The Greatest Interns in Hip-Hop History -Paying Dues Pays Off

 •  Bloggers  •  by XXL Staff  •  6 Comments

JAY-Z
Some may wonder why Jay looked like such a natural when he played hype man for Drake last November in Toronto. But those who know their history know that Hov came into the game some 20 years earlier as Jaz-O’s apprentice. Yes, before the G4’s, Maybachs, and worldwide tours, Jigga was just the skinny kid from Marcy playing sidekick in Jaz’s “Hawaiian Sophie” video. Last year’s performance beside Drizzy showed that either being a hype man is like riding a bike, or Jay got some damn good pointers from Bleek to help shake off the rust. Hey, I can’t call it.

“Hawaiian Sophie”

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  • Confused

    Wait, no Jermaine Dupri? He’s a bama but wasn’t he an intern or a dancer or something at one point, for Whodini if I remember right.

  • dame-o

    this kanye beat is “i need to know”. theres a version where he raps on it. thats a fly song and the album it came from is fly too

  • mediumwillie

    an intern wrote this?! decent…

  • lamantreflechi

    Dope piece. Well written and witty as hell. Props to the author, he’ll probably make this list in a few years.

  • Zulu1925

    @ Confused

    Jermaine Dupri had an “in” with the music industry – his dad, Michael Mauldin, was a music executive with Columbia Records.

  • BGZ

    Puffy; can’t front on his hustle…

    …even though I’m sure Andre Harrell left more than just a legacy (in his) behind.