Here are a bunch of my favorite Jay-Z songs, mostly album cuts with a few freestyles and secret joints thrown in for good measure. Since Jay “retired” and came back, his music hasn’t sounded as urgent or hungry to me. He sounds like he’s coasting along, so I wanted to go back and pull out a bunch of his music that made you bob your head, marvel at his flow, puff out your chest, or even raise the little hairs on the back of your neck. The feelings you got from songs like “Where I’m From,” “D’Evils,” “1-900-Hustler” and “You Don’t Know.” Not included: #1 singles you’ve heard a million times, lazy one-take flows, lyrics about inventing the button-down shirt, songs dissing rappers who would later be signed to Jay-Z’s label, and songs produced by Eminem.

Download (right click “Save Target As”)

Tracklist:

Hova Song / Intro
Where I’m From
PSA (Just Blaze Remix)
Crew Love (ft. Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel)
Squeeze First
Lyrical Exercise
Watch Me
Snoopy Track
Parking Lot Pimpin’ (ft. Beanie Sigel)
Threat
D’evils
It’s Like That
Coming of Age (ft. Memphis Bleek)
Coming of Age (Da Sequel ft. Memphis Bleek)
A Week Ago (ft. Too $hort)
Calling My Name
Laser in Your Ear
22 Two’s
44 Four’s (live)
Blunts and Army
Rap Game Crack Game
South Philly Niggaz
I Am Hov
Reservoir Dogs (ft. The Lox, Beanie Sigel and Sauce Money)
People’s Court
Can I Live
U Don’t Know (remix ft. M.O.P.)
Early This Morning
1-900-Hustler (ft. Beanie Sigel, Freeway & Memphis Bleek)
Young Black and Gifted
The Streets (ft. R-Kelly)
This Can’t Be Life (ft. Beanie Sigel)
Soon You’ll Understand
In My Lifetime (Big Jaz radio remix)

This Thursday, Journey will be a special benefit for Kon of Kon & Amir fame with DJ’s Spinna, Rich Medina, Eli Escobar, Cosmo, Scratch and Amir.

DJ, producer, record fiend and 1/2 of the widely acclaimed duo Kon & Amir, Kon has recently fallen ill. While his condition is dire, we’re hopeful that in time he’ll make a full recovery.

“Kon and Amir are two of the most extraordinary but underrated beat diggers in the game.” — Lord Finesse

“Kon and Amir are legends in the beat digging game. Their compilations and mixtapes are classics and represent a style of Djing that’s true to the essence of Hip-Hop.” — A-Trak

“It’s been a very tough week, with the loss of our dear friend Adam Michael “DJ AM” Goldstein. There’s been tons of things written about him over the past 9 days, yet it still doesn’t even come close to touching on the impact this man had on all of our lives as an inspirational person, not to mention as an artist, and mostly as a friend. I knew Adam for over 25 years, since we were young kids growing up in Philadelphia, and for all those years through all his successes and struggles, he never changed his character – always being a shining light filled with love, generosity and an unmatched passion. He will be profoundly missed, in a way that even I can’t put into words to describe. His passing has effected me in a way that I am only beginning to realize and deal with. Much love to you Adam. You’re going to live within all of us forever. And much love to his mom and sister, his close loved ones, family and friends, the California crew, the old school Philly crew and on and on… We forever have your back. I have some old tapes of his from when he came and spun with me at The Remedy in Philly back in the late 90s, so I’ll find them and share them with our friends soon.” – Cosmo Baker

Our friend Puja wrote an article for her new Village Voice column about DJ AM. Thoughts from A-Trak, Eli Escobar, Diplo, ?uestlove, Nick Catchdubs, DJ Premier, Stretch Armstrong, Matt Colon, Roctakon, Pase Rock and me. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/08/rip_dj_am.php

Love Letter is a project by Stephen Powers with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program

http://www.aloveletterforyou.com/