If you follow any rappers of note on social media, chances are you’ve seen them squeezing stacks of cash to their ears for what has become known as the international symbol for when the money’s calling. But now a few lines from JAY-Z’s 4:44 that address this “money phone” phenomenon have caused mild upheaval in the community, and rappers everywhere have weighed in on it.
On “The Story Of O.J.” — the new album’s first single, which talks about race and financial responsibility — Hov shows that he’s not impressed by the braggadocious gestures, rapping, “Y’all on the ‘Gram holding money to your ears/ There’s a disconnect, we don’t call that money over here.”
Reactions from rappers have varied from being offended to embracing it. Boosie Badazz was one of the first to respond with a lengthy rant where he said that JAY’s lyrics won’t change his ways. “If JAY-Z tell you jump off the Eiffel Tower, you going to jump? JAY-Z don’t run the South! I’m still holding money to my ear,” he said.
https://youtu.be/0IXnD9D_g50
Future took a different approach entirely. Last weekend, he posted a picture on his Snapchat account holding a large wad of cash to his ear with a caption reading: “U ain’t got the juice like dat. MOOD.”
The picture and caption were seen by many fans as a possible response to lines about him on 4:44‘s opener, “Kill Jay Z.”
Takeoff of Migos used jokes to respond to the lyrics. In a video posted online, he holds a couple of boxes of Backwoods to his ears. “Backwoods — what you call that, Jay? You don’t know nothing about that one,” he says before the focus switches to Quavo flexing his new car and diamond grill.
Blac Youngsta, a regular money phone answerer, couldn’t pass up the chance to reference it. In a video posted online to promote an upcoming concert, the rapper upgraded the money phone by holding a money bag to his ears, saying “Hello?” before continuing to talk about the concert.
Big Bank Black, CEO of Duct Tape Entertainment, doesn’t care what Hov thinks about using the money phone. He posted a video to Instagram a couple of days ago where he gave his response to Hov’s lyrics. “Fuck that shit JAY-Z talkin’ ’bout. Where I’m from we show that shit.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N8KbssyJCw
50 Cent took to Instagram with his response, claiming to be the originator of the pose. He posted a picture featuring himself and Floyd Mayweather holding stacks of money to their ears with the caption reading, “Just so you know where the Money to the ear thing came from. The Original TMT.”
50 may not have said how he felt about the lyrics, but he did let the world know that he wasn’t very impressed with Hov’s album, referring to it as “ Ivy League shit” in a video posted to Instagram.
Though it doesn’t look like money phone is going anywhere anytime soon, better hit the ATM for some photos just in case.
I rather these cats take that energy and use it to help their communities. Jay Z knit pick cats that are a problem indirectly.
Like kids rebelling against they pops
That shit look stupid.. Rich vs wealth.
And this sums it all up..
But look at the clowns who are responded lol. The closet thing to a legit business man has been 50…..and he’s already filed for bankruptcy once. None of these dudes are in Hova’s tax bracket. Where Big Bank is from, dude’s show that ish, and that’s why where he is from, dude’s is broke as fuck.
Jay trying to help them not make the same mistakes he did. He told them. He could have purchased a piece of property for $2 million. Today, it is worth $25 million. He is telling them to put the money phone down, and not make that same mistake
What “EXACTLY” is Jay-Z saying? I keep reading this statement, but no one is saying shit!
However, what he is saying is no more than the BOASTING HE CLAIMS THAT, “WE DON’T DO DAT OVER HERE”…..SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT TONE…..WHATEVER…..
Well said.
Props to Jay-Z. Humbleness is really lacking in rap and that’s unfortunate ese.
And this is why African Americans are not taken seriously. Jay you’re right, I know #salute
Ignorance at its finest. None of who responded are anywhere near Jay-Z’s status. They clearly have a lack of comprehension of what Jay is saying.
They need to grow up. #DUMBOS
What “EXACTLY” is Jay-Z saying? If you think about it, Jay-Z Boasting, and Bragging as well, so IGNORANCE DON’T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT EGO’S DO…
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AIN’T NEAR ONE OF THEM GOT MORE THAN GOD, SO ALL OF THEM NEED TO BE MINDFUL, ESPECIALLY JAY-Z BEFORE HIM AND HIS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS GO DOWN WITH THE ELEVATOR, LITERALLY DOWN!
PEACE, AND DON’T EVEN TRIP……DOWN SOUTH, TYPE AH TIME….ONE….
Hey “bosslady”, why don’t you give me your address so I can come over and crack your ugly face wide open.
What J is saying is – I can’t complete with these youngins no more back hurt, knees hurt and ankle swelling. So I’m going to get them where it hurts, their egos with their young and healthy bodies. Sure I use to say and do the same thing but I’m 50 so since I have to change the conversation they will to. If this album was so great why doesn’t he address the Trump administration and some of their policies instead of picking fights with 19 and 20 year olds.
Them dudes are corny. Period.
Well said…. Had a 3rd grade teacher that constantly stated… Empty wagons make the most noise!!!
Ignorant black shit.
Stop getting at Jay, Just like most of the lyrics on 4:44, it’s clearly his wife telling him what to think and say.
It’s not Hovs fault his wife’s hair is too big to hold money to her hair, it’s not Hovs fault he ain’t got a back bone anymore…
Ignorant ignorant ignorant. These rap fools will never learn. They just don’t get it. And people look up to these clowns.
Lmaoooo ya do realize he got more bread than all of the rappers put together… lmaooo Jesus Christ they completely missed the point. Fuckin idiots
I know fame is the easies thing to get bur I often wonder why and how some of these black folks got/get deals for being apparently lacking in intelligence in lyrical content and displayed lifestyle.
Like someone said, all these folks and others in rap community put togetherdo not & will never have Sean Carter’s money and rather than heeding to one or two lessons this is what they do.
The sad part is these are people some folks are seriously looking up to.
So what if they don’t have or ever get J’s money. It looks like they are doing alright without it. The only fools buying into that 4:44 crap is clueless broke black people. I’m going to break it down for you: J has no other choice to rap about grown up things because music has changed and is pretty much revolving around much younger artist and youthful sounds. The same thing he is chasting everyone else about he has already done. I think black people should stop looking to celebrities as saviours and actually educate ourselves. He is making millions off of the crazies that are buying into his lifestyle. Release an album right when your gives birth…Free publicity. Now guess who will benefit from all those tax credits Trump is about to give the wealthy? Hint it definitely won’t be your children. He didn’t talk that on the album did he…
We’ve reach the point where we can’t wait for our ignorant brothers to catch up, it’s real in the world right now, y’all wanna hold money to ya ears, make it rain in the club, and just be ignorant clowns, yall gotta get left behind. These ppl in real power, got real bad plans for us, if we don’t get on the same page, and soon, it’s gonna be a sad world for our next generation.
Very well said.
Jayz plus Beyonce = a billion, now a billionaire tells you to invest and have credit but you laughin and doing exactly what he told you not to do and expect to reach his level? Clowns!
These rappers all rapping about the same shit; fucking holes & blowing money. Then you have a rapper given you the blue print to success on many levels but these ignorant fucks can’t comprehend it or choose to diss it. That’s what’s wrong with OUR COMMUNITY, we don’t want to advance. Jay-Z’s 4:44 is a instant classic. Take notes and keep your ignorant comments to yourself people. Yall sound dumb!!
its fucking “hoes” NOT “holes” now you sound fucking dumb!
Simple typo to me . How did u get ignorant out of that. Damn Jay really got y’all butthurt sensitive. Lmao
It was a simple typo chill out was not that deep. We know what the person meant. Ppl lawd help’em. I did some typos too lol. Cheer up kid.
If there was ever a black versus n***a moment…yes! Isn’t ‘t?
Notice that it’s always the Southern rappers that get butthurt over some intelligent shit.
And yet you somehow missed 50 Cent’s, a NY rapper, response. Reading is fundamental. Even in Detroit.
All New York so called Real Hiphop artist are broke and nobody listens to their music so Jay plays big bro and defends new york in a snakey jigga fashion .
You never lied that shits country as hell anyway
I never heard the line where he said put them down. I heard him say we don’t call that money over here clever ass line when you look at it… Boys can do what they want it’s just an observation as I see it
Its MEN do what they want. BOYS do what they can. And the boys out here looking like cornballs mad at Jay Z.
First line is like a Tupac quote but it true though.
Remy Ma fake diss , Joey Badda$$ talk down on PAC and Jigga next with the Ole bag of NY artist tricks for attention and drop an album . NY artist abuse these promo methods because #TheirMusicTrash .
So i guess they get all that $ from disability checks and not being creative and artistic?? Whether YOU like it or not, it’s poppin, been poppin, and will stay poppin. Stop checking for radio, hip hop is not just fucking music. Even if the south is retarded, the music matches the background, which is the essence of hip hop. Fuck ass Northerner.
o please before IG there was music videos. Which jayz would show is flash all the time. His cars his hos his chains whatever. Like as long as you anit spending the money on dumb stuff all the time i see no problem with it.
Fuck jay z.
He just saying that the money they’re bragging about isn’t called money to him. Rappers are so sensitive. I guess the truth hurts.
If the rappers didn’t care what jay z is saying about the money phone…then why all the responses and backlash..so sensative these rappers are.
For publicity, cant go having Jay take up the spotlight. You could say you don’t like black people eating chicken on a record, and guys will try and get famous from that
HOE JAY Z HALL OF FAME SIT YOUR PUNK ASS DOWN
That money to the ear shit is completely stupid and those mf’s doing it are the 1st ones to get robbed
True. All they doin is creating a database for stick up kids. No need to drive around lookin for licks…just check the gram
JAYS RIGHT
GO AND WATCH DRINK CHAMPS WITH AKINYELE . HE SAID JAY Z WAS GETTING PAID $10 DOLLARS A DAY FOR FOOD ON TOUR ALL OF THEM WERE BROKE HE STATED . JAY Z A FRAUD . #10DOLLARS #REALLY
He on top of forbes. He use your rent money for lunch. Fall back
MONEY HE GOT FROM LABELS TO LIE ON RECORDS ABOUT HOW HE WAS A KINGPIN WHEN HE CAME IN THE GAME ON A $10 DOLLAR BUDGET . JAY Z THE BIGGEST FRAUD IN THE MUSIC BIZ .
Please dumbass. I’m from NY. My family did business with Jay back in the day. He worked for some famous hustlers. He might of had a $10 budget when he was a hype man on tour with BDK, but trust me, he really was in the game. Deep.
So let me get this right ? You work for hhdx but your family did business with Jay back in the day . FOH
Wow yet he talks that kilo king pin shit . But came in the game on a 10 dollar budget .
10 dollars in the 90’s is like 15 dollars now so… Lol
So your sayin rocafeller was formed off of a 10 dollar budget ?
I heard Jay Zs bulge is bigger than those phone moneystacks
Nice masonic posture 50
Then your LAWYER calls on your REAL phone and says you have been indicted by the FEDS for NOT PAYING TAXES. Stupid motherfuckers. “Where I’m from we show that shit.” Seriously? Hustlers move in silence. Ever heard of Al Capone? Clown.
All Jay can talk about is money! Dude has no more street cred. He doesnt hustle illegally. How you gonna hate on people showing they getting money? Dude sound like a bitter old man that gets upset when other people show they getting money cause he know he got more then them. He probably sees those pics and says I got more money then that. Especially black artist getting money. How you gonna hate on that? I can hate on him for keeping his billions in a white owned bank that makes millions of the interest off his “rap money” FOH!
A white owned bank … I think you’re putting to much thought into this one – I would suggest thinking more about how banks work then what skin colour the owner is. For example; banks do not make their gravy off interest. They take your money (all clients money) and flip it over and over. That’s the real way banks make money. The interest is just extra on top – this goes for everything. There’s a game being played here and it’s much deeper than skin colour. Learn the game and you’re now one step ahead – or keep wasting your energy on what skin colour the owner of an establishment has
8 Ball? Really? Dude you in Russia? Everyone you mentioned was poppin in the 90’s Pac is dead btw if you didnt know no money phone for him so….I think you need Google in your life
Sorry but I cant relate to a 47 year old billionaire married to a pop princess. I didnt grow up in the hood with anyone like that. Sorry for not having millions of dollars like you? Didnt know that was so offensive Jay. Remember if you dont have billions they dont post it on IG cause the richer people will get offended
You sound dumb as shit he from the gutta and he’s giving these clowns the platform but as usual they don’t wanna listen
But yet every legitimate business model structure is a pyramid…damn who’s raising you niggletts?
Hadn’t even heard of this “money phone”, before. Haha, so dumb. Yeah, no one is impressed with you dumbasses thinking money matters so much. Idiots.
Then why do you listen to Jay-Z?
“It’s funny how one verse can fuck up the game”
true story bro
A grown man showing stacks of money really… future needs to stop! How about posting more pictures with your son instead of stepfather being father!…
LOOK AT THE FOOLS! HHdx acting like their responses were hot when in fact it was flat out embarrassing! If I hear one more dumb nigggaa say they can’t relates to smart lyrics, I’m liable to lose my mind. Everything these weirdos have, Jay already had and acknowledges that the way he used some of his money was a mistake. All of the artist shown, sell a few hundred thousand records which is mostly streams and they have to tour like slaves in order to make any real money and that’s a fact. The point is that at some point you’re not the “future” you are the past and nobody wants to see you on stage anymore but you didn’t sell millions of records either so your royalties is slim. These guys are coming at Jay while the very people that pay them, laugh at them everyday! I’m only 24 and to me Jay’s album is common sense! It’s time to smarten up
Well said.
I’m the same age as you and thought similarly about this article. If we can comprehend what Jay Z said and understand it as a lesson to be taught through his own mistakes for the betterment of our culture and future and not as a diss or a snobbish remark, then I’m shocked and saddened to witness grown men like 50 cent and others fail to understand and support that same message. It’s almost laughable to see how a verse has struck a nerve with so many rappers and expose their immaturity and ignorance as well, all the more emphasising Jay Z’s point. I have nothing against people celebrating achievements in their careers, but what these rappers’ flaunting/stunting actions do is: give false hope to their followers of what real achievement really is, exposes them as targets to be easily robbed of that wealth and finally gives the impression that they appear to be living in the moment and not forward thinking in maintaining and recirculating that wealth for the future of themselves, families and communities and that may be the disconnect that Jay Z was referring to.
Muthafuckaz with new money doing some stoopid ass shit, meanwhile real moneymaking Bosses do not need 2 do retarded ass shit like that! If Bill Gates or Warren Buffet ain’t doing that bullshit when they really could do swimming pool fulled up with money 2 the ear!
The money phone thing is stupid as hell yes, but who cares. People like to play around and take silly pics, it doesn’t hurt anyone, I don’t see what the big deal is.
You want to know what God thinks of money just look at the fools who have it… Be Healthy y’all the future of your loved ones depend on it
A Bunch of clown rapper’s with little money compared to hov black dummies with the same mentality as a street hood dude wake up
We parish from the lack of knowledge , Take a look at the entertainers above the content of their raps is about drugs robbery or sex and the same with their videos .A Fool And His Money Shall Part ! Jay Z told the truth in his rap and only some ignorant rappers who felt guilty spoke out real wealthy people are never showing stacks of cash you will never see Warren Buffet or anyt other billionair doing what these soon to be broke rappers doing
We perish…. not parish . Try to teach them
Hum hum hum…WinTF is wrong with these Black men. The miseducation of the Black man.
The real wealthy don’t want you to know how wealthy they are. The money phone is sucker-ish. Get your money up.
While I’m certainly against holding money to the ear, or flaunting wealth…or fake wealth, etc; The racist comments here make it seem like black people or rappers are the only people who flaunt money and that’s the cause of why blacks as a whole are disadvantaged. It’s simply not true, and ridiculous. Let’s not act like billionaires don’t flaunt money. No it’s not putting money to the ear, but it’s 7 houses, 20 cars, 2 yachts, and 3 private jets even though you can only use one at a time. I’m pretty sure billionaires compete with who can have the biggest yachts or mega mansions. Heck, most Americans do the same thing. Live in homes they can’t afford, cars they can’t afford, buy everything on credit, live paycheck to paycheck…all just to show how “successful” they are. How is that different from money to the ear? Everybody loves to judge. I’m sleep though. Let’s be clear, I’m against the money to ear pose and think it’s completely classless. But don’t make flaunting gestures a race thing.
Generally speaking lol? So based on your assumptions, I can conclude that most of America is African American right? Show me a statistic that says more African Americans spend like that than other groups? Because I can easily show you numerous sources that show most Americans are living far beyond their means; and the last time I checked most Americans are NOT black.
No you cannot conclude that. Read it again. If you don’t believe me, goo look up stats on which demographics spend the most per capita on luxury goods. Start there. Don’t ask another man to present you withstats. Do your own research but don’t front to save face. You clearly are misinformed.
all these rappers have more money than you
if you had money you wouldn’t show off a little.
they worked hard to accomplish something. let them have it. is it really that big of deal to you guys?
Best comment by far!
I don’t know what’s more disturbing, the fact that somebody took the time to write this article or the fact somebody cared enough to read about this bullshit.
Hhdx, Please grow the fuck up and check your priorities. This is trash journalism.
meanwhile Mayweather trying to sue the IRS so he can put off paying his 2015 taxes……smh
when jay talk people listen
That’s WHY most these ‘rappers’ will be BROKE, DECEASED or IN PRISON and JAY be a BILLIONAIRE for decades to come! Ghetto, immature, materialistic, shortsided BULLSH*T, the icon trying to feed you a gem of knowledge and you so far in the gutter you can’t hear it or learn from it……….. Oh well! #MumbleStumbleBumbleFumbleCrumbleCrappers
I can tell you got jay z pajamas bed sheets & all the accessories. You play with yourself when his music is dont you?!
Boosie is dead on it with his comments. Do what the fuck u want when u & how u want to do it. Jay need to quit frontin cause 1 wrong move or comment & them white folks he think he cool wit will come take all his shit!
I would like to know what gem jay is droppin. Sounds to me like a senile old man just droppin random names & talkin a bunch of shit cuz he got the backin of his financial elite so called friends. Jay is was & never will be a leader in my eyes. Nor does the dude speak for me or any my people. Im wit boosie do what you want when you & how you want. Them folks do it all the time.
are all of you new to rap? for decades it’s been all about bragging about a lifestyle rappers only wish they lived… but now that Jay says something, people are all up in arms about how flaunting wealth is wrong???? WTF!?
Soooooo why Boosie trying so hard to even make money of that overrated shit y’all call rap, Mayweather in suing the IRS, and before Power, 50 wasn’t hitting on shit. Migos supposed to be GANGSTAS and wearing flower shirts with they Lil bird chests out, and they all got something to say about a VERSE on a song, on an album that web to platinum in a matter of weeks WITHOUT being on ITunes. Funny brah!!!!
50 Cent can’t even make an Ivy League shit album these days… Put up or shut up!! #caseclosed
They are hating on Jigga because he’s sounded off on the hip hop community, and for what it seems like, a viable reason…wtf is a money phone? All the flossing is dead man. Rappers need to tone it down! That’s all the guy is saying! Stop flossing that little temporary bank roll!
We all going in the same dirt at the end of the day. Protect your familys ,invest in your health and find real faith….. money is worthless… real power is people… bless