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Izzo (H.O.V.A.)

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"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
Single by Jay-Z
from the album The Blueprint
ReleasedJuly 28, 2001
RecordedMay 2001
StudioBaseline Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kanye West
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Fiesta (Remix)"
(2001) 		"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
(2001) 		"Girls, Girls, Girls"
(2001)
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (2001)
A 24-second sample of "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" by Jay-Z from The Blueprint
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"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, becoming 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

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The music video was filmed in Los Angeles on a street made to look like New York City, and features cameos from Damon Dash,[7] Kanye West, Destiny’s Child, Trina, Eve, Nelly, and Outkast.[8]

Credits and personnel

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The credits for "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" are adapted from the liner notes of The Blueprint.[9]

Studio locations
Personnel
Samples

Charts

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Weekly charts

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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
Scotland (OCC)[14] 29
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 53
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 21
UK Dance (OCC)[17] 8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[18] 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

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Chart (2001) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 52
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 30

Certifications

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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

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  1. ^ "Jay-Z Awards". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "2001 BET Awards Winners". BET.
  3. ^ Ducreay, Safra (August 21, 2018). "Jay-Z – 'IZZO (H.O.V.A)': Throwback Video of the Day". The Boombox.
  4. ^ "JAY-Z SUED FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT BY 'IZZO' SINGER". MTV News. October 31, 2001. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ulloa v. Universal". 2004.
  6. ^ Griffis, Kelcee; Setty, Riddhi (August 8, 2022). "Beyoncé 'Renaissance' Blowback From Kelis Cautions Young Artists". Bloomberg Law.
  7. ^ "Jay-Z Gets Serious, 'Soulful,' On New Video And Album". MTV News. August 2, 2001. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "THE FACT THAT KANYE WEST PRODUCED H TO THE IZZO BY JAY-Z SURPRISES FANS". February 18, 2022. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ^ "Issue 631" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 45, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  17. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  22. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  23. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  24. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  25. ^ "British single certifications – Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – Jay-Z – Izzo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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