Exhibit C

The song, produced by Just Blaze, samples Billy Stewart's "Cross My Heart".{{cite magazine |author=Serwer, Jesse|title=Jay Electronica, "Exhibit C"|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069821/jay-electronica-exhibit-c|magazine=Billboard |date=2010-01-29|accessdate=2010-08-06}} Jay has stated that the song was produced in only 15 minutes for the purpose of premiering a new song on Angela Yee's show on Shade 45. The lyrics reference a time when Jay was homeless in New York City. Despite not having an album or major label support, the song received airplay on stations like WQHT.{{cite web|author=Jones, Biz|title=Jay Electronica Shocked At DJ Enuff's "Exhibit C" Radioplay|url=http://www.sohh.com/2009/12/jay_electronica_shocked_at_dj_enuffs_exh.html|work=SOHH|date=2009-12-30|accessdate=2010-08-06|archive-date=2010-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615074846/http://www.sohh.com/2009/12/jay_electronica_shocked_at_dj_enuffs_exh.html|url-status=dead}} Beginning in 2021, the explicit version of the song has been replaced with the radio edit across most major streaming platforms, including Spotify, and Apple Music. The EP cover art is a tinted photograph of inventor Nikola Tesla sitting in the Colorado Springs experimental station with his "Magnifying Transmitter".

The instrumental became very popular among hip-hop artists, with several rappers such as Fabolous,{{cite web|author=Harper, Rosario|title=Fabolous Promises His DJ Drama Mixtape Will Drop Next Week, "1 Song Left To Do"|url=http://www.sohh.com/2010/02/fabolous_promises_his_dj_drama_mixtape_w.html|work=SOHH|date=2010-02-13|accessdate=2010-08-06|archive-date=2010-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526083741/http://www.sohh.com/2010/02/fabolous_promises_his_dj_drama_mixtape_w.html|url-status=dead}} Cassidy, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Bobby Creekwater, AZ, N.O.R.E., Saigon, Charles Hamilton, B.o.B, Childish Gambino, Twista, Papoose, Conway the Machine, Game, Lil B, Cashis{{cite web|author=Langhorne, Cyrus|title=UPDATE: Game Releases "400 Bars"|url=http://www.sohh.com/2010/04/update_game_releases_400_bars_fck_50_i_w.html|work=SOHH|date=2010-04-15|accessdate=2010-08-06|archive-date=2010-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716093709/http://www.sohh.com/2010/04/update_game_releases_400_bars_fck_50_i_w.html|url-status=dead}} and Big K.R.I.T.{{cite web|author=Caramanica, Jon|title=Hip-Hop Traditionalism in Two Variations|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/03/arts/music/03krit.html|work=The New York Times|date=2010-07-02|accessdate=2010-08-06}} recording their own versions of the song.{{cite web|author=Reid, Shaheem|title=Jay Electronica Says 'My Dreams Are Coming True'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632211/20100218/story.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222220153/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632211/20100218/story.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2010|work=MTV.com|date=2010-02-19|accessdate=2010-08-06}} Mos Def has performed the song live.{{cite web|title=Mos Def pulls Diddy up on stage at Highline Ballroom gig in New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/01/19/2010-01-19_mos_def_pulls_diddy_up_on_stage_at_highline_ballroom_gig_in_new_york.html|work=NY Daily News|date=2010-01-19|accessdate=2010-08-06}}

The song has received rave reviews from critics. NME said, "'Exhibit C' is the most accomplished piece of 'conscious rap' this millennium — perhaps ever."{{cite web|title=The Greatest Lyricists In The World Today – Jay Electronica|url=https://www.nme.com/list/the-greatest-lyricists-in-the-world-today/170878/article/170917|work=NME|date=2010-05-31|accessdate=2010-08-06}} Shaheem Reid of MTV.com said it "is one of those special hip-hop records that you hear and instantly love." Wes Flexner of The Other Paper says the song "has created a feeling that hasn't existed since Common Sense's 1994 single 'I Used to Love H.E.R.' Both songs make everyone, regardless of their current role in life, remember why they fell in love with hip-hop."{{cite web|author=Flexner, Wes|title=TRIFECTA: three shows with buzz|url=http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2010/03/04/music/doc4b8fd95e78e92612995787.txt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914045332/http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2010/03/04/music/doc4b8fd95e78e92612995787.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-14|work=The Other Paper|date=2010-03-04|accessdate=2010-08-06}} Henry Adaso of About.com called "Exhibit C" the best rap song of 2009, saying it "embodies everything people admire about Jay Electronica — a combo of compelling confessionals and convincing boasts, delivered in a charismatic manner."{{cite web|author=Adaso, Henry|title=50 Best Rap Songs of 2009|url=http://rap.about.com/od/songs/tp/BestRapSongs2009.04.htm|work=About.com|accessdate=2010-08-06|archive-date=2009-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228113405/http://rap.about.com/od/songs/tp/BestRapSongs2009.04.htm|url-status=dead}} On July 25, 2010 MTV2's Sucker Free Summit award show awarded "Exhibit C" with the Instant Classic Award.{{cite web|title=Jay Electronica Becomes An 'Instant Classic'|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/545209/jay-electronica-becomes-an-instant-classic.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728225413/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/545209/jay-electronica-becomes-an-instant-classic.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2010|work=MTV.com|date=2010-07-25|accessdate=2010-08-06}} On April 22, 2013 Complex also gave the track the top spot on their "30 Most Lyrical Rap Songs of the Past 5 Years," calling the cut "a magical moment—one he nor any other rapper in the past five years could top."{{Cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/the-30-most-lyrical-rap-songs-of-the-past-5-years/exhibit-c|title=The 30 Most Lyrical Rap Songs of the Last 5 Years|website=Complex Networks}}

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Category:2009 singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Just Blaze

Category:American hip-hop songs

Category:2009 songs