I think the root cause of hate is personal resentment. A ‘hater’ is unable to deal with the internal struggle that he or she goes through, the struggle that is often due to his or her external conditions and mental flaws. People who hate on others’ success actually hate on their own failures even more. I have to keep it real: I got 99 problems but hating ain’t one. Why? Well, I’ll let Jay-Z’s lyrics from N*ggas in Paris explain it to you:
I ball so hard, muthaf*ckers wanna fine me
But first n*ggas gotta find me
What’s 50 grand to a muthaf*cka like me
Can you please remind me?
Ball so hard, this sh*t’s crazy
Yal don’t know that don’t shit phase me
The Nets could 0 for 82
And I look at you like this sh*t gravy
Ball so hard, this sh*t weird
We ain’t even supposed to be here
Ball so hard, since we here
It’s only right that we’d be fair
Psycho: I’m liable to go Michael
Take your pick…
Jackson, Tyson, Jordan…game six
Ball so hard, got a broke clock
Rolleys that don’t tick tock
Audemars that’s losing time
Hidden behind all these big rocks
Ball so hard, I’m shocked too
I’m supposed to be locked up too
If you escape what I’ve escaped
You’d be in Paris getting f*cked up too
Ball so hard, let’s get faded
Le Meurice for like 6 days
Gold bottles, scold models
Spillin’ Ace on my sick J’s
Ball so hard, b*tch, behave
Just might let you meet ‘Ye
Chi town’s D. Rose
I’m moving the Nets to BK
Oh, Jay definitely comes with heavy swag on his verse. The truth is at least 75% of the lyrics in his verse are straight up braggadocio. But that’s ok- if you’ve listened to Jay-Z for as long as I have, you’ve come to expect that. It’s the 25% of the lyrics in this verse that puts the rest in proper context. I want to put an extra bright spotlight on the part of the verse that I believe is most profound, but let me set it up with these lines first:
Ball so hard, this sh*t weird
We ain’t even supposed to be here
Ball so hard, since we here
It’s only right that we’d be fair
Here, Jay takes a moment to “admit” that their lifestyles are “weird” in the sense that they “ain’t even supposed to be” where they are. Some of the most successful people have come from some of the most humble beginnings. It’s hard for them to imagine that they would be where they are. Jay and Kanye may have the look and sound of swagger, they may carry on as if they knew things would play out the way it did, but they know full well that where they are in life is not a likely outcome, and frankly, not completely of their doing. There are external factors that explain their success.
In some ways, Jay shows a bit of humbleness in these lyrics. But regardless, these lyrics should give us some insight on the mindset and motivations of those who are very successful at whatever they do. As ambitious as some of us are, very few of us are able to accurately predict just how successful we are to become.
Here’s the part of the verse that I encourage you to really focus on…
Ball so hard, I’m shocked too
I’m supposed to be locked up too
If you escape what I’ve escaped
You’d be in Paris getting f*cked up too
Jay tells us that he is as “shocked” by the level of his success as his supporters and haters alike. Why? Because based on where he came from and things he was involved in, he was “supposed to be locked up too”. Jay’s words reaches people from all over the world, of all races, classes and ages, yet he is directly speaking to the streets in these lyrics.
He’s saying, “I came from the kind of conditions that you came from. I hustled in the streets just like you hustled in the streets. I was supposed to meet the same fate that many of you have (or will) meet-incarceration or even death. But something happened…I escaped.”
We all know that if you get involved in certain activities you’re likely to end up dead or in jail. The truth is you can change your outcome if you escape. Your outcome depends on your income and I’m not just talking about money. Before you can increase your bank account, assets and material things, you must first increase your knowledge, motivation and hustle. Jay-Z sold drugs but he didn’t escape his condition because of illegal activity. Ultimately, a career in music was his way out.
Regardless of what you’re led to believe, keep in mind that there is not one, two or three ways to overcome your struggle. There are many legitimate ways to escape your situation. To “escape” doesn’t mean to become a platinum selling rap artist/music mogul- it could mean simply getting your high school diploma, going to college and starting a legitimate career that allows you to take care of yourself and provide for your family.
Jay is acknowledging what we already know: Based on the life he lived (the kind of life that some us have lived or are currently caught up in), he could easily be in prison or worst right about now.
Some of us choose to celebrate while others choose to hate.
Regardless of where you are right now, whether you’re in the streets, in prison, unemployed or just living a “normal” life with a nine-to-five job, I want you to do something for me:
When you’re not around your friends, when you’re not frontin’, I mean “stuntin” hard for your girl-when you’re alone and free to think your own thoughts without being influenced by a herd mentality, ask yourself this question:
If you escape like Jay-Z escaped…would you be in Paris getting f*cked up too??
Now give yourself a honest answer.
It’s a “yes” or “no” question, don’t add “but this” or “but that”….
If your answer is “no”….keep hating.
If your answer is “yes”…stop (or don’t start) hating and keep (or start) grinding until you escape your condition.
And by the way: “Getting f*cked up in Paris” is just a line that reflects a certain kind of lifestyle. Ballers ball because they can. You could be “getting f*cked up” in Idaho if you so choose, as long as you’re living the life that you want to live. Your answer to the question I’m posing to you should not be based on your morals, values or lifestyle preferences versus Jay-Z’s. What I’m asking:
If YOU were to reach YOUR ultimate definition of success in YOUR life, would YOU enjoy the rewards of that success as much as Jay enjoys his?
The “true” haters won’t answer the above question honestly because they’re so overwhelmed by their own failures and setbacks that they’re simply unable or unwilling to find validity in others’ success.
Most of us who go through struggles aren’t “true” haters, we just haven’t escaped…yet. The combination of great desire in the midst of great struggle often causes some of us to fall victim to hating on others who are in a place in their lives that we haven’t yet reached or may never reach in our own lives.
You have to find your own place in this world. You might not move as fast and you might not move as far as someone else, but you just have to keep moving. You may never “ball so hard” in Paris, but you can escape your struggle and “ball so hard” in a way that is meant for you.
Jay’s verse in N*ggas in Paris is classic Jigga; he’s boastful yet insightful, line-by-line. Less than 1% of his listeners can relate to his lifestyle but nearly 100% (hopefully) of us can relate to his determination to succeed and “ball so hard”.
One thing Jay-Z didn’t really touch on in N*iggas in Paris are the details of the actual hard work that it took for him to get to where he is today. But, really, does he have to state the obvious? You, as the listener, should be able to fill-in-the-blanks and read between the lines.
Where do you want to be in your life? How are you going to get there? Be honest with yourself: Are you truly taking the steps toward reaching the goals you’ve set in your life? Or, are you simply fantasizing about how your life would (or “should”) be if you lived like “this guy” or “that lady”?
Consider this: Before you hate on others, if you were in their shoes, would you “ball” just as hard? If your answer is “yes”, then their success should serve as inspiration as you work hard to reach yours.
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