Jay hearts kids

This post is the second in a series that counts down to Jay-Z's KeyArena concert Saturday, Oct. 17th.

In 1998, "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" cemented in the minds of millions the idea that Jay-Z exists on a higher plane than other humans, that he not only thinks different thoughts but perhaps breathes different air, or maybe no air at all.

The fact that "Hard Knock Life" is organized around a vocal sample from "Annie" gives a cutesy, surreal bent, and lends levity to a song that's essentially about how terrible life is in the ghetto (but not for Jay-Z, who you'll never be like). The beat, courtesy Mark the 45 King, is plinking pianos, Cockney kids, and the bare minimum drums and bass one needs to make a song, a lesson in restraint. For a blockbuster beat—the song was a huge hit, nominated for a Grammy, etc.—there are gaping holes of empty space.

"Hard Knock Life"'s underrated verses are some of Jay-Z's finest as a cadence player. In a bafflingly frilly and wholly original rhythmic scheme, Jay runs syllables together, stops short, and adds under-the-breath footnotes to lines. It's a "voice as instrument" statement.

"Clean" is old terminology in hiphop—"that beat is so clean," or, "damn that verse is clean" means, basically, enjoyably succinct—but "Hard Knock Life" takes hiphop past clean and into vacuum-sealed territory.

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Iconic video after the jump.