The video for "99 Problems" by Jay Z....

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Now while its certainly true that I've said an awful lot of disrespectful things about this guy and his music, I just saw the video for this particular track (having only heard the "Helter Skelter" mix on the Danger Mouse album) and DAMN!

That's actually pretty damn cool.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

what's it like?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Are there ladies in it? If so, what are their names?

― @ Googler (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Very stylized black'n'white montage (not unlike "Made You Look" by Nas). It's just very well done. Lots of shots of Rick Rubin walking around as well (not always such a good thing) s

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 21:40 (twenty-two years ago)

The Rocafella site is streaming it

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

they premiered it at 6pm on MTV today, I think they're going to re-run it around 1am or sometime late like that.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

is rick rubin the big beardo in the fur coat?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

When was he ever not?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

i didn't know he was a big furcoated beardo!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

He was beardless in a couple of the early Beastie Boys videos. But that was almost 20 years ago.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

It's always good to see Rubin in a hit video (I'm assuming it's
a hit, anyway).

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

He was beardless in a couple of the early Beastie Boys videos. But that was almost 20 years ago.

I was about to say. Everytime I've seen a picture or a video appearance it's always been long hair, beard and sunglasses.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

In the "Making The Video" special on this they showed Rick's combover.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I just hope its better than the last video. damn dave meyers.

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Wasn't "Dirt off Your Shoulder" just like a month ago?

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it was more than that, but it wasnt too long ago. I dont think it did very well on mtv (I watch mtv jamz after I get off work). I think that might have to do with the fact that the video sucks.

Random thoughts: this video is 982347983249832 times better than'fix up look sharp.' can we please see rick rubin walking around in a big ass fur coat in the next slayer video? if jay-z is the victim of random violence is this gonna be his 'jay-z prophesized his own death' thing?

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

is the shooting at the end supposed to be the whole end of Jay-Z/rebirth of Sean Carter thing that the Black Album is supposed to be about. No way he won't come back in a year and a half.

he's 99 Problems but Alex in NYC ain't one.

― dieblucasdie (dieblucasdie), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Uh is Vincent Gallo in that video?

― djdee2005, Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Why is Vincent Gallo in it? Friend of Rick's?

(haha xpost)

― spittle (spittle), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, i was wondering what Gallo was doin' there too. That said, Gallo -- as he'll quickly remind you -- is a critically important NYC scenester (who briefly played in Jean-Michel Basquiat's No Wave band, Grey). Not sure why that would matter, but I'm sure he'd gladly inform you of it anyway.

I still think it's a dead cool video.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

maybe gallo directed?

― vahid (vahid), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

oops nope should've read the interview.

― vahid (vahid), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

it's like a parody of the third single artsy video, black and white, quick edits, tattooed naked dudes, creepy old men, slavering dogs lunging at the camera, all that stuff. it's kind of silly.

― ww, Wednesday, 28 April 2004 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

...but still mighty cool.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Just saw the video. Pretty boring stuff. I guess it's a guy thing.

― maria b (maria b), Thursday, 29 April 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a fuckuva lot cooler than "Change Clothes" h

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 29 April 2004 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

You just like it cuz the song has guitars.

― djdee2005, Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I was actually one of "99 infential people in New York" invited to the "unveiling" of this video last week, and Jay Z himself was supposed to be there serving cocktails and little sandwiches I believe, but I didn't go...Maybe if they would've told me that the guitar player from Mountain was gonna be there playing that "Long Red" riff in person, I would have considered attending. Or maybe if NENA was there....She's got 99 luftballons, but a glitch ain't one.

― chuck, Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyway, as with all great Jay-Z songs, it's got awesome enough hooks to make up for the fact that he's such a run-fo-the-mill rapper with dime-a-dozen words. And yeah, it rocks. (I loved how, in the new *Rolling Stone*, Kanye West listed his five favorite rappers of all time, and with all the other ones, he at least seemed to SORT OF talk about their voices, but all he could think to say about Jay-Z was "he taught us how to be rich." Uh-huh. Like I give a shit. Still -- Jigga is the Huey Lewis of his time, and I mean that in the best way. What an efficient guy.)

― chuck, Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"run-fo-the-mill rapper with dime-a-dozen words"

― djdee2005, Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

run OF the mill, not run FO the mill. (I can think of of run fo your life rappers, but no run fo the mill ones, off the top of my head.)

― chuck, Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm usually on the fence at best about his lyrics, but I think the 2nd verse with the traffic stop is pretty great.

― spittle (spittle), Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

You just like it cuz the song has guitars.

Not true at all. Fuckin' N.E.R.D have guitars all over the place and THEY FUCKIN' SUCK!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

If Jay-Z ever samples Iron Maiden, maybe he can run fo' the hills.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Thursday, 29 April 2004 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

What was wrong with the last video? The infared thing was cool.

― David Allen (David Allen), Thursday, 29 April 2004 19:33 (twenty-two years ago)

And the song was wayyyyy better than Change Clothes to boot.

― David Allen (David Allen), Thursday, 29 April 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

that last video was kinda unfocussed.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 29 April 2004 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

This video is great. I like how the fast edits look like they're synchronized with the song's beats. It's amazing that it took him so long to pick one of the album's good song's for a single. In the interview he admits he was going through the motions with the other videos for the album.

― Sym (shmuel), Friday, 30 April 2004 08:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dirt off Your Shoulder" is one of the albums best songs.

― djdee2005, Friday, 30 April 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I like how the fast edits look like they're synchronized with the song's beats

Er, is editing to the beat rarer than I thought?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

did anyone else find it odd that, um, he gets absolutely riddled with bullets at the end?

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

as opposed to lightly garnished with bullets?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"topped delicately"

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

oh shit, it's been mentioned already. i need to stop reading ilm while stoned.

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Er, is editing to the beat rarer than I thought?

i also like how the lyrics match up to the lip syncing...

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

on the making the video show they did they had to preface the actual video by talking about how they normally dont show ppl getting shot, but they'd run the video because it was so 'evelope pushing.' which begs the question, is something so envelope pushing when you have to take 5 minutes to explain it to the proles?

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

if he really wanted to be provocative, he should have flashed his nipple.

― djdee2005, Friday, 30 April 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

is 99 problems still relevant?

― Chinedu "Edu" Obasi Ogbuke (nakhchivan), Monday, 20 September 2010 02:24 (fifteen years ago)

Some bitch just broke my heart, and this song worked remarkably well in cheering me up. So, yes.

― SourPatchCorpse, Monday, 20 September 2010 03:02 (fifteen years ago)

how was this not a sean te rivalry

― J0rdan S., Monday, 20 September 2010 03:03 (fifteen years ago)

^^^^^^^^ xp

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:03 (fifteen years ago)

also lmao what xp

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:03 (fifteen years ago)

lolll

i mean san te revive obv

― J0rdan S., Monday, 20 September 2010 03:05 (fifteen years ago)

i figured that is just such an amazing ostensibly drunk mangling

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:10 (fifteen years ago)

i am always drunk so i just assume everyone is always drunk tbh

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:11 (fifteen years ago)

but sarge has discovered this

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:11 (fifteen years ago)

i am always drunk so i just assume everyone is always drunk tbh

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Sunday, September 19, 2010 10:11 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

lolz

― J0rdan S., Monday, 20 September 2010 03:12 (fifteen years ago)

you men sean te

― kellspolaris (k3vin k.), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:13 (fifteen years ago)

Anyway, as with all great Jay-Z songs, it's got awesome enough hooks to make up for the fact that he's such a run-fo-the-mill rapper with dime-a-dozen words. And yeah, it rocks. (I loved how, in the new *Rolling Stone*, Kanye West listed his five favorite rappers of all time, and with all the other ones, he at least seemed to SORT OF talk about their voices, but all he could think to say about Jay-Z was "he taught us how to be rich." Uh-huh. Like I give a shit. Still -- Jigga is the Huey Lewis of his time, and I mean that in the best way. What an efficient guy.)
― chuck, Thursday, April 29, 2004 12:26 PM (6 years ago)

― kellspolaris (k3vin k.), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:13 (fifteen years ago)

shakes head

― J0rdan S., Monday, 20 September 2010 03:14 (fifteen years ago)

this song is v. overrated

― synth pattern boldness (The Brainwasher), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:25 (fifteen years ago)

yep

― J0rdan S., Monday, 20 September 2010 03:26 (fifteen years ago)

no offense 2 anyone who posted in this thread but references to the title tend to be corny nearing a level of 'bling bling!!'

― if you can put a ceiling fan in your van (deej), Monday, 20 September 2010 03:31 (fifteen years ago)

I liked mine.

― SourPatchCorpse, Monday, 20 September 2010 03:55 (fifteen years ago)

like, 'rivalry' requires the insertion of OTHER LETTERS

― p.m.s.b. (pre-mall smoke bomb) (zorn_bond.mp3), Monday, 20 September 2010 04:52 (fifteen years ago)

99 problems but a deej approval aint one

― dayo, Monday, 20 September 2010 04:56 (fifteen years ago)

this song is v. overrated

― synth pattern boldness (The Brainwasher), Monday, September 20, 2010 3:25 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark

yes, WAY overrated - have actually grown to somewhat dislike it over the years

saying this is your favourite jay-z song is an indefensible opinion really, but one that is sadly prevalent in this fucking country

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Monday, 20 September 2010 10:36 (fifteen years ago)

no, and probably but w/e respectively

― Chinedu "Edu" Obasi Ogbuke (nakhchivan), Monday, 20 September 2010 12:19 (fifteen years ago)

no this definitely shouldn't be your favorite jay-z song, or in your top 10

― kellspolaris (k3vin k.), Monday, 20 September 2010 12:34 (fifteen years ago)

that's just contrary

― Chinedu "Edu" Obasi Ogbuke (nakhchivan), Monday, 20 September 2010 12:36 (fifteen years ago)

This is my second favorite Jay-Z song.

― Eric H., Monday, 20 September 2010 12:47 (fifteen years ago)

Heh. Is 'rapist' the hip-hop equivalent of 'rockist'?

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Friday, 23 April 2004 14:06 (6 years ago)

― Chinedu "Edu" Obasi Ogbuke (nakhchivan), Monday, 20 September 2010 12:57 (fifteen years ago)

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