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"Interlude"
Song by Jay-Z
from the album The Black Album
Recorded:2003
Released:November 14, 2003
Format:Digital, CD, Vinyl
Length:02:53
Samples:The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better
Little Boy Blues - Seed Of Love
Writer:Jay-Z, Just Blaze, Ray Levin
Producer:Just Blaze
Label:Roc-A-Fella Records
The Black Album tracklist
  1. Interlude
  2. December 4th
  3. What More Can I Say
  4. Encore
  5. Change Clothes
  6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
  7. Threat
  8. Moment Of Clarity
  9. 99 Problems
  10. Interlude
  11. Justify My Thug
  12. Lucifer
  13. Allure
  14. My 1st Song

"Interlude" is the tenth track on Jay-Z's eighth studio album, The Black Album. It is the second track on the album listed as "Interlude", due to this, the song is most commonly known as "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" or "Public Service Announcement" because of its first line.

Background

The song was produced by Just Blaze and contains samples of "No One Can Do It Better" by The D.O.C. and "Seed Of Love" by Little Boy Blues.

Versions

Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.

Studio

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
Interlude The Black Album

Jay-Z: The Hits Collection, Volume One

2:53 2003 November 14, 2003
  • Samples The D.O.C.'s "No One Can Do It Better" and Little Boy Blues' "Seed Of Love".

Live

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
Public Service Announcement - Intro LP Underground 5.0 1:18 July 2, 2005 November 30, 2004
  • Jay-Z & Linkin Park.
  • First verse only.
  • Recorded live at Live 8 in Philadelphia, PA. July 2, 2005.
Public Service Announcement (Live) Live In Brooklyn 2:32 October 6, 2012 October 11, 2012
  • Recorded at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on October 6, 2012.

Live

Jay-Z debuted the song live in 2003 following the release of The Black Album and it has been a staple in his shows ever since.

Following the release of Collision Course, Jay-Z and Linkin Park played a collaborative show at Live 8, a group of benefit concerts on July 2, 2005 that preceded the G8 Summit in Scotland a few days later, for which Linkin Park learned the song to perform as Jay-Z's introduction to the stage. This was the only performance of the song with Linkin Park.

Personnel

  • Producer – Just Blaze
  • Recorded By – David Brown
  • Recorded By, Mixed By – Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton
  • Written-By – Justin Smith, Raymond Levin, Shawn Carter

Lyrics

Album Version

This is a public service announcement
Sponsored by Just Blaze and the good folks at Roc-A-Fella Records

"Fellow Americans, it is with the utmost pride and sincerity
that I present this recording, as a living testiment and recollection
of history in the making during our generation."

Allow me to re-introduce myself
My name is Hov', OH, H-to-the-O-V
I used to move snowflakes by the O-Z
I guess even back then you can call me
CEO of the R-O-C, Hov'!
Fresh out the fryin pan into the fire
I be the, music biz number one supplier
Flyer/flier than a piece of paper bearin my name
Got the hottest chick in the game wearin my chain, that's right
Hov', OH - not D.O.C.
But similar to them letters, "No One Can Do it Better"
I check cheddar like a food inspector
My homey Strict told me, "Dude finish your breakfast"
So that's what I'ma do, take you back to the dude
with the Lexus, fast-forward the jewels and the necklace
Let me tell you dudes what I do to protect this
I shoot at you actors like movie directors [laughing]
This ain't a movie dog (oh shit)

"Now before I finish, let me just say
I did not come here to show out, did not come here to impress you
Because to tell you the truth when I leave here I'm GONE!
And I don't care WHAT you think about me - but just remember,
when it hits the fan brother, whether it's next year, ten years,
twenty years from now, you'll never be able to say
that these brothers lied to you JACK!"

Ving ain't lie
I done came through the block in everything that's fly
I'm like, Che Guevara with bling on, I'm complex
I never claimed to have wings on
Nigga I get mine - by any means on whenever there's a drought
Get your umbrellas out because, that's when I brainstorm
You can blame Shawn, but I ain't invent the game
I just rolled the dice, tryin to get some change
And I do it twice, ain't no sense in me
lyin as if, I am a different man
And I could blame my environment but
there ain't no reason why I be buyin expensive chains
Hope you don't think users are the only abusers niggaz
Gettin high within the game
If you do then, how would you explain?
I'm ten years removed, still the vibe is in my veins
I got a hustler spirit, nigga period
Check out my hat yo, peep the way I wear it
Check out my swag' yo, I walk like a ballplayer
No matter where you go, you are what you are player
And you can try to change but that's just the top layer
Man, you was who you was 'fore you got here
Only God can judge me, so I'm gone
Either love me, or leave me alone

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program, L'Album Noir: The Black Album

LPU 5.0 Live Version

My name is H-to-the-O-V
I used to move snowflakes by the O-Z
I guess even back then you can call me
CEO of the R-O-C, Hov'!
Fresh out the fryin pan into the fire
I be the, music biz number one supplier
Flyer/flier than a piece of paper bearin my name
Got the hottest chick in the game wearin my chain, that's right
Not D.O.C.
But similar to them letters, "No One Can Do it Better"
I check cheddar like a food inspector
My homey Strict told me, "Dude finish your breakfast"
So that's what I'ma do, take you back to the dude
with the Lexus, fast-forward the jewels and the necklace
Let me tell you dudes what I do to protect this
I shoot at you actors like movie directors mother...

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