In his verse for the remix of Kanye West's 2005 single "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," Jay-Z rapped that "as long as he's alive" — referring to Bleek — "he's a millionaire." The lyrics go on to say that Bleek is in Z's will, that he can "just kick back and chill." And, "oh yeah, he don't even have to write rhymes."
According to Hip Hop DX, the public took that line as Jay-Z saying he would always have Bleek's back, financially speaking. But his protégé wasn't a big fan of the shoutout or how it was perceived by the public. "I don't like that line," said Bleek in 2104. He believed that it incorrectly labeled his career. "I feel people look at me as if Jay is just taking care of me. That line was basically, I guess, in his mind, a shoutout. But people take it literally and serious, like I'm just chilling somewhere, I'm not working. As you see, I'm here. I gotta work."
Despite being unhappy about that line, Memphis Bleek and Jay-Z continue to work together on music. In fact, as Complex reported in August 2020, Bleek thinks he's the best to have ever collaborated with the Roc-a-Fella founder. (Don't tell Kanye.)
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