Jay-Z Decodes “Paradise” Verse

Jigga Man debuted a new verse last night while performing with Coldplay at the Paralympics in London. Instead of dropping the audio, he broke down his lyrics on Life + Times. Reading is fundamental.

The thought behind the verse is, anyone with a disability, just wants a sense of normality – that’s why they’re competing in these games. That was the idea to make the verse as inclusive for as many people, and to make it as normal as possible. It’s influenced by so many different things. There are parts that are influenced by Gabby Douglas, there are parts that are influenced by Ryan Lochte, and by Serena Williams. 

It can relate to everybody. ‘You can take everything,’ means whether through some tragedy you lost a limb, like an arm or a leg. Or, it could be something like you lost the mortgage to your house. That’s pretty much the idea.

I deserve a gold medal, get on my level/
I deserve platinum plaques, to match my bezel/
I walk around with five rings [“five rings” being the Olympic Rings], so pimpish/
Welcome to the Paralympics/
It’s paradise, this is the story of Gabby/
It’s paradise, it’s paradise/
Tears in her eyes, she sacrificed, he sacrificed, she paid the price/
This is everything, everything she ever dreamed/
She had nightmares she wouldn’t be here, she made the team/
From the projects to the podium, accepting awards with my Rollie on/
Gettin’ Gold medals with my grill in [Ryan Lochte, obviously]/
C-walking, cause all they see is a villain [Serena, obviously]/
More belts than Phelps, Merry Christmas, my presence is felt/
Gold medals around my throat/
You can take everything, except the hope of reaching paradise.

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  1. Sincere says:

    This verse makes so much more sense now since The vid starts half way through. RR we need a full version

  2. Nickey Negrito says:

    ……and all them dudes who hated previously on the other post will still find a reason to hate again. They will analyze the word “pimpish” “bezel” “c-walking” and critcize Jay for that.

    Haters are so lame but won’t admit.

  3. Sincere says:

    ^^Yea a couple of em need to swallow they key boards cuz this verse is perfectly fit and tailor made dot the event. Hope there a clear audio to be be released

  4. pienman says:

    damn, damn! this is wat i’m talking bout HOV! Black excellence at its finest

  5. beezy says:

    i wanna hear the audio to this, sounds DOPE

  6. Keith says:

    This verse is a bit topical for my tastes. But mot hating. Hov is my favorite rapper.

  7. COLA says:

    this man never seize to amaze me!! REAL HIP HOP!

  8. King says:

    actually a dope verse

  9. WHOA says:

    I’M STUNNED JAYZ FINALLY RAPPING ABOUT SOME CONSCIOUS SHIT NOW?? LOL LOOKS LIKE HE’S REALLY TRYING TO BE THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE BUT.UNTIL I HEAR A NEW ALBUM THAT’S NOT ABOUT MONEY THEN PAC WILL RENAME ON TOP

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