By shelz.

“Even Jaz made some scraps. He could have made more but he didn’t sign his contract.”-Jay-z

Sigh.

We have been down this road a few times before, no? Hov tosses some snide remark in Jaz-O’s general direction and then we pay the price. We are bombarded for weeks with 15 minute interviews about how Jay was a candy pants playground mark instead of Brooklyn’s answer to Pablo Escobar. It’s horrifying to think that this looms on the horizon again. I imagine 45-year-old-project bench warmers waxing nostalgic about when they were hot and S dot was not. They knock on doors to question random strangers about Jigga and his claims of officialness. They burn Rocawear hats, suggest he’s a rat. It’s just all so tedious.

I understand pride and Jaz-O’s need to defend himself. He says he can’t have his children thinking he can brush off the most public of affronts. His situation is embarrassing enough without having his one-time protégé shining the spotlight on his industry failures. I felt bad for Jaz when I saw him freestyle over that luke warm beat in someone’s homemade basement booth. His flow was tight. It always has been. His word play was smart and witty. That doesn’t make a difference though. Even if Jaz released the most miraculous 16 known to man over a beat that could raise the dead for one last head nod, he would still be in that basement.

Jay is the top Hip-Hop earner again this year. He has throngs of fans all over the world. The hottest female in the game wears his chain; his ring too. So why throw dirt on someone who was buried long ago? Half these youngsters out here only know Jaz-O as the old guy who shows up on Youtube Pavlov dog style every time Hov mentions his name. If Jay wanted him to fade into the past, he would leave him there. But I guess Jay likes having him around.

Keeping him on the periphery by taking unnecessary shots is just mean-spirited and childish. It’s not like the jabs he takes at Dame. Dame had a chance, but bad business and disposable white t-shirts took him under. Game is a loose cannon and enjoys the attention. He can count a Jigga diss as a way of maintaining relevance and ensuring French boys know how to use the word nigga properly. These are verbal ping-pong matches that really serve both parties; agenda well, whether you think Jay should be involved with them or not. But with Jaz it’s different. It’s really sad to watch. He looks defeated. I see his lips moving but his claims of being almost oblivious to the pot shots don’t ring true. I mean, why should this guy have to continue to take this?

We know the story. We have all heard everything the pair released prior to Reasonable Doubt. Jaz produced “Ain’t No N***a” and even sang on the hook. There was a not so amicable split after which Jay continued his legendary career and Jaz, well, didn’t. Jaz said they could have been successful as a duo, but ironically enough, Dame Dash foiled that. But both of them at this point have been reduced to spectators to Jay’s life just like us.

What Jay should remember is he didn’t create his success by himself. Many have contributed to the superstar status he claims. I’m not saying he owes Jaz anything outside of a bit of reverence, but he does owe him that respect, because if there was no Jaz-O all those years ago, there probably would be no Jay-Z now.

So Jay’s contempt for Jaz, while it comes and goes, probably shouldn’t play out on the world stage. It’s absolutely possible that there are some elements of their relationship that we aren’t aware of; factors that affect Jay’s behavior. And that’s simple conjecture. But if we don’t know the whole story, Jay’s pot shots should probably be left behind the scenes as well. So Jigga, my n***a, dead it. Please. You’re too old for that shit anyway.