First Analysis

I heard motherfuckers saying they made Hov

Made Hov say, "OK so, make another Hov"

Niggaz wasn't playing they day role

So we parted ways like Ben and J-Lo

I should've been did it but I been in a daze though

I put friends over business end of the day though

But when friends, business interests as they go

Ain't nothing left to say though

I guess we forgot what we came fo'

Should've stayed in food and beverage

Too much flossing

Too much Sam Rothstein

I ain't a bitch but I gotta divorce them

Hov have to get the shallow shit up off him

And I ain't even want to be famous

Niggaz is brainless to unnecessarily go through these changes

And I ain't even know how it came to this

Except that fame is

The worst drug known to man

It's stronger than, heroin

When you could look in the mirror like, "There I am"

And still not see, what you've become

I know I'm guilty of it too but, not like themYou

lost one

The first stanza of Lost one is about Jay-z’s break up with long time friend and business partner Dame Dash. It is about how Dame change after getting famous and money, and because of this they had to go their speared ways. When Jay says “I heard motherfuckers saying they made Hov, Made Hov say, OK so, make another Hov" he is talking about when Dame said that he made Jay-z. Hov is a nick name for Jay-z. When Jay says “too Sam Rothstein” he is referencing to Robert De Niro’s character in the movie Casino. Sam loved his friend Nicky Santoro, and would do anything for him. Nicky would latter be Sam’s downfall. Jay’z is trying to say he was too much like Sam.He is calling himself Sam and Dame Nicky. He also talks about how the fame and money changed everything in their relationship. This is a lot like many other music groups such as The Fat Boys, The Fugees, 'N Sync or even The Beatles. It is simply about the changes that happen to him and his one time good friend after they became famous.