It's Good
Encyclopedia
"It's Good" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne
and features Canadian rapper Drake
and American rapper Jadakiss
. The song is the fourteenth track off Wayne's ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV
.
reviewed Lil Wayne's part of the song saying "Next to Drake
(and Jay-Z
), Wayne just sounds petty. It’s a telling role reversal: once Wayne used to hop on other rappers’ tracks and blow them away. Now his guests magnify his lack of engagement." Pitchfork
complimented Drake's verses by saying "And it's Drake who provides the record's most impassioned verse about his mentor's 2010 prison stint for criminal gun possession: "Rikers Island on this flow, eight months for that pistol/ But at least they had some bad bitches workin' in that shit hole."
's verse on H.A.M. from Watch the Throne
in which he raps "Really you got baby money ... You ain't got my lady's money." Kanye West
played the track for Wayne but his response was “I wouldn’t ask him about a Jay-Z line because he’s not Jay-Z.” Lil Wayne further elaborated on the alleged attack by saying “I know there won’t be any repercussions behind what I did. I know for a fact music is about perception. You can’t do anything but perceive what you hear. I know that for a fact. So I can’t ever be upset about someone’s reaction. I’m not going to say I don’t know what would happen before I even say [something on record]. I do know what will happen. I’m aware of it. But it is what it is.” Jadakiss has distanced himself from all conflict as well and commented that he isn't involved on any attack on any rap artist. Slant
commented on the alleged attack by saying that the track "generated more buzz than any other track on Tha Carter IV, not because it's especially good, but because Wayne appears to take some shots at Jay-Z, referencing an ongoing feud about who makes more money and maybe threatening to kidnap and ransom Beyoncé ("Kidnap your bitch/Get that 'How much you love your lady?' money"). The track also begins with a sample from the Alan Parsons Project, which asks: "What price the crown of a king on his throne/When you're chained in the dark all alone?" The clear reference to Watch the Throne aside, the lines also hint at some real doubts about why it matters to call oneself the greatest now that we're in a time where instead of competing in "the game," any given rapper can find or start a new rap game and succeed—if not entirely on his or her own terms, then on terms that are substantially more to his or her liking. If you listen to music mostly via the Internet, you can be a die-hard rap fan and go on blissfully unaware of what Jay-Z or Kanye West or Lil Wayne has been up to of late."
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
and features Canadian rapper Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
and American rapper Jadakiss
Jadakiss
Jason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
. The song is the fourteenth track off Wayne's ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV
Tha Carter IV
Tha Carter IV is the ninth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released on August 29, 2011 through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records...
.
Critical Reception
Allmusic complimented "It's Good" and said it was a track to "marvel" at it also commented on the controversial lyrics by saying the track is "where a Jay-Z diss meets an Alan Parsons sample". Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reviewed Lil Wayne's part of the song saying "Next to Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
(and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
), Wayne just sounds petty. It’s a telling role reversal: once Wayne used to hop on other rappers’ tracks and blow them away. Now his guests magnify his lack of engagement." Pitchfork
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
complimented Drake's verses by saying "And it's Drake who provides the record's most impassioned verse about his mentor's 2010 prison stint for criminal gun possession: "Rikers Island on this flow, eight months for that pistol/ But at least they had some bad bitches workin' in that shit hole."
Controversy
"It's Good" gained considerable notice on various social networks because a portion of the song's lyrics performed by Lil Wayne in which he raps "I got your baby money / Kidnap your bitch, get that how much you love your lady money" which has been interpreted by various sources to be a response back at Jay-ZJay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's verse on H.A.M. from Watch the Throne
Watch the Throne
Watch the Throne is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, released on August 8, 2011, by Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording locations and began in November 2010. It was...
in which he raps "Really you got baby money ... You ain't got my lady's money." Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
played the track for Wayne but his response was “I wouldn’t ask him about a Jay-Z line because he’s not Jay-Z.” Lil Wayne further elaborated on the alleged attack by saying “I know there won’t be any repercussions behind what I did. I know for a fact music is about perception. You can’t do anything but perceive what you hear. I know that for a fact. So I can’t ever be upset about someone’s reaction. I’m not going to say I don’t know what would happen before I even say [something on record]. I do know what will happen. I’m aware of it. But it is what it is.” Jadakiss has distanced himself from all conflict as well and commented that he isn't involved on any attack on any rap artist. Slant
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
commented on the alleged attack by saying that the track "generated more buzz than any other track on Tha Carter IV, not because it's especially good, but because Wayne appears to take some shots at Jay-Z, referencing an ongoing feud about who makes more money and maybe threatening to kidnap and ransom Beyoncé ("Kidnap your bitch/Get that 'How much you love your lady?' money"). The track also begins with a sample from the Alan Parsons Project, which asks: "What price the crown of a king on his throne/When you're chained in the dark all alone?" The clear reference to Watch the Throne aside, the lines also hint at some real doubts about why it matters to call oneself the greatest now that we're in a time where instead of competing in "the game," any given rapper can find or start a new rap game and succeed—if not entirely on his or her own terms, then on terms that are substantially more to his or her liking. If you listen to music mostly via the Internet, you can be a die-hard rap fan and go on blissfully unaware of what Jay-Z or Kanye West or Lil Wayne has been up to of late."
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
79 |