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Here Are the 50+ Rappers Jay Z Credits as His Personal Inspiration

Here Are the 50+ Rappers Jay Z Credits as His Personal Inspiration

Young Thug, 50 Cent and even President Barack Obama made the list.

Published June 16, 2017

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. 

  2. Rakim
    NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Rakim performs at the Apple Store in Soho on November 20, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
    (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
  3. Big Daddy Kane
    WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 08: Big Daddy Kane is interviewed by Ed Lover for "Backstory" at SiriusXM Studio on October 8, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
    (Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
  4. Chuck D
  5. Ice Cube
  6. Jaz-O
  8. Eminem
  9. Andre 3000
  10. Nas
  12. Tupac
  13. J. Cole
  15. Kendrick Lamar
  16. Chance the Rapper
  17. Jay Electronica
  19. Lauryn Hill
  20. Nicki Minaj
  21. MC Lyte
  23. Queen Latifah
  24. Common
  25. Kanye West
  27. Drake
  28. Meek Mill
  29. RUN-D.M.C.
  31. Grandmaster Caz
  32. LL Cool J
  33. 2 Chainz
  35. Cameron
  36. Q-Tip
  37. Nef The Pharaoh
  39. Scarface
  40. De La Soul
  41. Ice T
  43. Lil Wayne
  44. Juvenile
  45. B.G.
  47. Nipsey Hussle
  48. Lil' Kim
  49. Slaughterhouse
  51. Wale
  52. MC Eiht
  53. Too Short
  55. E-40
  56. Mac Dre
  57. Kool G Rap
  59. Melle Mel
  60. Kurupt
  61. The LOX
  63. DMX
  64. Schoolboy Q
  65. Ab-Soul
  67. Mos Def
  68. Foxy Brown
  70. Rick Ross
  71. Quavo
  72. Future
  74. Travis Scott
  75. Tee Grizzley
  76. Redman
  78. Ghostface Killah
  79. Raekwon
  80. Wu-Tang Clan
  82. Busta Rhymes
  83. Treach
  84. Young Thug
  86. Beyoncé
  87. 50 Cent
  88. Big L
  90. Showbiz and A.G.
  91. Nice & Smooth
  92. Fat Joe
  94. Big Pun
  95. Digable Planets (Butterfly, especially)
  96. Beanie Sigel
  98. Young Chris
  99. Freeway
  100. Young Jeezy
  102. Pusha T
  103. Playboi Carti
  104. A$AP Mob
  106. Sean Price
  107. Mobb Deep
  108. Kid Cudi
  110. Tyler the Creator
  111. Earl Sweatshirt
  112. Snoop Dogg
  114. President Barack Obama
  115. Slick Rick
  116. Pimp C
  118. Bun B
  119. Big Sean
  120. Sauce Money
  122. Fabolous
  123. Black People Everywhere
  124. Mac Miller

Written by BET Staff

(Photos from left: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation, Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Brian Ach/Getty Images for Vh1)

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