# Please Explain This Jay-Z Joke To Me **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118 "2022-04-20T14:48:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/1 "2022-04-20T14:48:48Z")
I drive by a sign maker’s store every day. In front of the business, there is a large sign that has the name of his business plus a pun, joke, etc. that is changed every few weeks. For the life of me, I can’t figure the latest one out. I’ve driven by it 25 times and have tried to make sense of it. Here it is: Due to inflation, Jay-Z now has 123 more problems. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/2 "2022-04-20T14:53:03Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6uikJTnmtgw/maxresdefault.jpg "JAY-Z - 99 Problems") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uikJTnmtgw) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/3 "2022-04-20T14:53:34Z")
Translation: “I have raised my prices. Here is a not-funny excuse for a joke!” ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/4 "2022-04-20T15:06:09Z")
I figured it had something to do with Jay-Z’s music. But not knowing a single one of his songs didn’t help me at all! Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/5 "2022-04-20T15:08:00Z")
against my better judgment I clicked on that video. (I don’t like playing video, but I was curious). It’s “not available in my country” (USA) so I still don’t get the joke. Does JZ have a song about 122 problems and now it’s 123? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/6 "2022-04-20T15:14:22Z")
He has, and I quote, “99 problems, but a bitch ain’t one.” ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/7 "2022-04-20T15:21:36Z")
If you’re having sign problems, I feel bad for you son. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/8 "2022-04-20T16:07:24Z")
So you are saying there was no sign of a joke? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/9 "2022-04-20T16:12:59Z")
I think @DPRK nailed it. And it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-this-jay-z-joke-to-me/963118/10 "2022-04-20T16:47:33Z")
Right up there with: Jay-Z on Apollo 13: “Houston, we now have 100 problems.”