Damn, this is a strange one. Let’s get this out of the way, first. The only version of “Clockin’ the Jizz” that I know of is technically referred to as “Clockin’ the Jizz (Instrumental)” and it appears on the 1991 “Gett Off” maxi-single. As far as I can tell, there isn’t and never was a vocal version. This makes the “Instrumental” part of the title unnecessary and misleading. Maybe “Gett Off” is the vocal version since the two share the same beat and tempo and sound similar.
“Clockin’ the Jizz” has an improvisational jazz feel over the hard beat from “Gett Off” if you can imagine that. Actually, it starts with a voice repeating the phrase “clockin’ the jizz” and some hysterical laughing until some keyboards and guitar come in. Prince turns in a performance reminiscent of Grant Green on the guitar, rarely playing a chord. Some screeching sound effects and an extended Eric Leeds flute solo follow. Rosie Gaines also does some vocal improvising and that’s enjoyable because Ms. Gaines always brings it. “Clockin’ the Jizz” is a unique blend of sounds, but ultimately a completely unnecessary song.
Now, about that title…
I think we all know what jizz means. I’ve always been under the impression that clockin’ means something like watching, or maybe more accurately, monitoring. The context of the popular early-1990’s phrase “clockin’ the hoes” led me to believe that just meant scoping out women. So, what exactly does clockin’ the jizz mean? Watching someone’s semen? I doubt it.
The lyrics to the second verse of Prince & The New Power Generation’s filthy masterpiece “Gett Off” go like this:
I clocked the jizz from a friend
Of yours named Vanessa Bet
She said you told her a fantasy
That got her all wet
Something about a little box with a
Mirror and a tongue inside
What she told me then got me so hot
I knew that we could slide
Based on these lyrics my assumption is that the jizz Prince is singing about means something more like gossip. Guess what? If you naively Google the phrase “does jizz mean gossip?” you end up with a list of sites like “where your dude likes to cum and what it says about him” and “is it bad to swallow semen?” Ick. Thanks for the help, as always, internet. I’m gonna go with my gut on this one and say that clockin’ the jizz means listening to gossip, or something similar to that.
Glad I could clear that up.
Anyway, “Clockin’ the Jizz” is an unnecessary five minutes of music that doesn’t fit with the beat that’s playing. Prince has done some incredible instrumental work, but this song sounds like a throwaway. I encourage you to listen to the 8:33 extended remix of “Gett Off” instead because it’s nasty as hell.
Enjoy your Sunday, y’all. Stay safe.
mookiefantana 