Ain't No Nigga

"Ain't No Nigga" (censored as "Ain't No Playa") is the second single from American rapper Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt, and is featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film The Nutty Professor. It was released on March 19, 1996. The track features Foxy Brown and contains 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
Released	March 19, 1996
Recorded	1995
Genre	East Coast hip hop
Length	4:03
Label	Roc-A-Fella Priority
Songwriter(s)	Shawn Carter Inga Marchand Jonathan Burks August Moon
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
"No One Else (Puff Daddy 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". Foxy Brown was 17 at the time when the song was released.

Citing the funky production and lyrics about unfaithful relationships, Spence D. of IGN 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]

Music video

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 music video features cameos by The Notorious B.I.G., Irv Gotti, and Mic Geronimo.

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)"

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[3]	50
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[4]	17
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[5]	4
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[6]	24

See also

• List of songs recorded by Jay-Z

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.
3. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
4. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
5. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
6. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.