It's been a wild thirty years for hip hop, and oftentimes it's crazy to look back and see just how far music has evolved since its envelopment of pop culture in the late 80s. Jay-Z's song "Dead Presidents II" is a quintessential classic hip hop track that encompasses why the genre began in the first place. "Dead Presidents II" is a song by Jay-Z, released in 1996 as the lead single for his debut album "Reasonable Doubt." The song is a gritty and introspective exploration of the lifestyle of a drug dealer, focusing on themes of wealth, power, and criminality. It opens with a sample from Nas's "The World is Yours," which sets the tone for the song's melancholic and reflective mood. Jay-Z raps about his experiences as a drug dealer, describing the money, power, and respect that came with the trade, as well as the violence, paranoia, and emotional toll it took on him. He also reflects on the futility of the drug game, as the money