Memphis Bleek

Memphis Bleek Shares Rare Footage Of His First Performance With Jay-Z

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Memphis Bleek might not have ever reached mainstream success like his Roc-A-Fella boss, Jay-Z, but he remained by his side throughout the years. He’s often regarded as Hov’s hypeman, which he’s done successfully throughout Jay-Z’s years on the road. However, his story and relationship with Jay-Z are much deeper than rap. Memphis Bleek previously revealed how Jay-Z helped get him out of the streets and become a legitimate rapper. 

During an interview on the Justin Credible podcast last year, Bleek explained how Jay-Z pulled up to him in a luxury vehicle to offer him $2000 to stop hustling. Bleek said that he tried to show off his street money to Jay after he pulled up on him but Hov ultimately threw it away and gave him an ultimatum. “He gave me two grand and was like, ‘Yo, man, I see bigger things for you,’” Bleek responded, which ultimately turned his life around.

Memphis Bleek Shares Throwback Footage With Jay-Z

This morning, Bleek reflected on their relationship on Instagram. He shared rare footage of the two performing their collaboration, “Coming Of Age (Da Sequel)” off of Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life for the first time ever. The grainy footage shows Hov in a crewneck and flat brim cap delivering his verses, while a young Bleek held it down as his hypeman for the performance. While Bleek performed his verse, Jay’s heard hyping him up with ad-libs in the back. It’s a crazy piece of history that showcases just how far Jay’s come in his career and the many individuals he brought on his journey to the top. 

“1st Performance ever,” he wrote on Instagram with several fire emojis. “Straight off the Project Bench,” he added. “#ComingOfAge Big Homie let me Hold It Down!! #MusicSavedMyLife #Roc4Life.” Nearly 20 years later, Memphis Bleek evidently saw why Jay-Z gave him two grand to turn away from his life in the streets. Though Bleek hasn’t released much music in recent times, there’s no doubt that Jay-Z put him in a position to win for the long haul. Check the footage out above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

The 83 Best Jay-Z Verses

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  • “Frontin'” (Verse 3)


  • “Marcy to Hollywood” (Verse 1)


  • “It’s Like That” (Verse 2)


  • “We Made It” f/ Jay Electronica (Verse 2)


  • “Where Have You Been” f/ Beanie Sigel (Verse 2)


  • “Gangsta Shit” w/ Ja Rule & DJ Clue (Verse 2)


  • Pusha-T f/ Jay-Z & Pharrell Williams, “Neck & Wrist” (Verse 2)


  • DJ Khaled f/ Rick Ross, Lil Wayne & Jay-Z, “God Did” (Verse 3)


  • Meek Mill f/ Rick Ross & Jay-Z “What’s Free”


  • “The Prelude” (Verse 1)


  • Pusha T f/ Jay-Z, “Drug Dealers Anonymous” (Verse 2)


  • “A Week Ago” f/ Too Short (Verse 1)


  • “Picasso Baby” (Verse 3)


  • “Ride Or Die” (Verse 1)


  • “In My Lifetime” (Verse 1)


  • “Only A Customer” (Verse 3)


  • “The Game Is Mine” (Verse 1)


  • “Primetime” (Verse 1)


  • The Carters, “Friends” (Verse 2)


  • “People Talkin'” (Verse 1)


  • Ja Rule f/ Jay-Z & DMX, “It’s Murda” (Verse 2)


  • “Dope Man” (Verse 3)


  • “Murdergram” f/ Ja Rule & DMX (Verse 1)


  • “Cashmere Thoughts” (Verse 1)


  • Young Jeezy f/Jay-Z & Fat Joe, “Go Crazy (Remix)” (Verse 2)


  • The Throne f/ Mr. Hudson, “Why I Love You” (Verse 2)


  • Young Jeezy f/ Jay-Z, “Seen It All” (Verse 2)


  • “H.O.V.A.” w/ DJ Envy (Verse 1)


  • “Best of Me (Part 2)” f/ Mya (Verse 2)


  • “Squeeze First” (Verse 2)


  • “This Can’t Be Life” f/ Beanie Sigel & Scarface (Verse 1)


  • “Smile” f/ Gloria Carter (Verse 3)


  • “Song Cry” (Verse 2)


  • “My 1st Song” (Verse 1)


  • “Stick 2 the Script” (Verse 1)


  • Talib Kweli f/ Mos Def, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes & Jay-Z, “Get By (Remix)” (Verse 2)


  • Scarface f/ Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel, “Guess Who’s Back” (Verse 1)


  • “Hova Song (Interlude)” (Verse 1)


  • “Is That Yo Bitch?” f/ Twista & Missy Elliott (Verse 1)


  • “Young, Black, and Gifted Freestyle” (Verse 1)


  • “Pump It Up (Freestlye)” (Verse 1)


  • “So Ghetto” (Verse 2)


  • “Back From France Freestyle” (Verse 3)


  • “Hovi Baby” (Verse 2)


  • DMX f/ The Lox & Jay-Z, “Blackout” (Verse 4)


  • “In My Lifetime (Remix)” (Verse 3)”


  • Jay Electronica f/ Jay Z, “Flux Capacitor” (Verse 1)


  • Kanye West f/ Jay-Z, “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” (Verse 3)


  • “Can’t Knock the Hustle” f/ Mary J. Blige (Verse 1)


  • “Allure” (Verse 3)


  • “Friend or Foe” (Verse 1)


  • “Friend or Foe ’98” (Verse 1)


  • “Regrets” (Verse 3)


  • “The Watcher 2” f/ Dr. Dre, Rakim & Truth Hurts


  • “Politics As Usual” (Verse 1)


  • “Never Change” (Verse 3)


  • “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)” (Verse 3)


  • “The 7 Minute Freestyle” (Verse 3)


  • “99 Problems” (Verse 2)


  • “D’Evils” (Verse 2)


  • “What More Can I Say?” (Verse 3)


  • “Imaginary Players” (Verse 2)


  • Puff Daddy f/ Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. “Young G’s” (Verse 2)


  • “Bring It On” f/ Big Jaz and Sauce Money (Verse 2)


  • “Where I’m From” (Verse 1)


  • “You Must Love Me” (Verse 2)


  • “Dead Presidents II” (Verse 1)


  • Jay Electronica f/ Jay-Z & The-Dream, “Shiny Suit Theory” (Verse 2)


  • “Ignorant Shit” f/ Beanie Sigel (Verse 1)


  • “Can I Live Freestyle”


  • “This Life Forever” (Verse 1)


  • “U Don’t Know” (Verse 3)


  • “Grammy Family Freestyle” (Verse 1)


  • “Come and Get Me” (Verse 1)


  • “Takeover” (Verse 3)


  • “Streets Is Watching” (Verse 3)


  • “Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator ’99)” f/ Jaz-O (Verse 2)


  • “Renegade” f/ Eminem (Verse 1)


  • “Intro”


  • “PSA” (Verse 2)


  • “Intro: A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More” (Verse 2)


  • “Can I Live” (Verse 1)


  • “Dead Presidents 1” (Verse 2)

Memphis Bleek Disrespects Nas, Diddy Dating Rumors, Hollywood Loses An Icon

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The Weekly Wrap Up is packed with a full rundown of the hottest topics of the past 7 days. We’re focusing on rap veteran Memphis Bleek giving the most disrespect to former rap rival Nas, Diddy getting caught up in dating rumors, Hollywood losing an icon and more. First things first, is Memphis Bleek tweaking […]

Memphis Bleek’s Still Getting Hammered For Saying Nas Isn’t Qualified For JAY-Z Verzuz

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New York rapper Memphis Bleek is feeling the Internet’s wrath. The hip-hop veteran has stepped up to acknowledge he’s getting blasted away for saying rap icon Nas couldn’t compete with his longtime mentor JAY-Z in a Verzuz battle. Memphis Bleek’s Still Getting Hammered Bleek hit up his Twitter page to respond to people going off […]

Memphis Bleek Explains Why He Thinks A Jay-Z And Nas Verzuz Is Out Of The Question

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In all of the furor over many of the Verzuz battles over the past year and a half, one potential matchup has been posed more than almost any other for obvious reasons: Jay-Z vs. Nas. However, it’s also the one that seems unlikeliest — both for, again, the obvious reasons (they are both incredibly busy with other things) and for some not-so-obvious ones. Longtime Jay-Z affiliate Memphis Bleek gave his own reason, however, and it’s got Twitter in a tizzy debating whether or not he might be right.

In an interview with Bally Sports Network’s Brandon “Scoop” Robinson, Bleek explained why he thinks a Jay-Z and Nas Verzuz is out of the question: Because, in his opinion, Nas doesn’t have enough hits for a hits battle. “It’s no comparison,” he started. “It’s just that Nas don’t have enough songs to compete. No disrespect to him, he just don’t. Jay can battle someone with just his B Sides Concert catalog and it’d still be better than people’s A sides.” While it’s understandable that Bleek would hold such reverence for his former mentor, some on Twitter were quick to try to rebut his claims, offering examples of Nas’ worthiness to compete with Jay. Some even went as far as impugning Bleek’s catalog.

Some, however, agreed with him, pointing out Nas’ suspect beat choices over the past 20 years, while others gave more measured responses allowing Nas to “compete” but not to “win” in a hypothetical Verzuz. For what it’s worth, in those battles where it truly seemed a win or a loss was at stake, many of the obvious picks wound up flustered by poor sequencing choices and their opponents’ willingness to outperform them — see: The LOX vs. Diplomats, just a few weeks ago. However, as mentioned, it’s probably not a likely matchup just because Jay and Nas seem to have no interest. Check out more replies below though, and feel free to weigh in on Twitter.