DISSNATION
Verified archive entry

H.O.V.A

By DJ Envy · Targeting Nas

H.O.V.A is a diss track by DJ Envy targeting Nas. The recording also credits JAŸ-Z and Jay-Z. The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

Released2003
Annotated2
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    [Intro: Jay-Z (DJ Envy)]

    02

    Yo, uh, dim the motherfuckin' lights and the studio shades! (Yeah)

    03

    Skane Dollar (The People's Choice!)

    04

    Let's get this one (DJ Envy!)

    05

    Envy! Yeah, yeah

  2. 06

    Yeah, the Roc's in the building, oh yeah

    07

    (New Jay-Z!) It's Young, yeah, c'mon! (Woo, woo)

    08

    That shit sound like some superhero music right there (Okay)

    09

    Yeah

  3. 10

    Sound like my theme muh'fuckin' song right there

    11

    (Desert Storm Mixtape, Volume 1) I like this one

    12

    I can groove to this one (Yeah)

    13

    Skane Dollar where we at? Clue!

  4. 14

    Desert Storm

    15

    Yeah, let's get it (Whaaaat?)

  5. 16

    [Verse 1: Jay-Z]

    17

    Watch on arm, rims on tire

    18

    Hov' in the studio, the booth's on fire {Yeah!}

    19

    S. Carter kicks on my feet (Woo!)

    20

    Rocawear on my leg, Envy on the beat

  6. 21

    I made my first mil' off papi on The Hill

    22

    I made it in the rap game speakin' on the reels (That's real)

    23

    I'm blatant 'cause I passed the statute of limitation

    24

    And I'm makin' too much money to be going to jail (Hell nah)

  7. 25

    Who else you know on probation

    26

    Leave the country for a month and go on vacation? (Hehehehe)

    27

    Listeners, get your brain on drugs

    28

    Listen up, it's the flow that's like cocaine dust

  8. 29

    Her-on hero, do anything for dinero

    30

    Like Joe Pesci, Hov' is so deadly

    31

    In the middle of the ocean, racin' on jet skis (Pyoom!)

    32

    Get your mind right or get it on your left sleeve {Envy!}

  9. 33

    S.C., Jay-Z, either/or

    34

    Young Hova, Big Homie, read 'em off

    35

    Daddy is home, niggas are scared {Yup!}

    36

    Way before I put the key in the door

  10. 37

    Ain't no other kings in this rap thing, you kidding?

    38

    Nothin' but my chil'ren, one shot, they disappearing

    39

    I'm on a whole 'nother level

    40

    I don't take your Jacob watch, I just screw off the bezel

  11. 41

    [Break: Jay-Z (DJ Envy)]

    42

    Young

    43

    Young's in the building! Desert Storm!

    44

    It's the Roc! (DJ Envy)

    45

    This is what we do about this time of year

  12. 46

    (Blok Party...) Yeah

    47

    (Desert Storm Mixtape, Volume 1)

    48

    Sho' nuff! Gangsta.. (C'mon!)

  13. 49

    [Verse 2: Jay-Z]

    Multi-line diss block
    50

    Rapper slash, murderer slash

    51

    Punk motherfuckers, I will murder your ass

    52

    Gangster, somebody soon-to-be dad

    53

    Blueprint 2 homie, junior is mad

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetNas

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Punk motherfuckers, I will murder your ass,” DJ Envy converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at Nas. 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 violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts Nas as unable to return for another round.

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

  14. 54

    Mad 'cause his new son sound a little better

    Multi-line diss block
    55

    Knock a little harder, show the growth in his father

    56

    Sibling rivalries, damn, you gotta love it

    57

    All that spells in the end, better music for the public

    Block noteCasts Nas as a junior rival

    TargetNas

    MeaningWhat it means: Jay-Z calls Nas a younger musical descendant who is angry that the newer record hits harder, turning their rivalry into a family hierarchy with Jay-Z as the father. Why it was said: During the Nas–Jay-Z feud, seniority and influence were part of the argument over New York leadership. The father-and-son metaphor lets Jay-Z claim credit for the standard Nas is supposedly trying to surpass.

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

  15. 58

    [Outro: Jay-Z (DJ Envy)]

    59

    Gotta love it (You gotta love it)

    60

    Young! Desert Storm

    61

    It's the Roc!

    62

    It's what we do, beotch!

  16. 63

    (Fat shout, whole Roc-A-Fella, Dame Dash)

    64

    I'm just fuckin' with 'em (Big Topper, Jay-Z)

    65

    Skane-o! It's five in the mornin', let's get out of here

    66

    Let's burn..

  17. 67

    (Desert Storm, Epic! Switch it up!)