Hip Hop is quite possibly the only genre of music today putting such a heavy weight on being number one. Sure, country music and EDM artists all strive to be the best at what they do but nothing quite like rap music. As fans, it is almost impossible to have a serious conversation about Hip Hop without a “who is the greatest” debate popping up. Maybe it’s the inherent competitiveness of the game or just our love for discussion, but either way you slice it, rankings can mean a lot.
Billboard’s recent list of the ‘10 Greatest Rappers of All Time’ ruffled a few feathers primarily because many “shoe-ins” were left off. Rappers like Tupac and Kanye West were amongst some of the names fans and critics alike thought should have been included – but with the release his new album Top 5 Dead or Alive, it is Jadakiss that declares his spot among the greats.
Ironically dropping right in the heat of the Billboard debate, Jadakiss’ newest album is essentially his way affirming his top tier rank in hip-hop. Top 5 Dead or Alive is Jadakiss’ fourth solo album, which is relatively surprising based on how influential he has been since his Ruff Ryders and The L.O.X. days. In most cases, it usually takes a rapper of his calibre seven or eight solo albums to really gain long-term notoriety. The difference with Jadakiss is that quality always trumps quantity.
His last album was released over six years ago, but Kiss remained to keep his relevancy alive. 2012’s Consignment mixtape plus a few singles in 2013 was enough to keep Jadakiss coming back to your playlists. However, the momentum for this album didn’t really get going until his Friday Morning Massacre freestyles. Teaming up with DJ Envy, Kiss hopped on a few notable instrumentals and ensured to absolute lyrical blackout. It was the perfect fuel for the fire that is T5DOA.
In a lot of ways, T5DOA picks right where he left off. For starters, the album starts with Jadakiss taking a short few minutes to talk to the listener and let them know what time it is. In 2009, it was announcing his return. This time around, he reminds us that he should be in your top five; if he isn’t already.
After the first initial play through, this album definitely translates as Jadakiss’ most celebratory to date. The beats are more grandiose, less gutter horror story and more hustler’s celebration. The whole theme plays out like his very own victory lap.
After boastful intro “First 48”, Jadakiss rolls into the Diddy assisted “You Don’t Eat”. That track along with various others on the album showcase Kiss rapping over untraditional beats. At first listen, it’s easy to question why Kiss would be experimenting with different beats and instrumentation on an album that is supposed to declare his consistency but in reality, Kiss is just keeping up with the times. Take the song “You Can See” with Future as a prime example. The song sounds like a trap anthem that just missed the cut for DS2. Snares, drums, claps and even adlibs all give it a very “modern trap” sound. Regardless, Kiss brings the bars and proceeds to mould his raspy, haunting New York flow to an instrumental created for an autotune croon.
This versatility is proven even further on songs like “Man in the Mirror”, “So High” and “One More Mile to Go.” All of which feature Jadakiss switching up flows, rapping over unlikely beats and most of all collaborating with some unusual suspects. Of course Styles P, Sheek Louch and Swizz Beatz all play a role on the album but the real standout guest appearances come from the newer generation – including Wiz Khalifa, Future and Nipsey Hussle. The interesting part too is that these collaborators really bring their sound out of Jadakiss. “Ain’t Nothin New” really feels like a Ne-Yo and Nipsey lead song. Jadakiss didn’t just ask for a chorus and verse to be emailed over, it really feels like all three artists started the song from scratch with Ne-Yo and Nipsey leading the charge. Don’t get it twisted, Jadakiss doesn’t take a back seat by any means. His lyrics, delivery and classic cadences aren’t sacrificed for a second.
That unwavering skill may actually be the best part about this album – or any of his albums for that matter. Jadakiss is such a technically skilled rapper that even his lightest bars can make some of today’s best go back and reconsider their own verses. Whether it’s knockout punchlines, double time or even bar-for-bar back and forth with Styles, Jadakiss reminds us that really rapping is still a way to win in today’s game.
The album, and Jadakiss’ current place in Hip Hop, can really be summed up by two lines from the intro. “Most of them is lovin’ me some of them hatin’ me/Say he’s underrated dependin’ on whose ratin’ me” couldn’t ring more true. He truly is your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. Everything from modern adaptability to classic rhyme skills ensure Jadakiss’ placement amongst rap’s elite. Even though he campaigns for himself throughout the album, at this point, Jadakiss isn’t concerned about winning over those adolescent fans from the suburbs and sit on Tumblr all day. Time and time again, Jadakiss has proven to the right people that he is deserving of a spot in your top 5 dead or alive.
Jada you the man homie!
Good review Scott, summed up nicely right at the top “Top 5 Dead or Alive showcases Jadakiss’ ability to adapt within the ever-changing landscape of modern Hip Hop without having to sacrifice an inch of authenticity.”
Listened through a couple times today. Jada sounds great over 20 yrs later.
3T5DOA Hip-Hop Album of the year. Yes.
Yeah this album is kinda dope. 4 stars no doubt.
How in the world can you honestly write a review for an album that isnt even 24 hours old?
Critics usually get albums, movies, etc… before they’re released to the public.
Disappointed, don’t call your album “Top Five Dead or Alive” if your barley gonna rap on it…. way to many features.
Fuckin sad day when I turn on the new Kiss and it sounds like all the rest of trap trash out these days. This isn’t even a top 20 outing, let alone top 5. Who’s dick are you suck in Givin this bullshit a 4?
go down the list on the upper right. they fucking give everything a 4. they don’t rate for shit. btw this album is straight ass.
Jada sounds better than ever. Cause before this Album I wouldn’t have cared.
Huge Jada fan here. Heard him first on Life After Death and loved him ever since. Have every mixtape. Bump him heavy.
Sadden by this album. Jada is 15+ years in without a single classic album front to back. He never made his Illmatic or Reasonable Doubt or Eminem Show. Getting older now and I really thought he would feed the streets something epic with that title. Same old story tho, the mixtape was better than the album. He picked the wrong production, subject matter and guests.
His REASONABLE DOUBT IS KISS OF DEATH!!!
hold up…… hold up……. hold up……. Eminem Show was just put in the same sentence as illmatic and reasonable doubt here?? Maaaaaaannnnn gtfoh
His best album to date was Kiss of Death
Hahahaha truuu!
In my Opinion this is one of the worst Releases this Year. Period…
seriously ? You must not like lyrical rap? Fetty wap, future ablums are in the worst album of the year catergorie. Your tripping
In my opinion, you are a fag. Not one of the worst releases… will admit this album is marginal especially for Kiss though. 3.5 stars
the album is not good lol top 5 my azz
yall stupid this shit fire yall need 2 bump this shit again n listen to it n listen 2 wat he really sayin this album dope yall hating
I think this album is dope I like the first 10 songs plus the song rain. But there is a few songs I think shouldn’t been on the album like realist in the game featuring young back. But you reviews have to remember he is signed to a label Def Jam so they have some influence on the album what songs make it what features they want. If Jadakiss made this project independent it would have been much better. I think it would have been on the level of the kiss of death . I’m giving it a 4.5
I hate Swizz Beatz more than anyone, but that Jason beat is HOT FIYAH!
Another let down from Jadakiss. Another NYC rapper trying to be a dirty south rapper. Jadakiss just follows whats hot today. No own ideas or originality. Weak features: whiz kalifa, Jeezy, Future. Really? So you call yourself top 5 dead or alive? Copying todays rapmusic has nothing to do with VERSATILITY just following whats hot.
Sick Album
Frustrating thing about Jadakiss is HE’S ALWAYS been a great rapper. His featured verses are incredible. But his albums just don’t click for some reason.
Kiss tha Game Goodbye was incredibly dope. he needs to go back to that forumla and stop trying to appeal to the masses with his poppy beat selection
..the album ive waited his whole career to make.. a classic.
Kiss Tha Game Goodbye & Kiss of Death are CLASSIC’s…..and superior to T5DOA
Here’s the problem with Jadakiss… so you got his work with the LOX: Money, Power, and Respect (3 stars), We are the Streets (4.5). The LOX going to Ruff Ryders should have been a smash hit but all the RR crew had was DMX, Swizz, and the LOX. DMX started using way too many drugs, Swizz produced smashes outside the RR crew, and no one else had lift. Jada releases Kiss the Game Goodbye (4.5), Kiss of Death (4), The Last Kiss (3.5), now Top5DOA (3). His rhymes stayed tight but his album cohesion got progressively worse through the years and he could never get that smash hit or smash record. Nice artist – you can put him as a Top 10 lyricist. Not a Top 10 hip hop artist. More in the Top 25 category.
We Are The Streets (5)
Kiss Tha Game Goodbye (5)
Kiss of Death (5)
Last Kiss (4)
T5DOA (4)
That’s only a slive of his catalog. The mixtape bars are VERY extensive. The entire catalog must be included when rating a rapper. Jadakiss is easily top 5. DMX didn’t start taking too many drugs LOL 5 straight #1 albums on Artist from ANY GENRE to do that. No smash hit??? Ughhhh WHY? Inconsistent critique here.
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Always felt Jadakiss and the whole LOX but nah man this is disappointing… trash I’m sorry , hard to say that about Jada
Only like 3 good tracks
Sounds like same ole Kiss. Too many features for my liking. That’s the problem with rappers now a days. They put out compilation albums and with a “Top 5 Dead or Alive” title you gotta give me a project the majority is acted alone. Couple dope tracks but def does not prove Kiss is Top 5.
you are a chump. complaining crybaby
I agree with him and I’m from Yonkers kiss is top 5 DOA from NY but I don’t rock with 50% of the dudes he has on that album
Another so-so album by an excellent rapper who has yet to put together an exceptional solo project. Yes, there are some bangers on this album like his others, but way too much cut. It’s tough to claim Top 5 when you don’t have at least one objective classic. 3.25/5
i agree with you totally…..im a jadakiss fan…sometimes I ask myself why…these albums are sub par…..I had high hopes for this album especially with the name of the album……it was a let down…..I think Pusha T will produce a better album…he drops on Dec 18th
He has two hands down classics
1. Kiss Tha Game Goodbye
2. Kiss of Death
Fool
Yeah, I’m interested to how Push comes this time. He needs to bring some heat.
hahahaaha u stupid or something ? by “classic’ people means albums like RD, chronic, doggystyle, illmatic, ob4cl, 36 chambers, ready to die and so on now putting there any of jadakiss album there is a fcukin insult hibest album is ok AT BEST, nothing more
This is another disappointing album by Jadakiss.
I don’t see it that way at all. I think it’s Kiss’s best album to date. He’s always had bars… If you’re questioning that, then we can stop here… What always underwhelmed was his production on solo efforts. He’s consistently murdered on features…. This album production wise is what I’ve been looking for at least.
he ain’t even top 100 dead or alive.
2/5
TROLL…you must be under 13, go to bed lil boy !
Jada is in my top ten,he eats a whole lot of mcs.he is just so underrated mybe if b.I.g ddnt die he would hv been top of the food chain.
Album is hot stop hating this south music got y’all fucked up in head
Album is fire better than all this B.S. shitty music out right now
Album is fire!!!!!!!!!!Real Hip Hop Top 5 Niggaz
This album was incredibly disappointing. Not only is it the worst album he has released so far, its not even good when standing up against mainstream artists today. I expected a lot more from Kiss. Time to retire
I LIKE THE ALBUM. IT’S DIFFERENT FROM HIS OTHER ALBUMS THOUGH. HE’S TRYING BLEND IN WITH THE CURRENT MUSIC (WHICH IT WAS YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO). BUT HE STILL GOT THE LYRICS AND FLOW THAT WIN YOU OVER EVERY TIME. HIS COLLABS COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER. WE’VE HEARD HIM FEAT NAS, WAYNE AND JEEZY ON OTHER ALBUMS SO I WAS SORT OF DISAPPOINTED THIS TIME IN THE FEATURES. I’M STILL WAITING FOR JAY-Z AND JADA TO COLLAB BUT I DON’T THINK JAY WANTS TO GET ON KISS JOINTS UNLESS ITS A HIT. THE ALBUM DEF DOESN’T HAVE A MAINSTREAM HIT BUT OBVIOUSLY HE WASN’T LOOKING TO ESTABLISH ONE. HE MAKES STREET HITS. “YOU DON’T EAT” IS MY FAV TRACK. I’M MAD ITS ONLY 2 VERSES. WE NEED MORE KISS! 4/5
SURPRISED AT THE QUALITY OF SWIZZ’ CONTRIBUTIONS ON THIS ALBUM (JASON AND YOU DON’T EAT). EASILY THE BEST SONGS ON THE ALBUM.
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Hot album!!!!
I just heard it today and I really liked it. SOlid 4/5
I like this album alot, one of the better albums this year, so give it a chance….
I have listened to the album from start to finish about 50 times bc I got it the first day it came out.. Here is the problem, there are to many artist featuring, he has the same recycled flow over and over through out the album. The beats are all on point except for “Jason” which is the worst song on t5doa.. Notable songs on the album are “Rain” fea. Nas being the best tune, “Realist In The Game”, “One More Mile to Go”, “Man In The Mirror”, and “You Don’t Eat” are the highlights. I love Jadakiss’s work but feel he caters to much to what he thinks will sale and not what he does best. When he is with the Lox or Styles P is when he spits the best in my humble opinion. I still believe his best solo album was “Kiss The Game Goodbye”. Still its a solid album and I give it 3.5 mics out of 5. Like I said he is one artist I still support but he isn’t in the top 15 imo dead or alive.