Song Cry

"Song Cry"
Single by Jay-Z
from the album The Blueprint
Released May 8, 2002
Format 12-inch single, CD single
Recorded July 2001
Genre Hip hop
Length 5:03
Label Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Writer(s) Shawn Carter, Douglas Gibbs, Randolph Johnson, Justin Smith
Producer(s) Just Blaze
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Jigga That Nigga"
(2002)
"Song Cry"
(2002)
"Honey"
(2002)

"Song Cry" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z and produced by Just Blaze. It was the fourth and final single from his sixth studio album The Blueprint and also appears on the 2001 live album Jay-Z: Unplugged.

"Song Cry" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance but lost to "Hot in Herre" by Nelly.

Background and content

In an interview with Bill Maher, Jay-Z stated that this song was actually inspired by three different relationships he had in the past, and he wrote about his different experiences all together in different verses.

The song is a slow and quiet melodic rap ballad in which Jay-Z laments the break-up of an earlier relationship due to his own neglect and infidelity. Admitting that he is too prideful to publicly display his emotions ("I can't see 'em coming down my eyes"), Jay-Z forces the song to "cry" instead.[1] This allows Jay-Z to mourn the break-up free of any damage to his masculine image as a street hustler. This furthers the notion that emotional vulnerability is a sign of weakness, especially within the Black community, as Black men in particular suppress vulnerability "in order to survive."[2]

"Song Cry" features female vocalist Jaguar Wright singing a sample of "Sounds Like a Love Song" by Bobby Glenn, though Wright is not identified in the liner notes of the album.

Notable live performances

During his 2006 Water for Life Tour, Jay-Z performed "Song Cry" at the Royal Albert Hall, the venue's first ever hip hop show. American actress Gwyneth Paltrow did the chorus.[3][4][5]

Sampled by other artists

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 45

See also

References

  1. Chaney, Cassandra (Spring 2014). "Typologies of Black Male Sensitivity in R&B and Hip Hop" (PDF). Journal of Hip Hop Studies.
  2. hooks, bell (2004). We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity. New York, NY: Routledge. p. 115. ISBN 0-415-96927-1.
  3. "Jay-Z joined by onstage by Chris and Gwynnie at London show". www.nme.com. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  4. "Jay-Z - Jay-Z. Albert Hall, London; Wednesday, September 27 - Live Reviews - NME.COM". www.nme.com. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  5. Myrie, Russell (2006-10-09). "Jay-Z, Royal Albert Hall, London - Reviews, Music - The Independent". www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-22.

By Conejo - Song Cry


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