Izzo (H.O.V.A.)

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"

Single by Jay-Z

from the album The Blueprint

Released

August 21, 2001

Format

Recorded

2001

Genre

East Coast hip hop

Length

4:00

Jay-Z singles chronology

"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"
(2001)

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
(2001)

"Girls, Girls, Girls"
(2001)

	"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (2004) A 24-second sample of "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" by Jay-Z from The Blueprint
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"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (often referred to as "H to the Izzo") is the first single released by Jay-Z from his sixth album The Blueprint. It is among his most popular singles. This was the second song released off The Blueprint, after the diss track "Takeover", but the lead single from it. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. It was Jay-Z's first top 10 single as a lead artist.^[1]

The song, produced by Kanye West, prominently features a sample of "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, the second major hit in 2001 to sample that song (after "My Baby" by Lil' Romeo).

The music video takes place in New York City with Jay-Z, Damon Dash, Biggs, & other affiliates on a Roc-A-Fella parade float which features cameo appearances from Kanye West, Destiny's Child, Trina, Eve, Nelly, and OutKast.

The song was later mashed up with Linkin Park's "In the End" for their collaborative EP, Collision Course.

Lyrics

The first verse deals with the rapper's early career as a drug dealer, including his escape from conviction. The second verse narrates his struggles with the exploitative recording industry, while in the last verse he reverts to his childhood growing up in the Marcy Houses housing projects.

The song's lyrics "H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A" use the -izzle language code to spell out HOVA, which refers to a pseudonym given to himself ("Jayhova") for his self-proclaimed status as the god of MCs, a reference to Jehovah.

Charts

Chart (2001)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	8
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	4
U.S. Billboard Rap Singles	7
Dutch Singles Chart	69
Swiss Singles Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	21

References

↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jay-z-mn0000224257/awards

Jay Z songs

Reasonable Doubt	"Dead Presidents" "Ain't No Nigga" "Can't Knock the Hustle" "Feelin' It"

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1	"(Always Be My) Sunshine" "Wishing on a Star" "The City Is Mine"

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life	"Can I Get A..." "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" "Money, Cash, Hoes" "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)"

Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter	"Jigga My Nigga" "Girl's Best Friend" "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" "Things That U Do" "Big Pimpin'"

The Dynasty: Roc La Familia	"I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" "Change the Game" "Guilty Until Proven Innocent"

The Blueprint	"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" "Girls, Girls, Girls" "Jigga That Nigga" "Song Cry"

The Best of Both Worlds	"Honey"

The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse	"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" "Hovi Baby" "Excuse Me Miss"

The Black Album	"Change Clothes" "Dirt off Your Shoulder" "99 Problems"

Unfinished Business	"Big Chips"

Collision Course	"Numb/Encore"

Kingdom Come	"Show Me What You Got" "Lost One" "Hollywood"

American Gangster	"Blue Magic" "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." "I Know"

The Blueprint 3	"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" "Run This Town" "Empire State of Mind" "On to the Next One" "Young Forever" "A Star Is Born"

Watch the Throne	"H•A•M" "Otis" "Lift Off" "Niggas in Paris" "Why I Love You" "Gotta Have It" "No Church in the Wild"

Magna Carta Holy Grail	"Holy Grail" "Tom Ford" "Part II (On the Run)"

Watch the Throne 2	"Spiritual"

Featured singles	"Show & Prove" "I'll Be" "Be Alone No More" (Remix) "Money Ain't a Thang" "Heartbreaker" "Best of Me Part II" "Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)" "Do My..." "Fiesta" (Remix) "Welcome to New York City" "Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)" "Back in the Day" "Frontin'" "Crazy in Love" "Storm" "Dear Summer" "Go Crazy" "Get Throwed" "Déjà Vu" "Umbrella" "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" "Hot Tottie" "XXXO" (Remix) "Monster" "I Do" "Talk That Talk" "Suit & Tie" "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (Remix) "Pound Cake" "Know Bout Me" "Drunk in Love" "The Devil Is a Lie" "They Don't Love You No More" "Seen It All" "Pop Style" "I Got the Keys"

Promotional singles	"Shake It Off" (Remix) "Upgrade U" "Rehab" (Remix) "Mr. Carter" "Put On" (Remix) "Bye Bye" (Remix) "Brooklyn Go Hard"

Other singles	"In My Lifetime" "Who You Wit" "It's Alright" "Anything" "Hey Papi" "Swagga like Us" "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)" "Glory" "Clique" "All the Way Up" (Remix)

Book Category

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