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.
Thank you to all the people that have inspired me . Rakim KANE KRS chuck cube Jaz Em Andre Nas big PAC cole kendrick chance jayE ..wait,
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Lauryn Nicki lite latifah common ye drake and meek . Run caz LL chainz cam tip (both of them) thought pharaoh , face . De la . Ice T. Wait
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
G Rap .Mel . Kurupt . Lox. X . Q. Ab lupe. Mos. Foxy. Boss . Ross. Quavo Future Travis too many fuck this. All you!T grizzley song best out
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Shit did I say redman ? Ghost and Rae . Wu tang I beat Genius in a rap battle I think ha . Busta (him too) Treach . Thug . B a rapper too!
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Shit ...Wayne , Juve BG Nipsey . Kim . Slaughterhouse (yes mouse too ha) Folarin MC eiht . Short . 40 . Mac dre this shit hard .Never mind
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Somebody find that reply I just hit please . I'm new on this . Anyway salute to anybody who made a song to feed their family or just vent .
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Thank you, this way
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Fuck ..50 cent big L sho ag nice and smooth Joe and pun . diggable butterfly esp...beanie young chris freeway SP okay for real this time .
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Fuck haa. Naw for real .Pastor Jeezy my partner . Okay I'm done . I'm deleting this app in the morning . Shit is impossible to get right.
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
I promise I'm not drunk . Lord Pusha . Carti (Magnolia incredible)ASAP Sean P , Mobb , cudi . Tyler , earl, Snoop!!( almost played myself)
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
And the greatest rapper of all time OBAMA . Thank you 44 https://t.co/CueS0BynCj
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Wait . Slick fucking Rick . Pimp C and bun . Wow . I just realized how many fresh people the culture has . Big Sean . Sauce money .
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
Too many ..Fab , black people really magic . Mac Miller nice too though .
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) June 16, 2017
(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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