"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (or "Jigga What, Jigga Who (Originator 99)" for the song's title to avoid hearing the word "Nigga") is a single by rapper Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It was released on March 1, 1999. The song is produced by Timbaland and features two artists: Big Jaz, who raps one verse and Amil, who speaks the track's chorus.
"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" | ||||
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Single by Jay-Z featuring Amil and Big Jaz | ||||
from the album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life | ||||
Released | March 1, 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
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Amil singles chronology | ||||
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Big Jaz singles chronology | ||||
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In 2004, the song was mashed with Linkin Park's "Faint" in the six track EP Collision Course.
B-Side
In 2015, NME ranked the song number seven on their list of the ten greatest Jay-Z songs,[1] and in 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the song number eight on their list of the 50 greatest Jay-Z songs.[2]
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 84 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[4] | 23 |