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You could tell something was wrong when the video for
“Show Me What You Got” premiered. Here was a song that
featured some of the most combustible and inspired live
instrumentation a hip-hop song had ever known, with Jay,
in a true-hop chorus, telling his listeners to put their
hands up and wave. It was like an encore for “Encore”.
But no sooner can we celebrate the official return of
hip-hop’s CEO and (maybe) G.O.A.T., do we get this video
with Jay-Z shotgun in a fast car with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
behind the wheel as they engage is some random, cheesy,
half-sissified cat-race with Danica Patrick. Huh? This
is how you return to hip-hop? Pandering to NASCAR
and hawking Budweiser? He’d later say, on ESPN’s Hot
Seat, that he was trying to show hip-hop’s reach,
but it seemed more like his own personal reach, Jay
reaching for, literally, every listener.
These
days, that seems to be his obsession: elitist status.
Hip-hop is years past the days of melodramatic,
self-righteous judgments about commercial success. You
can go multi-plat and stay hop. You can do Leno and stay
hop. You can sell-out arenas and not be a sellout. But
what about putting a distance so expansive between you
and a culture that it seems the size of the Grand
Canyon?
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Who,
exactly, is Young Hov making music for when the bulk of
his lyrics
fundamentally pertain to the social plateau he’s
reached? Did you know that his friends are Chris
and Gwyneth? |
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| No? Listen to “Hollywood” and he’ll tell you.
“Hollywood” -- basically an R&B track, much better
suited for a Beyonce album, with him as a guest as
opposed to vice versa -- was apparently his weak attempt
to get into some culture censuring. Yet it came off as
superficial. “Minority Report” was supposed to be some
scathing social critique, yet he only mustered one verse
and got label-mate NeYo to sing the hook, when he could
have gotten a singer with some soul and depth (Bilal,
D’Angelo, Mary J, Cee-lo, even Kells) to emote, since
Jay was listless.
That’s
what this album was: a succession of the wrong moves
made by a man with a secure legacy that doesn’t need to
prove anything to hip-hop or through hip-hop (even Kanye
and Dre seemed to mirror this ambivalence with
relatively uninspired production offerings). I guess
that’s an option that Jay has the luxury of accepting.
No need to step his game up or stay sharp or submit any
true substance. He can slide out silly-braggadocio (“30
Something”); lightweight gum-bumpin’ (“Dig A Hole”) and
hackneyed odes to strippers (“Anything”).
This
is the album we get after The Black Album? He’s
always referring to himself as the Michael Jordan of
hip-hop and there’s no arguments here. MJ’s return with
the Wizards, a couple years after he won his last
championship by dropping the game-winner, was pointless
and sometimes pathetic. Ditto here.
Through it all, perhaps he was at his most flummoxing
when he sets off this album with “The Prelude” -- and we
don’t mean his puzzling choice to still use that tired
“hustler can’t stay away” motif. Na, not that. Jay’s
first words are:
The game's fucked up
Niggas beats is
banging
Nigga ya hooks did it, ya lyrics didn't
Ya gangsta look did it
So I would write it if yall could get it
Being intricate'll get ya wood critics
On the internet, they like you should spit it,
I’m like you should
buy it, Nigga thats good business
The
nerve.
By Music Dude |
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Tell us what you think of
this review or write your own to share with other
readers
(Include your name and what state
you're from) |
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There were some valid points made by
Music Dude about this album and the direction that Jay-Z went
it. But I think the Hip Hop community as a whole needs to be
careful how quickly we label artists who attempt to appeal to
wider audiences as crossing over or selling out. Sure Jay did
not mention his hood in every song or reference his struggle
to make it big because he is beyond that point in his career.
When you have toured Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world
the everyday struggle of your neighborhood projects may not
seem like the most compelling subject matter for your music.
As important as it is for hip hop to tell the story of what
goes on in our communities, it is equally important for
artists to explore what it is like once you have attained the
goals you set for yourself. Otherwise, what is the point of
constantly rhyming about how hard you struggled if we never
here about the payoff of all of the struggle? I also think
that critics have not paid hommage to the fact that what Jay-Z
has done in Corporate America is nothing short of Miraculous.
Who would have ever thought that a young brother from Marcy
Projects would go on to be one of the most influential people
in the entire Entertainment Industry. I think some of the
direction of this album is addressing these points and has
replaced the subject matter that we are used to hearing from
Jay-Z. Ultimately, I will be the frist to say that this is not
one of the top 3 of Jay-Z's albums, but it is still better
than 98% of what I hear on the radio. Jay-Z is "the Mike
Jordan of the mic recorders" and until someone eclipses what
he has done in the game, things will remain that way.
--Q from VA |
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I'm torn on this one. Let's start with
the beats-Nothing classic there. The rhymes - They show growth
as a man and display some of that arrogant Jigga slickness
that we've all grown accustom too. I hope this is Jaz last
album though. Now that's he's completely removed himself from
the Hip-Hop community with this album, I hope he will stay
away and give the game some room to operate and grow on it's
own, without his Jigga "floss on you own people" influence.
--Toneskee
Lemiert Park, Los Angeles, Ca. |
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Is this the best Jayz could do to come
back at least when diddy does it he puts everyone on his cd
and it's not all about himself the cd is weak just like the
last three his best cd was reasonable doubt he needs to go
back to that instead of rapping about planes cars and watches
--Nikki darby |
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This is the difference between, true
Hip-Hop, and the garbage that is put out today...money,bling,
women, etc. There aren't any positive hip-hop albums out today
that can resinate a decent meaning worst listening to...can
anyone name a few? I don't thing Jay was trying to put out
another ablum that would rule the world, just a ablum that
would reflect his growth as a per, and a person in Hip-hop. I
also think he was trying to get the message across, that you
can't be a "thug" all your life. At some point you have to
make decisions to ensure your future. Majority of the hip-hop
garbage artist out today won't be around 5, 10, or even 15
years from now. most of them try to live up to there on hype,
and when the dust finally settles, they will probably have
nothing to show for it, like most.
------ATLien d(-_-)b |
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"Maybe I'm to old to hate this album like
Music Dude. (40's the new 20)I identify with what Jay is
saying on most of the tracks. If you are between 38-45 (and
some younger) and grew up in the hood and on hip-hop you fully
understand and get it. I guess I don't look too deeply like
some do, I live life take what it gives me and don't try to
spend too much time overanalyzing what it doesn't give me. A
classic line in the album which I feel is true for a lot of
younger cats (and older) is "I never been on My Space because
I'm too busy carving out My Space". Like people who have never
given us anything in hip-hop criticizing those who have given
us much in the game. Get off line and carve out your space."
--Ren 10- straight outta Philly- EA All
Day. |
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"I guess the first thing I need to ask is
"Was there anything you liked about this album?" LOL. I can't
agree with this review. Simply because it's too heavily skewed
towards the negative. Now, I've been a fan of hip hop since
the early 80's and I've heard a lot of albums...a few
masterpieces....a lot of great records...and a WHOLE lot of
straight duds. If there is one thing about a garbage album is
that a lot of them have some bright spots on them. I didn't
get that from that this review which leads me to believe that
you may be a tad bit biased. This is by no means Jay's best
album...but still an elite effort. I think the biggest
breakdown for listeners is that it's totally different from
what they didn't expect from Jay. In my opinion, this is Jay's
most fearless album. You say Jay raps from an elitest mind
state but I mean damn... can you really rap about being on the
corner when you own The Nets & CEO of hip hops most historical
label?? In a genre of "fake it til you make it's", Jay is the
real deal...no denying it. One of the things that I like about
Jay is that he rhymes from whatever space HE'S in and doesn't
let the fans dictate what he should rhyme about. Also, this is
his most lyrically dense album since Vol. 1. Every time I
listen I catch a new line. I love albums like this...the ones
that get pan by the critics in the beginning but are revered
as masterpieces over time. Beastie Boy's "Paul's Boutique" &
Marvin Gaye's "Here My Dear" come to mind. I applauded Jay for
his mature move in trying to show Hip Hop's reach."
--Norri from VA. |
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"I think business is business. Sometimes
when a "Homeboy" sometimes step out of his element we believe
he is wrong, or not from the "HOOD" or not "Gangsta" enough. I
don't blame him for what he is doing, because every one grows
up and matures to do things, that maybe didn't seem cool back
in the day. But right now, HOVA is doing what he has the
"Luxury" of doing. Jay is in his 30's and still being
productive in the music business. Can you tell me how many
other rap artist are out there in the game. Who? L and who
else? Nobody! I would like to give a shot out to Jay, because
he has brought a lot of "Homeboys" up from the streets to the
studios! Speaking from the LAND OF THE TRILL---Port Arthur,
Texas of course. (Whatcha' no bout' dem Texas Boyz!!!!! Keep
doing what you are baby, let our hatta's be our motivata's.
---------Princess Di"
--Anonymous |
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"I agree, this has to be one of the worst
album Jay-Z has dropped. I've had many heated discussions with
my friends in the lunch room who believe this is a good album
just because it sold 700,000 its 1st week. The album was a
disappointment and if this was the best he could do after
being "retired" even if he was featured on everyones album,
then he should of never returned. Gone is the hova that talks
about the hustle and he's been replace with the hova that only
raps about what he believes will sell. Once a Artist stop
making what he feels and instead what he feels will sell, he's
a sellout."
--Anonymous |
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