Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, is one of the most successful and influential hip-hop artists of all time. With his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996, he quickly rose to fame, blending smooth lyrics with sharp business acumen.
Over the years, Jay-Z has released numerous chart-topping albums like The Blueprint and The Black Album.
Known for his distinctive voice and impactful storytelling, Jay-Z’s music spans themes of struggle, success, and social issues, solidifying his place in music history.
About the Song
Run This Town is a hit song by Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West. It blends hip-hop and pop elements, with strong beats and catchy hooks.
The song discusses power, dominance, and ambition. It became a chart-topping success, gaining attention for its bold sound and memorable chorus.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Released | September 8, 2009 |
| Album | The Hits Collection, Volume One |
| Writers | JAY-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, No ID, Jeff Bhasker & Athanasios Alatas |
| Producers | Kanye West, No I.D. |
Complete Lyrics of Run This Town
Produced by Kanye West & No I.D
Intro: Rihanna & Jay Z
Feel it comin’ in the air (Yeah)
Hear the screams from everywhere (Yeah)
I’m addicted to the thrill (I’m ready)
It’s a dangerous love affair (What’s up? Come on)
Can’t be scared when it goes down
Got a problem, tell me now (What’s up?)
Only thing that’s on my mind (What’s up?)
Is who’s gon’ run this town tonight (Ah, what’s up?)
Is who’s gon’ run this town tonight (Yeah, what’s up? Yeah)
We gon’ run this town
Verse 1: Jay Z
We are, yeah, I said it, we are
This is Roc Nation, pledge your allegiance
Get your fatigues on, all black everything
Black cards, black cars, all black everything
And our girls are blackbirds ridin’ with they Dillingers
I get more in depth if you boys really real enough
This is La Familia, I’ll explain later
But for now, let me get back to this paper
I’m a couple bands down and I’m tryin’ to get back
I gave Doug a grip and lost a flip for five stacks
Yeah, I’m talkin’ 5 comma, 6 zeros, dot zero, here Doug
Back to runnin’ circles round niggas, now we squared up
Hold up
Chorus: Rihanna & Jay Z
Life’s a game, but it’s not fair (Yeah)
I break the rules, so I don’t care (Uh-huh)
So I keep doin’ my own thang
Walkin’ tall against the rain (What’s up?)
Victory’s within the mile
Almost there, don’t give up now (What’s up?)
Only thing that’s on my mind (What’s up?)
Is who’s gon’ run this town tonight (Uh, yeah)
Hey, hey, hey, hey (What’s up?)
Who’s gon’ run this town tonight?
Verse 2: Jay Z
We are, yeah, I said it: we are
You can call me Caesar in a dark Caesar
Please follow the leader, so Eric B we are
Microphone fiend, this the return of the god
Peace, God, ah ah, it ain’t no nobody fresher
I’m in Maison, ah, Martin Margiela
On the table, screamin’, “Fuck the other side, they jealous”
We got a banquette full of broads, they got a table full of fellas
Yeah, and they ain’t spendin’ no cake
They should throw their hand in ’cause they ain’t got no spades
Yeah, my whole team got dough
So my banquette is lookin’ like Millionaires’ Row
Chorus: Rihanna
Life’s a game, but it’s not fair
I break the rules, so I don’t care
So I keep doin’ my own thang
Walkin’ tall against the rain
Victory’s within the mile
Almost there, don’t give up now
Only thing that’s on my mind
Is who’s gon’ run this town tonight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Who’s gon’ run this town tonight?
Verse 3: Kanye West & Jay-Z
It’s crazy how you can go from bein’ Joe Blow
To everybody on your dick, no homo
I bought my whole family whips, no Volvos
Next time I’m in church, please, no photos
Police escorts, everybody passports
This the life that everybody ask for
This the fast life, we are on a crash course
What you think I rap for, to push a fuckin’ RAV4?
But I know that if I stay stunting
All these girls only gon’ want one thing
I can spend my whole life Good Will Hunting
Only good gon’ come is this good when I’m cumming
She got a ass that’ll swallow up a G-string
And up top, uh, two bee stings
And I’m beasting off the Riesling
And my nigga just made it out the precinct
We give a damn about the drama that your dude bring
I’m just tryin’ to change the color on your mood ring
Reebok, baby, you need to try some new things
Have you ever had shoes without shoe strings?
“What’s that, Ye?” “Baby, these heels”
“Is that a May— what?!” “Baby, these wheels”
You trippin’ when you ain’t sippin’, have a refill
You feelin’ like you runnin’, huh? Now you know how we feel (What’s up?)
Outro: Jay Z & Rihanna
Hey, hey (Yeah, yeah)
Hey, hey (What’s up?)
Hey, hey
Hey, we gon’ run this town tonight
What’s up?
Live Performance of Run This Town (Live in Brooklyn)
Similar Songs Like Run This Town
Each of these tracks, like Run This Town, showcases Jay-Z’s ability to blend powerful lyrics with collaborations, creating anthems that relate with fans and leave a lasting impact:
- Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys): A powerful anthem about New York, Empire State of Mind, showcasing the spirit of the city.
- Otis (with Kanye West): Otis showcases Jay-Z’s knack for blending soulful samples with sharp, clever rap verses, alongside Kanye’s energetic production.
- No Church in the Wild (feat. Frank Ocean & The-Dream): A haunting and atmospheric track from Watch the Throne, this song’s introspective lyrics are paired with a bold, experimental beat.
- Runaway (with Kanye West): Runaway sees Jay-Z teaming up with Kanye once again, blending emotional depth with strong beats, while exploring themes of regret and redemption.
Awards for the Song
| Awards | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Grammy Award | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | 2010 |
Similar Artists Like Jay-Z
Here are some artists similar to Jay-Z, who share a strong influence on the hip-hop and rap scenes:
- Nas
Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap
Top Albums: Illmatic, It Was Written, King’s Disease - Drake
Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B
Top Albums: Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, Scorpion - Kendrick Lamar
Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap, Jazz Rap
Top Albums: To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., good kid, m.A.A.d city - Lil Wayne
Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap
Top Albums: Tha Carter III, Tha Carter IV, I Am Not a Human Being
Frequently Asked Questions
What Inspired Jay-Z to Write Run This Town?
Run This Town reflects Jay-Z’s path to the top and the struggles he faced along the way, expressing his dominance in both the music industry and life.
How did Rihanna’s Contribution Impact Run This Town?
Rihanna’s unforgettable hook in Run This Town provides the perfect balance to the track, adding emotionality and making it an anthem for many.
What is Jay-Z’s Most Notable Contribution to Hip-Hop?
Jay-Z is credited with uplifting hip-hop to mainstream success, blending complex lyricism with cultural relevance and paving the way for future generations of artists.
