Ain't No Nigga
Encyclopedia
"Ain't No Nigga" is the second single from rapper
Jay-Z
's debut album Reasonable Doubt (album). It features a long verse of rapping from a then 16-year old Foxy Brown.
, who samples
"Seven Minutes of Funk" by the funk band The Whole Darn Family. The song's chorus interpolates
"Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" by The Four Tops. The "Ain't No Nigga" single goes under the clean alias "Ain't No Playa". The music video of the song starts with a scene similar to a scene of the film Scarface
. It is the second time the album references the film, the first with the start of "Can't Knock the Hustle
".
Citing the funky production and lyrics about unfaithful relationships, Spence D. of IGN.com
describes it as "one of the better opposite sex rap duets ever laid on wax."
"Ain't No Nigga" is cited as playing a significant role in securing Jay-Z's UK record deal. According to Sony BMG A&R Nick Raphael
, "Will Socolof of Freeze Records sent me a CD and a video and said to me, “This guy is incredible, but he needs a bigger label to take over. Are you interested?” The record he sent to me was “Ain’t No Nigga” and I went crazy, thinking that I had to sign him!"
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's debut album Reasonable Doubt (album). It features a long verse of rapping from a then 16-year old Foxy Brown.
Background
The song's beat is produced by Big JazJaz-O
Jonathan Burks better known by his stage name Jaz-O, is an American rapper and record producer active in the late 1980s through the 1990s, best known for being the mentor of Jay-Z. Jaz is also known as the Originator and had a song called "The Originators" that featured a young Jay-Z in 1990...
, who samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
"Seven Minutes of Funk" by the funk band The Whole Darn Family. The song's chorus interpolates
Interpolation (music)
Interpolation in music refers to an abrupt change in musical elements from the main theme.-In classical music:In music and musical composition, especially 20th century and later, interpolation is an abrupt change of elements, with continuation of the first idea...
"Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" by The Four Tops. The "Ain't No Nigga" single goes under the clean alias "Ain't No Playa". The music video of the song starts with a scene similar to a scene of the film Scarface
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
. It is the second time the album references the film, the first with the start of "Can't Knock the Hustle
Can't Knock the Hustle
"Can't Knock the Hustle" is the third single from rapper Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt. The song features a beat produced by Knobody, co-produced by Sean C and Dahoud Darien, as well as a chorus sung by Mary J. Blige.-Background:...
".
Citing the funky production and lyrics about unfaithful relationships, Spence D. of IGN.com
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
describes it as "one of the better opposite sex rap duets ever laid on wax."
"Ain't No Nigga" is cited as playing a significant role in securing Jay-Z's UK record deal. According to Sony BMG A&R Nick Raphael
Nick Raphael
Nick Raphael was born October 4, 1971 in London, United Kingdom. Raphael is a Music Industry Executive. He is currently President of London Records...
, "Will Socolof of Freeze Records sent me a CD and a video and said to me, “This guy is incredible, but he needs a bigger label to take over. Are you interested?” The record he sent to me was “Ain’t No Nigga” and I went crazy, thinking that I had to sign him!"