A Contextual Review of Jay-z’s “The Story of OJ” from His Latest 4:44 Album

A Contextual Review of Jay-z’s “The Story of OJ” from His Latest 4:44 Album

The hit single “The Story of OJ” seems to be one of the most politically acclaimed hip hop singles of 2017. The song has literally left the jaws of many listeners agape, while also stirring a social whirlwind. Jay-Z uses an old blues sample from Nina Simone to offer his commentary of the color complex and social construct within the black community. He also offers his advice to escaping the financial manacles that have tormented minorities in America. Let’s delve into some of the techniques and problems he attacks in portraying his central message.

```
   Skin Tone
```

One of the main problems Jay-Z attacks is the age old color crisis that has continually plagued the black community. The chorus draws a distinct separation between lighter African Americans and darker African Americans. Jay-Z reasserts this contrast throughout the chorus and into the verses. He makes the claim that lighter African Americans have historically been deemed “House N****’s.” This term goes back to slavery, describing slaves that were granted a “higher” social status on plantations and given the task of working inside of the slave-master’s house. He contends this way of thinking has plagued the African American psyche even until this present day. One of the central themes of the song reasserts that no matter how light or dark an African American’s skin tone is, they are still categorized as less than American in the eyes of majority. The song suggest that acknowledgement of skin differences are divisive to the health and financial prosperity of the black community. This central theme blends harmoniously into the sample that is employed.

```
       The Sample
```

The sample for “The Story of OJ” (TSOJ) is from “Four Women” an old Negro Spiritual by Nina Simone. This song poetically describes four African American women of different skin tones. Each woman is inflicted with different struggles and sorrows associated with their outer appearance. The woman of the first stanza has black skin, and describes herself as strong from the pain she endured in a racist America. The woman of the second stanza has yellow skin and is conflicted by her mixed ethnicity, and is a product of rape. She describes herself as being between two worlds that she doesn’t belong. The instrumental of TSOJ samples the words “my skin is black” and “my skin is yellow” interchangeably throughout the song. The minds of blacks in America have always subconsciously attributed certain characteristics to the varied skin tones of the African American community, and inflicted them.

```
       Financial Freedom
```

Jay-Z consistently urges the black community to think more long term financially. He suggests that the ultimate goal is financial freedom, or not having to physically work every day to maintain a comfortable living. He wants people, mainly minorities, to look at wealth as a marathon as opposed to a sprint. He offers anecdotes to support this notion that one should make sound financial decisions now, to ensure a profitable return in the future. He even admits to a few of his own financial shortcomings that he learned from in the past. He admits to buying many fast cars in the beginning of his career, and realizes that investing those same funds in property Down Under the Manhattan Bridge would have made him upwards of $20 million worth of revenue. Learning from his past mistakes he now even invests in artwork that he knows will appreciate in value. He makes the claim that creating generational wealth should be the ultimate goal, not trying to live for today and impress others. He calls out rappers for ‘holding money to their ear’ as a means of bragging to the black community and thus acting like a “Rich N****.” This is ultimately counterproductive and doesn’t set up future generations of minorities for success. Jay-Z did draw some controversy over his reference to the Jewish community. He urges the black community to takes some notes from the Jewish community’s practices in terms of creating wealth. There was some backlash, as some felt that this reference reflected Anti-Semitic values.

3-JAY-Z-Footnotes.w1200.h630.jpg

```
       The Music Video
```

The music video for TSOJ brilliantly captures the essence of the song. The video boldly uses the likeliness of historically racist “blackface” and “picaninny” cartoon types to portray his message. The main character of the video “Jaybo” narrates the story and cleverly reminisces to a more racist time in America while mixing in modern concepts and ideas. During the chorus there are many historically racists stereotypes that are portrayed. There is the jezabele, the house n****, the field n****, the rich n****, and many other types of racist portrayals of blacks. There is even a cartoon that shares the likeliness of OJ Simpson who boldly proclaims “I’m not black, I’m OJ!” This reflects the notion that many blacks tend to separate themselves from their own kind when they achieve a certain level of success or monetary achievement. Jaybo cleverly shrugs at this statement and suggests that he is still not viewed as equal to the majority; and it is foolish of him to believe otherwise.

TSOJ is by far one of the most politically charged hip hop songs of 2017. Jay-Z steps outside of his rapper skin to impute a higher level of thinking amongst minorities. The way he does it is very bold and unapologetic in certain ways. He uses direct examples and even calls out famous individuals, other rappers, and entire communities of people. What are your thoughts on TSOJ? Did you interpret it from a different lens? How do you like the first post from Stevebeatz?

A Contextual Review of Jay-z’s “The Story of OJ” from His Latest 4:44 Album

Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!