Song: Izzo (H.O.V.A.) ~~ 2001 ~~ 4:00
Artist: Jay-Z
LP/CD: The Blueprint ~~ Roc-A-Fella ~~ 2001
Composers: S. Carter~K. West~B. Gordy~A. Mizell~F. Perren~D. Richards

Ladies and gentlemen
Let’s put our hands together for the astonishing

(H to the izzo, V to the izza)
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 8th wonder of the world
The flow of the century, oh, it’s timeless, Hov’
Thanks for comin’ out tonight
You coulda been anywhere in the world, but you’re here with me
I appreciate that, uh

H to the izzo, V to the izza
For shizzoo my niz who used to dribble down in VA
Was servin’ ‘em in the home of the turbans
Got it dirt cheap for them
Plus if they was short wit’ cheese I would work with them
Brought in weed, got rid of that dirt for them
Wasn’t born hustlers, I was birthin’ ‘em
H to the izzo, V to the izza
For sheezy my neezy keep my arms so greasy
Can’t leave rap alone, the game needs me
Haters want me clapped, they chrome it ain’t easy
Cops wanna knock me, D.A. wanna box me in
But somehow, I beat them charges like Rocky
H to the izzo, V to the izza
Not guilty, he who does not feel me
Is not real to me, therefore he doesn’t exist
So poof, vamoose, son of a b****

H to the izzo, V to the izza
For shizzoo my niz who used to dribble down in VA
H to the izzo, V to the izza
That’s the anthem, get your damn hands up

H to the izzo, V to the izza
Not guilty, y’all got to feel me
H to the izzo, V to the izza
That’s the anthem, get your damn hands up

I do this for my culture
To let ‘em know what a n**** look like when a n**** in a roaster
Show ‘em how to move in a room full of vultures
Industry shady, you need to be taken over
Label owners hate me, I’m raisin the status quo up
I’m overchargin’ n****s for what they did to the Cold Crush
Pay us like you owe us for all the years that you h**d us
We can talk, but money talks, so talk mo’ bucks

H to the izzo, V to the izza
For shizzoo my niz who used to dribble down in VA
H to the izzo, V to the izza
That’s the anthem, get your damn hands up

H to the izzo, V to the izza
Not guilty, y’all got to feel me
H to the izzo, V to the izza
That’s the anthem, get your damn hands up

Yeah, Hov’ is back
Life story told through rap
N****s actin’ like I sold you crack
Like I told you to sell drugs, no, Hov’ did that
So hopefully you won’t have to go through that
I was raised in the projects, roaches and rats
Smokers out back sellin’ they mama’s sofa
Lookouts on the corner focused on the Ave.
Ladies in the window focused on the kinfolk
Me under a lamp post, why I got my hand closed
Cracks in my palm, watchin’ the long arm of the law
So you know I seen it all before
I seen hoop dreams deflate like a true fiend’s weight
To try and to fail, the two things I hate
Succeed in this rap game, the two things that’s great
H to the izzo, V to the izza
What else can I say about dude, I gets busy

H to the izzo, V to the izza
For shizzoo my niz who used to dribble down in VA
H to the izzo, V to the izza
That’s the anthem, get your damn hands up

H to the izzo, V to the izza
Not guilty, y’all got to feel me
H to the izzo, V to the izza
That’s the anthem, get your damn hands up

(H to the izzo, V to the izza)
(H to the izzo, V to the izza)
(H to the izzo, V to the izza)
(H to the izzo, V to the izza)

Transcribed by: Char Star
Uploaded on: September 18, 2001