Jay Z - Dead Presidents 3
- Thread starter BreatheEasy
- Start date
Rapmastermind
Superstar
In case people forgot. The video that started it all. "Dead President I" this was the version I was introduced to and my favorite version. Don't get me wrong "DPII" on the LP was just as sick but technically speaking it's a remix. Jay had Biggie, AZ, Lil Cease in this video. Classic sh!t. I actually found out about the song by accident back in the day. MTV Jams had made a mistake on the video title card back in the day. It said that this song was actually featured on the "Dead Presidents" Soundtrack.
"Dead Presidents" movie came out late 1995. The video for "Dead Presidents" was also out late 95. There are rumors that Jay Z tried to get the song on the soundtrack the the Hughes Brothers wanted an all 70's soundtrack to the fit the theme (They were right the soundtrack for the movie is Classic, part I and II). Anyways, I saw the video but the title card said "Dead Presidents Soundtrack". That had to be at typo but I understand the mistake. Anyways, I saw the video, heard the song and copped the single ASAP. My single had "Ain't No nikka" on it as well as instrumentals for both. It's a Classic single and it actually went Gold even though it wasn't a pop hit. Hearing "Dead Presidents III" just reminds of this cause the original was my introduction to Jay Z. Of course I went back and discovered "In My Lifetime" and Fast Rapping Jay. But "Dead Presidents" will always be considered the song that put me onto to Jay Z:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BCsxQg3NE4]Jay-Z - Dead Presidents [HQ/Explicit] - YouTube[/ame]
"Dead Presidents" movie came out late 1995. The video for "Dead Presidents" was also out late 95. There are rumors that Jay Z tried to get the song on the soundtrack the the Hughes Brothers wanted an all 70's soundtrack to the fit the theme (They were right the soundtrack for the movie is Classic, part I and II). Anyways, I saw the video but the title card said "Dead Presidents Soundtrack". That had to be at typo but I understand the mistake. Anyways, I saw the video, heard the song and copped the single ASAP. My single had "Ain't No nikka" on it as well as instrumentals for both. It's a Classic single and it actually went Gold even though it wasn't a pop hit. Hearing "Dead Presidents III" just reminds of this cause the original was my introduction to Jay Z. Of course I went back and discovered "In My Lifetime" and Fast Rapping Jay. But "Dead Presidents" will always be considered the song that put me onto to Jay Z:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BCsxQg3NE4]Jay-Z - Dead Presidents [HQ/Explicit] - YouTube[/ame]
Sounds better coming from Hov then a n1gga who wears leather durags
the flow, the lyrics, that beat
ZackMorris
I sit next to Spike
Ive been waiting for years to hear the full version
Easily one of his best songs ever. I heard this as the "Hip Hop Pick" on Rap City one Saturday morning and went out and copped immediately on CD single. There was a dope extended version that made its way around Napster for a long time with the piano intro too, never knew where that came from. The instrumental on this always makes me zone out.
Newark88
Superstar
I remember when Flex first premiered Dead Presidents in late 95. It was a semi underground mix show hit. I say semi because it was the first Jay record that got regular day time rotation on radio. And of course, "Ain't No nikka" took it to the next level. But I've been a Jay supporter since the originial In My Lifetime single dropped in early 95, with the remix dropping that following spring/summer. And that was only getting Video Music Box and Stretch and Bobbito rotation.
I heard they wanted nas in the video as well correct? (or was it just the bring it on record?)
If only it happened, he (Nas) was the only one missing from that monopoly roundtable, that would have been beautiful
Nas with the 95 (fast life) flow on bring it on
Rapmastermind
Superstar
It was weird. I was put on by "Dead Presidents" but the "In My Lifetime" was technically his 1st solo video. It even got a single cover but it wasn't release commercially. Till this day I don't understand why Jay didn't have "In My lifetime" or "Wishing on a Star" on Vol 1: In My Lifetime. I remember hearing Jay on a few records in the mid-90's but honestly he didn't stand out. His callabo's with Mic Gerinomo, Kane were dope but he was just a shadow at that point. "Dead Presidents" was his welcoming party to Hip Hop. But technically speaking, "In My Lifetime" is his 1st solo single. The song is dope but I understand why it didn't take off cause it was a little laid back. "Dead Presidents" just completely took off especially with the NaS sample the hype with Biggie in the video at the time.
Remix was Classic:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Cg4C766Ec"]Jay Z "In My Lifetime" - YouTube[/ame]
Last edited by a moderator:
Rapmastermind
Superstar
I heard they wanted nas in the video as well correct? (or was it just the bring it on record?)
If only it happened, he (Nas) was the only one missing from that monopoly roundtable, that would have been beautiful
Nas with the 95 (fast life) flow on bring it on
Yes Jay Z reached out to NaS to be in the video. I mean hell, he sampled his voice on the song. Had AZ in the video. But NaS declined at the time. He had mixed feelings on Jay as an artist. Remember, Jay shouted out NaS on several of the early tracks and of course he was working with Foxy. I wish NaS was in the video but at that time NaS drew lines in the sand and went more over to the Wu/Mobb Deep side. It was a King of NY thing that prevented him to be in the video. Rumors are that AZ tried to talk him into at the time to show unity on the East. It wasn't that NaS was jealous of Biggie or anything but it was a competition thing. "Bring It On" which featured Sauce Money and Jay O was suppose to feature NaS and AZ (Over that godly Premo beat) but NaS was the one that backed out. AZ was ready. Sad "EGOS" got in the way back then. Biggie, Jay and NaS was the Holy Trinity.
I need a 320 kbps download link. somebody posted a 128 kbps 
Awesome Wells
The Ghost of Jack Tripper
It was weird. I was put on by "Dead Presidents" but the "In My Lifetime" was technically his 1st solo video. It even got a single cover but it wasn't release commercially. Till this day I don't understand why Jay didn't have "In My lifetime" or "Wishing on a Star" on Vol 1: In My Lifetime. I remember hearing Jay on a few records in the mid-90's but honestly he didn't stand out. His callabo's with Mic Gerinomo, Kane were dope but he was just a shadow at that point. "Dead Presidents" was his welcoming party to Hip Hop. But technically speaking, "In My Lifetime" is his 1st solo single. The song is dope but I understand why it didn't take off cause it was a little laid back. "Dead Presidents" just completely took off especially with the NaS sample the hype with Biggie in the video at the time.
Jay-Z - In My Lifetime - YouTube
Remix was Classic:
Jay Z "In My Lifetime" - YouTube
I copped "In My Lifetime" on vinyl back in '94, that winter. He was on Stretch and Bobbito promotin' it a couple weeks earlier, talkin' about the video and all that. And they used to run it on Video Music Box back then. My NY heads know about that.
But I loved the single, it was the first time that I ever heard him rhyme at a pace that seemed current. "Dead Presidents" was dope too, but "In My Lifetime" was what made me a fan.
