Song #11 On My MP3 Player - 99 Problems by Jay-Z (Explicit Lyrics)

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Jay-Z's '99 Problems' is the eleventh song on my MP3 player and was featured on the 2004 release The Black Album. If you know the song then you are familiar with the line, "If you're having girl problems, I feel bad for you son/I've got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one." For years I thought Jay-Z was referring to a woman as a "bitch", but his book titled Decoded states that the "bitch" he's talking about is a female police dog.

If you listen to '99 Problems' then you know that Jay-Z has beef with the industry, some dude who is pissing him off, and the police. Jay-Z mentions an instance in the song where he's pulled over by the cops with a car full of drugs. You might think Jay-Z is giving you some valuable legal advice in the song, but you are wrong. This article from the St. Louis University School of Law breaks down that part of '99 Problems' to show you what Jay-Z got right and wrong in the song.

'99 Problems' is on my MP3 player because it's one of those songs you need to hear to get you through a stressful situation. Also, it helps out when you are having a crummy day. I'm a hip-hop fan and '99 Problems' is one of the best hip-hop tracks of all time. I've got more hip-hop on my MP3 player, but I want you to check out Jay-Z's '99 problems' below. Enjoy.

Song #2 On My MP3 Player: (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!) by the Beastie Boys

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Due to the parentheses, '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)' is the second song listed alphabetically on my MP3 player. It was supposed to be a goof on party music, but '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)' became a 1987 top ten single on the Billboard 100 for the Beastie Boys. If you are a member of Generation X or Y in denial about your age then you'll be pleased to know that Licensed to Ill was released 26 years ago.

I have had the opportunity to teach classes on the history of rock and roll at a local community college. My students would have weekly assignments where I would ask them to review ten songs. One week I asked students to review '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)' and one student stated in his review that this was the perfect song to play on a day when you are stressed out and pissed off at the world.

The Beastie Boys have a great catalog full of music to get you movin' and groovin'. Their music is a must on my MP3 player because songs like '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)'  help me out when I'm stressed and/or pissed off at the world. This song is timeless and even though it was meant as a goof on party music it still is one of the best teen angst party anthems. Don't act too cool for school with this song because you still shout "BUSTED" after they say "Now your mom threw away your best porno mag."

The video is embedded below for your viewing and listening pleasure. I recently read an oral history of MTV titled I Want My MTV: An Uncensored History of the Music Video Revolution and there's a funny story about the making of this video. There's a young Tabitha Soren in this video, plus all of the whipped cream used for the pies were taken from containers found in a waste bin outside of a supermarket. In the book Tabitha Soren said that there was no money for the video and that's why they had to get them out of a waste bin. She also added that the whipped cream had turned rancid and the room where they shot the video reeked of rotten eggs. Lovely.




TonyDoug Wright is the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. He is also the author of two webcomics titled The Red Devil and Day 165. Be a pal and check them out.

My 80's Jams: I Feel For You by Chaka Khan

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The jams from the 80's are getting some major love this week at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Today's selection is 'I Feel For You', a 1984 hit for Chaka Khan. Anytime we mention Khan at the Lost Soul then it is mandatory to include this clip.

'I Feel For You' is an absolute jam of funk and hip hop. Did you know this was a cover? This song was originally written and recorded by Prince, and is featured on his 1979 debut album. What happened to the days where you can be shirtless on an album cover? Khan's version was recorded in 1984 and features a sample of Stevie Wonder's 'Fingertips' and the rapping is courtesy of Melle Mel from Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.

Chaka Khan is no one hit wonder. Born Yvette Stevens, she changed her name to Chaka in the late 60's while a member of the Black Panther Party. She married musician Hassan Khan in 1970 and entered the music industry. Khan's career took off and during the 70's and her hits include 1974's 'Tell Me Something Good' with Rufus and 1978's 'I'm Every Woman' as a solo artist. The video for 'I Feel For You' is below and enjoy the jam.


I learned today that Chaka Khan was not the first to cover this song. The Pointer Sisters covered it in 1982, and I've included a the song below.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.