Thirty years after “Dead Presidents” introduced his hustler ethos to the world, Jay-Z is commemorating the milestone with a new digital home.
On Friday (Feb. 20), the rap mogul launched JayZ30.com, a website dedicated to celebrating three decades in music. The date aligns with the original Feb. 20, 1996 release of “Dead Presidents,” the independently issued single that helped lay the groundwork for his debut album and long-running career.
In tandem with the launch, Roc Nation announced that “Dead Presidents” is now available on digital streaming platforms for the first time. The Ski Beatz-produced track famously flips a line from Nas’ Illmatic cut “The World Is Yours” — “I’m out for dead presidents to represent me” — a phrase that became synonymous with Jay’s early ambition.
Originally released through Roc-A-Fella Records, the label he co-founded with Damon Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, the single played a key role in setting the stage for Reasonable Doubt. Physical editions of “Dead Presidents” are also being sold through the new site, including vinyl, CD and cassette formats.
The anniversary rollout includes a subtle visual shift as well: Jay-Z has restored the umlaut over the “ÿ” in his name across his YouTube music videos, echoing the stylization he used during the mid-’90s.
While the website highlights the 30-year benchmark tied to “Dead Presidents,” attention now turns to June 25, when Reasonable Doubt reaches its own three-decade milestone.
