Ain't No Nigga

"Ain't No Nigga" is the second single from the rapper Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt, and is featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 Eddie Murphy movie, The Nutty Professor. The track features Foxy Brown, and uncredited vocals by Jaz-O.

"Ain't No Nigga"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Foxy Brown
from the album Reasonable Doubt and The Nutty Professor
ReleasedMarch 26, 1996
Recorded1995
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length4:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Big Jaz
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Dead Presidents"
(1996)		 "Ain't No Nigga"
(1996)		 "Can't Knock the Hustle"
(1996)
Foxy Brown singles chronology
"I Shot Ya (Remix)"
(1995)		 "Ain't No Nigga"
(1996)		 "Touch Me, Tease Me"
(1996)
Big Jaz singles chronology
"Ain't No Nigga"
(1996)		 ""Waiting""
(1996)

Background

The song's beat is produced by Big Jaz who samples "Seven Minutes of Funk" by the funk band The Whole Darn Family. The song's chorus was sung by Jaz-O, and interpolates "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" by the Four Tops. The "Ain't No Nigga" single goes under the clean alias "Ain't No Playa". The music video of the song, which was shot in Miami, starts with a scene similar to a scene of the film Scarface. It is the second time the album references the film, the first with the start of "Can't Knock the Hustle". The video also features a cameo appearance from close friend and fellow Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G.

Citing the funky production and lyrics about unfaithful relationships, Spence D. of IGN.com describes it as "one of the better opposite sex rap duets ever laid on wax."[1]

"Ain't No Nigga" is cited as playing a significant role in securing Jay-Z's record deal[2] with Def Jam. According to Sony BMG A&R Nick Raphael, "Will Socolof of Freeze Records sent me a CD and a video and said to me, "This guy is incredible, but he needs a bigger label to take over. Are you interested?" The record he sent to me was "Ain't No Nigga" and I went crazy, thinking that I had to sign him!"[2]

Formats and track listings

Vinyl

A-Side

  1. "Ain't No Playa (Rae & Christian Mix)"
  2. "Ain't No Playa (Original Mix)"

B-Side

  1. "Ain't No Playa (Fresh to Def Mix)"
  2. "Ain't No Playa (New York Street Mix)"

Vinyl (remixes)

A-Side

  1. "Ain't No Nigga (Ganja Kru Mix)"

B-Side

  1. "Can't Knock the Hustle (Desired State Remix)"

See also

References
  1. Spence D. "Reasonable Doubt Review" Archived 2011-05-27 at the Wayback Machine. IGN.com. November 10, 2003. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  2. "Interview With Nick Raphael" Archived 2016-06-27 at the Wayback Machine, HitQuarters, 25 May 2005.
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