Quiz: How Well Do You Know Jay Z’s “December 4th?” lyrics
by Genius
Jay Z wants you to know that every year on this date—December 4—is his birthday. Why else would he name the second track from his retirement fake-out The Black Album after the day he touched down on planet Earth? It’s like the musician equivalent of incorporating your b-day into your Instagram handle. Of course when “December 4th” dropped back in 2003, there was no Instagram—or Twitter, or Snapchat—so birthdays were pretty much committed to memory. Or, apparently, song titles. And thus, “December 4th” was born. Happy birthday, Hov!
Jay Z’s autobiographical track adds to the legendary MC’s mythology thanks to his lucid storytelling and anecdotal commentary from his mother, Gloria Carter. But how well do you know the life and times of Shawn Carter, as told by “December 4th?” Genius compiled a pop quiz on the hip-hop calendar staple. Click the multiple choice answers below (without checking the lyrics!) to find out how well you know this classic. —John Kennedy
1. According to Gloria Carter, how much did Jay Z weigh as a baby?
A. 10 pounds, 4 ounces
B. 4 pounds, 10 ounces
C. 8 pounds, 10 ounces
D. 10 pounds, 8 ounces
2. How old was Jay when he taught himself how to ride a two-wheel bike?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
3. What brand of car does Jay Z reference in the second verse?
A. Beamer
B. Benz
C. Bentley
D. Volvo
4. Who introduced Jay Z to “’caine?”
A. Jaz O
B. Adnes Reeves
C. Spanish Jose
D. DeHaven
5. According to Hov, which two days of every month are alike?
A. The 15th and the 30th
B. The 1st and the 30th
C. The 1st and the 5th
D. The 1st and the 15th
6. Which Cypress Hill song is alluded to in “December 4th”?
A. “Jump Around”
B. “How I Could Just Kill A Man”
C. “Insane in the Brain”
D. “Latin Lingo”
7. Which finger does Jay Z say gets “cut up to show mothers they really got ‘em”?
A. Ring finger
B. Middle finger
C. Pinky
D. Thumb
8. True or False: Jay Z is the oldest of four siblings
A. True
B. False
9. Who produced “December 4th?”
A. Just Blaze
B. Kanye West
C. 9th Wonder
D. The Buchanans
10. According to Gloria Carter, where did Jay Z rap “until the wee hours of the morning?”
A. The bathroom
B. The kitchen
C. The living room
D. The front steps