"Back to the future, gotta slow up for the present I'm fast, n*ggas can't get past my past How they propose to deal with my perfect present" Jay-Z, "Hovi Baby" As millions of rap enthusiasts salivate over Shawn Carter's new album Magna Carta Holy Grail (or indulge in it, if you already downloaded it), one can't help but reminisce over some of his previous classics. I still play the aforementioned song and album in my car, the 2002 LP The Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse remaining one of my favorite pieces of work from Jay. In the song, "Hova" elaborates on fans and critics alike being so enamored with his contributions (as an artist and person), they miss his modern day creativity and genius. While this is a theme that Jay revisits later in his career , this line always struck a chord with me and does now more than ever. It tells a story of a person's attempts to prosper being squelched by nostalgia, and the challenge of ...
Thoughts and words to inspire the best version of yourself.