The lyric-completion answer to Jay-Z’s “The Story of O.J.” is “beginnin’.” The line appears in the song’s first verse, where Jay-Z reflects on missed opportunities and the value of investing in property rather than spending money quickly.
“The Story of O.J.” was released in 2017 on Jay-Z’s thirteenth studio album, 4:44. Produced by No I.D., the track uses a vintage jazz-soul atmosphere and a black-and-white animated video to examine race, wealth, identity and economic independence in the United States.
The title refers to O.J. Simpson’s famous claim that he was not defined by racial identity. Jay-Z turns that idea into a broader argument: money, fame and social status do not erase the racial realities faced by Black Americans. A common mix-up is treating the lyric as a literal nostalgia line; in context, it introduces a reflection on financial mistakes and long-term wealth-building.