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| studio =
| studio =
| genre = [[Hip hop]]
| genre = [[Hip hop]]
| length = 2:33
| length = 2:38
| label = {{flatlist|
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Ruff Ryders Entertainment|Ruff Ryders]]
* [[Ruff Ryders Entertainment|Ruff Ryders]]
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According to Jadakiss, initially he wasn't interested in beefing with 50 Cent. "That was really a lot of media hyping it up", he said to ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' magazine. He changed his mind once people, including his friends, started asking whether or not he had heard "Piggy Bank" and if he will respond to it. Jadakiss decided to use instrumental "Air It Out" from [[Big Noyd]]'s album ''[[Only the Strong (Big Noyd album)|Only the Strong]]'', produced by [[The Alchemist (musician)|The Alchemist]].<ref name="vibe">{{cite web|title=Full Clip: Jadakiss Breaks Down His Catalogue Ft. The Lox, Biggie, DMX, 50 Cent, Rick Ross & More|url=https://www.vibe.com/gallery/full-clip-jadakiss-breaks-down-his-catalogue-ft-lox-biggie-dmx-50-cent-rick-ross-more/|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=25 February 2011}}</ref> 50 Cent previously used this instrumental for his [[Murder Inc. (rap group)|Murder Inc.]] diss song "I'm an Animal".<ref>{{cite web|title=50 Cent - Top 20 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original|url=https://hiphopdx.com/singles/id.27710/title.50-cent-top-20-remixes-that-are-better-than-the-original|website=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=18 June 2014}}</ref>
According to Jadakiss, initially he wasn't interested in beefing with 50 Cent. "That was really a lot of media hyping it up", he said to ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' magazine. He changed his mind once people, including his friends, started asking whether or not he had heard "Piggy Bank" and if he will respond to it. Jadakiss decided to use instrumental "Air It Out" from [[Big Noyd]]'s album ''[[Only the Strong (Big Noyd album)|Only the Strong]]'', produced by [[The Alchemist (musician)|The Alchemist]].<ref name="vibe">{{cite web|title=Full Clip: Jadakiss Breaks Down His Catalogue Ft. The Lox, Biggie, DMX, 50 Cent, Rick Ross & More|url=https://www.vibe.com/gallery/full-clip-jadakiss-breaks-down-his-catalogue-ft-lox-biggie-dmx-50-cent-rick-ross-more/|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=25 February 2011}}</ref> 50 Cent previously used this instrumental for his [[Murder Inc. (rap group)|Murder Inc.]] diss song "I'm an Animal".<ref>{{cite web|title=50 Cent - Top 20 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original|url=https://hiphopdx.com/singles/id.27710/title.50-cent-top-20-remixes-that-are-better-than-the-original|website=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=18 June 2014}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
{{Listen
|filename=Jadakiss - Checkmate.ogg
|title="Checkmate"
|description=Jadakiss accuses 50 Cent of saying too much in his [[Ghetto Qur'an (Forgive Me)|song]], which, he believes, ultimately led to the arrest of [[Kenneth McGriff|Supreme]]. Numerous publications applauded Jadakiss for the line “Yeah, you got a felony, but you ain't a predicate / Never the King of [[New York City|New York]], you live in [[Connecticut]]”.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ech|first1=Joey|title=The Game Has a New Song Dissing Eminem, Wack 100 Says|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/the-game-has-a-new-song-dissing-eminem-says-wack-100/|website=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|access-date=16 February 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref name="complex50" /><ref name="hhdx">{{cite web|title=50 Cent's 10 Most Infamous Beefs|url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2422/title.50-cents-10-most-infamous-beefs|website=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=16 February 2023|language=en|date=3 June 2014}}</ref>
|format=[[Ogg]]}}

“Checkmate” is a [[diss song]], written with the goal to verbally attack 50 Cent. Jadakiss starts the song by congratulating 50 Cent on selling 1.1 million copies of his album ''The Massacre'' in one week.<ref name="tbt" /> Then, the first and only verse of the song starts. In the verse, Jadakiss raps about 50 Cent’s perceived weaknesses and shortcomings,<ref name="complex50">{{cite web|title=The 50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/10/the-50-best-hip-hop-diss-songs|website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> including alleged [[Informant|snitching]] and his lack of originality. Jadakiss points out the assassination attempt being the primary theme of 50 Cent’s lyrics, while simultaneously making fun of it by rapping “You had to get shot nine times to be rich” and “Since when has it become cool to get shot and not shoot back?”.<ref name="xxl_better" /><ref name="hhdx" /> In the song, Jadakiss mentions the mansion in Connecticut owned by 50 Cent,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berger|first1=Sarah|title=Inside the Connecticut mansion 50 Cent just sold for $2.9 million|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/05/photos-50-cent-sells-his-multimillion-dollar-connecticut-mansion.html|website=[[CNBC]]|access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> asserting that one cannot be "the King of New York" while living there. Later in the song he also questions 50 Cent’s lyrical abilities as a rapper, comparing him to other G-Unit members, and tells him to “just sell clothes and sneakers”. According to ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' magazine, by mentioning 50 Cent’s friends and business ventures, “Jada created the impression that he knew his nemesis inside and out”.<ref name="xxl_better" />


==Release==
==Release==
Line 40: Line 49:


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
50 Cent and Jadakiss continued to release diss tracks aimed at each other throughout the year,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Diaz|first1=Angel|title=#TBT: Remember When Jadakiss Ethered 50 Cent?|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/04/jadakiss-50-cent-beef-throwback-thursday|website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref> until they ended the feud when 50 Cent visited Jadakiss' studio and they spent a few hours talking to each other.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Aaron|title=Jadakiss Explains Why His Beef With 50 Cent Was So Short-Lived|url=https://uproxx.com/peoplesparty/jadakiss-50-cent-beef-peoples-party/|website=[[Uproxx]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=23 March 2020}}</ref> According to Jadakiss, he made "a lot of money" off the feud.<ref name="complex" /> In 2011 he claimed the feud was "just a good marketing tool for 50 and his second album".<ref name="vibe" />
50 Cent and Jadakiss continued to release diss tracks aimed at each other throughout the year,<ref name="tbt">{{cite web|last1=Diaz|first1=Angel|title=#TBT: Remember When Jadakiss Ethered 50 Cent?|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/04/jadakiss-50-cent-beef-throwback-thursday|website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref> until they ended the feud when 50 Cent visited Jadakiss' studio and they spent a few hours talking to each other.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Aaron|title=Jadakiss Explains Why His Beef With 50 Cent Was So Short-Lived|url=https://uproxx.com/peoplesparty/jadakiss-50-cent-beef-peoples-party/|website=[[Uproxx]]|access-date=15 February 2023|date=23 March 2020}}</ref> According to Jadakiss, he made "a lot of money" off the feud.<ref name="complex" /> In 2011 he claimed the feud was "just a good marketing tool for 50 and his second album".<ref name="vibe" />


In 2022 ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' magazine described the song as an "exercise in concision and rhyme technique" and called it "one of the very best clapbacks in rap history".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berry|first1=Peter A.|title=These 25 Hip-Hop Diss Tracks Are Better Than the Songs They Respond To|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/hip-hop-diss-songs-better-than-original/|website=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref>
In 2022 ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' magazine described the song as an "exercise in concision and rhyme technique" and called it "one of the very best clapbacks in rap history".<ref name="xxl_better">{{cite web|last1=Berry|first1=Peter A.|title=These 25 Hip-Hop Diss Tracks Are Better Than the Songs They Respond To|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/hip-hop-diss-songs-better-than-original/|website=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref>


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==

Revision as of 23:17, 16 February 2023

"Checkmate"
Promotional single by Jadakiss
ReleasedMarch 9, 2005 (2005-03-09)
GenreHip hop
Length2:38
Label
Producer(s)The Alchemist

"Checkmate" is a song by the American rapper Jadakiss, released as a promotional single on March 9, 2005, on Ruff Ryders Entertainment/Interscope Records. The song uses instrumental "Air It Out" from Big Noyd's album Only the Strong, produced by The Alchemist.

"Checkmate" is a diss track aimed at 50 Cent, a response to 50 Cent's diss track "Piggy Bank". "Checkmate" was in heavy rotation on hip-hop radio and reached number 56 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Background

50 Cent had a feud with Ja Rule since 1999.[1] In 2004, Jadakiss and Fat Joe appeared on Ja Rule's song "New York". 50 Cent saw it as them "helping" Ja Rule while 50 Cent was "destroying him", so he started feuding with them as well.[2] 50 Cent's second album, The Massacre, was released on March 3, 2005.[3] The album included the song "Piggy Bank" which contained mentions of a number of rappers 50 Cent had feuds with, including Jadakiss.[4]

According to Jadakiss, initially he wasn't interested in beefing with 50 Cent. "That was really a lot of media hyping it up", he said to Vibe magazine. He changed his mind once people, including his friends, started asking whether or not he had heard "Piggy Bank" and if he will respond to it. Jadakiss decided to use instrumental "Air It Out" from Big Noyd's album Only the Strong, produced by The Alchemist.[5] 50 Cent previously used this instrumental for his Murder Inc. diss song "I'm an Animal".[6]

Lyrics

"Checkmate"
Jadakiss accuses 50 Cent of saying too much in his song, which, he believes, ultimately led to the arrest of Supreme. Numerous publications applauded Jadakiss for the line “Yeah, you got a felony, but you ain't a predicate / Never the King of New York, you live in Connecticut”.[7][8][9]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

“Checkmate” is a diss song, written with the goal to verbally attack 50 Cent. Jadakiss starts the song by congratulating 50 Cent on selling 1.1 million copies of his album The Massacre in one week.[10] Then, the first and only verse of the song starts. In the verse, Jadakiss raps about 50 Cent’s perceived weaknesses and shortcomings,[8] including alleged snitching and his lack of originality. Jadakiss points out the assassination attempt being the primary theme of 50 Cent’s lyrics, while simultaneously making fun of it by rapping “You had to get shot nine times to be rich” and “Since when has it become cool to get shot and not shoot back?”.[11][9] In the song, Jadakiss mentions the mansion in Connecticut owned by 50 Cent,[12] asserting that one cannot be "the King of New York" while living there. Later in the song he also questions 50 Cent’s lyrical abilities as a rapper, comparing him to other G-Unit members, and tells him to “just sell clothes and sneakers”. According to XXL magazine, by mentioning 50 Cent’s friends and business ventures, “Jada created the impression that he knew his nemesis inside and out”.[11]

Release

"Checkmate" was released on March 9, 2005, a few hours after a press conference where 50 Cent announced the end of his feud with rapper The Game.[13][14] Released as a promotional single on Ruff Ryders Entertainment/Interscope Records,[15] the song was premiered later that day along with Fat Joe's "My FoFo" on DJ Funkmaster Flex's radio show on Hot 97.[16]

According to Slate, after the release, "Checkmate" was in heavy rotation on hip-hop radio.[17] The song appeared on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it peaked at number 56.[18] The success of the song allowed Jadakiss to go on tour,[2] where he would perform the song. "Checkmate" was later included on the live album Jadakiss: Kiss Of Death - Tour 2005.[19]

Legacy

50 Cent and Jadakiss continued to release diss tracks aimed at each other throughout the year,[10] until they ended the feud when 50 Cent visited Jadakiss' studio and they spent a few hours talking to each other.[20] According to Jadakiss, he made "a lot of money" off the feud.[2] In 2011 he claimed the feud was "just a good marketing tool for 50 and his second album".[5]

In 2022 XXL magazine described the song as an "exercise in concision and rhyme technique" and called it "one of the very best clapbacks in rap history".[11]

Chart performance

Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 56

References

  1. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (7 November 2018). "The history of 50 Cent and Ja Rule's long-running feud". The Independent. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Mahadevan, Tara C. "Jadakiss on 50 Cent Beef: 'I Made a Lot of Money' From Him". Complex. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  3. ^ "50 Cent Massacres Album Chart Competition". Billboard. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  4. ^ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo. "50 Cent: The Massacre". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Full Clip: Jadakiss Breaks Down His Catalogue Ft. The Lox, Biggie, DMX, 50 Cent, Rick Ross & More". Vibe. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  6. ^ "50 Cent - Top 20 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original". HipHopDX. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  7. ^ Ech, Joey. "The Game Has a New Song Dissing Eminem, Wack 100 Says". XXL. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b "The 50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs". Complex. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b "50 Cent's 10 Most Infamous Beefs". HipHopDX. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b Diaz, Angel. "#TBT: Remember When Jadakiss Ethered 50 Cent?". Complex. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Berry, Peter A. "These 25 Hip-Hop Diss Tracks Are Better Than the Songs They Respond To". XXL. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  12. ^ Berger, Sarah. "Inside the Connecticut mansion 50 Cent just sold for $2.9 million". CNBC. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  13. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Jadakiss, Fat Joe Retaliate For 50's 'Piggy Bank'". MTV. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  14. ^ "50 Cent, The Game Call A Truce In Harlem". Billboard. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles & tracks". Billboard. 26 March 2005. p. 19. ISSN 0006-2510.
  16. ^ "Throwback: XXL's 20 Greatest Diss Songs". XXL. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  17. ^ Rosen, Jody (24 March 2005). "The Genius of Beef". Slate. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  19. ^ Jadakiss (2006). Jadakiss: Kiss Of Death - Tour 2005 (liner notes). ABC Entertainment. CHF-F1021SFD.
  20. ^ Williams, Aaron (23 March 2020). "Jadakiss Explains Why His Beef With 50 Cent Was So Short-Lived". Uproxx. Retrieved 15 February 2023.


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