We all thought the
Kanye would be the most controversial album of the year, until Jay-Z dropped
what quickly became the most anticipated album of the summer and the most
controversial.
If I have to start it
off, I expected better, I fell victim to the Jay-Z hype machine again, because
they sold the sizzle not the steak
I expected better production, and song
making. Considering the high caliber
producers we saw on the Commercials, Timbaland, Rick Rubin, Swizz, and Pharrell
all in the same room. I expected firepower. Each one of them has produced some
of his greatest work. But the beats didn’t stand up to that quality, none of
the beats elicited a response from me that caught my attention immediately,
made my head nod or ugly up my face. Lyrically it’s good, its been a while
since Jay has put this much effort into verses but, Jay is trying to prove he's
deep, but he can't rap deep. Him trying to rap like Commons Sense doesn't make
common sense. It sounds very forced and contrived to me
Lyrically its crazy, some of it. Flows
wise Ill pass, content is serious, some of the coded language is impressive,
there are plenty of hidden meanings, double/ triple metaphors but the whole
package is a yawn. I didn't get excited
about the lyrics. I didn’t feel the need to constantly rewind or feel mind
blown. I was expecting one of his best
albums, and that’s my fault as an album reviewer I’m supposed to go in neutral.
In all honesty, this album makes me
feel as if Jay-Z has gotten to comfortable, he’s no longer growing as an artist
or challenging his self, he’s no longer inventing or reinventing. He’s changing
the game but no longer as an artist, as a business man only. The album will
change the way music is marketed. But as a listener, I feel insulted, as if he
feels he doesn’t have to work for my money anymore, he can put out anything,
people will buy it and radio will find something to play just because its him. This is hip hop, it’s suppose to be the
package of dope beats and dope rhymes, not one or the other.
To put it in perspective, I don’t even
think this album is better than Blue Print 2 or Dynasty. Its better than
Kingdom Come and Blue Print 3, but not in the category of Reasonable Doubt,
Blue Print, Streets is Watching or Black Album.... I don't even think it’s the
best album out right now. Neither do I believe it contends for album of the
year. I think its his most responsible album, his most intelligent album, most
adult album, but its not one of his best. It falls way below the hype and
expectation, to the middle of the pack. It’s
way better than Kingdom Come, Blue Print 3 and better than Watch the
Throne. But it falls way short of
Reasonable Doubt, Blue Print or Black Album. I don’t even like better than Blue
Print 2, or the Hard Knock Life album and I’m not that big a fan of either of
those.
As far as releases expect anything, “Tom Ford”
is simple and dumbed down enough for todays club scene. Its hard to pick a best song, they’re all
about the same, I’d probably pick “Nickels and Dimes”
For the man that stated, “I'm leading
the league in at least six statistical categories right now, Best flow, Most
consistent, Realest stories, Most charisma, I set the most trends…” it’s a very
average outing, but its genius because he’s got everyone talking about it, and
he got Samsung to pay for it, Genius. I
think he was trying to prove a point that he’s matured and can do more
responsible tracks, but at heart I still think he’s the slick hustler from
earlier album, and that mentality has made him super rich. I think he should be
what he is and stop running from his self, because the honesty in his albums is
still there, but the soul is not. Ill give
the Magna Cart
Holy Grail album a strong 3 out of 6 stars.
@slin_k_polymath
