The Jeffersons: Rap References

Sherman Hemsley's show is one hip hop's favorite subjects.

George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) in The Jeffersons - Despite "movin' on up" to the East Side, high school sweethearts George and Weezy maintained the strong relationship they forged before they had any money. Louise's ability to keep George grounded, and his soft spot for his beloved Weezy, made them one of the most wacky romantic couples in TV history.(Photo: Courtesy CBS)

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The Jeffersons: Rap References - Sherman Hemsley is headed to that deluxe apartment in the sky. The 74-year-old actor-comedian — who will forever be remembered for his iconic portrayal of George Jefferson on the classic, highly influential sitcom The Jeffersons — was found dead in his El Paso home on Tuesday. But his legacy isn't just being kept alive by reruns. From his up-by-his-bootstraps ascent to his undeniable attitude, Hemsley's George, and the show he led, are one of hip hop's go-to subjects. Click on for a list of just some of rap's shout-outs to one of the best TV shows of all time. —Alex Gale (Photo: CBS)

Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" - A rags-to-riches come-up is one of rap's favorite topics, so it's no surprise that countless MCs have quoted the hook from The Jeffersons' aspirational theme song. And few MCs have come up more than Will Smith, who spit the following on his 1998 hit single:   Women used to tease me Give it to me now nice and easy Since I moved up like George and Weezie  (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" - A rags-to-riches come-up is one of rap's favorite topics, so it's no surprise that countless MCs have quoted the hook from The Jeffersons' aspirational theme song. And few MCs have come up more than Will Smith, who spit the following on his 1998 hit single:   Women used to tease me Give it to me now nice and easy Since I moved up like George and Weezie (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

J. Cole - Rita Ora and J. Cole are already both signed to Roc Nation and he spit a guest verse  on her “Love and War,” so this love connection is easy to predict. Now maybe he can stop obsessing over Vanessa Simmons?  (Photo: WENN.com)

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J. Cole, "Back to the Topic" - Like Big Willie, J. Cole was all about elevation in this fiery 2009 freestyle. But when it’s all said and done, I’ma be ahead of them Way that I describe it, prescribe a n---a medicine Way that I be fly, I be higher than the Jet-a-sons Moving on up, n---a higher than the Jeffersons (Photo: WENN.com)

Common, "It's Your World, Part 1 & 2" - Com was more subtle than his peers when he referred to The Jeffersons live-your-dreams theme song on this beautiful J. Dilla-produced track:  These are the children of crack and rap Blacks done lack self-esteem Yo we forgot the dream On our Jeffersons y'all, but we forgot the theme  (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Common, "It's Your World, Part 1 & 2" - Com was more subtle than his peers when he referred to The Jeffersons live-your-dreams theme song on this beautiful J. Dilla-produced track: These are the children of crack and rap Blacks done lack self-esteem Yo we forgot the dream On our Jeffersons y'all, but we forgot the theme (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

St. Lunatics, "Batter Up" - Nelly and his hometown crew, the St. Lunatics, were a little more brazen, jacking a whole section of the theme song on this 2001 single, whose video featured a cameo from an in-character Sherman Hemsley:  Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill (that's right) It took a whole lot of tryin' Just to get up that hill I said but now we're up in the big leagues My dirty, it's our turn at bat And just as long as we livin', it's Lunatics, playa It ain't nuttin wrong with that, batter up  (Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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St. Lunatics, "Batter Up" - Nelly and his hometown crew, the St. Lunatics, were a little more brazen, jacking a whole section of the theme song on this 2001 single, whose video featured a cameo from an in-character Sherman Hemsley: Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill (that's right) It took a whole lot of tryin' Just to get up that hill I said but now we're up in the big leagues My dirty, it's our turn at bat And just as long as we livin', it's Lunatics, playa It ain't nuttin wrong with that, batter up (Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Cam'ron, Kanye West's "Gone" - George Jefferson held down his wife, Weezy, and Cam insists here that he does the same through his hustles (though we don't think he's talking about dry cleaning):  See the greed in my eyes Ask Abby, Ill hustle, brought weed to the Chi And that ain't even a lie, please believe me Gave Weezie a piece of the pie  (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Cam'ron, Kanye West's "Gone" - George Jefferson held down his wife, Weezy, and Cam insists here that he does the same through his hustles (though we don't think he's talking about dry cleaning): See the greed in my eyes Ask Abby, Ill hustle, brought weed to the Chi And that ain't even a lie, please believe me Gave Weezie a piece of the pie (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

B. Rich, "Whoa Now" - The mother of all hip hop tributes to The Jeffersons, this 2002 hit from forgotten Baltimore rapper B. Rich jacked the show's theme song almost in entirety, from the piano-and-handclap beat to the "finally got a piece of the pie" hook.  (Photo: Facebook)

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B. Rich, "Whoa Now" - The mother of all hip hop tributes to The Jeffersons, this 2002 hit from forgotten Baltimore rapper B. Rich jacked the show's theme song almost in entirety, from the piano-and-handclap beat to the "finally got a piece of the pie" hook. (Photo: Facebook)

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Jay-Z, "N---a Please" - But The Jeffersons wasn't only known for its theme song — George's swaying, swag-on-a-thousand walk, which Hov shouted out in 2002, is unforgettable:There's no witnesses, it's no holdin on 'em Just George Jefferson strollin on 'em, uhh(Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Ghostface Killah, "Slept On Tony" - Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah made no secrets about being an Iron Man fan, as he christened that the title of his 1996 solo debut. Ghost also uses the aliases Tony Stark and Iron Man, which are the two identities of the Marvel character.In 2008, Ghostface recorded the theme song, "Slept On Tony," for the Iron Man movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Terrence Howard. He also had a small cameo in the film, but didn't make the final cut when it hit theaters.  (Photo: Fergus McDonald/Getty Images)

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Ghostface Killah, "Good Times" - Ghostface had apparently been watching a whole lot of classic sitcoms when he wrote this unreleased 2001 underground classic, which sampled the titular show's theme song and cited George's infamous bop: I love f---in' with y'all I got the George Jeff walk Look how I dance, favorful robes, bows and all sorts (Photo: Fergus McDonald/Getty Images)

Redman - Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, Redman came to prominence after joining EPMD’s hit squad and releasing the critically acclaimed Whut? The Album (Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

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Redman, "Cereal Killer" - True Jeffersons heads will always have a special place for George's next-door neighbor Mr. Bentley, who would frequently ask him to walk barefoot on his bad back. Redman gave him an hilarious name-drop (along with his crew, Pack Pistol Posse) in this 1999 collabo with Method Man: I walk on backs like Mr. Bentley After P-P-P stripped you empty (Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Signs With Def Jam, August 31, 2011 - A couple weeks later, Pusha announced that he signed a solo record deal with Def Jam on top of his deal with Kanye West's label G.O.O.D. Music.(Photo: Alexander Tamargo/WireImage)

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Pusha T, "Mercy" - We don't know what Pusha meant exactly with this line in G.O.O.D. Music's recent smash. Was he comparing his top-down convertible to George's way-back hairline? Or just shouting out his supremely high floss level? Decide for yourself: Check the neck, check the wrist Them heads turnin', that's Exorcist My Audemar like Mardi Gras That's Swiss time and that's excellence Two-door preference, roof gone, George Jefferson (Photo: Alexander Tamargo/WireImage for Heineken)