Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
| "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_(Jay-Z_single_-_cover_art).jpg) | ||||
| Single by Jay-Z | ||||
| from the album The Blueprint | ||||
| Released | July 28, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | May 2001 | |||
| Studio | Baseline Studios (New York City) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Kanye West | |||
| Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (often referred to as "H to the Izzo") is the first single released by Jay-Z from his sixth album The Blueprint. It is among his most popular singles. This was the second song released off The Blueprint, after the diss track "Takeover", but the lead single from it. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was Jay-Z's first top 10 single as a lead artist.[1]
The song, produced by Kanye West, prominently features a sample of "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, the second major hit in 2001 to sample that song (after "My Baby" by Lil' Romeo).
Jay-Z premiered the song live at the inaugural BET Awards on June 19, 2001.[2]
The song was later mashed up with Linkin Park's "In the End" for their collaborative EP, Collision Course.
Meaning
Izzo and H.O.V.A are synonymous with Jehovah. Jay-Z earned the nickname "Jay-Hova" due to his songwriting skills.
"They start calling me Jay-Hova. I didn't want to offend people, by saying I was Jehovah. I'm God or anything like that. I know way better than that."[3] -Jay-Z
Copyright infringement lawsuit
On October 31, 2001, a copyright lawsuit was filed against Jay-Z by Demme Ulloa, who claimed that she was wasn't paid for her contribution to "Izzo". Ulloa asserted that it was her singing "H to the izzo/V to the izzay", though she didn't receive any money for her contribution and was not credited in the liner notes of The Blueprint.[4] The joint authorship claim was dismissed in 2004 but continued to proceed for a copyright infringement claim, which was ultimately settled.[5][6]
Music video
The music video was filmed in Los Angeles on a street made to look like New York City, and features cameos from
Credits and personnel
The credits for "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" are adapted from the liner notes of The Blueprint.[9]
- Studio locations
- Mastered at Masterdisk, New York City, New York.
- Mixed at Right Track Studios, New York City, New York.
- Recorded at Baseline Studios, New York City, New York.
- Personnel
- Jay-Z – songwriting, vocals
- Kanye West – production, songwriting
- Berry Gordy – songwriting
- Alphonso Mizell – songwriting
- Freddie Perren – songwriting
- Deke Richards – songwriting
- Young Guru – recording
- Kamel Adbo – recording
- Ken "Duro" Ifill – mixing
- Tony Dawsey – mastering
- Samples
- "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" contains elements of "I Want You Back", as performed by The Jackson 5 and written by The Corporation (Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren and Deke Richards).
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[10] | 23 |
| Australian Urban (ARIA)[11] | 11 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[12] | 9 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] | 69 |
| 29 | |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] | 53 |
| 21 | |
| UK Dance (OCC)[17] | 8 |
| 7 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 8 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] | 4 |
| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[21] | 7 |
| US Rhythmic (Billboard)[22] | 4 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[23] | 52 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] | 30 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[26] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ "Jay-Z Awards". AllMusic.
- ^ "2001 BET Awards Winners".
- The Boombox.
- ^ "JAY-Z SUED FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT BY 'IZZO' SINGER". MTV News. October 31, 2001.
- ^ "Ulloa v. Universal". 2004.
- ^ Griffis, Kelcee; Setty, Riddhi (August 8, 2022). "Beyoncé 'Renaissance' Blowback From Kelis Cautions Young Artists". Bloomberg Law.
- ^ "Jay-Z Gets Serious, 'Soulful,' On New Video And Album". MTV News. August 2, 2001.
- ^ "THE FACT THAT KANYE WEST PRODUCED H TO THE IZZO BY JAY-Z SURPRISES FANS". February 18, 2022.
- ^ The Blueprint (Liner notes). Jay-Z. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2001. 5863962.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Issue 631" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 45, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Jay-Z – Izzo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
