Verified archive entry

Brooklyn High

Brooklyn High is a diss track by Jay-Z targeting Jim Jones, Cam'ron, Dipset and Damon Dash. The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

Released2006
Annotated2
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Intro]

    02

    One lil punk ass buck?

    03

    That’s it nigga? (laughing)

    04

    That’s ballin'?

    05

    I guess men lie, women lie

  2. 06

    But numbers don’t

    07

    It's over for that ballin’

    08

    It's my turn

    09

    Brooklyn!

  3. 10

    [Chorus]

    11

    We fly high, no lie, you know this (Brooklyn!)

    12

    Foreign rides, outside, it's like showbiz (It's my turn)

    13

    We stay fly, no lie, you know this (Brooklyn!)

    14

    Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused

  4. 15

    [Verse 1]

    16

    Brooklyn get paper, tote big things

    17

    We chase niggas around they own ball game

    18

    Ball game nigga, it's over for you lames

    19

    Gimme back the chain, it's over for you dames

  5. 20

    Fuck y'all broads

    Multi-line diss block
    21

    Didn’t they ever tell you don’t fuck with a man’s family They'll fuck with y'all's?

    22

    Kidnap mine?

    23

    Nigga I will click-clack push your wig back further than Tyra Banks' hairline

    Block noteTurns the target into a visual punchline

    TargetJim Jones

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Nigga I will click-clack push your wig back further than Tyra Banks' hairline,” Jay-Z reduces Jim Jones to an exaggerated physical caricature instead of engaging the target's preferred public image. Why it was said: The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.” A visual insult is easy for an audience to remember and repeat; the goal is to make ridicule of Jim Jones travel beyond the song itself.

    ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

  6. 24

    Your bank versus mine

    Multi-line diss block
    25

    If you're ballin’, nigga what I’m doing can’t be defined

    26

    The Joneses can’t keep up

    27

    Maybe my nigga Nas, but I got stronger after Ether

    Block noteForces the dispute into a direct contest

    TargetJim Jones

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Your bank versus mine,” Jay-Z addresses Jim Jones as an opponent who must prove the claims being made rather than rely on reputation. Why it was said: The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.” The challenge narrows the argument to performance under pressure, where refusing or failing to answer can itself be presented as a loss for Jim Jones.

    ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

  7. 28

    [Chorus]

    29

    We fly high, no lie, you know this (Brooklyn!)

    30

    Foreign rides, outside, it's like showbiz (It's my turn)

    31

    We stay fly, no lie, you know this (Brooklyn!)

    32

    Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused

  8. 33

    [Verse 2]

    34

    Bed Stuy, Brownsville, CI

    35

    The Best in the game since Daddy Kane and B.I

    36

    My turn, we live, money to burn, nigga we on fire

    37

    G-5'er, Ace of Spade

  9. 38

    Make it real easy to book your babe

    39

    I’m running a Boston on these niggas

    40

    I’m watching ya Soundscan you keep renegin'

    41

    I’m trump-tight, I'm Trump-like

  10. 42

    I’m on my way to a billi, I play my cards nice

    43

    Niggas like "Hov, ya sound too rich!"

    44

    I'm like "Oh! Ain't that about a bitch?"

    45

    Ain't that we here for? Therefore

  11. 46

    I sound like I'm supposed to sound, meet me at the Clearport

    47

    I’m ballin’ for real, you pump faking it

    48

    Manhattan keep on making it, Brooklyn keep on taking it! Yeah!

  12. 49

    [Chorus]

    50

    We fly high, no lie, you know this (Brooklyn!)

    51

    Foreign rides, outside, it's like showbiz (It's my turn)

    52

    We stay fly, no lie, you know this (Brooklyn!)

    53

    Hips and thighs, oh my, stay focused

  13. 54

    [Outro]

    55

    Yeahh! Shoutout to all my real niggas in Harlem

    56

    145th & all that

    57

    All the Dominicans, OG Juan, Lower Eastside Tru-Life

    58

    This ain't about boroughs, this is about niggas and bitches

  14. 59

    It's game time, hehe

    60

    It's my turn

    61

    Let the games begin

    62

    YOUNG!