Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer

"Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer"
Song by Linkin Park & Jay-Z
from the album Collision Course
Recorded:	2004
Released:	November 30, 2004
Length:	4:55
Time signature:	4/4
Tempo:	95
Key:	Eb Minor -> C# Minor
References:	Ice-T - 99 Problems
Live debut:	July 18, 2004
Last performed:	February 18, 2005
Writer:	Billy Squier, Brad Delson, Chester Bennington, Felix Pappalardi, Jay-Z, John Ventura, Joseph Hahn, Leslie Weinstein, Mike Shinoda, Norman Landsberg, Rob Bourdon
Producer:	Linkin Park, Jay-Z
Label:	Warner Bros.
Collision Course tracklist
Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Lying From You Big Pimpin'/Papercut Jigga What/Faint Numb/Encore Izzo/In The End Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer

Background

"Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer" is a mash-up between "99 Problems" from Jay-Z's The Black Album and two songs from Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory, "Points Of Authority" and "One Step Closer".

The idea for the track was inspired by a mash-up made by a DJ who went by the handle "AL-B" in early 2004. His mash-up used the songs "99 Problems", "One Step Closer" and "1stp Klosr". It gained enough attention to receive airplay on numerous radio stations. Many people thought it was an official remix at the time, and after Collision Course came out, many people thought it was a Collision Course demo. The last one was perpetuated by the existence of an internal Warner Bros. Records CD containing a clean and an explicit version of his mash-up.

Speaking to Soundslam on December 2004, Mike Shinoda said, "My favorite part of doing this project was doing Jay’s first verse on “99 Problems.” I felt crazy suggesting it to him at first, like, “hey, I was thinking you could let me rap your part here.” I had to get my confidence up to suggest that one. But I recorded it, played it for him, and he was feeling it, so we were all good."

The chorus of "99 Problems" is a reference to "99 Problems" by Ice-T.

On April 14, 2021, during a Twitch stream, Mike talked about doing Jay-Z's parts from "99 Problems", saying: "I think it was my idea. He was fine with it. Part of the idea was to have us do some of his stuff and him doing some of our stuff, what you can't do with a regular mashup. If a DJ is just taking instrumentals and acapellas and putting them together, and mashing those up, what they can't do is having the two artists do each other's songs, so that was kinda the idea."

Versions

Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.

Studio

Title	Album	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer	Collision Course	4:55	2004	November 30, 2004	Official mash-up with Jay-Z.
Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer	Collision Course (Clean)	4:55	2004	November 30, 2004
99 Steps Klosr (Explicit)	Linkin Park/Jay-Z Mix	3:52	2004	Summer 2004	Mash-up of Jay-Z's "99 Problems" and Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" and "1stp Klosr" made by a DJ called AL-B prior to the release of Collision Course. While this isn't an official remix, it was discovered that Warner Bros. Records had an internal CD containing it. The CD dates from May 19, 2004.
99 Steps Klosr (Edited)	Linkin Park/Jay-Z Mix	3:52	2004	Summer 2004	Clean version.

Live

Title	Album	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer	Collision Course		July 18, 2004	November 30, 2004	Censored. DVD only.

Live

"Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer" debuted at the MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups event in West Hollywood, California, along with the rest of the Collision Course tracks. Linkin Park and Jay-Z had to play each of the album's tracks twice due to lighting messing up. Technically, this song was the first one besides the regular "One Step Closer" to close a Linkin Park show.

The song was performed once more after this event, in 2005 at the Music For Relief: Rebuilding South Asia event where it closed the setlist. It has not been performed since.

Lyrics

Album Version

If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

You got it, Mike?

He's got the rap patrol on the gat patrol
Foes that wanna make sure his casket's closed
Rap critics who say he's “Money, Cash, Hoes”
He's from the hood, stupid, what type of facts are those?
If you grew up with holes in your sapitos
You'd be celebratin' the minute you was havin' dough
So fuck critics: You can kiss our whole asshole
If you don't like the lyrics you can press fast-forward
Got beef with radio if we don't play the show
They don't play our hits—we don't give a shit, so
All these mags tryin' to use our ass
So advertisers can give ‘em more cash for ads
Fuckers, I don't know what you take us as
Or understand the intelligence that Jay-Z has
From rags to riches, we ain't dumb
We got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

The year is ninety-four and my trunk is raw
In the rear-view mirror is the mo'fuckin' law
I got two choices, y'all: Pull over the car or
Bounce on the double, put the pedal to the floor
Now I ain't tryin' to see no highway chase with Jake
Plus I got a few dollars—I can fight the case
So I pull over to the side of the road
And I heard: “Son, do you know what I'm stoppin' you for?”
‘Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's too low?
Do I look like a mind-reader, sir? I don't know
Am I under arrest or should I guess some more?
“You was doin' fifty-five in a fifty four
License and registration and step out of the car
Are you carryin' a weapon on you? I know a lot of you are”
I ain't steppin' out of shit
All my paper's legit
“Well, do you mind if I look around the car a little bit?”
Well, my glove compartment is locked—so's the trunk in the back
And I know my rights so you gon' need a warrant for that
“Now aren't you sharp as a tack? You some type-a lawyer or somethin'?
Somebody important or somethin'?”
Haha, I ain't passed the bar but I know a little bit
Enough that you won't illegally search my shit
“We'll see how smart you are when the K9's come”
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one

Now, once upon a time not too long ago
A nigga like myself had to strong-arm a ho
This is not a ho in the sense of havin' pussy
But a pussy havin' no God damn sense tryin' to push me
I tried to ignore him and talk to the Lord
Pray for him ‘cause some fools just love to perform
You know the type: Loud as a motorbike
But wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight
The only thing that's gonna happen is I'm-a get to clappin'
And he and his boys gon' be yappin' to the captain
And there I go, trapped in the kit-kat again
Back through the system with the riff-raff again
Fiends on the floor scratchin' again
Paparazzis with they cameras, snappin' them
DA tried to give the nigga shaft again
Half a mil for bail ‘cause I'm African
All because this fool was harassin' them
Tryin' to play the boy like he's saccharine
But ain't nothin' sweet—‘bout I hold my gun
I got ninety-nine problems—bein' a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me

Shut up when I'm talkin' to you
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up when I'm talkin' to you
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up
Shut up
I'm about to break

Everything you say to me
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me
I need a little room to breathe
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me
Everything you say to me
I got ninety-nine problems but a bitch ain't one
Hit me
I need a little room to breathe
I got ninety-nine problems
And I'm about to break

Gallery

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  Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, AL-B and Jay-Z