 second videos with plenty of jewelry women and guns. Sadly that's all they have to offer the fans
Lonnie Liston Smith sample
If you this OG, and you rock with a Japanese sedan, with the FRONT Plate on , not giving a shit, legal money is beautiful money, you a real Ganster
Classic
Person he signed remade this around 3x
Happy birthday to og roc jay z
Only track I like by jay
Presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
Rock on, Roc-A-Fella y'all
While others spit that Wonderama shit, me and my conglomerate
Shall remain anonymous, caught up in the finest shit
Live out my dreams until my heart give out
Involved with cream, you know exactly what this shit's about
Fuck y'all mean? Handling since a teen, I dish out
Like the point guard off your favorite team, without doubt
My life ain't rosy but I roll with it
My mind was fine 'til the dough hit it and told me that the Mo' did it
And now it's kosher, shit is so Hasidic
I blow a digit on a diamond in a minute but, no bitches
Watch how I'm walking, 'cause even the thoroughest niggas be NARC'in
Trying to strike a bargain, hoping that they might get pardoned
Shit I'm involved with got me pins and needles
And my cerebral breeds the wickedest evil, thoughts that this sport'll feed you
Peep facts, in the game so deep fiends could catch a
Freeze off my kneecap, can y'all believe that?
Got the city drinking Cristals, re-up the fee
Rappers going broke trying to keep up with me
My rise to riches surprised the bitches: think harder
You know this nigga: JAY-Z, Shawn Carter
G.S. the fuck up, dree-ess the fuck up
Watch me shine like a Breitling, Breguets the fuck up
All rhymers forget it like Alzheimer's
Small timers, I said it, I'm addressing all drama
Talk to me!
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
So sick of niggas
"I want money like Cosby" Who wouldn't?
This the kinda talk that make me think you probably ain't got no pudding
Niggas got them kinda dreams from jail
You in the streets, nigga, make your moves, get your mail
Niggas'll coast in the SL but can't post bail
Niggas'll roast a L, but scared to throw your toast, well
I'm here to tell niggas it ain't all swell
There's heaven, then there's hell, niggas
One day you're cruising in your 7, next day, you're sweating, forgetting your lies
Alibis ain't matching up, bullshit catching up
Hit with the RICO, they repo your vehicle
Everything was all good just a week ago
'Bout to start bitching, ain't you? Ready to start snitching, ain't you?
I'll forgive your weak ass: hustling just ain't you
Aside from the fast cars, honies that shake their ass at bars
You know you wouldn't be involved
With the underworld dealers, carriers of MAC-millers
East Coast bodiers, West Coast cap-peelers
Little monkey niggas turn gorillas
Stopped in the station, filled up on octane, and now they're not sane
And not playing, that goes without saying
Slaying day in and day out, when money play in, then they play you out
Trying to escape my own mind, lurking the enemy
Representing infinity with presidencies, you know?
Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
Dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get Money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (Get money!)
I'm out for dead fucking presidents to represent me (Whose)
Nov 2023
Congrats to you, Jay, on the opening of your new library museum❤
Classic
EPIC !