Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail (sampling sources)

By Kenton Rambsy

This post is part of our "Sampling & Signifying: The Music of Jay Z" series.

Magna Carta Holy Grail
Release Date: July 4, 2013

1. "Holy Grail" (featuring Justin Timberlake) (Runtime: 5:38)
Producer: The-Dream, Timbaland, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, No I.D.
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (1991)

2. "Picasso Baby" (Runtime: 4:06)
Producer: Timbaland, J-Roc
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Sirens ” by Adrian Younge (2011)
• “ Il Consigliori” by Calibro 35 (2010)

3. "Tom Ford" (Runtime: 3:09)
Producer: Timbaland, J-Roc


4. "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" (featuring Rick Ross) (Runtime: 4:03)
Producer: Boi-1da, Vinylz, Timbaland, J-Roc
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ The Breaks ” by Kurtis Blow (1980)

5. "Oceans" (featuring Frank Ocean) (Runtime: 3:58)
Prouceres: Pharrell Williams, Timbaland
Movie:
“You See This Motherfucking Face” from Scared Straight! 20 Years Later (1999)

6. "F.U.T.W." (Runtime: 4:02)
Producers: Timbaland, J-Roc
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ We Have Love ” by Amnesty (1973)
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Long Kiss Goodnight ” by The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)

7. "SomewhereInAmerica" (Runtime: 2:28)
Producer: Hit-Boy, Darhyl "Hey DJ" Camper, Mike Dean
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Gangster of Love ” by Jimmy Norman (1968)

8. "Crown" (Runtime: 4:33)
Producer: Travis Scott, M. Dean, WondaGurl
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Solid as a Rock” by Sizzla (2002)
• “ Terrorist Threats” by Ab-Soul feat. Danny Brown and Jhené Aiko (2012)

9. "Heaven" (Runtime: 4:03)
Producer: Timbaland, J-Roc
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Reverie” by Adrian Younge (2011)
• “ Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. (1991)

10. "Versus" (Runtime: 0:51)
Producer: Timbaland Swizz Beatz
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Lilith - on the Way ” by Bruno Spoerri (1978)
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Sucka Nigga” by A Tribe Called Quest (1993)

11. "Part II (On the Run)" (featuring Beyoncé) (Runtime: 5:33)
Producer: Timbaland ,J-Roc
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Believe in Me ” by One Way (1985)

12. "Beach Is Better" (Runtime: 0:55)
Producer: Mike Will Made It, Marz

13. "BBC" (featuring Nas) (Runtime: 3:12)
Producer: Pharrell Williams
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Feel So Good” by Mase (1997)

14. "JAY Z Blue" (Runtime: 3:50)
Producer: Timbaland, J-Roc, Timberlake
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ My Downfall” by The Notorious B.I.G. feat. DMC (1997)
Movie:
• “ No Wire Hangers! ” from Mommie Dearest (1981)

15. "La Familia" (Runtime: 3:33)
Producer: Timbaland, J-Roc

16."Nickels and Dimes" (Runtime: 5:03)
Producer: Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua, M. Dean
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Nikels and Dimes ” by GonjaSufi (2012)

Related:
• The African American Literary Studies Lab