"Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." is the second single from Jay-Z's tenth studio album, American Gangster.[1] The song is produced by Skyz Muzik, Diddy and two of his producers known as LV and Sean C from his production team, The Hitmen.[2] It features additional vocals by Beyoncé, Kanye West and Cassie. The song samples "Make the Road by Walking" by The Menahan Street Band.[3] On December 11, 2007, Rolling Stone named it the best song of 2007.[4]
| "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." Vinyl Case | ||||
| Single by Jay-Z | ||||
| from the album American Gangster | ||||
| Released | October 10, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2007 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Shawn Carter | |||
| Producer(s) | Diddy, The Hitmen, Skyz Muzik | |||
| Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video
editThe music video was directed by Chris Robinson and costume designed by June Ambrose.[5] The video was shot in New York City in Jay-Z's The 40/40 Club.[6]
The intro of the video contains the chorus from Hello Brooklyn 2.0. The video features cameo appearances by Nas, Rick Ross, Memphis Bleek, Diddy, Freeway, Terrence J, Tru Life, Young Gunz, Jadakiss, Yaya DaCosta, Swizz Beatz, Drew Sidora, Kristia Krueger, Chain 4, Chantel, Beanie Sigel, Cassie, DJ Clue, Larry Johnson, Tristan Wilds, Just Blaze, Zab Judah, The-Dream, Irv Gotti and Mariah Carey.[6] Kanye West is not featured in the video because of a scheduling conflict, at the time he was on tour in Dubai, as posted in his blog.
The young Jay-Z was portrayed by actor Samgoma Edwards. Director Chris Robinson personally sought out Edwards for the role after Edwards and his older brother Samtubia Edwards and friend Chris Alvarez shot their own video project titled "The Young Hov Project",[7] based on tracks from Jay-Z's The Black Album.[5]
Remixes and sampling
editBeanie Sigel has also announced that he and Jadakiss have finished the official remix of the track, which features the both of them on vocals.[8] However, there is an alternate remix featuring Young Chris from the Young Gunz and Busta Rhymes.
Rapper Asher Roth samples Roc Boys extensively in his own version of the song called Roth Boys which was released on his debut mixtape The Greenhouse Effect
Numerous freestyles were conducted by several artists such as Wale (present in The Mixtape About Nothing), Asher Roth (present in "The Greenhouse Effect"), and Rick Ross.
This song was also sampled by The Game and Lil Wayne in the song "Red Magic" with the chorus by Lil Wayne, singing excerpts of "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)" chorus.
The song is referenced (if only in title) by fellow rapper and Jay-Z collaborator Saigon (rapper) on his debut album The Greatest Story Never Told.
The song is sampled heavily in Girl Talk's song "Set It Off".
The song was also sampled heavily in a remix produced by Norwegian DJ Matoma.
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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In popular culture
editThe instrumental version of “Roc Boys” is played at San Francisco Giants home games at Oracle Park as starting lineups are introduced.
Blue Ash is a suburb of Cincinnati.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Omar Burgess (October 1, 2007). HHDX News Bits: Young Buck, Jay-Z. HipHopDX. Accessed October 1, 2007.
- ^ The Producers Behind Jay-Z's American Gangster Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine. XXL (October 25, 2007. Accessed October 25, 2007.
- ^ Sample & Example: Menahan Street Band & Jay-Z. Hip-Hop Is Read (October 24, 2007. Accessed October 24, 2007).
- ^ The 100 Best Songs of 2007 Rolling Stone (December 11, 2007). Accessed December 13, 2007.
- ^ a b Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Liz Hernandez. Mixtape Monday: Jay-Z Borrows The-Dream's 'Hook'; Young Buck Says His Album 'Is Better Than Kanye's And 50's' MTV. Accessed November 25, 2007.
- ^ a b Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Liz Hernandez (November 8, 2007) Jay-Z Parties It Up With Mariah Carey, Nas, Diddy At 'Roc Boys' Video Shoot Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine MTV. Accessed November 25, 2007.
- ^ TeamGuerrillaFilms YouTube. Accessed November 25, 2007.
- ^ Def Sounds Reporting on Roc Boys Remix. Roc Boys Remix To Feature Beanie Sigel & Jadakiss Archived 2007-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed December 14, 2007.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2021.