Izzo (H.O.V.A.) was released by Jay-Z in 2001 as the lead single from The Blueprint, produced by Kanye West around a sample of the Jackson 5 song I Want You Back. Its title and hook play on Hova, a shortened form of Jay-Hova, with the izz infix slang popular at the time turning letters into a chant. The track became one of Jay-Z signature hits and the phrase lived on in remixes, sports entrances and short online clips where a confident introduction is needed in seconds.