i'm looking for a song that was a hit for, i'm 99% certain, Jay-Z. i bought his Chapter One hits collection in the hopes that it might be on there, but alas it ain't. i also have the Black Album and i know the song predates it.

the song itself (like describing songs is easy) has a high flute(?!) line in the chorus followed by a series of bass bumps. it was all over the tv for awhile, being on Real World and numerous other MTV shows amongst other popculture shows...

so, that said, here's the tracklist for Chapter One:
1. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) [Radio Edit]
2. Wishing on a Star [Radio Edit]
3. Sunshine [Radio Edit] - Melissa Morgan
4. City Is Mine [Album Version] - Foxy Brown
5. Can't Knock the Hustle [Radio Edit]
6. Ain't No ***** [Original Radio Edit]
7. Imaginary Prayer - Babyface
8. Money Ain't a Thang - Foxy Brown
9. Can I Get A...
10. Streets Is Watching
11. Money, Cash, Hoes - DMX
12. I Know What Girls Like [Fly Girly Dub]
13. Feelin' It
14. Dead Presidents II
15. Wishing on a Star [D Influence Remix][*]
16. Can't Knock the Hustle [Fool's Paradise Remix][*]
17. Ain't No ***** [Rae & Christian Mix][*]

and here's the tracklist for The Black Album:
1. Interlude
2. December 4th
3. What More Can I Say
4. Encore
5. Change Clothes
6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
7. Threat
8. Moment Of Clarity
9. 99 Problems
10. Interlude
11. Justify My Thug
12. Lucifer
13. Allure
14. My 1st Song

which means, can you think of any hits of his that are NOT on either of these albums? i suppose it's possible it was just one that he guested on. if that is the case, i should specify that it wasn't a guy-girl duet thing - so it wasn't a Beyonce track, for instance.

thanks!
-di doctor-

I think the song you're looking for is "Big Pimpin'"

Agreed.

Done and done.

How strange that Big Pimpin' wasn't on that hits collection, as the song was a big hit at least two years before that was released. Or was he just saving songs for "Chapter Two"? Because we all know musicial artists rarely follow up a volume one hits collection with an actual volume two... it's usually just a different compilation entirely.

As in:
Michael Jackson - HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Van Halen - The Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1
New Edition - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
...and others, I'm sure.

About a year ago, Rolling Stone had briefly mentioned that a full greatest hits collection from Jay-Z was due soon (the above CD is import only I believe), but I haven't heard anything about it since. I have Blueprint and the Black Album, but I'm holding off on picking any of his other albums up until I see the tracklisting.

Been waiting for a Jay-Z Best Of for awhile.

Honestly, he's got so many great songs that they likely won't be able to fit on any one greatest hits CD, that its worth it to own all his albums. Hell, nearly all the songs on "Reasonable Doubt" are classics.

agreed. i think the song i was looking for was "big pimpin'".

thanks!

Very true, I was actually thinking of picking up Reasonalbe Doubt next. The thing is, he's got so many great album cuts and such that definitely wouldn't appear on a single disc collection, but I ran out of room on the CD shelf a while ago.