When Kanye West announced that the first single from Watch the Throne — his full-length collaboration album with none other than Jay-Z — would be called "H.A.M.," the Internet immediately started speculating exactly what that acronym meant. There was a certain contingent who figured it would be called "Hatin' Ass Motherf---ers," though there was also a group of conspiracy theorists who assumed the track's letters actually stood for "Hail All Masons." A handful of other, less credible ideas also floated around the Internet, including "Horses Are Mean" (because let's face it, they are), "Heavy Arm Manipulation" (perhaps one of the rappers has been doing a little construction work on the side) and "Holy Astronaut Milk" (which really makes no sense at all and should be ignored entirely).
As it turns out, "H.A.M." not only is a reference to the slang term (short for "mayham," which means something is getting out of control) but also stands for "Hard as a Motherf---er," which West raps in the middle of his verse. Unfortunately, that piece of information occurred to us a little too late, as we here at MTV News figured that Jigga and Yeezy were going to actually be rapping about pork products. It would make a little bit of sense, as Jay has already invested in the Brooklyn-based chicken wing restaurant Buffalo Boss (shouldn't some sort of pork-based product be next, in the name of brand expansion?). And Kanye tends to rap about what's in front of him, so if he wrote his verse while celebrating over Christmas, it's very possible he was inspired by the spread on the dining room table.
So for your viewing and listening pleasure, check out Kanye West and Jay-Z's "H.A.M" as performed by a series of actual hams.