October 3, 2006.  As far as the history of rap goes, this day was certainly a milestone.  Joeseph Guillermo Jones II (known on da streetz as Jim Jones, leftmost in the above picture) stunned the world with what had to be one of the best rap songs in recent memory.  On that day, Jones released the quintessential track “We Fly High“, known solely due to its frequent use of the now popular phrase “ballin‘”, and essentially made a name for himself.  Then, like many other great rappers, Jones temporarily fell off, in what could have been a career ending move.

He kept his name in the media over the next few years by getting involved in a couple of beefs with rappers Tony Yayo and Jay Z.  Then he realized he needed money and went back to the beat laboratory to craft a new hit song.  His efforts culminated in the release of “Pop Champagne“, a rather catchy number featuring liberal use of the auto-tune and one of the worst music videos to date.  This may have pleased some of his fans, but not me.  I wanted more of the old Jones, none of this mainstream garbage.  Luckily, this wait was short lived since Jones decided to release another song “Na Na Nana Na Na“.

This track redefines the term catchy.  It starts out with some banging drums and Jones reminding us of the current year.  From this point on, Jones lays down rhyme after rhyme and really locks into a flow that keeps this song rollin’.  It appears the song’s central theme focuses on Jones’ high level of swagga as seen in the lyrics “They only got me cuz they caught it on a camera, they wanna ball but they ain´t got no stamina (they need it).”  Soon after this self affirmation, Jones lays down what may be one of the greatest similes since those seen in the writings of Oscar Wilde when he gives a S.O. to his hood and says “Harlem is one big ski slalom, I guess the Hill is like the Swiss Alps, we bring them whips out”.  Talk about meaningful.

Following this piece of poetic genius, we hit the chorus where Jones talks about evading law enforcement and “gettin money like nananananana.  Thug life.  After the chorus, just when you think the song could not get any better, your mind is blown when Jones calls out the haters stating “I got dogs and they not on a leash, so I hope you understand, do you copy? capesh?”.  This seems to be a rather dangerous move as it is surely a jab at Jones’ past nemesis Yayo and could incite a future beef.  Jones doesn’t seem to care about the potential repercussions of his harsh words though as he mentions how he’s back and is clearly doing rather well since “the money taste sweet like pastry”.

After the second chorus, Jones feels it necessary to confirm his wealth yet again in stating “pocket so fat like Raspusha”.  This one clearly goes out to his hardcore fans as no fair-weather fan would have the slightest inkling who Raspusha is.  I am embarrassed to admit it, but I myself did not know and had to look it up.  In doing so, I was luckily able to clear up the confusion via a helpful video on Raspusha’s myspace page.  For the rest of the song, Jones lets the listener know just how shifty he is with such lyrics as “bought the new Fiskar flew it through the ghetto” and “we pop champagne until the club let out”.

At the end of the song, we know three things.  First of all, “ain´t nuthin changed, just the decimal point, you get the point?” Second of all, Jones has mad bank, and finally, Jones is back on top of his game.  In fact, he is more than just back, he is back with a vengeance to take down all competitors in the rap game as seen in his allusion to his masterpiece “We Fly High” through the gramatically correct statement “fly high or get flew over.”

Great song!

Download Na Na NaNa Na Na

–ja