Orenthal James Simpson, affectionately known as “O.J.”, passed away on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76. While he gained recognition in various fields, including football, acting, and broadcasting, his life and career were marked by both extraordinary achievements and profound controversy.
The Simpson family posted on the announcement of his death on Twitter saying, he died on April 10.
Born on July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California, Simpson rose to prominence as a football phenom. His remarkable talent as a running back earned him numerous accolades in the National Football League (NFL), including NFL Most Valuable Player (1973) and five-time First-team All-Pro (1972–1976). Simpson’s crowning achievement came in 1973 when he became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, solidifying his status as a football legend.
However, Simpson’s legacy became overshadowed by the infamous trial surrounding the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994. The highly publicized trial captivated the nation and sparked intense debate and scrutiny. Despite being acquitted of the criminal charges, Simpson’s involvement in the case cast a long shadow over his career and personal life.
Beyond football and the legal proceedings, Simpson pursued a career in entertainment, showcasing his versatility as an actor and broadcaster. His charm and charisma made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, with roles in film and television capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide.
He was the subject of several Hip Hop songs as rap music developed a long-standing tradition of drawing on O.J. Simpson’s notorious murder trial as a recurring theme for decades.
From Tupac’s “Picture Me Rollin” to JAY-Z’s “The Story of O.J.,” hip-hop has continually referenced Simpson and his trial in various contexts. Whether it’s Dr. Dre’s mention of being “down with Dre like AC is down with O.J” or Kendrick Lamar’s declaration of being a “baller slash killer like O.J. Simpson,” the references range from subtle nods to more direct commentary on the case and its aftermath.
Since his high-profile trial over 25 years ago, and during his incarceration for the 2008 robbery case, Simpson remained a prominent figure in Hollywood, with his murder case drama transitioning from the courtroom to the big scree. Calypso artist and reggae artist also used the “Juice” as the subject of their.
Here are some of the songs that used OJ as their subject:
- Dr. Dre feat. Ice Cube – “Natural Born Killaz” (1994)Lyrics: “But I’m down with Dre like AC is down with OJ”
- Tupac – “Picture Me Rollin” (1996)Lyrics: “Free like O.J. all day, you can’t stop me”
- A Tribe Called Quest – “The Hop” (1996)Lyrics: “Get me vexed, I do like Left Eye, start an arson/ Now that I got that out my system/ Watch me stab up the track as if my name was OJ Simpson”
- Eminem – “Role Model” (1999)Lyrics: “Me and Marcus Allen went over to see Nicole/ When we heard a knock at the door, must’ve been Ron Gold/ Jumped behind the door, put the orgy on hold/ Killed them both, then smeared blood on the white Bronco”
- Clipse – “Virginia” (2002)Lyrics: “See, plenty my partners feelin’ like O.J/ Beat murder like the shit is OK, that’s what our dough say”
- Kendrick Lamar – “Go DJ (Freestyle)” (2003)Lyrics: “A baller slash killer like O.J. Simpson”
- Nas – “These Are Our Heroes” (2004)Lyrics: “But there’s somethin’ they don’t say/ Keep getting accused for abusing White pussay/ From OJ to Kobe, uh let’s call him Tobe”
- Kanye West – “Stronger” (2007)Lyrics: “You know how long I’ve been on ya/ Since Prince was on Apollonia/ Since O.J. had Isotoners”
- Cam’ron ft. Vado and Gucci Mane – “Cuffin” (2009)Lyrics: “Homie, you can have her, I don’t wanna marry her/ Like OJ Simpson, I just wanna stab her”
- Tyler, the Creator – “Blow” (2009)
- Lyrics: “Her legs can’t close like the four-door hinge Bronco/ That O.J. killed the white whores with”
- Earl Sweatshirt – “Luper” (2010)
- Lyrics: “Paused to scratch an itch and went, down to the kitchen/ Fixed a plate of eggs and bacon, glass of OJ Simpson”
12. Jeezy – “OJ” (2011)
- Lyrics: “Kinda hard when you’re sleeping on Dolce/ Wake up drinking Rose/ Killing that white bitch, OJ”
13. Lil Wayne – “Marvins Room” (2011)
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- Lyrics: “I ain’t a killer but don’t push me/ I OJ Simpsoned that pussy”
14. Kendrick Lamar – “Backseat Freestyle” (2012)
- Lyrics: “I look like OJ, killing everything from pussy to a mothafuckin’ Hit-Boy beat”
15. 50 Cent ft. Kidd Kidd – “OJ” (2012)
- Lyrics: “Put on my O.J. gloves and watch me kill this shit/ Beat the case then come home and go back from doing some different shit/ I’m pullin’ off a O.J, off-off a O.J/ I’m pullin’ off a O.J, I’m killin’ these bitches”
16. Jay -Z Story Of OJ (2017)
- Lyrics: “I’m not black I’m OJ, Ok!”
17. Mighty Sparrow- OJ Simpson
- Lyrics (the entire song) “Juice is loose, OJ not guilty”
