Have you ever noticed how fashion designers can put out a line and people buy it just because it is from that particular designer? The shirt could have a butterfly collar, torn fabric, wrinkles under the arm pits and as long as that designer logo is on the front somewhere, people will buy it.
Get my drift?
Sometimes this is how I feel about hip-hop. This is also how I feel about Jay-Z's new album. "Mr. I Don't Write Anything Down" needs to start writing his lyrics down. One take is simply not enough.
His latest release (after the retirement that many of us knew was phonier than a three dollar bill) is titled "Kingdom Come." This album has 14 tracks and it features John Legend, Kanye West, Just Blaze and Pharell Williams.
At times, Jay shows glimpses of lyrical superiority. At other times, his lyrics seem misplaced from the beats. The feel and flow just are not there. A good example is "Do You Wanna Ride" featuring John Legend. The beat is from Kanye and Legend has the hook while Jay's verses do not fit with flow of the music.
On "Kingdome Come," Jay blazes us with sharp story telling and lyrics. He raps "Now I'm so enlightened I might glow in the dark/I been up in the office you might know him as Clark/Just when you thought the whole world fell apart, I/Take off the blazer loosen up the tie/Step inside the booth Superman is alive." Now that is classic J. No more can be said.
On "30 Something", Jay exclaims that "30's the new 20." On this song he is typical Jay, the man who extends his vowels and consonants to create a rhythmic melody. He raps "Better broad, better automobile/Bet a yard (Naw) Bet a hundred mil/ Then by the songs end, I'll probably start another trend."
He talks about adult themes on this song. And from his fashion, job and lifestyle switch we can see the changes.
He raps "I don't got the bright watch, I got the right watch/ I don't buy out the bar, I bought the nightspot."
It is the same braggadocio. It sounds good at times then, at others, it seems redundant. We already know he has millions of dollars. We know that he used to be a hustler. We know that he has a popular and beautiful girlfriend. How? Because, he has already rapped about this on his other six or so albums.
This is what makes "Kingdom Come" a sub par effort. Similar themes. Similar concepts. And music that has no direction.
It was good to hear from HOVA out of retirement. However, maybe his new position at Def Jam suits him better. Sometimes it is not good thing to come out of retirement. Just ask Jordan about the second attempt, not the first one.
Although he shows his lyrical abilities at times, the album is not Classic Jay.
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