Beach Is Better → This should have been longer. He sounded like he was about to go in. Another braggadocios track but he could have tried to bring it to the level of PSA. The song will piss you off because it’s like eating a cookie after you’ve been starving all day and watching a steak get thrown in the garbage with no more food in sight.
BBC → Jay sounds like a mix between That’s My Bitch from WTT and some BP2 shit (toned down though, he was off beat for part of it). Nas came alright. Jay had the better verse although I can admit that Nas verse has grown on me. At first I was like Nas wasn’t even trying but he actually got jazzy for the beat. He kept it old school and the lines resonated with me. He comes into Jay’s realm with all the European references that he also enjoys but maintained his identity talking about “Bucket hats, EPMD casettes” and pyramids in Giza. The shit is just fun. It’ll have you moving. I already have a video in my head for the song. This is a block party anthem celebrating the loose theme of the album with the juxtaposition of European high culture with black hood shit.
JAY-Z Blue → I like the beat and how he used the Big sample. The song ain’t bad but it just fails to really connect with the listener honestly. It’s been some years since Jay has made a good personal song and this was a failed attempt.
La Familia → Let’s be honest, the subliminal diss shit is stupid. As a diss record, this shit is in the running for wackiness with that Dig A Hole bullshit. Jay’s bars was bullshit, but the beat kinda rides a lil bit. This could be a Young Scooter song though. Unimpressive.
Nickels and Dimes → Harry Belafonte response. His flow is actually better but he’s pretty much defending his socially irresponsible behavior. He always does this. I won’t even get into the disrespect displayed. Don’t really dig the production. Not as bad as Forever Young but a wack way to end the album.
The album was sequenced well but it’s clear that Jay has fallen off and he’ll never return the way true fans know and love him. His flow has literally deteriorated and he doesn’t even try to construct a bar structured chorus on one song on this album. Lyrically, his redundancy is exposing that he was never as nice as people like to believe. There was not one point he spazzed out on this entire album. The most he could string together was maybe 6 epic bars consecutively. No face scrunching bars, no amazing silencers. Shining moments were few and far between. The album isn’t wack but it’s a far cry from the rapper who is widely hailed as the GOAT. When you’re held to a higher standard you will be criticized the same. It’s crazy, for the first time in my life I have to say my favorite part about Jay’s album is that it makes my trunk slap. Simply, Jay isn’t doing anything at this point that many of his peers can’t do. He is no longer above the competition and hasn’t been for a while.
I applaud Jay for attempting to be more animated and creative in certain aspects. I’m not even mad at him for this album. On first listen, it sounded like the same superficial rubbish we have grown accustomed to but has reached unmatched annoying levels over recent years. Yes, “sometimes I brag like Hov” was exemplified by this body of work. But I have come to the realization and grown at peace with the fact that he’s not an innate deep or brilliant musician. He will never be socially conscious (which is nonchalantly looked at as lame in hip hop) artist. But I gotta give him credit for making an effort to touch on issues that were conflicting and true to him. It’s not his fault that his lack of creativity prevents him from going in depth on anything other than his wealth. No matter how you cut it, he’s a very talented rapper with an ear for production, a grasp on what’s currently hot always, a great team and ability to appeal across generations. So while it’s easy to dislike him based on his many character flaws and his mindless fans who overhype anything he does, it’s best to just take it for what it’s worth…..Alright.
BBC → Jay sounds like a mix between That’s My Bitch from WTT and some BP2 shit (toned down though, he was off beat for part of it). Nas came alright. Jay had the better verse although I can admit that Nas verse has grown on me. At first I was like Nas wasn’t even trying but he actually got jazzy for the beat. He kept it old school and the lines resonated with me. He comes into Jay’s realm with all the European references that he also enjoys but maintained his identity talking about “Bucket hats, EPMD casettes” and pyramids in Giza. The shit is just fun. It’ll have you moving. I already have a video in my head for the song. This is a block party anthem celebrating the loose theme of the album with the juxtaposition of European high culture with black hood shit.
JAY-Z Blue → I like the beat and how he used the Big sample. The song ain’t bad but it just fails to really connect with the listener honestly. It’s been some years since Jay has made a good personal song and this was a failed attempt.
La Familia → Let’s be honest, the subliminal diss shit is stupid. As a diss record, this shit is in the running for wackiness with that Dig A Hole bullshit. Jay’s bars was bullshit, but the beat kinda rides a lil bit. This could be a Young Scooter song though. Unimpressive.
Nickels and Dimes → Harry Belafonte response. His flow is actually better but he’s pretty much defending his socially irresponsible behavior. He always does this. I won’t even get into the disrespect displayed. Don’t really dig the production. Not as bad as Forever Young but a wack way to end the album.
The album was sequenced well but it’s clear that Jay has fallen off and he’ll never return the way true fans know and love him. His flow has literally deteriorated and he doesn’t even try to construct a bar structured chorus on one song on this album. Lyrically, his redundancy is exposing that he was never as nice as people like to believe. There was not one point he spazzed out on this entire album. The most he could string together was maybe 6 epic bars consecutively. No face scrunching bars, no amazing silencers. Shining moments were few and far between. The album isn’t wack but it’s a far cry from the rapper who is widely hailed as the GOAT. When you’re held to a higher standard you will be criticized the same. It’s crazy, for the first time in my life I have to say my favorite part about Jay’s album is that it makes my trunk slap. Simply, Jay isn’t doing anything at this point that many of his peers can’t do. He is no longer above the competition and hasn’t been for a while.
I applaud Jay for attempting to be more animated and creative in certain aspects. I’m not even mad at him for this album. On first listen, it sounded like the same superficial rubbish we have grown accustomed to but has reached unmatched annoying levels over recent years. Yes, “sometimes I brag like Hov” was exemplified by this body of work. But I have come to the realization and grown at peace with the fact that he’s not an innate deep or brilliant musician. He will never be socially conscious (which is nonchalantly looked at as lame in hip hop) artist. But I gotta give him credit for making an effort to touch on issues that were conflicting and true to him. It’s not his fault that his lack of creativity prevents him from going in depth on anything other than his wealth. No matter how you cut it, he’s a very talented rapper with an ear for production, a grasp on what’s currently hot always, a great team and ability to appeal across generations. So while it’s easy to dislike him based on his many character flaws and his mindless fans who overhype anything he does, it’s best to just take it for what it’s worth…..Alright.
