Jadakiss Asks All The Important Questions On ‘Why’
Let’s get one thing straight. Jadakiss has always had that respect. The critical acclaim for Jadakiss has always been there since day one with The LOX. But the commercial success was always something that seemed as if it was just bubbling below the surface of some kind of peak. Well we finally got that peak in the summer of 2004 with the song & music video for ‘Why’ off Jadakiss’ second solo album, Kiss Of Death.
Somewhat of a surprise breakout hit into the mainstream, ‘Why’ sees Jadakiss using every single one of his lines to ask a question. They range from novel, thoughtful, provocative, political, trivial, and multilayered.
Why is a brother up north better than Jordan that ain't get that break?
Why you don't stack instead of trying to be fly?
Why is ratting at an all time high?
Why are you even alive?
Why they kill 2pac n' Chris?
Why, at the bar, you ain't take straight shots instead of poppin Cris?
The music video shows Jadakiss as multiple versions of himself relaying his questions: a street hustler, news anchor, homeless man, and protest leader. All designed to make us question how all these questions come across based on who is delivering the message.
The video also puts forward the idea that sometimes we need a shock to the system. Something to disrupt our routine and make us question what’s really going on around us, as we see various situations where people’s televisions and cell phones stop working and are reset to show Jadakiss making them ask questions along with him.
That’s not to say that every question has a clean answer or even should have been asked in the first place.
The most egregious by today’s standards is probably the line, “Why did Kobe have to hit that raw? Why'd he kiss that whore?” Referencing Kobe Bryant’s then-ongoing sexual assault case.
If you know the story around ‘Why’ though, you’d assume I would have gone with “Why did Bush knock down the towers?” A line that got Jadakiss a whole bunch of extra press from Conservative figures like Bill O’Reilly. Who went as far as to claim that President Bush should sue Jadakiss for slander. But honestly? In 2025, the overall idea of that specific administration being at least partially responsible for the chain of events that led to that day is, in many circles, not the most far-fetched idea. This genuinely isn’t me trying to get political, but to show the sign of the times back then and today.
Other questions are ones that, sadly, we are still asking today, “Why is the industry designed to keep the artist in debt?”
But it’s that seemingly random grab bag of questions that makes ‘Why’ work.
One second you are questioning why Jadakiss can’t roll up to the streets in a pecan Jaguar, to being forced to think about why we don’t have a cure for AIDS yet. The more trivial or sensational questions set you up to be taken aback and think about the ones that pop up and truly resonate.
The video ends with Jadakiss marching in the street with the general public. All fed up, all asking their own questions. Not all of their questions will be important or relevant to your own causes. But Jadakiss makes his point loud and clear that whatever you’re fighting for, you’re never going to get an answer if you don’t ask why.
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