Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)

"Nigga What, Nigga Who"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Amil & Big Jaz
from the album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Released	November 30, 1999 (1999-11-30)
Format	12-inch single, CD, Vinyl
Recorded	1998
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:53
Label	Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Writer(s)	S. Carter J. Burks T. Mosley
Producer	Timbaland
Jay-Z chronology "Girl's Best Friend" (1999) "Nigga What, Nigga Who" (1999) "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" (1999) Amil chronology "Can I Get A..." (1998) "Nigga What, Nigga Who" (1999) "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" (1999) Big Jaz chronology "Waitin'" (1996) "Nigga What, Nigga Who" (1999) "Let's Go" (2001)

"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" is the final single from rapper Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life. The song is produced by Timbaland and features two artists: Big Jaz, who raps one verse and Amil, who sings the track's chorus. The song is a popular track among fans, who think it is a great showcase for Jay-Z's raw talent, and is some of his fastest rapping work.^{[citation needed]}

The song's title was changed to "Jigga What, Jigga Who" to avoid airing the word "nigga".

In 2004, the song was mashed with Linkin Park's "Faint" in the six track EP Collision Course.

Lyrical structure

The song is based on a slow beat subdivided into an intricate pattern of staccato 32nd notes. The lyrical content is delivered extremely fast, matching the 32nd-note rhythm:

Motherfuckers wanna act loco
Hit 'em wit, numerous shots with the fo'-fo'
Faggots wanna talk to po-po's, smoke 'em like cocoa
Fuck rap, coke by the boatload
Fuck that, on the run-by, gun high, one eye closed
Left holes through some guy clothes
Stop your bullshittin', glock with the full clip
Motherfuckers better duck when the fool spit
One shot could make a nigga do a full flip
See the nigga layin' shocked when the bullet hit

On the mash up with Linkin Park, Jay-Z delivered the lines even quicker to fit with the music for "Faint".

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	84
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	23

Single track list

CD

1. "Nigga What, Nigga Who"
2. "Ain't No Nigga"
3. "Bring It On"

Vinyl

B-Side

1. "Ain't No Nigga"

See also

• List of Jay-Z songs

External links

• Music video for "Jigga What, Jigga Who" on YouTube