Izzo (H.O.V.A.)

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (often referred to as "H to the Izzo") is the first single released by Jay-Z from his sixth album The Blueprint. It is among his most popular singles. This was the second song released off The Blueprint, after the diss track "Takeover", but the lead single from it. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was Jay-Z's first top 10 single as a lead artist.[1]

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
Single by Jay-Z
from the album The Blueprint
ReleasedAugust 21, 2001
RecordedMay 2001
StudioBaseline Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kanye West
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Fiesta (Remix)"
(2001)		 "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
(2001)		 "Girls, Girls, Girls"
(2001)

The song, produced by Kanye West, prominently features a sample of "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, the second major hit in 2001 to sample that song (after "My Baby" by Lil' Romeo).

Jay-Z premiered the song live at the inaugural BET Awards on June 19, 2001.[2]

The song was later mashed up with Linkin Park's "In the End" for their collaborative EP, Collision Course.

Meaning

Izzo and H.O.V.A are synonymous with Jehovah. Jay-Z earned the nickname "Jay-Hova" due to his songwriting skills.

"They start calling me Jay-Hova. I didn't want to offend people, by saying I was Jehovah. I'm God or anything like that. I know way better than that."[3] -Jay-Z

On October 31, 2001, a copyright lawsuit was filed against Jay-Z by Demme Ulloa, who claimed that she was wasn't paid for her contribution to "Izzo". Ulloa asserted that it was her singing "H to the izzo/V to the izzay", though she didn't receive any money for her contribution and was not credited in the liner notes of The Blueprint.[4] The joint authorship claim was dismissed in 2004 but continued to proceed for a copyright infringement claim, which was ultimately settled.[5][6]

Credits and personnel

The credits for "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" are adapted from the liner notes of The Blueprint.[7]

Studio locations
Personnel
Samples

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 23
Australian Urban (ARIA)[9] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[10] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 69
Scotland (OCC)[12] 29
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 53
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 21
UK Dance (OCC)[15] 8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 4
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[19] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[20] 4

Year-end charts
Chart (2001) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 52
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 30

References
  1. "Jay-Z Awards". AllMusic.
  2. "2001 BET Awards Winners".
  3. Ducreay, Safra (August 21, 2018). "Jay-Z – 'IZZO (H.O.V.A)': Throwback Video of the Day". The Boombox.
  4. "JAY-Z SUED FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT BY 'IZZO' SINGER". MTV News. October 31, 2001.
  5. "Ulloa v. Universal". 2004.
  6. Griffis, Kelcee; Setty, Riddhi (August 8, 2022). "Beyoncé 'Renaissance' Blowback From Kelis Cautions Young Artists". Bloomberg Law.
  7. The Blueprint (Liner notes). Jay-Z. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2001. 5863962.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  9. "Issue 631" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  10. "Tipparade-lijst van week 45, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  13. "Jay-Z – Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  15. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  16. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  17. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  19. "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  20. "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  21. "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  22. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
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