Jay-Z "99 Problems"

Black interactions with the police are a staple topic of rap. From the early days of rap to recent hits, it's no wonder a portion of people think nothing has changed in terms of how police interact with the black community.

Jay-Z used an autobiographical verse to create one of the more memorable rap songs involving the police. However, unlike many such songs that have some sort of martyrdom or otherwise tragic ending, Jay-Z comes out alive, having thwarted the authorities.

The song was produced by Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin, who appears in the car when the police over Jay-Z. Rubin has worked with many heavy-metal bands, giving the song a distinct sound compared to the rest of the album it appeared on, The Black Album.

Not without controversy, the line "... but a bitch ain't one" drew criticism during an interview with Terry Gross, who has a long history of confronting rappers with their use of misogynistic lyrics.

Location: Michigan, USA

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