"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man
Let me handle my business, damn!"
- Jay Z, "Diamonds of Sierra Leone (Remix)"
Jay Z has delivered well over 100 guest verses over the course of his 20 years in the rap game. Nearly all of them are memorable in one way or another. In light of Hov's guest appearance on the Pusha T single "Drug Dealers Anonymous" to be released tonight, we compiled a list of our top 10 Jay Z guest verses of all time.
Click through the gallery to see our top 10. Obviously, tough decisions had to be made. We've included honorable mentions below, as well as a Spotify playlist of our top 10 + honorable mention. Let us know in the comments which Jay Z guest verses you'd like to see added to the playlist.
Honorable Mention
- Nas - “Black Republican”
- Talib Kweli - “Get By (Remix)”
- M.O.P. - “4 Alarm Blaze”
- T.I. - Swagga Like Us
- Diddy - “Young Gs”
- Cam’ron - “Welcome To New York City”
- Mary J. Blige - “Love & Life Intro”
- Freeway - “What We Do”
- Beanie Sigel - Still Got Love for You”
- Pharrell - “Frontin’”
- Notorious B.I.G. - “I Love The Dough”
Kanye West - "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" feat. Jay Z
Album: Late Registration
Year: 2005
Quotable Hov
“Bleek could be one hit away his whole career
As long as I’m alive, he’s a millionaire
And even if I die, he’s in my will somewhere
So he can just kick back and chill somewhere, oh yeah
He don’t even have to write rhymes
The Dynasty like my money last three lifetimes”
Jay Electronica - "Shiny Suit Theory" feat. Jay Z & The-Dream
Album: Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)
Year: 2010
Quotable Hov
Boy, you must be off your rocker if you think
You'll make it off the strip before they 'Pac ya
Nigga, you gotta be psychotic, or
Mixing something potent with your vodka
It takes a lot to shock us
But you being so prosperous is preposterous
Dead Prez - "Hell Yeah (Pimp the System) (Remix)" feat. Jay Z
Album: RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta
Year: 2004
Quotable Hov
And out there, I was slinging crack to live
I'm only slinging raps to your kids
I'm only trying to show you how black niggas live
But you don't want your little ones acting like this
Big L - “Da Graveyard” feat. Grand Daddy I.U., Microphone Nut, Party Arty, Lord Finesse, & Jay Z
Album: Lifestyles ov da Poor & Dangerous
Year: 1995
Quotable Hov
Creep through your block fuck a Glock I step
Through your neighborhood armed with nothing but a rep
I'm giving these ladies something they can feel cause I'm real
Ya man get outta line and it's kill kill kill
Young Jeezy - "Go Crazy (Remix)" feat. Jay Z
Album: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
Year: 2005
Quotable Hov
More than a hustla, I'm the definition of it
Master chef, lord of the kitchen cupboard
More than a street legend, homey, it's Hova
More than a relief pitcher, I'm the closer
The Mariano of the Mariott
If money talks, the whole world's about to hear me out
See, I'm a hustler's hope, I'm not his pipe dreams
So when they speak of success, I'm what they might mean
Outkast - "Flip Flop Rock" feat. Killer Mike & Jay Z
Album: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Year: 2003
Quotable Hov
Why that? Why this? Niggas wanna hijack the flyness
I'm on a whole 'nother plane
A whole different lane, a whole 'nother game that I'm playing
Understand what I'm saying?
Kanye West - "Never Let Me Down" feat. J Ivy & Jay Z
Album: College Dropout
Year: 2004
Quotable Hov
This is not an image, this is God-given
This is hard living mixed with Cristal sipping
It's the most consistent, Hov
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc
Nigga I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visiting
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
I'm back to claim pole position
Rick Ross - "The Devil Is A Lie" feat. Jay Z
Album: Mastermind
Year: 2014
Quotable Hov
Is it truth or it's fiction, is it truth or it's fiction?
Is Hova atheist? I never fuck with True Religion
Am I down with the devil 'cause my roof come up missing?
Is that Lucifer juice in that two cup he sipping?
Lupe Fiasco - “Pressure” feat. Jay Z
Album: Food & Liquor
Year: 2006
Quotable Hov
So the pen is mightier than the sword my lord
My first picture was a line-up, now I'm on the Forbes
And I still remain the artiste through thees all
If you force my hand I'll be forced to draw
If the war calls for Warhols
Hope you got enough space on your hall's walls
I make niggas murals, then escape the bureaus
DMX - "Blackout" feat. Jay Z & The LOX
Album: Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
Year: 1998
Quotable Hov
I'm a monster, I sleep whole winters, wake up and spit summers
Ghetto nigga, puttin up Will Smith numbers
Surrounded by 6's and Hummers, bitches among us
Tryin not to let this bullshit become us
Scarface - "Guess Who's Back" feat. Jay Z & Beanie Sigel (prod. Kanye West)
Album: The Fix
Year: 2002
Quotable Hov
We make a great combination don't we
Me and the Face Mob, every time we face-off
Face it y'all, y'all niggas playing basic-ball
I'm on the block like I'm eight feet tall
Homey, I'm in the drop with the AC on
That's why the streets embrace me dawg, I'm so cool