No Hook

Album: American Gangster (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jay-Z told the New York Times September 20, 2007 that the song "takes you through this journey - his journey, my journey - so many people's journey that come from the areas that we come from."
  • This samples the Barry White track "Love Serenade" from his 1975 album Just Another Way to Say I Love You.
  • Jay-Z alludes to what he considers the betrayal by his former best friend and drug-dealing partner, Dehaven Irby. According to Hova, when Irby faced indictments for federal drug charges, he turned snitch to reduce his sentence. He accuses Dehaven of "caving," adding they don't talk anymore because:

    Made men ain't supposed to make statements.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.