Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
JAY-Z * Track #3 On The Blueprint
Download "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
Album The Blueprint
- #1
The Ruler’s BackJAY-Z
- #2Takeover
JAY-Z
- #3Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
JAY-Z
- #4
Girls, Girls, GirlsJAY-Z
- #5Jigga That Nigga
JAY-Z
- #6U Don’t Know
JAY-Z
- #7Hola’ Hovito
JAY-Z
- #8Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)
JAY-Z
- #9Never Change
JAY-Z
- #10
Song CryJAY-Z
- #11All I Need
JAY-Z
- #12Renegade
JAY-Z & Eminem
- #13Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)
JAY-Z
- #14Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)
JAY-Z
- #15Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)
JAY-Z
Izzo (H.O.V.A.) by JAY-Z
Release Date
Performed by
JAY-ZProduced by
Kanye WestAbout
As the first single from his classic The Blueprint album, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” was Hov’s very first top-10 showing on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart.
The first verse deals with the rapper’s early career as a drug dealer, including his escape from conviction; the second verse narrates his struggles with...
Izzo (H.O.V.A.) Lyrics
[Intro]
Ladies and gentlemen, let's put our hands together for this dynasty
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen
To the eighth wonder of the world
The flow of the century
Always timeless
Hov
Thanks for coming out tonight
You could've been anywhere in the world
But you're here with me
I appreciate that
Uh
[Verse 1]
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
Was herbing 'em in the home of the Terrapins
Got it dirt cheap for them
Plus if they was short with cheese, I would work with them
Brought in weed, got rid of that dirt for them
Wasn't born hustlers, I was birthing 'em
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For sheezy, my neezy, keep my arms so breezy
Can't leave rap alone, the game needs me
Haters want me clapped in chrome, it ain't easy
Cops want to knock me, D.A. wants to box me in
But somehow, I beat them charges like Rocky
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, he who does not feel me
Is not real to me, therefore he doesn't exist
So poof, vamoose, son of a bitch
[Chorus]
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, getcha damn hands up
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, getcha damn hands up (Holla at me)
[Verse 2]
I do this for my culture, to let 'em know
What a nigga look like when a nigga in a roadster
Show 'em how to move in a room full of vultures
Industry shady, it need to be taken over
Label owners hate me, I'm raisin' the status quo up
I'm overcharging niggas for what they did to the Cold Crush
Pay us like you owe us for all the years that you hoed us
We can talk, but money talks, so talk more bucks
[Chorus]
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, getcha damn hands up
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, getcha damn hands up
[Verse 3]
Yeah, Hov is back, life stories told through rap
Niggas acting like I sold you crack (Yeah)
Like I told you sell drugs, no, Hov did that
So hopefully you won't have to go through that
I was raised in the projects, roaches and rats
Smokers out back sellin' they mama's sofa
Lookouts on the corner focused on the ave
Ladies in the window focused on the kinfolk
Me under a lamppost, why I got my hand closed?
Crack's in my palm, watching the long arm of the law
So you know I seen it all before
I've seen hoop dreams deflate like a true fiend's weight
To try and to fail, the two things I hate
Succeed and this rap game, the two things that's great
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
What else can I say about dude? I gets busy
[Chorus]
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, getcha damn hands up
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, getcha damn hands up
[Outro]
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Izzo (H.O.V.A.) Q&A
Who wrote Izzo (H.O.V.A.)'s ?
Izzo (H.O.V.A.) was written by JAY-Z & Kanye West & Berry Gordy & Fonce Mizell & Freddie Perren & Deke Richards.
Who produced Izzo (H.O.V.A.)'s ?
Izzo (H.O.V.A.) was produced by Kanye West.
When did JAY-Z release Izzo (H.O.V.A.)?
JAY-Z released Izzo (H.O.V.A.) on Tue Aug 21 2001.
When did Hov premiere this track?
Jay premiered “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” at the inaugural BET Awards, held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on June 19, 2001. On the set of the single’s music video he told MTV that the reaction from the debut performance ensured it became the first single:
I made it so early, in the beginning of making the...
What was the recording process for "Izzo"?
In a 2001 interview with XXL magazine Jigga explained how he was struggling to finish off the Kanye West-produced track. He kept revisiting it, not entirely happy with the final cut. Funnily enough, considering the track’s content, the thing that helped Hov complete it was smoking a joint. He explai...
What is the legal history behind this track?
As Jay explained to XXL magazine in 2001, the additional vocals were provided by a friend of Tone from the Trackmasters. She would later sue Jay and Roc-A-Fella Records, claiming she wrote the hook.
I remember having the hook, [and] it was too repetitive. Telling Tone, ‘Man, this record could be so...
What did recording engineer Young Guru have to say about "Izzo"?
In an interview with XXL magazine in 2001 Guru explained how the upbeat “Izzo” frustrated him, until Jay explained how he needed a “hit” sprinkling on the album:
I was mad at ‘Izzo.’ When I first heard ‘Izzo’ I was like, ‘Oh, Michael Jackson sample. This is kinda corny.’ But that was my time when I...
What did JAY-Z say about "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"?
You can’t deny [the] Michael [sample makes it a hit]. It’s just too easy right there.
I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. I’m gonna give it to you the way it came out the ghetto, the way I’m supposed to. And it’s up to you to decipher it. If I’m talking about a situation and give you the results of what h...
Who else was working on this beat?
[Cam’ron] was working on the track at the time. [The Roc-A-Fella] system was really on some new-age Motown. We treated it no differently than when Berry Gordy used to have his producers cook up the beat, and then he gives it to his writers, and the best song wins in that case. We never have a situat...
Has this track been a part of any great hip hop moments in history?
After performing the Jackson 5–sampling “Izzo” at the end of his Hot 97 “Summer Jam” set in June 2001, Hov announced a surprise guest. What happened next is known as one of the greatest moments in hip hop history.
“I know Michael Jackson better come from behind that motherfuckin’ curtain,” Jay said...
Is there a music video for this track?
While shot to seem like it was taking place in New York City, the music video for “Izzo” was actually shot in downtown Los Angeles, on July 31, 2001.
In New York I go outside and it’s like, so many people, so much love there. Not to say there ain’t no love over here — there’s definitely love. But i...
What has producer Kanye West said about the track?
In April 2001 Lil' Romeo released his hit single “My Baby,” which also sampled “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5. ‘Ye quickly shut-down any comparisons between the two tracks:
I thought about that, but are they gonna compare ‘H to the Izzo’ to that Mya and Blackstreet song ‘Take Me There,’ which u...
How did this song perform on the charts?
The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of October 19, 2001. It charted for a total of 20 weeks.