Actually, Snoop spilled the beans on this years ago in an interview. I was shocked that Jay wrote the lyrics. Never knew he worked with Dre and Snoop. Snoop said no one else could think of any lyrics to fit the song. Then Jay came in and handed everyone a sheet with their part on the song, and the rest is history.
When I bought the cd back then he had writing credit on it. That was one of the things you would look forward to. Producers,writers and samples.This is really old. Good old days of buying CDs. L
It's not just that he's also huge fans of them and was able to rap like them bc of admiring them so much. I do the same thing with rappers when I listen to their music. I don't just rap the song I end up doing their same voice cadence flow etc lol
Really? If you listen to the song and imagine Jay Z's voice it all clicks man, that's 100% Jay Z. Same with Forgot About Dre, if you imagine Eminem doing Dre's verses it all just clicks. But I can't unhear Jay Z when I listen to Still D.R.E. He wrote something timeless with that song.
@@hetistony1024 I definitely hear ems in forgot about dre and Kendrick in the recipe but I can't hear Jay in still dre, but I did know he wrote it. Then they did the watcher 2 for BP2
Yea you'd have to have been on everything Jay at the time. He took over 98...99 back at it with Big Pimpin.... So like Dre coming back it was like, why he flowing like Hov (wake up in the a.m., compose a beat/I bring the fire till ya soaking in ya seat) that's how he was sounding at the time (that era lol)
Everyone saying that “this is old knowledge and that every true hiphop head knows this”, true but this is the first time Hov himself addresses and talks about it
And I believe he’s on the album credits for this song but the actually facts about how much he wrote I don’t think is common knowledge it’s more the hardcores that know it cuz shit I just found out he did all that myself lol
Dre never really been known for writing lyrics he’s more producer that’s why he has no ego about someone else writing the song, he just wants to produce a hit
Nothing wrong with that. I can think of quite a few rappers who should probably get someone else to write their lyrics. Being a good rapper, doesn't mean you are also a good songwriter. For example, Rick Ross is a good rapper, but he's not the best writer. He doesn't exactly write interesting stories. Lil Wayne is also a good rapper. Some of his lyrics might be good, but he also has some pretty damn weak lyrics too. Maybe I shouldn't add Lil Wayne to the mix, because he does have some good lyrics. But sometimes... He could've used some help. Rick Ross, however, should stick to ghostwriters. He's not the only one.
I remember telling my uncle (who is a huge fan of the 90s hip hop era) that Jayz wrote Still Dre, and it blew his mind to the point he just couldn't get over it and was in disbelief for a while.
Wow that's amazing. Your uncle was so amazed that Jay z wrote it that it blew his mind for a while. That is the craziest story I've ever heard In my life. What other crazy stuff happened in your life. Forget saving lives, jumping out of planes and other mad stuff, this guys uncle was actually blown away for so long that Jay actually wrote this, wow, that's insane bro!
He doesn’t write it he recites it from the dome when it shines in his mind like chrome then pops the line in your mind for you to rewind over and over through time
I knew J was going to be a massive success back in the 90s. Just listen to his lyrics on reasonable doubt. His mindset was so business focused vs. a street level mentality.
@my dude👆. 110% - “r Doubt.” Came out when I was a mid schooler and I still rant and rave about it being top1-3 albums all time. Rough, Rugged, Raw. Straight 🔥🔥
Heard this when I was in the service back in 96 if I recall. Been a JZ fan ever since. This RD album is a classic masterpiece & only true hip hop fans will appreciate the pure magic delivered
I had heard the song so many times and then when I heard that Jay z wrote the lyrics to it and then I went back and listened to it you can absolutely tell that Jay z wrote the lyrics to it.
Just like how Eminem wrote "Forgot about Dre" once I heard that, I went back and listened and you can definitely tell Dre's verse is definitely Em's lyrics.
@nova_raindrop1257 " all you savage cats learned I was strapped with gats when you was curdled in the cabbage patch" you can tell immediately that was eminem.
@Time Bomb Records .... yes look again at the scene where Dre is driving...when they show a close up...look at his mouth he has a tounge ring..use a TV..you might not see it on a smart phone..
That's the song that made me crown Jay as The King when it comes to writing because to put yourself in someone else's place and write as if you are that person -- whew! Incredible. Much respect to him.
Specially considering how Hov was from Marcy projects in Brooklyn and Dr Dre was from LA, 2 places that are completely different, with totally different slang.
Actually Jay said it himself I forget what song, but he was one of those cats that could switch up his flow...You could tell the difference between Big Pimpin, Nikkas in Paris, Onto the next one...Different type of intonation...
Dre gave him credit long ago for writing the song. And I just wanna say I’m thankful to have grew up when It came out. Best “collab” single of its time.
Definitely didn't know Jay Z wrote that, but now as I re listened to it. I can hear some of him all through it. Crazy how the mind works and his writing skills are legendary 🙌🏾
Same. I respect jay but could never really get into his flow/cadence. He’s always sounded to me like he’s just talking with no regard for the actual beat and tempo. It’s hard for me to explain..but Snoop, for example, sounds like a synchronized series of waves flowing with the actual rhythm of the beat. He instantly makes my head bop. Jay to me sounds like he records his verses a capella and then just picks a beat to throw on top. I feel this way about a lot of east coast rappers. Backpack rappers too. I know others disagree but it’s just how I hear it. I remember feeling the same way about dre in still Dre and now it makes sense why!
@@emmanuelgarcia619 i actually get what you mean. some artists actually sound like they’re part of the instrumental when they’re rapping, but jay z is more poetic with his flow. you can almost take any of his verses and apply it to any random beat and he’ll still sound the same with it lol he’s definitely poetic with the way he raps
Had the CD album when it first came out. For those that remember, CD albums came with a paper insert (paper is made from trees and you write / print on it), and had basic details abt the tracks, lyrics, production and S.Carter was listed on the Still Dre track. It's been known for years for those of us who are the OG fans. He absolutely nailed it and is probably better at writing for others than himself!
“Paper is made from trees and you write on it” 😂 im 30 and I was young when this album came out but yes I remember the good ol days of CDs and writing on paper. Its crazy how we barely handwrite nowadays.
I miss the album sleeves. I used to spend the weekends during my teens and early twenties going to record shops listening to new music and reading who produced and wrote music. I think youngsters had a thorough understanding of music production in those days. These days many post millennials have no clue unless they are told. I don't blame them its just the times we live in with everything going online. Even now in my early forties it's very difficult to find detailed information like this on tracks anymore.
Forgot about Dre was the song that really taught me about bitrates on .mp3s. The subtle nuances in the beat you lost going from even 192bps down to 128bps blew my mind. I didn't bother with an mp3 player back then but i "got" why people would use the lower bitrates to get more songs in their memory. But i still did mostly cds, so 192bps became my minimum. All because of Forgot about Dre and its amazing beat
Buy the album and you would see the writing credits. That was one of the things we loved about buying an album. Digital sucks. Use to love going to the record store.
This might be news depending on your age...but Jay Z was saying 2 things consistently since the earlier days of his career. 1. He's retiring 2. He's not a rapper. He's a business man that knows how to rap.
“I’m not a biter I’m a writer for myself and others, I say a BIG verse I’m only biggin up my brother, biggin up my borough, I’m big enough to do it, I’m that thorough plus I know my own flow is foolish!” Jay
Jay is not a writer... writers write they own shit... he is an opportunist. If he know he can do it better he will... period. Jay a beast but he aint no serpent devouring other beasts
@@seanbrick1160 I'm bigging up my borough, I'm big enough to do it. I'm that thorough but I know my own flow is foolish...that's the one time a rapper been humble at the same time being confident too.
Wow. Just based in this one fact I have a respect for Jay Z that I never thought I would. His greatness lies in his humility. We need more people like that. God bless him.
Real HipHop heads would buy the CD and read the credits on the inside. I still remember seeing "written by Shawn Carter, and Andre Young"almost exactly 20 years ago
@@ye23. no, because he didnt write anything on the song. Thats all so why he didnt played in verzuz battle with dmx, because he said jay z wrote the whole song.
It just spoke to Dre's ability to not have an ego, collab with other producers and writers and just put out a product with vision at the end of the day. 2001 ain't a 'Classic' it's a Masterpiece, in my eyes.
Welllll.... Apparently between Daz, And another guy he took credit for a lot that wasn't him. But the finishing touches is what he does best giving it that sound
@@danpeezy4803 Lmao yea at first you wouldn’t be able to tell. But after hearing Snoop talk about it and listening to the song again, Dre’s flow is exactly like JayZ flow on that song lol.
No cap Dre raps like whoever writes for him Snoop n DOC pens some of Chronic Dre rhymes like Snoop Jay writes for him Cadence just like Jay Em writes for him sounds like Em
@@danpeezy4803 actually yes, when I heard the part that go "still not lovin police, still rock my khakis with the cuff and a crease" I told myself that sounds like a Jay-Z wrote that.... Just like I can tell Eminem wrote Dre's verse in "Hello" with Cube and Ren just based off his flow in it
They wanna know if he still got it! They say rap changed, they wanna know how he feel about it! Man Jay was flawless with the pen, just the perfect amount of words
Funny how much the words make sense,, I gave Dre the credit for that,, it suited a description of Dre at the time,, but dam I think this even more golden, I think he's talking about himself he's describing how he's hiding in the back of the scenes,, I seen j Zay live, he is so take Talented, he blew everyone out the water,, the talent was oozing out him with minimum effort, he's a legend💯💚🔥
He said "you ain't up on thanGz, Snoop Dogg is the name, Dogg Pounds the game" And the full circle has to be Snoop getting that Death Row trademark! ®️G
I recall D.O.C. talking about this in an interview a few years back; Jay-Z was the key that unlocked the track as writers' block had quagmired Dre's Crew..
@@MikeD-hn9hf why is it clickbait idgaf what you think about my comment it was my opinion. some rap heads know what jayz has done but a lot don't which is why i think hes underrated, y u so mad fam
Arguably one of the greatest songs in hip hop history. The funniest part is Dre basically only did the drum track. Scott Storch put the melody together and Jay wrote the lyrics. I also heard Jay wrote something totally different first. Dre said it wasn't west Coast. So Jay went back to the drawing board and wrote what we all know as the classic.
@@toco6231 I can respect that. That’s the great thing about Hip Hop. There’s room for all opinions. Your personal opinion about a song is based on how it hits you personally. During this time, there was something for everyone in hip hop. Now, they all sound the same.
Thats right. The first version was heavy on the floss, and not the energy that Dre wanted. Shows how talented Jay is, as he was able to readjust and provide another verse while Snoop an unbelievable artist himself admitted he was having trouble putting a verse to the beet.
The original version he wrote was rejected by Dre. He didn’t like it. He told Jay he needed something more in tune with with him and that Cali vibe. Jay went back, wrote is a second time and came back with some napalm.
@@senzomazibuko6937 I’ve been around everyone from Dre to Snoop to Pac to Big … face to face … I’m from that generation of hip hop and worked in the industry for years… but that’s besides the point, no I wasn’t there. It was in an interview with Dre around the time that album came out. It was probably The Source, XXL, Vibe or one of those magazines.
Suge Knight spilled the beans when the album first came out and it was in the credits. Y'all youngins probably don't know what that means but music used to come in small packages which contained a thin round object that was called a compact disk or CD for short. Once you place you CD into a CD player you would be able to hear the music. Also included in the packages were booklets of artwork or pictures (pics) of the artist or artists who's music was on the CD and also writings called credits which named the people involved with the making of the album, which is sometimes referred to as a record.
Back when paying for music really meant something. Owning your favourite artists CD’s was an amazing feeling, hope we get days like that back again somehow!
I ain't a big Jay-Z fan by any means but "Money ain't a thang" with Jermaine Dupri has to be my all time favorite song Jay z song ever!!! I still remember what I was doing when that song came out bro and I went that same weekend and bought the CD!
given that how much both snoop and Dre’s parts have a flow identical to Jay’s own songs, and how on “Forgot About Dre” Dre’s verse has a flow very identical to Eminem’s own flow, one can only imagine how many other instances and classic moments in HipHop were the products of reference tracks or ghostwriters, that have yet to be revealed.
@@CousinBowling all of Dre's stuff. Ice Cube, MC Ren, and D.O.C. wrote for everybody in NWA. Easy was the front money and businessman. Dre made the beats.
Damn six times platinum and the start of his own label with the pen of Jay..If that isnt GOAT status, I do not know what it..Jay will get his flowers when he passes.Then everybody and their moma will be like, oh, he was the best. Oh, wow, he did that?etc..
Man everybody been knew he wrote that. I knew Jay z wrote that in 1999. You know back then it wasnt no social media or nothing you had to buy the actual physical CD or tape. You know on every album inside the album cover all the tracklist has everyone on the song who produced the beat and who wrote the song. It's what they call song credit or album credit. If you got that album still you should see it. Still Dre feat snoop dogg Produced by andre young Performed by andre young Calvin broudas Written by shawn Carter 👆 that's an example on how it looks and how all album tracklist look inside the album cover back in the day Go look at any artist album from back then that u have an look inside the album cover. Most of the time they used there real government name for song credit an publishing
I remember those days! I remember going through that booklet peeping what producer produced what. There was such a mystery and mystique to music and art. Damn I feel old now
I used to read that too but I loved to read the shout outs as well. That's when you find out who they actually rocked with on a personal level. Reading the credits while listening to the album for the first time was a must...unless you were driven then you read at the red lights in between totes of the blunt.
@@mister.unusual lol funny thing I'm not even old I'm not even close to 40 yet, I'm sure im speaking for alot of us that's not even 40 yet or just hit 40 lol
@@mister.unusual lol I feel you bro. But the experience of going to the store and buying the album, playing it in your car or Walkman . The presentation and excitement was just different. Damn even waiting in line to cop to a new joint! Lol
I always knew Jay-Z wrote still dre because you can hear Jay-Z's flow in Dre's rapping. I'm impressed Jay wrote Snoop's part too. That I wasn't sure about.
Jay-z humbled...he definitely just dropped some gold jewels....wow as hot as that song is...I never heard him brag or boast about that...I thought dr dre wrote it....wow
Jay wrote the whole song in 30 minutes, that's genius, flew from New York to California because of the love and respect he had for DRE, but we not suprised, we've seen him doing the whole Black Album unscripted, doing a song in few minutes, thats genius, Timbaland couldn't believe it on Dirt Off your Shoulder track, so for Jay to fly from East Coast to West Coast just to write the BEST SONG SONG IN THE HIP HOP HISTORY, that's......, I don't know, out of this world
For some of you younger folks out there, The D.O.C. also wrote a lot of verses on Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ and Snoop’s ‘Doggystyle’ album. You can definitely tell the difference between Snoop’s rhymes on those two albums and his follow-up ‘Tha Doggfather’ and other following albums.
Jay a genius if u a kid that mimicked and tried to sound like your favorite rappers when u was growing up , u can appreciate what Jay Z is sayin 💯not only did he explain writing it he told us how he did it
My entire life I had a hunch that Jay-Z wrote the second verse of this track, I was a huge Jay-Z fan forever and that second verse just had too much of his style for me to not notice…I though that it was in trade of the Watch Me beat on Vol. 3 for Jay-Z. Didnt know he actually wrote the whole song. Pretty tight.
Jay Z is very talented...When I first heard Jay Z from Reasonable Doubt I thought he was good but would probably fall off then he kept coming with good album after good album Jay Z is the GOAT
I'm one of those nerds that used to read the credits on the back of the albums lol. I remember seeing Jay Z's name being credited for one of them songs and thought it was weird
There are plenty of videos of Jay hearing a beat then going into the booth to record. Rhyming out of his mind. As a 65 year old woman with two sons in their early 30’s . I heard rap. I didn’t like rap that I couldn’t understand or that demeaned women. Jay caught my attention with his musicality . He used real instruments and you heard that. The music was grown and sexy. I realized that his music grew with him though. As I became more knowledgeable. Then I began to respect his rise from Brooklyn where I am from to where he is now.
