Attackerman - Commentary of Spencer Ackerman » You Gotta Get (Get) That (That) Dirt Off Your Shoulder

You Gotta Get (Get) That (That) Dirt Off Your Shoulder

By Spencer on Apr 17th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

You Gotta Get (Get) That (That) Dirt Off Your Shoulder»

Starting at 2:20, bear witness to perhaps the coolest subliminal cultural reference in the history of American politics.

Brooklyn, stand up!

Comments

16 Responses to “You Gotta Get (Get) That (That) Dirt Off Your Shoulder”

ChrisWWW Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
You are now tuned into the motherf**king greatest!

When/if Obama finally defeats Clinton, he should have his campaign play 99 Problems.
dan robinson Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Okay, I’m a white guy hanging out in the ‘burbs near Seattle, but I don’t get it.

Brushing, what exactly?, from his shoulder. This is Brooklyn, how?

And what is sublimated?
Candyce Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
heh! Beautiful! That’s what you gotta do!
weakervessel Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Dude, I nearly swooned — SWOONED, I tell you — when I saw that. That’s one of my fave Jay-Z joints of all time. HUGE SWIRLING VORTEX OF LOVE. I could not pink-fuzzy-heart Barack one iota more.
chaosmod91 Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
oh man that was hilarious. i can’t believe he did that. i swear i heard some hova chants with the obama chanting immediately after he did that.

the front row should’ve thrown up the diamond; it would’ve been all the more sweet.
miz_g Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
i fucking loved this.
greenpointy Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 7:44 am
this ain’t chris rock, b*itch, it’s the roc b*itch, and imma franchise like houston rockets, yao ming?
dan robinson Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Let me amend my previous comment. I’m an old white guy living in the Seattle ‘burbs. I’m just not a Jay-Z kind of guy. Words that begin with ‘n’ and rhyme with chigger get under my skin and I don’t use them. I find them uncomfortable to listen to. I’m not Jay-Z’s target demographic. But we’re a big tent.
hunterjones Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Ok, dan, let me explain it to you,

Obama is brushing off his shoulders, a common gesture in hip-hop and black culture that generally means “that didn’t phase me”, or “that was nothing - is that all you got?”. So basically he was telling the audience that the bogus debate attack questions and Hillary’s negative politics didn’t bother him one bit.

Jay-Z made the phrase “get that dirt off your shoulder” famous in his “99 problems” song.
hunterjones Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
It was, quite simply, the coolest thing ever done by a politician, leader, whoever. EVER. No really, EVER.

And I’m a white guy from Wisconsin.
BCdem Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hunterjones,

The phrase “get that dirt off your shoulder” is from the song “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” not “99 Problems.”

Obama would know better than to reference “99 Problems,” since it’s refrain, “99 problems but a bitch ain’t one” could be seen as just a little bit sexist.

Loved the dogwhistle though. One of the coolest things I’ve seen a politician do.
OxyCon Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
WoW!
So ThinkProgress has now been turned into a flaming sphincter too, all because of Obama!
Unfreakingbeilevable that ThinkProgress would throw their reputation as one of the most prestigious left wing blogs away on this trash.
Obama is dragging America down mainstreaming this garbage.
I’m ashamed to say that I ever belonged to this community.
Tell me, how cool is this:

Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder lyrics

You’re now tuned into the muh’fuckin greatest
Turn the music up in the headphones
Tim, you can go and brush your shoulder off nigga
I got you, yeah

[Chorus: Jay-Z]
If you feelin like a pimp nigga, go and brush your shoulders off
Ladies is pimps too, go and brush your shoulders off
Niggaz is crazy baby, don’t forget that boy told you
Get, that, dirt off your shoulder

[Verse One]
I probably owe it to y’all, proud to be locked by the force
Tryin to hustle some things, that go with the Porsche
Feelin no remorse, feelin like my hand was forced
Middle finger to the law, nigga grip’n my balls
All the ladies they love me, from the bleachers they screamin
All the ballers is bouncin they like the way I be leanin
All the rappers be hatin, off the track that I’m makin
But all the hustlers they love it just to see one of us make it
Came from the bottom the bottom, to the top of the pots
Nigga London, Japan and I’m straight off the block
Like a running back, get it man, I’m straight off the block
I can run it back nigga cause I’m straight with the Roc

[Chorus]

[Chorus Two]
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder

[Verse Two]
Your homey Hov’ in position, in the kitchen with soda
I just whipped up a watch, tryin to get me a Rover
Tryin to stretch out the coca, like a wrestler, yessir
Keep the Heckler close, you know them smokers’ll test ya
But like, fifty-two cards when I’m, I’m through dealin
Now fifty-two bars come out, now you feel ‘em
Now, fifty-two cars roll out, remove ceiling
In case fifty-two broads come out, now you chillin
with a boss bitch of course S.C. on the sleeve
At the 40/40 club, ESPN on the screen
I paid a grip for the jeans, plus the slippers is clean
No chrome on the wheels, I’m a grown-up for real

[Chorus + Chorus Two]

[Verse Three]
Your boy back in the building, Brooklyn we back on the map
Me and my beautiful beeeeeeeitch in the back of that ‘Bach
I’m the realest that run it, I just happen to rap
I ain’t gotta clap at ‘em, niggaz scared of that black
I drop that +Black, Album+ then I back, out it
As the best rapper alive nigga ask about me
From Bricks to Billboards, from grams to Grammys
The O’s to opposite, Orphan Annie
You gotta pardon Jay, for sellin out the Garden in a day
I’m like a young Marvin in his hey’
I’m a hustler homey, you a customer crony
Got some, dirt on my shoulder, could you brush it off for me?

[Chorus + Chorus Two]

You’re now tuned into the muh’fuckin greatest

Best rapper alive, best rapper alive
OxyCon Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Tell me, is this cool too?

Jay-Z 99 Problems

If you’re havin’ girl problems i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one

[Verse One]
I got the rap patrol on the gat patrol
Foes that wanna make sure my casket’s closed
Rap critics they say he’s “Money Cash Hoes”
I’m from the hood stupid, what type of facts are those
If you grew up with holes in ya zapatos
You’d be celebrating the minute you was havin’ dough
I’m like fuck critics you can kiss my whole asshole
If you don’t like my lyrics you can press fast forward
I got beef with radio if i don’t play they show
They don’t play my hits i don’t give a shit SO
Rap mags try and use my black ass
So advertisers can give ‘em more cash for ads, fuckers
I don’t know what you take me as,
Or understand the intelligence that Jay-Z has
I’m from rags to ritches niggas I ain’t dumb
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one
Hit me

[Chorus]
99 problems but the bitch aint one
If you’re havin’ girl problems i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one
Hit me

[Verse Two]
The year’s ‘94 and my trunk is raw
In my rear view mirror is the mother fuckin’ law
I got two choices y’all pull over the car or (hmmm)
Bounce on the double put the pedal to the floor
Now I ain’t tryin’ to see no highway chase with Jay.
Plus i got a few dollars i can fight the case
So I…pull over to the side of the road
I heard “Son do you know why I’m stoppin’ you for?”
Cause I’m young and I’m black and my hats real low?
Do I look like a mind reader sir, I don’t know
Am I under arrest or should I gas em up?
“Well you was doin fifty-five in a fifty-fo’ ”
“Liscense and registration and step out of the car”
“Are you carryin’ a weapon on you I know a lot of you are”
I ain’t steppin out of shit all my paper’s legit
“Well, do you mind if I look round the car a little bit?”
Well my glove compartment is locked so are the trunk in the back
And I know my rights so you gon’ need a warrant for that
“Aren’t you sharp as a tack, you some type of lawyer or something’?”
“Or somebody important or somethin’?”
Nah, I ain’t pass the bar but i know a little bit
Enough that you won’t illegally search my shit
“We’ll see how smart you are when the K9 come”
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one
Hit me

[Chorus]
99 Problems but a bitch ain’t one
if you havin girl problems
i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one hit me

99 Problems but a bitch ain’t one
if you havin girl problems
i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one
Hit me

[Verse Three]
Now once upon a time not too long ago
A nigga like myself had to strong arm a hoe
This is not a hoe in the sense of havin a pussy
But a pussy havin no God Damn sense, try and push me
I tried to ignore him and talk to the Lord
Pray for him, cause some fools just love to perform
You know the type loud as a motor bike
But wouldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight
The only thing that’s gonna happen is I’ma get to clappin
He and his boys gon be yappin to the captain
And there I go trapped in the kit kat again
Back through the system with the riff raff again
Fiends on the floor scratchin again
Paparatzi’s with they cameras snappin them
D.A. tried to give the nigga shaft again
Half-a-mil for bail cause I’m African
All because this fool was harrasin’ them
Tryin to play the boy like hes saccarin
But ain’t nothin sweet ’bout how I hold my gun
I got 99 problems being a bitch ain’t one.
Hit me

[Chorus X3]

You’re crazy for this one Rick
It’s your boy
tojojo Says:
April 19th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Obama is dragging America down mainstreaming this garbage.
I’m ashamed to say that I ever belonged to this community.
Tell me, how cool is this…

Actually, pretty damn cool. To dismiss Jay-Z or hip-hop culture in general as “garbage” is disingenuous at best. Sure, parts of it are misogynistic, materialistic, and profane, but there’s a reason why it’s so popular with kids/young adults today: it not only recognizes the violence and lack of opporunity that millions of young urban Americans must face but also provides a mainstream voice to performers from these areas, especially non-whites.

Obama himself said it best:

I love the art of hip hop. I don’t always love the message of hip hop. There are times when even … with the artists I named — the artists I love, you know — there’s a message that is not only sometimes degrading to women; not only uses the n-word a little too frequently; but also something I’m really concerned about, it’s always talking about material things. Always talking about how I can get something. How I’ve got more money…

And notice that 99 Problems was NOT the song referenced by Obama, but a song suggested by someone in a message board somewhere out in the boondocks of the Internet, so posting the lyrics as if they reflected Obama’s sentiment is pretty disingenuous as well (almost as ridiculous as trying to associate not wearing a flag pin whenever someone takes a picture with being non-patriotic).

So speaking of sphincters, you might want to remove whatever’s stuck up your ass. Hip-hop is here to stay, whether you like it or not.
ModDem Says:
April 19th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
OxyCon
I wonder do you like Scorsese’s gangster films? Do you like The Godfather? Do you like horror films? I’m just guessing that you have enjoyed some movies [or books] that have had horrible violence and misogyny. Should we disqualify someone because a movie they like has sickening violence [and language]?
Should we disqualify someone because they like a song that tells a story in much the same way these films do?
I don’t think so.
bitterale Says:
April 27th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Gotta say this here. I never heard of Jay Z but knew exactly what Obama meant when he was brushing his shoulder. I considered it a visual response supporting the notion that Hillary’s comments didn’t deserve a verbal responmse.

I never considered that it might have been based on a a more contemporary reference.