The Internet’s favorite record gets dissected in a semi-intelligent quick convo between two dudes who get along.
How did “Ignorant Shit” first come about?
Just Blaze: That was the first record we did for the Black Album. We did that on the road actually.
What made you flip the “Between the Sheets” song?
You know what—obviously we know that one year where it was used 80,000 times between Keith Murray, Da Brat, Biggie, Rob Base tried to do a comeback off of it, Lil Vicious—it was like million records that used that part and I always thought the other part was the ill break. But, it wasn’t the obvious part, everybody kept going for the same break. That’s kinda something that’s always been in the back of my mind.
Nobody ever tried to flip that right?
Not that I know of. No one’s ever used that. And I brought back the main part to keep it familiar [hums break] ‘cause that’s the part everybody’s familiar with. So I kept that in there just to give it some familiarity, but used a different part of the record and we did it between my bus and my hotel room in Chicago.
What tour was this?
Roc The Mic.
With Jay and 50 right?
Yeah, Jay and 50. We just went to the bathroom, pause, and hung up some blankets from the hotel and we just did it straight like that. A lot of times when an artist is first starting an album they don’t want keep the earlier records ‘cause they still trying to get in their zone. So you know, it kinda just sat for a long time and then the dude that was kinda part of the extended family got tricked into giving it away. Demarco tricked him and he gave him the record and it leaked obviously. I was super mad at the time, just more so of the circumstances and because of what it could have been used for later. But the good thing about it leaking is if it hadn’t, Jay would’ve probably never realized how dope the song was.
The original version of the song has become notorious.
Exactly, ‘cause it’s like Where’s Waldo? Everybody’s trying to find the No DJ version. A couple people have the spliced No DJ version together, but none of them are really the official joint. So basically when it came time for Kingdom Come—the record was always in the back of my mind, but I just didn’t feel like it fit Kingdom Come. Looking back, you know obviously it should’ve been on the Black Album, and I kinda have an idea what song it should’ve replaced but I won’t say. But me and Jay both agree it should’ve been on there in place of another record that was on there. But, what’s done is done, but at least when it came time for this album, that’s one of the first things he wanted. When me and Jay first talked about the album, if nothing else, this song has to go on there. We both agreed that since people were familiar with the song in general that we got to switch it up a little bit. So the light bulb just went off, and I was like, “Yo, you gotta get Beans.” He was like, “What you mean?” “The first thing I’m a do is free Sigel. Boom. That’s where he needs to come in.” And then, we went and got Beans, he did his 16 or whatever it was, Jay just came back and finished it off.
Were you surprised with the Imus direction on the third verse?
I just didn’t know. Sometimes you just need someone of that stature. Jay-Z’s obviously not the first to say something. But “Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper” deals with the way people crucify music. It’s not just hip-hop, it’s music in general. ‘Cause there was a phase where rock and heavy metal was getting the same treatment. If not worse. And it’s like, when it comes down to it, it’s all just different forms of entertainment. Obviously, we should be smart enough to realize that most of these rappers are not running around doing everything they portray on records. If you look back even on the original OG version of the song, he says something to the effect of “Believe half of what you see/Even if it’s spat by me.”
“And with that said I will kill niggas dead.”
Exactly. He’s telling you right there, like we going to paint the picture. But at the same time it’s something he can relate to very well cause he’s rhyming about where he comes from.
On the original version, he had the Beyonce verse on end which he started to do in concerts. How did that develop?
I know sometimes he would do it at shows, but it wasn’t with the “I Need Love” music yet. And then I think it was during the Fade To Black show, we was in rehearsals, and I honestly don’t remember exactly who’s idea it was, it coulda been mine, it coulda been Ahmir’s. But that’s when it came about in the rehearsals, like “You should flip “I Need Love” and do that verse over that.” We knew that he was going to get a strong reaction so that kinda became a staple of his shows. So we couldn’t go back and use that part on the record now after he’s done it a million times in public.
Yeah it’s funny cause he mentions B on that and on “PSA,” another song you did. Why is dude always mentioning his girl on your tracks?
I don’t know.
[Laughs]
Maybe it’s the aggression of the song. [Laughs]
Sidebar: Peace to the homie Double O. Just found out last night dude was actually in attendance at my wedding back in summer of ‘05. Small fuckin’ world.
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October 30th, 2007
at 1:45 pm
jay africa says:
dope interview …. first, i think
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 2:05 pm
yoprince says:
yea, that song been heat.. nigga fuck shit ass bitch you like it don’t front!
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 2:10 pm
Colron says:
We can’t get a post of the OG version YN? Daamn..
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 2:10 pm
N.O. 4 life says:
i aint a jigga fan but good music is good music
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 2:51 pm
Banton says:
FUCK PUFFY AND JIGGA…LAUGH…
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:55 pm
kolio says:
your an idiot for safing fuck jigga and puffy! stupid ignorant fellow.
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 2:55 pm
Loc718 says:
Jay-z is the best rapper period! song is str8ght fire American Gangster is going 2 bke th@t shit holla Bkrooklyn stand the fuck up!
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:12 pm
Nah Right » Blog Archive » Just Blaze Speaks on Ignorant s*** says:
[...] recently spoke to Just about Ignorant Shit, which is easily one of the most storied "unreleased" tracks in the [...]
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:25 pm
MrWillDoIt says:
P’z to Just for always coming wit it. American Gangster will be a triumphant tragedy.
Triumph for real music. Tragic for the Mims’ and Jim’s of the rap world.Step it up folks.
God I love the 4th quarter.
And the winner is…..HOV! My man.
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:28 pm
Fixda says:
Wonder which song they would replaced on the black album…
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:49 pm
Radio B says:
It would have to have been Justify My Thug…guarantee it.
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:51 pm
bongolock says:
that was dope. thx
>>Wonder which song they would replaced on the black album…
i’m thinkin ‘justify my thug’. it just didnt seem to fit to me… peace to dj quik tho..
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 3:59 pm
Wear-IT says:
Jay should have never left Dame and company to work for those crackers look what they got jay doing to the hood 90% of his song he told us how he sold drugs mf HOUSENIGGER CWKGEAR.COM
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 4:18 pm
therapmatrix says:
like a aids test whats the result not positive!! lolol!! goodluck doggy!! i told you change that name nebakanezza remember who laughs last!! goodluck!!
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 4:35 pm
beatz23 says:
justify my thug
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 4:35 pm
beatz23 says:
justify my thug
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 5:14 pm
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel - Ignorant s*** (plus the story behind the music) « Digital Streets says:
[...] This song originally leaked in the Fall of 20o4. It was re-recorded for the album American Gangster with a new verse from Jay and a verse from Beanie Sigel. You can hear the complete story from Just Blaze here courtesy of XXLmag.com. [...]
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 5:21 pm
eny says:
fuck this camel motherfucker he blows , i dont give a fuck about this old ass recycling other peoples lyrics bitch ass nigga. east newwwwwww york, bk bitches
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 6:43 pm
Shadythagreat says:
Who cares,Iam coping may man Cassidy album anyways. Jigga,Jay-z or whatever he goes by is a fraud. He uses everybody ideas to benefit for his selfish ass self. He took my man Biggie shit,all of hip hop greats shit. I just dont understand why yall consider him a great. L.L. is considered a Great! One.
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 7:31 pm
Just Blaze Talks Ignorant s*** « 360oz.com says:
[...] XXL [...]
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 8:25 pm
Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel - Ignorant s*** 2007 | says:
[...] Blaze Article http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=15630 beanie sigel jay z ignorant rocafella def jam, Hip Hop/Rap [...]
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 8:57 pm
Jon Adams says:
Just blaze is a damn dummy for acting like he never heard summer wit miami before. that same part was sampled, just differently.
Reply
November 3rd, 2007
at 10:13 am
jules says:
“ignorant shit” came out first, back in 03. “miami” came out in 05
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 9:43 pm
esteban says:
Ignorant shit is one of my favorite Jigga joints.
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 9:59 pm
paychexx says:
naw i’m thinkin the joint with eminem, didnt really like that song become em production kinda bland. the quil joint was heat though. that song is tight. peace.
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 10:21 pm
slobbythegreat says:
first off shadythagreat dont be copying my name you little fuck…I AM thegreat not you u bitch!!! Secondly justify my thug is a dope track, that fucking bullshit “the life” that was produced by Pharell would have been replaced, that song was fucking shit…worst jay z song ever, i fucking hated it i hated it more than shadythagreat and i hate that little fuck!!!
Reply
October 30th, 2007
at 10:59 pm
big steve says:
weezy and gravy freestyle ove this from like 05 is crack
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 1:00 am
Joshton Peas says:
yall stupid.
it was supposed to replace threats.
thats obvious as fuck.
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 1:29 am
theboy says:
First of to slobby the great Allure is one of the best songs Jay as ever made for you to say that shows that u have no taste in music what so ever. Secondly Justify My Thug was the weakest track on the Black Album and its the one track that I heard people argue that makes the Black album not a classic. (even though I feel it is)
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 1:44 am
JIM JONES WILL DROP A MIXTAPE THE SAME DAY AS JAY……. NEW GUNIT VIDEO ……. 2 PAC MAKING MONEY FROM THE GRAVE…. video of a haunted swing says:
[...] read more [...]
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 3:01 am
Ahmad says:
Double O is everywhere…
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 3:35 am
Vuccu says:
Yeah Justify my Thug undoubtedly, the song sort of has the same feel to it as well, although this song is really a lot better.
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 6:50 am
BETTERNOT BE SPLIFF says:
TO ALL THE SUMMER WIT MIAMI TRACK WAS FIRST AND SAMPLES THE SAME THING JUST BLAZE EVEN TALKED TO DUKE DA GOD AND THE PRODUCER ABOUT USING THE SAMPLE SO HE LYING IN THE INTERVIEW ALL YOU HAVE TO ASK IS THE SPLIFF OF SPLIFFINGTON MANAGEMENT KNOXVILL EVEN PLAYED HIS TRACK FOR JUST BLAZE
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 6:58 am
dipset is the truth says:
just blaze shit is hot no doubt but he lying when he said nobody flipped that part of the sample but him knoxvill did it first for jim jones summer wit miami ft trey songz buy an album so you can check the credits sometimes rumor has it he even listened to the joint with spliff of spliffington management and knoxvill so I think xxl need to do a little more journalist research but no doubt the track was hot but look at why jay didn’t bring the track out it’s because he heard jimmy’s first trust me on this I got inside scoop of this shit and if you don’t believe me ask the boy spliff and knoxvill and duke da god
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 8:07 am
LOU DA DON says:
FIRST OF ALL I SEE THE HATE ON THE COMMENTS PAGE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU ARE PHONY ASS BITCH’S JAY Z IS ONE SMART GUY HE IS SOMEWHAT A POET OF ARE TIME HE IS ARE GENERATIONS SHAKESPEAR THINK ABOUT IT YOU ASSHOLES LISTEN TO THE MUSIC NOT THE BEATS LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE NOT THE BOUNCE. LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU THINK YOU GOING TO GET A LIFE LESSON FROM T-PAIN OR SOULJAH BOY YOU ARE WRONG WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU THINK RAP IS HEADING RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL T.I. HEADING TO THE PEN AND THE SOUTH LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE IN A GREAT MUSIC DEPRESSION. WHO WE GOING TO LOOK FOR IN INSPIRATION IN THE SOUTH NOW JEEZY NAH. I DON’T THINK SO IF WE LISTEN TO ANYTHING THAT CAME OUT IN THE 96-99 ERA WE KNOW THAT EVERY OTHER RAPPER TOLD US COCAINE NUMBERS AND BEEN DODGING THE LAW IN SO MANY WAYS SO WHO DO WE LOOK FOR FOR REFRESHING MUSIC. THATS MY QUESTION AND ALL YOU INTERNET GANGSTA’S YOU SUCK GET OFF YOUR MAMA TITTY.
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 8:38 am
Rodjilius says:
blaze is a great producer good interview too
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 8:44 am
H-LO says:
Yeah I put my bet on “…Thug” , too. Or Threat.That’s not to say that they’re not dope l - I can’t imagine the album without them now that i’ve listened like 20times to it. But do throw My first song out of the playlist (shoutouts and shit) and Allure is a great ending, especially when it comes after Lucifer. Pharreal wanted to create something like Dead Presidents and he came damn close. Jay is especially (Joe Pesci) crazy on this one. But he is on the whole album.
Hint for Jay fans: Take the Vol.1 album, kick The City is mine and I know what girls like off the playlist and replace sunshine with Wishing on a Star, Trackmaster remix (bonus track on my european version) so the album can reach it’s full potential (on par with the Black one that is). Jay said about it in retrospect: “it was so close of being a classic, but I think I ruined it with 2 or 3 records” … and everyone pretty much knows witch tracks are meant.
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 7:12 pm
NerdwithSwag.com » Blog Archive » Jay-Z - ‘Ignorant s*** ft. Beanie Sigel prod. by Just Blaze’ says:
[...] tangent: XXLmag’s YN interviews Just Blaze about the making of ‘Ignorant Shit’ Related PostsBeanie Sigel - ‘All The Above ft. R.Kelly’Beanie Sigel offically back with [...]
Reply
October 31st, 2007
at 8:30 pm
THE PRODUCERS ON AMERICAN GANGSTER « MY HANGOVER says:
[...] spoke with Just Blaze, where the Megatron Don talked about the track Ignorant Shit. I liked how he used the drop at the [...]
Reply
November 6th, 2007
at 8:49 pm
jon henry says:
yo i been bumping this remix in my car for almost a week now! it’s off the chain!
what jay says in the last little part about “u saying the shit that i’m spitting/ is worse than these celebrities showing they kitten?”
oh man. he’s perfectly poignant. in 8 bars, he outdoes with his wit and intelligence what most “conscious rappers” do with whole cliche albums.
plus this beat has been SICK for like 4 years anyway! i always said somebody should take that OTHER part of “Between the Sheets”! fuck. i wish i could make beats.
Reply
November 7th, 2007
at 12:15 pm
al-b says:
u fuckin idiots. summer wit miami came out 2 years after just blaze had done that beat. it was supposed to be on the black album which came out in 2003. summer wit miami came out in 2005. so how is just blaze lying about nobody had done that part of the beat before him? i hate when dummies speak about shit they know absolutely nothing about.
jigga is the illest ever. american gangster is his best work of his whole career lyrically, and i haven’t even finished digesting the whole ablum yet. i still have to figure out what he’s talkin about with a few of his lines, but i’m sure when i figure it out everything will fit together like a masterpiece. i still haven’t seen the movie cuz i know he makes direct references to the movie on most of the songs.
Reply
November 28th, 2007
at 5:09 am
Coop says:
Just Blaze Is Married.
Reply