Throwback Thursday: Jay-Z “I Can’t Get With That” (Video)

The internet is the most effective time wasting machine in the history of creation. This morning I was combing through the interwebs for a pic of a young Jay-Z to use for our "Buy Your Old Album Jay-Z?" article when I stumbled across Hova's very first video, “I Can’t Get With That”. 30 minutes later I was on my sixth straight view, and knew I'd found today's Throwback Thursday.



The Refined Take:

1) As all Jay scholars know, when Sean Carter was first trying to break into the game he was all about that spitfire flow. Twista's made a career out of it, but it's obvious Jay made the right move in abandoning the style. Still, why doesn't he ever bring it back. I don't think he's rhymed this fast on a record in well over a decade, you think he would have worked it in at least once somewhere along the line.

2) If I ever get the chance to interview Jay-Z, I swear my first question will be about the Reggie Miller Pacers jersey he's wearing. What? Not only is Jay showing a serious lack of hometown pride by not wearing a Knicks jersey, but at the time Miller was the Knick's archenemy! Jay rocking a Miller jersey here is like giving a giant middle finger to the Knicks and, by extension, the entire city of New York. Or is there some sort of Brooklyn/Marcy Projects hatred towards the Knicks that I don't know about? Someone from NY please explain, because otherwise we've got an egregious case of sports infidelity on our hands.

3) Do you think anyone believes that chick when she says she was in a Jay-Z video? She's actually kind of hot in a mid-90s kind of way, but she's got to be at least 40-years-old at this point. It's possible that she's telling her grandchildren, "I was a video vixen in a Jay-Z video once" and the kids are looking at her like, "Sure grandma, maybe it's time for you to start taking meds."

4) It's hilarious to think that there was a time when wearing all all purple outfit with a floral vest was acceptable for a dude in a rap video (I'm of course talking about that short fat guy hanging out with Jay on the corner). Oh, the mid-90s.

5) For the record, "I Can't Get With That" never made it's way onto an album, but was released as a packaged single along with "In My Lifetime". 16 years later and Jay's the most powerful man in hip-hop. You can't say you saw it coming.