(AllHipHop News) New York Magazine selected Jay Z to appear on one of the covers for the publication’s “Annual Yesteryear Issue.” As part of the feature, legendary producer Rick Rubin shared some information about Jay’s hit single “99 Problems” off The Black Album.
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According to Rubin (who produced the track), it was comedic superstar Chris Rock that first suggested Ice-T’s “99 Problems” be reinvented as a new version.
Rubin told NYM (via Vulture):
Actually, Chris Rock had the idea for the chorus. It’s based on an Ice-T song called “99 Problems,” and he said, “Ice-T has this song, and maybe there’s a way to flip it around and do a new version of that.” And I told Jay Z the idea and he liked it. The Ice-T song is about “got 99 problems and a b***h ain’t one,” and then it’s a list of him talking about his girls and what a great pimp he is. And our idea was to use that same hook concept, and instead of it being about the girls that are not his problem, instead of being a bragging song, it’s more about the problems. Like this is about the other side of that story.
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Other artists to cover New York Magazine’s celebration of 100 years of music in New York include The Notorious B.I.G., Madonna, and Frank Sinatra. The issue also features Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, and Nicki Minaj.
Eight covers adorn our annual Yesteryear Issue. A look back at 100 years of New York sounds: http://t.co/nDeoXXSUanpic.twitter.com/PLwLnUy26l
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) March 24, 2014
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