Jay-Z finds himself in a strange place artistically in 2013. The signs were there in 2007, when Jay reverted to coke rap on the excellent American Gangster. While doing so was a response to lukewarm reception to 2006’s comeback album Kingdom Come, Jay more reverted to the same territory on 2009’s The Blueprint 3 and 2011’s Watch the Throne. Though Kanye West’s presence on the latter allowed Jay a bit of latitude to work some social commentary, Throne was hardly a departure from the Jay-Z we’ve seen for much the past decade.
So where does that leave Shawn Carter musically in 2013? In pretty damn good shape, it turns out.
The first thing listeners will say to themselves upon clicking play on Magna Carta Holy Grail, the latest in music and technology synergy (or whichever industry buzzword one is wont to use), is, “Wow, Timbaland produced this?” Jay-Z has a list of producers with whom he’s had legendary rapport (Just Blaze, DJ Premier, and Kanye West, for example), but MCHG reminds us to not forget about Timothy Moseley. Unlike Timbaland’s subpar contributions on The Blueprint 3, Timbo completely avoids “Timbaland-isms” that would otherwise make a cut sound like “Jay-Z on a Timbaland track” rather than just a Jay-Z track. Whether it’s the Soul-Rock intro that is “Holy Grail” or “F.U.T.W.,” which sounds like it would be right at home following up “So Ghetto” on Vol. 3, Timbaland hits the right notes time and again on this one.
Hit-Boy’s excellent work on “Somewhere In America” lays the foundation for Jay to reveal that even as he shakes hands with Presidents and headlines Rock festivals, he still doesn’t feel welcome: “New money, they lookin’ down on me / Blue bloods, they tryna clown on me / You can turn up your nose, high society / …You should come to the housewarming / Come and see what your new neighbor ‘bout / Yellow Lambo in the driveway / One-thirty-five, I’m on the highway.” It may just seem like more stock Jay-Z braggadocio, but there’s real bitterness here.
“Jay Z Blue” is the piéce de résistance, however. Shifting from soft keys, guitar strums and lush strings to trademark Timbaland samples, Jay lays all of his fears about fatherhood on the line, informed by his own father’s failures. It’s a treat to hear a notoriously guarded artist speak so candidly.
The two most hyped tracks of the album surprisingly fall short. “BBC,” for one, isn’t as good as its billing. Not that the cut is bad; in fact, Nas, JT, Swizz Beatz and company genuinely sound like they’re having fun. But the track shows that Pharrell can’t quite escape his isms, which is a bit disappointing. “La Familia,” touted as a Lil Wayne diss, is easily the most forgettable MCHG outing, with lazy rhymes over uninspired production.
Magna Carta Holy Grail is where Jay-Z’s emceeing finally meets his “High Rap” ambitions. This is easily the best rhyming Jay’s done since American Gangster. But a sharp Shawn on the mic isn’t a surprise. What is a surprise is that this is the most cohesive project Jay’s put together since The Blueprint. The project is smartly produced, with Timbaland’s aforementioned contributions rewarding Jay’s faith in his old “Big Pimpin’” buddy, with contributions from Adrian Younge (of Twelve Reasons to Die with Ghostface Killah fame) and others adding fine touches to the record.
What really makes this project stand out from the overwhelming majority of major label Rap release in 2013: everything on this project sounds like it was recorded for this project. Beats don’t sound like they were chosen from a producer’s C:/ drive, and Rick Ross’ verse doesn’t have nothing to do with anything (see “Accident Murderers” from Nas’ Life Is Good). Who knows whether Jay-Z knew what he had in mind when he got into the kitchen, but instead of adding every spice available to him, he used only what he needed—and the recipe benefitted because of it.
When the book on Shawn Corey Carter’s music career comes to a close, the narrative about Jay-Z’s inability to evolve will seem silly in retrospect. After all, who else could call Big Daddy Kane, the Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar peers at different points in the same career? Jay-Z has endured, which is the measure of greatness. Magna Carta Holy Grail may not give us a completely new vision or version of Jay-Z, but it does clear up some of the fog that still paradoxically surrounds one of music’s most instantly recognizable personalities.
jay-z’s worst album
Jay Z’s album may not be unique but it is definitely his best album in nearly a decade and far surpasses the Blueprint 3 both in terms of theme, production and lyricism. The Hov that everyone wanted showed up and didn’t disappoint.
Nearly a decade is a stretch too far am afraid, Black Album and American Gangster were definitely better efforts than this. I will attest to the fact that the production on this album was pretty decent and superb at times, but when it comes down to mic skills, Jay-Z has reduced himself to elementary quotables. He has lost his way from a rap perspective, his wordplay is less intricate, his metaphors are weak and even his braggadoccio persona is waning. Jay-Z should concentrate on running his business empire, coz rapwise his well past his prime. People can ride the Jay-brand wagon all they want but there is nothing remtely refreshing about this album aside from the weak and insignificant claim that it’s better than Blueprint 3. Jay-Z the rapper is on life support while Jay-Z the businessman thrives.
just nah
Better than COle’s album. Should have got 4.5. Very cohesive album. Great ^production, just one weak track.
Yeah, it’s better than an album, which happens to be worth of 1.5 stars. This Jay-Z album gets a 2.0 at it’s best. Still not feeling his flow, but I liked The Black Album though.
This is absolutely Jay-Z’s worst album. HipHopDX is losing edge tryna be cool with rappers. I am stunned, esp. after Yeezus review.
BEST ALBUM FROM JAY SINCE A.G
NO DOUBT
DOPE!
Jay-Z can’t rap anymore at least the production was good.
Never been a big fan of Jay but he got a dope catalogue I wouldn’t pay for his music not like he needs the $.
Does it even matter what dx say in the reviews anymore they lost all credibility by giving Yeezus 4.5
You people are nuts saying its his worst album. im not saying its the greatest album ever or the best this year even but it deserves better than the 1.75 rating it has now. as soon as someone becomes as big as jayz u all start hating. when eminem first came out he was praised by all the underground sites and all and now he gets a lot of hate in here too with people saying he fell off. anyway i havent listened to the album enough yet cause i have a life but so far it deserves a 4.
this bullshit – 4 stars
late registration – 4 stars too. hhdx are u idiots??????
HHDX has lost my respect. This is not a 4/5 or 8/10 this is a 3 or 6 at best.
Jay’s flow is as lazy as ever, he has nothing interesting to say and even tracks like Jay-Z Blue comes off as Jay-Z having rich man problems. Jay has been TERRIBLE since 09 and I’m disgusted with HHDX for praising this crap especially when its the same rating as Life is Good an album I’m still playing a year later.
I give props to the production Timbo and crew went off but I can’t give props to Jay when half the time I’m wishing a competent rapper would get these beats and not this lazy bastard
Valium my friend
I don’t understand people, This by far one of the Best CD’s in a long time. You run through this one with no skips. HOVA, Keep Doing Your Thing. “CROWM”
Best Jay Z album since The Black Album!
CROWN!!
you have to keep in mind that jay-z been in the game since ’96… the fact that he can still put records like this MCHG is legendary it self
.
YOU GUYS ARE CRAZY DOPE BEATS DOPE RHYMES WHAT MORE DO YALL WANT?
Jay-z was too busy sucking off Kanye to work on a good album. This shit weak yo
Stay hating and making up lies.
Nice
Good albums! best of the year
Great album! Definitely deserves between 4 and 5! The album is dope in every aspect! The only thing I wasn’t impressed with were his flows!
haters keep hating!
So glad that this album was so good after the desperate disaster that was the Yeezus album. Say what you will, but Jay’s worst is still better than a lot of rappers’ best. This was a great album. 4/5
Also, Timbo KILLED this project. His production was perfect. I would have never thought it was him on the boards. The reviewer is right about him escaping his “isms.” Best produced track, however is hands down “Somewhere in America.”
Why is Yeezus a disaster…It wasn’t made for your ears..but that doesn’t give you the right to call it a disater
It was a disaster because he was trying so hard to appeal to the white masses that he lost his way. It was shitty.
it’s a good album
I like it.
shits a fukin 5 bout time someone dropped a real album to show these young garbage niggas wit no rhyme schemes how to do it…thank you jay z
ALBUM IS NICE
Its okay, luxury rap.
Very good album
He’s lost a step, but this was a great album nonetheless……
I’m gonna go listen to reasonable doubt because this motherfucker is depressing. Seriously down south music sucks, so why have a whole album full of southern inspired bounce music. Album is poor. Like Kane’s album. It’s boring.
The only good song is BBC. The rest of the songs are terrible. Somewhere in America is okay ony because the song is a bout coke and cocaine distribution and his days as a coke dealer turn rapper. But no one gets it. They think he is actually talking about miley Cyrus on the song. Lol.
shut up u fucking dumb cunt
Dope album, somewhere in America is an amazing beat, listen through the album a couple of times and it starts to flow very nicely. I’d say this is my favourite album of the year, but definitely not jays best.
Solid 4
Not Kane’s. I meant Kanye’s album.
Very good album (nearly every track is dope) picasso babay and crown are meh but whatever. Album is dope as fuck 8/10
DON;T U GO HATING ON MY OPINION KIDS
Pice de rsistance***
WHAT A DUMB MISTAKE!
In a sea of failures, this is Jay Z’s worst yet. He just talks about the same shit, it’s too pop, and the guests, with the exception of rick ross, are wack. Jay Z fails in his wayne diss. Jay Z may proclaim its already platinum but this shit is wood at best. YMCMB for life.
The only substance Wayne has is skate.. pussy.. skate.. lean.. pussy.. nigga.. nigga… nigga nigga nigga
Weezy talks about his presidency, martians, gangster life, has far more of a variety than Gay Z.
Everything you say, dentaldambitch, is a lie.
Pice***
3/5 , Nas’ verse was the best part
Huge Nas fan, but Nas had a forgettable verse on BBC. Jay moonlighted him on that record, which was forgettable a track anyway.
Gotta be kidding. I’m a Nas fan but Hov buried him on that BBC track.
bbc was one of the songs that sucked.
Pharrel’s beat didn’t really cator to the star studded track. The talent on this track doesn’t show aside from Jay Z killing his verse and Nas spitting how he usually does. If we would have had a beat that catored to NAS it def woulda been a better track!
Solid effort from Jigga
good album… Gets boring towards the end…but pretty dope
Classic
HOV
musically 9/10, lyrically 7/10 soooo…..decent album, lazy at times, but if you think its just jay z just flossing, youre not listening…period
Spotify Link: http://open.spotify.com/album/37uqAKt9dLsLob7yomDWY4
Much better than Ye’s astro funk
Yes, great review, Idc about these Spin and Pitchfork reviews, this album is a straight 4 star
AGREED. 4!!
Beats 10/10
Lyrics 8/10
Best rap album in a LONG time. I tell you this gonna be a classic in a few years.
I’ve heard 5 better rap albums this year
^damn
You can better a hater, but don’t be a liar!!! The only rap album that even comes close is Born Sinner
Listening to it right now! Have not completed the listening but it is sounding like his best album thus far!
I love this album, from Jays bars to the production. It’s sick, I don’t understand all of the mixed reviews.. I can tell he lost a lil step. But the man 43 and still competing at a high level. He still the #1 rap artist in the world.. What more do you want from Jay? I’m thinking Watch The Throne 2 and another Jay solo album and he retiring as the greatest rapper to ever do it.. Oh,, and not to mention, yeah there were some shaky moments with his flow on this album.. But there were some moments where that beast in Jay came out too. Don’t hate cocksuckers! 5stars
probably best traditional rap album since Games Documentary in 05. Still not better than Black album that will stay his best album
fuck is you smokin?? since the documentary LOLLLLL take a seat theres been plenty monsters to drop since documentary lmaooo
those are two of the most retarded sentences ever written at one time about rap music. congrats.
and these hiphopdx cocksuckers gave yeezus a 4.5 when that album was no where better then magna carta holy grail
Dope album! Classic hip hop, takes a good artist to not let these type of beats take control, sick
Dope as fuck…. BP3 was alright but this is JAY-Z I remember. Best Rapper alive fuck that pop shit Eminem puts out to you fag white kids and gooks
cds fire. outside like 1-2 songs its def his best work since AG
This is not hiphop accept for 2 songz. Its wack. classic my ass
5/5
sucked
off the glass alley oop slam dunk in the dumpster
“Niggas want my old shit/Buy my old album” -Jay Z
I thinks it’s an awesome album except for that stupid Rick Ross interlude or whatever that is.And Also BBC with Nas is ok,but nowhere near what I imagined it woould be,kinda dissapointed.Beyonce collabo best on the album.
Good review album has plenty of repeat value Crown,Oceans,Somewhere in America , etc ..
In my humble opinion this is the best jay z album since American Gangster
Not particularly good by any means.
one word..YEEZUS.
great production gtreat flow great album
An album the Jay fans will probably like, but its the same thing over and over again with Jay. Same bragging lyrics about his condos, yachts, money…etc. Overrated as usual. Crazy that he gets away with this album after album.
Well its better than Yeezus so shouldn’t it get 5 stars dx fuckin retards Saigon even just tweeted who the fuck does the reviews over at hip hop dx.
his it better because you hate ” the game”?,
really stale for me
This album better then Yeezus. 5+
I’m surprised nobodies crying and belly achin on here because it got 4/5 like they did when j.coles got that rating cause a apparently if it doesn’t get a perfect 5 ppl get affended a bitch about it. great review good job
This is Jay Z best album since American Gangster. 4/5 stars would be about right if DX didn’t give yeezus 4.5/5 yeezus was garbage, nowhere near as good as this. the worst song on Magna Carta is better than the best song on Yeezus. This isn’t jay’s best work but it is far from his worst. i would put it 4th among the rest of his albums
Clearly hiphopdx loves kanye.
Yeezus 4.5 is hilarious.. born sinner and MCHG wayyy above yeezus..
Is yeezus even a hiphop album, didnt know wtf that was
^Me Either, Kanye needs his ass whooped for that album, that joint with Charlie Wilson went hard though
This is a great album!
Magna Carta Holy Grail>>>>>>>>>>>Yeezus
Jay-Z is The GOAT,. Nas is broke.
Nas aint broke lil bro. Jigga wanted to make money and that’s what he did. Nas wanted to prove that he’s the best lyricist there ever was and that’s what he did. Both played the game and hip-hop is better for it. Nas is broke? Nigga you lost, go home.
Life is Good is not even gold. Numbers don’t lie, deal with it.
^good way of putting it. they both state that clearly as well
MUCH SUCCESS TO YA
EVEN IF YOU WISH ME THE OPPOSITTE
SOON OR LATER WE’LL ALL SEE WHO THE PROPHET IS
RIAA u broke dont worry bout the next man pockets worry about urs now NAS=GOAT JAY Z=CAMEL
I only care about numbers.
average ass ALBUM. 3.5-4 STARS
So Jay fans how much longer can you listen to Jaybrag on EVERY fucking song. Jay is about as boring as Wayne is when he raps about pussy. Having 16 songs of practically the same subject is boring and 3 of the last 4 Jay-Z albums have been NOTHING but bragging. Dude is boring and washed up and NEEDS producers to save his corny albums 2/5 at best
I totally agree. Same thing I be saying. Dude brags about his money constantly in every album. Lame.
16 songs about the same thing? Clearly you didn’t have the Samsung app.
When you make as much money as he does, or even do what he’s done, you can brag as much as you want. But, seeing as you’ve never accomplished anything, you wouldn’t understand that.
Hey you young guys don’t understand, simplicity is the Key, HOVA kept it sweet and simple like a vet do. HOVA is The Greatest Complete Rapper in the Game. He is good with picking beats, his content is based in mostly facts and Bravado EPIC!! G.O.A.T.
Yeezus > MCHG
Not at all.
These dummies here at DX quote their own article wrong!! lol. “Most cohesive project since American Gangster” but in the actual article it says most cohesive project put together since Blueprint.
lmao…thats why i was so confused.
Pretty dope. Definitely his best since American Gangster.
whether i have to give props to Jay or Timbo,thats a classic album.Album of the year so far…
Feelin’ it. Jay’s 4th best album. 4/5
Great body of work. The features with JT and Frank Ocean are dope! Those hooks blend with the theme of the whole album. Jay killed the track with Rick Ross, as well as the one with Nas (Although the beat wasn’t that good). Beach is better was a great interlude. I expected some skits but fck it. The tracks made up. I still bump the black album and I would rather not compare. Why? Two very different times in his career. Black album was a retirement album (It was suppose to be his last). MCHG was a “I still got it, and lets change the rules” album. Overall a 4. Great work ethic!
damnnnn hot
dope album i must say the review is on point but in my own opinion BBC is dope as well and Hov had a grt delivery on the track making Nas sound awkward on it. overrall 2013 in HipHop is fucking dope
I was blown away by the production. The album was actually better than expected with all the hype. There was not many quotables or double entendres as I come to expect from Jay but definitely a solid 4 maybe 4.5 album. It has replay value which helps. I like it.
If you think there aren’t any quotable lines on MCHG then you are stupid or deaf!!! There are too many to list… listen to his verse on fuckwitmeyouknowigotit: every line has to do with Italian or Robert Deniro, its just clever man, you really gotta listen! Or what about that second verse on heaven??? There is bars everywhere on this album!!!
embarrassing, banal dogshit
lol is the headline a joke? What? so its his best album…since his last album?
watch the throne wasn’t just his so that kinda makes it irrelevant in terms of how cohesive it is.
DUDE. i was going to say the same thing, these writers are literally trash on this site. You might ask why i come, i come for the news not that bias that comes along with them
FUCKIN YEAH
HHDX IS FULL OF BULLSHIT
bullshit 1/5
go away man
HAY-Z THE BEST EVER PERIOD
I forgot to mention that “uhhh” shit Jay does is getting more and more annoying by the way. He needs to stop taking dick while he in the booth. I first notice that shit with death of auto tune. It feels like he lost a step with that shit. Real. Fucking. Annoying.
I thought the same thing.
I say a couple of words “uhhhh” then I say a couple of more “uhhhh”
album is fire. fall back haters
shit pure fire stop hating
way better then IANAHB2 5 stars.
Everything the fake said was bullshit. It is Gay Z’s worst album, IANAHB2 is far better, Gay Z can’t rap for shit, Wayne is the best rapper alive, Wayne has far more money than Jay Z, and no gay shit goes on at YMCMB, only at Gay Z’s studios. Wayne has kissed birdman but its only a father son moment, which isn’t considered gay. Wayne also gets flak for wearing his daughter’s pants but its the new trend going on right now.
Sorry to break it to you but Birdman and Weezy made that up so that they can be comfortable kissing each other.
They are NOT biologically related at all. i do not know about you but i do not tongue kiss my father
Capital d boy, Birdman is Weezy’s stepfather. They can kiss without being gay. I have seen plenty of fathers kiss their teens on the lips. Use a different name instead of just capitalising the d.
dentalbitch, everything you say is lies. MCHG is Jay’s best album, INAHB2 is Wayne’s worst. Wayne’s not the best rapper alive, he does not have more money than Jay ($400 million>$100 million), a lot of gay shit goes on at YMCMB, but not with Jay, Wayne kissing Birdman is gay and incest and has nothing to do with father/son, wearing your daughter’s pants is gay and not a trend, you can’t kiss another man without being gay, you have not seen fathers and sons kiss on the lips, just gay men. Stop making up bullshit.
listening to the album at the barbershop…
5 star album. best of 2013
Shoot me a pair of them Pro-Keds my nigga
the IRS took them all.
This review sounds like its reaching to give Jay atleast a 4 when we all know this is a 3 maybe 3.5 album. You dont have to try hard to validate hov, this album has no reply value & is average. Lets just amit it.
this is their review. you can give it your score and they gave it 4 stars. everyone is going to have their own opinion.
If you can honestly say this is 1 of his Top 5 albums I’ll give it a 4. & thats why I say their reaching you can read the review and tell that they wanted to gloss over the lackluster thats on this album.
this isn’t completely true: “everything on this project sounds like it was recorded for this project”
there’s a blatant yeezus leftover on this album.
good review, thanks.
what track is that?
^ crown
Travis scott kidddies
Hot album. Favorite joint is probably Somewhere in America. 4 stars
For Jay Z to still be rapping at this high level after almost 20 years is truly incredible!! Even today I feel like that no one is really in his league.. He truly is the greatest rapper of all time, just on statistics alone.. But be warned, Jay Z is not for everybody, especially the dim witted and the young, this is grown man Hip-Hop for the cultured and intelligent…
cosign. I can only think of 1 other rapper who has been rapping as long and is still considered part of the hip hop elite… Nas
You’re forgetting Dr Dre and Eminem.
True, I agree, Nas and Nas only..
Chris Etrata:
You’re forgetting Dr Dre and Eminem.
Dr. Dre is not relevant in my opinion. That is not to say i dont understand what he has done in the hip hop game, but he has only had 2 albums in the past 2 decades.
I will give you eminem.
I still keep waiting for that detox album.
Hey Capital D Boy, you’re forgetting Lil Wayne.
Pardon my hubris, Stanley Kubrick
With eyes wide shut, I could cook up two bricks
Turn nickels to dime, turn dimes to quarters
Turn wives from daughters, oh, I’m clear as water
And just for clarity, my presence is charity
My flow is a gift, philanthropist
Everybody ’round me rich, or will be
Baby boy I promise you this, or kill me
And when a nigga go as the old adage go
You die rich or you die disgraced, so just let me grow
Watch me cook, throw no looks
Like Magic in his prime when Kareem sky hooked, yeah
Y’all not worthy, sometimes I feel like
Y’all don’t deserve me, my flow unearthly
The greatest form of giving is anonymous to anonymous
So here y’all go, I promise this
So you think you’re cultured and intelligent by listening to someone who’s spent the past twenty years childishly bragging about how much money he has, glorifying the sale of cocaine, and encouraging misogyny? Jay-Z is fine when you’re still in middle school, I grew up and realized how immature he is.
Sorry Kurama, but u sound stupid.. You obviously don’t know a lot about hip-hop and the culture..
Fuck Lil Wayne. That nigga lost it.
[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Hov just landed in Rome, nigga
All hail, Caesar’s home, niggas
Cent’anni, ciao bella
Come money dance with the good fellas
Hov keep gettin’ that dinero, got it
Even if a nigga gotta Robert, get it?
Black Jack in a casino
A nigga got unlimited credit
A nigga got a lot of vendettas
But we the Black mob, we gonna set it
Peel off in a Lamborghini Countach
200 in the dash we gonna rev it (skirt)
Lucky Luciano is what they call me, paesano
A 100 keys at the piano plays across the Verrazano
El Padrino, in the villa in Venice sipping vino
Not bad for a mulignano, y’all know like we know, I got it
(I gave you Prophesy on my first joint y’all lamed out)Word
You just confused the hell out of Jay z with NAS smh
2.5 this is an average album
His 3rd Best album!! GREATNESS has its “eh” moments but overall dope 4/5
If you can say this Album is 1 of his Top 5 Albums lets all agree its a 4 rated Album. Until somebody can say its in that first 5, I’ll say its a 3
fire
Standers must be low for him if this is his best since The black album. Smh.
Your writers are getting lazy as fuck and its disappointing, I could have put together a better review in a matter of minutes, but anyways how are you going to leave out some of the most thought-provoking songs on the album, Heaven, Picasso Baby, Crown, Oceans, you mentioned some of the most asssssss songs on the album, HEAVEN is easily the hardest shit Jay has come with in years
Yeah I was gonna say, Picasso Baby and Heaven are the hardest tracks on the album and this article doesn’t mention either…
AGREE
HEAVEN JOINT IS GREAT!
Yeah. Great album. Weak review.
Remarkably surprising. Could have used some more bangers but overall a great album. #dinnerland
43 years old and still putting out albums that we all can listen too and enjoy? Appreciate it while we still have it bc >>> “When the book on Shawn Corey Carters music career comes to a close, the narrative about Jay-Zs inability to evolve will seem silly in retrospect. After all, who else could call Big Daddy Kane, the Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar peers at different points in the same career?”
Wheres that fucking Jay Electronica album Z? huh? I want that shit, un-tampered with, ya hear?!
Ya’ll fucking up. 4.5 for Yeezus and 4.0 for MCHG essentially cuz you think Kanye is “pushing new sonics” and is being “racy” with his subject matter.
The shit Hov says on MCHG is infinitely more relevant than any of that bullshit Ye is repeating on Yeezus, and every way that Hov delivers a bar is much better than Ye as well. Jay will say something, give it an ambiguous style and cadence and the bar evolves into what ever the listener relates to first, thus making his music more relevant to more people.. while Kanye is still tryna alienate his whole white fan-base, which is his whole fan-base.
Not to say what Kanye says on Yeezus isn’t socially enlightened to a slight degree or not meaningful, but it’s simply sprinkled in amongst unfocused verses and his typical arrogant non-sense that is really just listening to a guy piecing together his personal common vocab.
Jay has verses with focus, intent, overlying themes, and philosophical undertones that beg the listener to “question it all.” Not to mention the production which has a much better replay value than Kanye’s annoying retarded tweaked sounds.
Just cuz it sounds like it’s from Tron, or sounds like it’s too distorted to be natural, doesn’t make it futuristic and the ‘new’ sound. It most likely means the opposite. And meanwhile Jay’s album has classic producers breathing fresh life into hip-hop by giving us authentic HIP-HOP beats, which also BANG, and incorporate new sounds to keep the shit fresh and next-level.
and how the fuck you guys not even discuss “Crown”…
smh,
I’m disappointed in you HHDX.
in love
nop
Top Notch Album, from an all time great.
LAQWI.
might be in his top 3 of albums ever.
Just when everyone thinks jay is commercial he shows u he’s still fiya
it’s good, just not great 4/5
This album is dope as hell. 4.5 Stars easy! The production is crazy hot and Jay seems on point with his his lyrics. The last few tracks (BBC on back) could have been left off though.
Great production, average lyrics.
This Album was close to 4.5, It dragged towards the end but it was clearly better that most of his albums except black album, reasonable doubt, Vol. 2, Blueprint 1 & 2 plus and American Gangsta. If trhis album would have had a 2 or 3 just Blaze tracks it would have classic
I stopped reading when U mentioned Volume 2 as a good Jay Z album
blueprint 2 wasnt a good album fool
Vol 2 & Blueprint 2 were good in there on right, he could have cut 8 songs off of blueprint 2 but the 16 songs that were good were really good, I stand by that, songs like “Fuck all Night” are timeless, so is ” Gunz & Roses” & “Meet the Parents”
^ nah BP 2, 3 Vol 1,2,3… were all Jay’Z 3 star albums…
4 star – Dynasty, Kingdom Come
4 Classics – RD,BP,BA,AG
————————————–
NAS
3 stars – Nastradmaus, Streets Disciple
4 stars – IAM, God Son, Untitled, Life is Good,
4 Classic – Illmatic, IWW, (Lost Tapes), Stillmatic, HHID
???
Vol. 2 was solid. Listen to that through again track for track. Tracks like If I Should Die, Ride or Die, A Week Ago, Coming of Age Part II, Paper Chase, Reservoir Dogs, Its Like That..you cant sleep on those. It just so happens Jay had some successful cross over tracks on that album but I never hear people talk too much about the tracks in-between.
Dope album. I agree most cohesive work since The Blueprint
WTF
HHDX FIRST SAID THAT THIS ALBUM IS BEST SINCE A.G
NOW IS BP3
FUCK THIS BULLSHIT SITE
PLUS
WORST REVIEW THIS YEAR
Hands down great production, good wordplay, not his best flow but still great body of work
banging beats and lyrics are deeper than they sound. replay value is off the charts
Exactly
co-sign
This is the jay-z I want, so glad he went back to this after blueprint 3!
”Jay’s most cohesive project since “The Blueprint 3”
Thats a bold statement cause I thought Blueprint 3 was his worst.
I would take any other Jay album over BP3. Blueprint 3 was too over the top and too commercial. Yeah I know Jay-z is commercial ,but that album is too glittery.
He wasnt spitting like he was on American Gangster.
Blueprint 3 he was just dancing around tracks. I was waiting for him to stop playing.
Magna Carta Holy Grail? My first listen I deleted it from my desktop.
Gonna give it another try again , but yes very average lyrics. Ive been a Jay-z fan for a long time. And I would say this. I want Jay-z to stop rapping and retire because hes ruining his legacy. Not that he cant keep up wit the young bucks but he doesnt have the capability of Jay-z once was. And with the help of Kanye. Hes stuck in that Watch The Throne Bubble rap.
They meant Blueprint. You can see that when you read the article and not just the bold.
I was with you until you claim to deleted an album that hasn’t even been out longer than 7 days….
For record the album is way better than BP3!! and Vol 1 & 3…
You’ll be downloading it again in a year youngon!
Arm, leg, leg, arm, head, this is God body
Knowledge, wisdom, freedom, understanding, we just want our equality
Food, clothing, shelter , help a nigga find some peace
Happiness for a gangsta, ain’t no love in these streets
Conspiracy theorist screaming Illuminati
They can’t believe this much skill is in the human body
He’s 6’2, how the fuck he fit in a new Bugatti?
Aw fuck it you got me
Question religion, question it all
Question existence until them questions are solved
Meanwhile this heretic I be out in Marrakesh
Morocco smoking hashish with my fellowship
Y’all dwell on devil shit, I’m in a Diablo
Yellow shit, color of Jell-O shit
Hello bitch, it’s me again
Fresh in my Easter clothes feeling like Jesus and
….
Getting ghost in the Ghost
Can you see me? Can you see me?
Have mercy on a Judas, angel wings on a ‘ghini
I’m secular, tell the hecklers seckle down
Y’all religion creates division
Like my Maybach partition, and
God is my chauffeur
Boy they love Hova
From the south side of Chi
To Brooklyn where I growed up
I confess, God in the flesh
Live among the serpents
Turn arenas into churches
I’m like Michael, recycle, these are not 16’s
These are verses from the Bible
Tell that preacher he’s a preacher
I’m a motherfucking prophet, smoke a tree of knowledge
Drink from a gold chalice, you gotta love it
I arrive at the pearly gates, I had luggage
Meaning I had baggage
Niggas asking me questions, I don’t answer to these busters
Only God could judge us, motherfuckers, uh
Very average. It sounded more better when he was saying it cause the voice.
^ thats some hating ass shit clos, that verse is ill
^ thats always been Jay’s skill…he talking right to you… and dude always raps what he living… hate it or love it
Fuck this album and fuck Yeezus! Commercial hip-hop is such a mess this year.
The beats on here are somewhat decent, but Jay is so self-confident, lazy and out-of-this-world (in a bad way) with his rhymes. His flow is so fuckin’ lame and he says the same repetitive ignorant bullshit over and over again. People like me can’t relate to the bragalicious car, jewelry, watch stuff.
Fuck this commercial bullshit and his fucking deal with Samsung. Clean your ears and listen to some real hip hop. (Start with “Reasonable Doubt”, just to recognize how garbage this album is).
Run the Jewelz equal to MCHG -> DX must be trippin’. I can state 60 albums that shit on this album this year.
Now c’mon, insult me… 😉
why are u here bro? sorry, i mean hater?
Son what are you doing? Im rolling in my grave:
– you did a song with Justin Timberlake? Whats next a song with Miley Cyrus?
– Your flow and delivery sounds lazy.
– You talking about mona lisa and picasso paintings. Niggas in the hood dont understand this shit. You hanging to much with your rich white buddies. The average hiphop fan cant identified anymore with your music.
– Your bragging is getting boring. Kids brag about there toys not 43 year old mans.
– You want to sound deep making songs about your family? Then use some emotion nigga. Your songs dont have heart or soul like pac.
– Did you make this album on the automatic pilot? Wheres your passion for hiphop.
– Nigga you only make albums to make them and not for the love.
Nigga remember when we played eachothers records in 96 and 97 that was the shit. Now you dissing older hiphopfans saying you dont like my shit then buy my old shit?
Beyonce was your first piece of pussy which you didnt pay for(remember you only fucked hookers because you aint a pretty boy)But Beyonce made a sissy out of you.
Nigga im very disappointed! I cant blame the kids on this site they are 12 years old and the reviewers to.
Brooklyn aint proud!
Is that you Cam’ron?
Brooklyn IS JAy-Z
“it’s easily Jay’s most cohesive project since ‘The Blueprint 3.'”
….That means a lot seeing as how The Blueprint 3 was his last solo album….
and it was shit album
the album is hot. Period.
I Believe People Underrate Watch The Throne
Felt disappointed after the first listen, but after replaying it a few times I was mesmerized by the lyricism and flow some of the tracks offer. “Heaven” is easily one of the most lyrically sound tracks I’ve heard in years. In some instances on the album, Jay displays the combination of flow and lyrics that possibly no one else in the game can match. This is an issue I’ve witnessed previously. People dismiss the album bc of a lack of understanding of the complexity of some songs or lyrics.(Remember when the Black Album was dismissed as “Ok” at first). The production is top notch and presents a new refreshing sound. Overall, I’d say the album is a solid 4 out of 5. Although I rated it higher to raise that average user rating.
Agreed Heaven is so Ill, love the beats and lyrics
Jay has been misunderstood since Reasonable Doubt.
^This.
jay aint the same since RD…. LOL
Fools.
Is he the only rapper u listen too to say that heaven is the most lyrical song youve heard in years you better start thinking outside that old hov box you in
-“Heaven” is easily one of the most lyrically sound tracks I’ve heard in years”
I said “one of the most”. Not many rappers go in like this nowadays, and much less with that effortless flow he has.
First off this album is way better than a 4X. This album spoke volumes to legitimate street individuals. Im tired of you booshie motherfuckers being the voice of something you have no experience with. Those of us that were raised in the ghetto can relate to MCHG. Its a great album. Fuck what you backpackers think. The streets love it. He mentioned a lot topics he couldn’t ignore. If you never been in a dope house or seen spots get raided then you obviously have no idea what he’s talking about in his raps. I have no problem if you enjoy the music but if what he speaks on isn’t understood then shut the fuck up. Coming from the ghetto, this album was inspirational. Rap has always been about braggadocio and it will stay that way. So blaming Hov for that is counter-productive. As far as the illuminati talk goes, it was well addressed here. Leave it alone already. So fuck you boat shoe, Dre beat headphone, snap back, bloggin, suburban pussies. This album is for the streets and we appreciate it.
preach!!!
CO-fucking SIGN. The shit he spits about INSPIRES people who want to elevate their status in life. Jay is not about crying and losing in life, he’s about GET IT IN!
Word up. Jay’s that dude! Personified winning.
Co-Signatured
i’m NOT from the ghetto, but if i was i wouldn’t mention it in like every second sentence like it makes you something special…i’m from a small town in germany and i like rap and for an artist with jay z’s relevance the lyrical content is a dissappointment…nice flow and pretty good wordplay, but he mostly talks the same shit all the others do…k.dots album of last year 4 example had a lot more to offer…just sayin’
^ beyonic. I’m so glad Jay has stopped trying to cater and appeal to people like you – and put out some real inspirational “god body arm leg leg shit” for people like me Sorry bruh. 🙁
No offence. I like to think he made BP3 and Vol 1 are for people from “small towns”, with easier access to opportunity, like you.
If trying come up/ Jay-z is show n’ proving.
wtf ? i’m surely not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, if thats what you mean…but ok yes, i never touched a gun and i don’t sell coke and shit, but believe it or not in “old europe”, you struggle too, sometimes…ok? and from a man who gets a handshake from your president can be expected more than that standard luxury/hustler rap formula i think..but what do i know, i dont live in a ghetto 🙁
MCHG is garbage and YEEZUS is WAAYYYY better, and this is speaking from a Jay-Z Stan.
@ beyonic
I know – there are rough places all over europe. I’m not saying bruh.
I’m just saying I cannot expect you to relate, as you said u are not from one of those places.
I think that’s why hiphop heads who love this shit need a Jay-Z… there few 42 black males in his position, at the top – so when you’ve come from that it makes u… u can’t not talk abot that … it’s lives in you, and niggas like me are still in it.. so that’s why we thank him for it.
Ya dig>?
@ beyonic- Stop it already. I’m not from the ghetto too and Jay-Z inspires the hell out of me. Also ghetto doesn’t equal guns and dope dealing.
Identification/inspiration theory confirmed. Since that’s the case, y’all really need to stop hating each other and investing in all this negativity just because you’re personally inspired by different MCs. People listen to rhyme for different reasons. For real.
Oh wait, this is the Internet…
I thought it was Jay’s worse project, if you compare it to any jay project the rhymes are weak, the production is eh, but his flow through most of the songs is really bad so for me i didn’t like it and I’m as a Jay-Z fan i was super disappointed but that’s just my opinion
Wrong.
wrong.
All the Vol 1 & 3, Blueprint 2 & 3 were piss poor or average albums..
MCHG > those albums
Saying MCHG is better than Vol 1 and 3 is like saying having explosive diarrhea is better than getting a blow job
Yo… Torkie/Morkie? (def a suburb kiddy)///
them albums were trash son… peace out.
Easily best rap album of the year. Jay is hungrier than he’s been in years on this album and the wordplay is ridiculous…..
Sick album all the way through.BBC still knocks and La Familia is the catchiest song on the whole album…no skippables. Should be rated higher.
Timbaland killed it on the beats and Jay was dope. I dig this album. Top 5 of the year for me.
yeah NAS!!!!!
Taking that long you better look like Hale Berry…… or BEYOOOOONNCEEEEEEEE.
MOST COHESIVE PROJECT SINCE BLUEPRINT!!! ITS RIGHT THERE IN THE ARTICLE!! EDIT YOUR SHIT DX!!!
I swear DX is falling off. You guys were amazing with reviews. But this review is pretty weak. The reviewer doesn’t mention the two most deep songs by Jay-Z in recent memory Oceans and Heaven.
Get your shit together DX.
The album is really dope. Production-wise its the best of the year, and lyrically Jay-Z spits some introspective shit and sharp lines. 8/10
IKR. It’s pretty pointless to discuss Jay’s lyrics with a lot of today’s Hip-hop heads- They’re dumb as dirt.
Exactly, Jay’s going over most people’s heads. Oceans is such a great track.
nah I agree with the review… album is super payable… no skips… most cnsistent since AG
Pretty good album! Pretty good review. This is his best since The Black Album!
Fuck with me you know I GOT IT!!! Yeap! Fuck with me you know I GOT IT!!! Yeap!
The GOAT by far. This shit is unprecedented. Unreal lyrics, classic beats.
his worst record
Good album; not a great album. With that said…I’ll take it.
One of the best hip-hop albums in the last 5 years. Jay got himself another potential classic under his belt. The beats were great, the lyrics are phenomenal, it’s a solid album. My only problems with the album is a few forgettable lines and Rick Ross on FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt (he ruins the whole song). This album will be huge.
5 stars.
“dentalbitch, everything you say is lies. MCHG is Jay’s best album, INAHB2 is Wayne’s worst. Wayne’s not the best rapper alive, he does not have more money than Jay ($400 million>$100 million), a lot of gay shit goes on at YMCMB, but not with Jay, Wayne kissing Birdman is gay and incest and has nothing to do with father/son, wearing your daughter’s pants is gay and not a trend, you can’t kiss another man without being gay, you have not seen fathers and sons kiss on the lips, just gay men. Stop making up bullshit”
Hey dickbitch, everything I say is true. Im dentaldamboy not dentaldambitch IANAHB2 is Wayne’s best album. You obviously haven’t listened to MCHG because even Jay Z stans are not calling it the best album. Fail right there. Wayne has 400 million plus 600 billion unaccounted assets so he’s really a billionaire. Jay Z has 5 million while beyonce has the other 95 million of Jay Z’s money. I had a friend who’s not gay but kisses his father on the lips. That’s proof I saw fathers and sons kissing. Birdman and Wayne kissing is just a kiss and is not gay if its between father and son. They don’t fuck each other because they are not gay. I’ve also seen men wearing their daughters pants and jeggings (daughter’s pants). YMCMB is running the game.
Everything you just said right now, dentalbitch, is one big fucking lie.
1. INAHB2 is one of Wayne’s worst albums. Even hardcore Wayne stans said it was terrible.
2. MCHG is one of Jay’s best albums.
3. Jay’s worth $400 million while Wayne is only worth $100 million.
4. Your “friend” is gay. Fathers and sons kissing is gay and incest.
5. Wayne and Birdman kissing is gay, period, no ifs, ands, or buts.
6. No straight man is gonna wear their daughter’s clothes, so your statement is bullshit.
7. YMCMB don’t run shit. All of the artists on the label that’s not Wayne, Drake, and Nicki are failures and tax write-offs.
People like you are half the reason the comments section is great on hhdx
It is nothing short of hilarious that 95% of HHDX commentors can’t recognize sarcasm
Remind me never to take iamhiphop’s rap suggestions seriously if he’s really stanning for this crap.
When I mean 95% users, I mean I can’t believe 95% of the users fall for trolls hating wayne because he’s a legend.
dentalbitch in disguise.
Arm, leg, leg, arm, head — this is God body
Knowledge, wisdom, freedom, understanding — we just want our equality
Food, clothing, shelter — help a nigga find some peace
Happiness for a gangsta, ain’t no love in these streets
Conspiracy theorist screaming Illuminati
They can’t believe this much skill is in the human body
He’s 6’2, how the fuck he fit in a new Bugatti?
Aw fuck it you got me
Question religion, question it all
Question existence until them questions are solved
Meanwhile this heretic I be out in Marrakesh
Morocco smoking hashish with my fellowship
Y’all dwell on devil shit, I’m in a Diablo
Yellow shit, color of Jell-O shit
Hello bitch, it’s me again
Fresh in my Easter clothes feeling like Jesus and
i did restart on this several times. first time because i thought for a moment that RZA was behind the boards. i’ma go back to “albert einstein” and “run the jewels” now. then maybe a little “enta da stage” (or the 36 chambers maybe) and “no need for alarm.” then polish it all off with “death certificate,” “southernplayalistik…” and wash it down with “fear of a black planet.”
then i’ll come back and check this album again.
excellent
We don’t have to ague about who can rap just go through my raps… if you know you know somebody who know somebody that know somebody pls put his/her rap lets compare the truth and realness in their rap. Hov is higher and realest to ever touch the mic. Bitches
Survey question:
What do you consider to be Jay Z’s WORST album?
Blueprint 3.
Vol. 1
Kingdom Come.
Definitely KC
BP3 or Vol 1 or 3….
tie between Magna Carta and Blueprint 3.
^ rob d… it’s been less than 2 years… but MCGH is better than Vol 1, BP3 right now… so IMO I think u on some hater shit 🙁
Vol 1. is incredible! Friend or Foe, A Million and One Questions, Who U Wit, Sunshine, City is Mine, Where I’m From, Imaginary Player. Plenty of classic tracks man!
I wish there were more of these questions and less of these trolls.
Streets is Watching
Vol 1 – if you like sell-out Jay… every track is trying to cross over… did you just say Sunshine??
VOL.2
CLAP for a nigga and his rappin’ ass- Tom Ford.
Blow a stack for your niggas with your tapping ass
Jay-z is one of the best Artist of all time , this however was not his best album but its one of my favorite
CLASSIC.
Great Album from Jay-z…
5/5 coz i can’t give this album a 4.5/5 and it’s definitely not a 4 imo
Thank God were in a time were wayne fell off and all the teenage girls and the 14 year old wiggers are over lil gayne. Jay-z put out a great album (with a Nas feature) Timbaland made some great fuckin beats. I liked Yeezus too. THE R O C is back bitchezzz #RIPymcmb
RD, Blueprint, Black Album, Vol 1, AG, MCHG, Vol 2 best jay records
4 1/2 outta 5
Vol 1??? bruh.. thats his worst album easy
Twerk Miley Miley Miley, twerk Miley Miley !
THIS SHIT WAS ILL. COULDA CUT LIKE 3 TRACKS BUT NONETHELESS GOOD SHIT THANK YOU HOVA
The album is whack yall cant keep stalling out for this dude he is far from the GOAT
you must be a lil wayne or chief keef fan
NOPE im a Nas fan
How is Yeezus better than this?
artisically???
Im with Jay lol
Yeezus dropped 80% in week 2 lol
Are you kidding me? This is as bad, if not worse than Blueprint 3. His lyrics are all over the map, basically just him describing his life as a 43 year old living in a lap of luxury. There’s no conflict, there’s no interesting narrative, and even his flow is stilted.
BTW, as a journalist, you have no idea how funny it is to say “This is his most cohesive project since Blueprint 3” when it’s only the second thing he’s done since then.
as journo hater, I’d just lie to say you know jack bruh…
that it all.
You white guy’s are so witty
Well thanks, I guess. Not white. Sorry. A concerned black man here. Just can’t standmedia hacks, and shitty bloggers calling themselfs journo’s :O)
As for the album. Maybe it’s capitalistic thing? I own business, maaybe it’s employee syndorne or faith.. but how u assert that there is no depth or stuggle in the lyrics??
Maybe it’s age thing, social class, race, or like said employee/owner thing, but to me Jay is undeinableon this album..
Uncle said never sell million, sold million like 100 times…
WTF ARE PEOPLE LISTENING TO THE ALBUM IS HIS WORST ALBUM HE DID THE BEATS THAT WERE HOT NO JUSTICE HIS FLOW WAS BORDERLINE BULLSHIT HIS YES MEN AKA FANS JUST WONT ADMIT THIS ALBUM IS TRASH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 3 SONGS THE SONG WITH NAS BUNS IF I WAS NAS I WOULD HAVE NOT GOT ON THAT SHIT I CAN NAME 10 CATS IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW THAT WILL EAT JAYS FOOD ON THE MIC YALL NEED TO STOP GIVING HIM CREDIT WHERE ITS NOT DUE I GIVE IT A 2.5 FOR PURE T LAZINESS
son how old are you?
you must hate progression after childish skip through
He’s 12.
Kids will be kids ..bless their little cotton socks
FUK U MEAN HOW OLD AM I? IM OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS ALBUM IS TRASH AND YALL IN DENIAL HIS BEST ALBUM IS REASONABLE DOUBT HE AINT BEEN THE SAME SINCE IM OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MUCH
Damn..you may be right #dontwannabeayesman
Jay-Z
3 stars – BP 2, BP3, Vol 1, Vol 3, Kingdom Come
4 star – Dynasty, Vol 2
4 Classics – RD,BP,BA,AG
————————————–
NAS
3 stars – Nastradmaus, Streets Disciple
4 stars – IAM, God Son, Untitled, Life is Good,
4 Classic – Illmatic, IWW, (Lost Tapes), Stillmatic, HHID
???^ nah BP 2, 3 Vol 1,2,3… were all Jay’Z 3 star albums…
4 star – Dynasty, Kingdom Come
4 Classics – RD,BP,BA,AG
————————————–
NAS
3 stars – Nastradmaus, Streets Disciple
4 stars – IAM, God Son, Untitled, Life is Good,
4 Classic – Illmatic, IWW, (Lost Tapes), Stillmatic, HHID
???
don’t ever bring nas near Hov Da god! because they are not on same level… what u drink? fluid!
fluid? Well… yes. Was I wrong?
No guts, blows up, head chest face gone >>>
NAS CATALOGUE >
The production saved this whole album. Jay’s lyrics aren’t that good anymore.
compared to….??
Timbaland acted up on the instrumental for Tom Ford, another one of the albums highlights
His best work since reasonable douubt
ok/// so the blueprint and american gangster, the black album… your birth… just didn’t happen?? HUH???!!! WTF were you thinking bruh?
REALLY?
Reasonable Doubt wasn’t even that good.
^ no-one mentioned that album until he was retiring… it was ay at his most semi concouis…
I agree, not a rel “classic”- didn’t change the culture, impacted very few at the time…
“After all, who else could call Big Daddy Kane, the Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar peers at different points in the same career?”
That’s a silly question to ask, don’t you think. You seem to be Forgeting about NAS whose been a lyrical machine professionally since ’94.
Jay z is my favorite rapper of all time. But this album is trash. Picasso baby was the only beat that stood out. I hate those electro trash ass beats. The guest appearances were forced trash with officer ricky, boring garbage ass homos Nas and frank ocean, and Justin timberfake. Blueprint 2, Blueprint1, the Black album, and volume3 are his best work those had his best flows liricks and beats and no one was in his league when those albums were out. This is his absolute worst album even kingdom come is better than this. No replay value here
Your argument = troll was a fail from the moment you mentioned Kingdom Come
you made your bed now sleep. because you will sleep on any other good shit from Hov.. go through the KC lyrics son
^ exactly … these youngun’s need time to live.
KC is stillover ya head, you aint lived yet son.
If you into.. That’s Just – Timo album… not good for you?
“1. INAHB2 is one of Wayne’s worst albums. Even hardcore Wayne stans said it was terrible.
2. MCHG is one of Jay’s best albums.
3. Jay’s worth $400 million while Wayne is only worth $100 million.
4. Your “friend” is gay. Fathers and sons kissing is gay and incest.
5. Wayne and Birdman kissing is gay, period, no ifs, ands, or buts.
6. No straight man is gonna wear their daughter’s clothes, so your statement is bullshit.
7. YMCMB don’t run shit. All of the artists on the label that’s not Wayne, Drake, and Nicki are failures and tax write-offs.”
1. The only criticisms Ive heard about this album comes from fucking haters who are broke compared to wayne and upset that they don’t have rap talent compared to Wayne.
2. MCHG is Jay Z’s worst album which isn’t saying much considering that he fell off hard since blueprint 2. Even his past work was ok at best.
3. You got that backwards and Beyonce has most of Jay Z’s money while Wayne has all of his money.
4. My friend is not gay and I have seen grown sons kiss their fathers all the time. They showed me ID for proof. Birdman and Wayne can kiss and not be gay. What’s the big deal anyway?
5. I’ve seen straight men wear their daughter’s clothing. Wayne’s married for god’s sake.
6. YMCMB is running the game. All of those additional artists are taking the time to craft their work.
Also, Tupac wore a tutu, Biggie fucked Diddy, Eminem hates women and on the song, “Just Lose It” he keeps talking about boy’s asses before clumsily switching it to girl’s asses. Also, K Dot has a femine voice and Jay Z and Kayne West partnering up for Watch The Throne is suspect.
You’re living in your own delusional world, kid, because everything you just said was bullshit.
1. Many critics and fans say INAHB2 was mediocre or terrible. It’s got a Metacritic score of 59.
2. MCHG is one of Jay’s best albums. He never fell off, but became bigger.
3. That statement is a lie. Jay has all of his money.
4. Another lie. Your friend is gay because he kisses another man on the lips. No two men can kiss and not be gay; there’s no way around it.
5. More lies you made up.
6. YMCMB ain’t running shit. The other artists are being lazy.
All of this…
“Also, Tupac wore a tutu, Biggie fucked Diddy, Eminem hates women and on the song, “Just Lose It” he keeps talking about boy’s asses before clumsily switching it to girl’s asses. Also, K Dot has a femine voice and Jay Z and Kayne West partnering up for Watch The Throne is suspect.”
…are lies you made up in your head. Stop being a Wayne stan and stop making up excuses to make your heroes better.
“Magna Carta Holy Grail” may not offer a completely new vision or version of Jay-Z, but it’s easily Jay’s most cohesive project since “The Blueprint 3.”
BP3 was his last album so why make it seem he had multiple projects in between then & now…. dumb fuck journalists
Truth is this is just as cohesive as Jay’s entire body of work… which doesn’t say a whole lot.. let’s go over the good ol’ Jay format shall we….
MAJORITY OF JAY-Z’s ALBUM GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS (excluding most intros):
1. INTRO/HEARTFELT SONG most likely with an R&B artist/narrator (Mary J Blige, Faith Evans, JT, Beyonce, Pain in Da Ass, Memphis Bleek)
2. BOSSY SONG (City Is Mine, Picasso Baby, Hovi Baby, Takeover etc..)
3. STREET SINGLE (H to the Izzo, DOA, I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me etc..)
4. SONG WITH WHOEVER IS HOT RIGHT NOW (FuckwitmeyouknowIgotit, Hello Brooklyn, Run This Town)
5. CATCHY SINGLE WITH R&B BACKUP (Excuse Me Miss, Change Clothes, Empire State of Mind, Oceans)
6. TOSS UP WITH A FEATURE (Real As It Gets, What They Gonna Do, Do U Wanna Ride?)
7. CLEVER SONG (Threats, 22-Two’s, A Week Ago, I Know)
8. NOTHING TO SOMETHING SONG (Moment of Clarity, Can I Live, Party Life, Ain’t No Live)
9. “MY SAMPLE/FEATURE WILL HANDLE MY HOOK” SONG (Never Change, Ain’t No Nigga, A Star Is Born, Heaven)
10. CHARACTER ANALYSIS/INTERLUDES/LAST SINGLE (Song Cry, Venus vs. Mars, Versus, PSA, Friend or Foe)
11. MADE MAN SONG (All I Need, Say Hello, Big Pimpin’, Justify My Thug)
12. THE “BODY ME ON MY OWN SONG” SONG (Renegade, Success, Hate)
13. THE “I’M REFLECTING, PLZ CALL ME CONSCIOUS” SONG (My 1st Song, Momma Loves Me, Nickels & Dimes, Beach Chair, Regrets, Fallin’, A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier)
Okay okay, This was funny lol
lol. this is pretty good. his albums do follow the same formula. i’ve been saying this too for years. he’s still one of illest. not as sharp as a younger Jay, but still better than 99% of those aged under 30 in the mainstream.
good analysis. he’s found a formula that people keep coming back to again and again. proves that Jay does make art.
all artists search for successful patterns… the question is whether they are conscious of them or not.
one thing that can be said for “yeezus” is its effort to break patterns. but the effort doesn’t automatically make it great or genius or brilliant or even listenable.
people took it personal tho, for reasons i mention elsewhere.
The name of your album is Magna Carta and this is the best shit you could come up with? The album has nothing to do with the idea of Magna Carta, in fact it’s the exact opposite of that. Magna Carta gave power back to the people, this shit just celebrates one person and the amount of wealth that he has amassed. Basically the same derivative shit that we keep hearing on every Jay album. I’m tired of Kanye and Jay and their self-important bullshit.
OKay. you smart enough to think latterally.
If you can’t see the connection in the album title, the history and conent on the album… live life little an play it some more. I remeber being 8 when RD came out. I didn’t under until I was in my late teens half the stuff on that album.
Jay’s music needs perpective.
what is the name of that book you wrote?
“Magna Carta Holy Grail” may not offer a completely new vision or version of Jay-Z, but it’s easily Jay’s most cohesive project since “The Blueprint 3.” – Like that’s saying much lol. He’s only released WTT in between these two albums… This review kind of misses the mark to me. It kind of commends too much shit that doesn’t really directly have to do much with the music itself. Stuff like “After all, who else could call Big Daddy Kane, the Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar peers at different points in the same career?”… I wouldn’t say this is easily his best rapping since American Gangster either, I find a lot of his rapping to be uninspired for the most part and when he is somewhat propelled to really say something it comes off as calculated, instead of totally genuine.
read other comments before post.
Makes you sound less redunant.
“since the Blueprint” they didn’t say Blueprint 3
That’s dope shit !
MCHG is one of Jiggas worst albums and YEEZUS is WAY WAY better sonically,in direction,in execution and this is speaking from a HUUUGGGGGEEE Jay-Z Stan.
wasn’t i good King? maybe too much of a good thing han!!
I can’t believe how many people are saying Vol. 1 is Jay-Z’s worst album. That’s classic straight up NY boss shit. Streets Is watching, Imaginary Player, Who U Wit, Where I’m From etc. It’s almost blasphemous to say that Kingdom Come is better, gimme a break.
Bro… when Vol 1 came out no-one was feeling that shit.
It was clear he was trying sell out… he didn’t make another good album until dynasty…
KC was the return of concouis JAY. Take your break.
Am I the only who thinks Illmatic has no replay value?
HA. 20 year old album. I play it at least 2wice a year.
There goes ur arguement…
u r not the only one playa
Niggas know im right.
You’re never right. You’re always wrong.
THEY GIVE JAY Z WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT AS IF HES SUPERIOR TO OTHER MCS ALL OF HIS MUSIC IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME HE APPEALS TO THE 85% OF THE DUMB DEAF AND BLIND THE PEOPLE WHO SAY ITS HOT BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE SAYS SO BUT IF YOU REALLY LISTEN TO HIM HES NOTHING SPECIAL HIS CONSISTENCY OF BULLSHIT KEEPS HIM ABOVE WATER
That’s your opinion, but that being said, based on consistency and longevity, whose better?
what do you think when you listen to your self?. Don’t be good Be Great. which side are you on?
i think its classic. reminds me of vintage jay. no club bangers, just bangin beats and flows. I think the weakest songs are bbc and the beyonce joint, but bbc’s growing on me
I gave you prophesy on my first joint, y’all lamed out.
Jay’s music needs perspective.
Production on the album is ok, personally I wanted Hov to come and son/school all the new school artist on the art of boom-bap rap (since it’s been a hip-hop trend) ….
Unfortunately it didn’t happen…
Jay’s lyrical cleverness was there, as always, but story telling abilities not really captivating…
What doomed this album imo is his flow… Southern style/French Montana flow Jigga SUCKS…
Maybe thats why so many people love this album, because his flow is def something you’d hear on the radio. That being said, Jay’s def the best of the radio crap, but MCHG is not for me ….
[Verse 1]
These niggas want me to go
Dont they know that I’m gone
They know I’m space shuttle level
They need oxyg-g-g-gen
Don’t they know that they boring?
Dont they know that I yawn?
Only time they exciting is when they mentioning Shawn
Seen Single White Female when she dyed her hair blonde?
Sometimes I look at these rappers
The movie remind me of them
Somebody turn these boys off
Don’t they know that I’m on
Can’t they see that it’s foolish to try and kill me with songs
What the fuck are they Lauryn
They killing me softly
You talk me to death, only thing you can do to him
I open the door for them, what else can I do
These niggas want me to walk for them
Somebody talk to them
Before I go off on them
GOAT!!!
People who post mchg jigga lyrics tickle me… its as if they think hes the only lyricist today, what make jay great is how cleaver he is and the fact he writes down nothing. Plus he does a lot of things well (story telling, flow (not found on MCHG), swagger, ect) hell better than most, but dont think hes the best at one area…
Better lyrics (than above)- Homeboy sandman = sputnik
Knicks’ed down, listening to ODB
But for the mix down, this is what a OD be
I’m like the dude in commercials for Dos Equis
Or Duran Duran, or Durant from OKC
When I meet some girlies they will not say peace
‘Cause they seen me earlier on OKP
I might give in if she got some okay cheeks
Even moreso if she got so okay chi
Lotta cats get married when they both gon’ cheat
I am not sure what they think that they gon’ achieve
It’s like two potheads thinking that they both gon’ chief
Once they got there, ain’t nobody brought no trees
Or a sad dog whose owner ain’t brought no treats
I’m the big dog, I ain’t gotta show no teeth
I see hardrocks so afraid to play low key
All their art screams pussy like Georgia O’Keefe’s
Stop it
Better lyrics (than above) = (obviously) K-DOt =Turn me up
Pac told me fuck the world, I’m ’bout to cum now
I’ve been a pro, but now I’m profound
Propane on posers, restraining from the doja
Imagine if I smoke, I probably come up with a quote
So heavy you’ll forget every album you heard from Hova
Or 2pacalypse I’m Hub City’s novelist
Come and get your scholarship, I’m taking kids to school
A pool full of spit, dive in, I’m ’bout to drool
You’ll drown trynna backstroke on concepts that I wrote
I was a black sheep, but now I’m just a goat
And I’m ’bout to elope, married to the game joe
This is hip hop at it’s finest, where’d you find this? In a Ziploc
Til the wheels fall off, fuck a pit-stop or what not
Where my tear drop? I murdered it
My pot-holes is turbulence
I’m in the sky wit it
When you listening to Kendrick,
Are any of the lyrics u put above addressing any issue of ppl wanted to put you down every day of your life? Hov’s rap and lyrics put haters aside to bring new hater he will address in WTT2. Don’t fuck with Hov you know he got it.
I get it now. Some people *identify* with what Jay evokes.
Interesting.
It isn’t dick riding, it’s maybe seeking a role model, big brother, or dare I say father figure? And those who hate are probably just jealous because *they* haven’t found any art that motivates them in the same way.
Who you seek solace in or gain pleasure from is, I believe, a free choice, and your business.
Peace y’all.
If you love:
2 chainz newalbum
rick ross’snew album
A Drake die hard fan
Bumps Gun-play on the regular
Thinks lil Bow-wow is the coolest host on TV
Fan of Waka but hate gucci
Loves french Montana’s ” I dont care about nothin ”
Probably a Tyler Perry die heart fan
and any other type of FUCKERY…
THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS ALBUM AND CALL IT A 4.5 OR EVEN A 5…
those with common sense, will give it a 3.5 (its ARGUABLY a 4.0) …. remember you can only compare jay with old jay….and this album is on the bottom half of his body of work….
zero, crap, trash, piece of shit, -10 stars
“Jay’s worth $400 million while Wayne is only worth $100 million”
Only 100 million? lol Poor Wayne.
He got that backwards. Wayne is 400 million while JAy Z is at 100 million, 95 million which belongs to Beyonce. Also, Jay Z is secretly gay and fucked Kayne West.
who gives a fuck about the money artists have? Is that your money? Last I checked, you ain’t touching none of that.
Im an accountant for ymcmb. I share in the profits of YMCMB.
That’s a lie, dentalbitch.
No it’s not. Im an accountant for ymcmb, wearing girls pants is a hot new trend going on with men (hell, tupac wore a tutu, which is 100 times more gay) and father son kissing is not gay but the circle of life.
More lies you made up, dentalbitch.
MCHG > Yeezus IMO
goes without saying
I actually prefer Yeezus. I hated Yeezus when I first heard it, but the more I listen to it the more I like it. Kind of reminds me of how I felt about Aquemini when it dropped. I hated that record, in part because it was so different from anything in hip-hop at that time, but it grew on me. Love that record.
Don’t ever compare Aquemini (universal hip-hop classic) to an album Kanye didn’t give 2 fucks about.
I will continue to make that comparison. Both albums have received universal praise from music critics and both sonically sound completely different from hip-hop records that preceded them. Those are both facts.
Im not hearing the critical acclaim for Yeezus from the so called press. Most of those magazines look down on Hip Hop and didnt give a damn about the culture in the golden era and now all of a sudden theyre trying to dictate where Hip Hop should be going. F*** all that! Sick of hearing these chumps trying to redefine Hip Hop and hijack the culture.
DX, XXL and The Source are predominately hip-hop media outlets. They all dig the album. Check meta-critic and compare the reviews for Yeezus and MCHG.
You’re entitled to hate it though. There are plenty of hip-hop records I don’t like that have received great reviews from critics.
Yeezus is the new Punk Rock while MCHG is just that same old commercial hip hop.
When I was talking Instagram
Last thing you wanted was your picture snapped
Not his best but better than most
Classic!!
Who wants a new version of Jay-Z? No, not me either.
[Jay-Z]
Can’t y’all, see that he’s fake, the rap version of TD jakes
Prophesizing on your CDs and tapes
Won’t break you a crumb of the little bit that he makes
And this is with whom you want to place your faith?
I put dollars on mine, ask Columbine
When the Twin Towers dropped, I was the first in line
Donating proceeds off every ticket sold
When I was out on the road, that’s how you judge Hov, no?
Ain’t I supposed to be absorbed myself?
Every time there’s a tragedy, I’m the first one to help
They call me this misogynist, but they don’t call me the dude
To take his dollars to give gifts at the projects
These dudes is all politics, depositing checks
they put in they pocket, all you get in return is a lot of lip
And y’all buy the shit, caught up in the hype
Cause the nigga wear a coofie, it don’t mean that he bright
Cause you don’t understand him, it don’t mean that he nice
It just means you don’t understand all the bullshit that he write
Is it “Oochie Wally Wally” or is it “One Mic”?
Is it “Black Girl Lost” or shorty owe you for ice?
I’ve been real all my life, they confuse it with conceit
Since I will not lose, they try to help him cheat
But I will not lose, for even in defeat
There’s a valuable lesson learned, so it evens it up for me
When the grass is cut, the snakes will show
I gotta thank the little homie Nas for that though
Saving me the hassle of speaking to half of these assholes
And I’ma let karma catch up to Jaz-O, whoa
I’m back before you had a chance to miss me
My mama can’t save you this time, niggas is history
Who you know flow vicious as me?
Yet so religiously, that’s why they call me Hov
I get the spoils cause the victor is me (me, nigga)
You’re an actor, you’re not who you’re depicted to be
The street dreamin, all y’all niggas living through me
I gave you life when niggas was forgetting you emcee
I’m a legend, you should take a picture with me
You should be happy to be in my presence, I should charge you a fee
I’m Big Dog, Glenn Rob, listen God you a flea
And the little homey Jungle is a garden to me
What’s the problem B? You not as hard as me
Nigga hard as we, nigga R O C, nigga
That’s why they follow me, they feel my pain and my agony, nigga
I won’t rest till you on one knee
You want war then it’s war’s gonna be, nigga
Until you on one knee, you want war then it’s war’s gonna be, nigga
Jayz’s numerous verses to try an compete with ether, no where near Nas’s lyrical skill….yawn
Put the lyrics of that lame song here and read for your self before writing lame things here. Fool
he got nas on this one.
That was an excellent review. ! My exact thoughts in text. Props Mr. Cooper.
better than i expected
Love the album…. him and Cole have the 2 best of the year and then A$AP
This album was lame. I think if Jay-z’ going to be rhyming like this he needs to retire. I’m not a Jay-z fan per-sey but I downloaded the album and gave it a chance. I never have the urge to through on Jay-Z music, & I never rocked Blueprint on a loop, but this version of Jay isn’t that version of Jay. The lyricism that fans talk about has always been over-blown, and its obvious here.
write a verse here now and come back in 20yrs time with another verse… think before you write son.
Son, step your grammar game up, I can hardly tell what the fuck you’re saying. (@ Your Name)
If you ain’t a fan and you didn’t like it….what the fuck did you expect? This is Jay-Z near 20 years deep since his debut album….you think he’s just gonna switch it up outta nowhere?
lame
And I tried to smoke weed to give me the fix I need –
What the game did to my pulse – with no results
And you can treat your nose and still won’t come close
The game is a lightbulb with eleventy-million volts
so clear you can’t copy.
thanks, use that on my new mixtape
Solid album, solid hip-hop album. This isn’t Jay-Z’s best, but you’re not gonna get an artist’s best at this point in his career. Jay-Z at his best was The Blueprint, Reasonable Doubt & The Black Album. MCHG is a good listen.
Overall it’s a dope album. Great production, lyrics were above average & themes were great.
THe people who don’t like this album are the people who want Jay-z to not keep it real and rap about shit he doesn’t do anymore. COMMON SON!!!!
BEST album since good kid mad city and jayz best since black album.
So let me get this straight MGMC = 4x BUT Yeezus = 4.5x!!!!!!!
Last time I come on this site!!!!!!
cosign DJ KUTTZ how is that trash album yeezus better then this? Kanye suckered us all with that unmix WACK album. Holy Grail Is A More Solid Project An HIPHOPDX Should Be Ashamed For Rating Kimye More Then This Jay …….oh wait!!! this site is scared of kanye wests infamous rants!!!! SMDH GET YA RATES UP YA GUYS ARE FUCKING UP
MCHG > Born Sinner > Yeezus
GFID > Jay Z’s entire catelog
^^^bwhahaha
dope
everything is incredible about this album…except for the songs. The songs sound real regular.
Love it.
Thought is was ok from a first listen but through the week this shit is good. Not light as some suggested. People love to hate success.
“HA. 20 year old album. I play it at least 2wice a year”
Now the question begging to be asked… Why?!
CUZ IS CLASSIC DUMB
You bum-licking buffoons – you know perfectly well the Blueprint 3 was his last album. An absolute refusal to stand up to those with the influence, for resting on their laurels and churning out the same old stuff, makes this website less trustworthy, and, paradoxically, less relevant. Get with the program.
You bum-licking buffoons – you know perfectly well the Blueprint 3 was his last album. An absolute refusal to stand up to those with the influence, for resting on their laurels and churning out the same old stuff, makes this website less trustworthy, and, paradoxically, less relevant. Get with the program!
this shit is a 4.5 easy its a hip hop album that we wanted beats bangin a MC that spits hard and talking about real life shit xxl got it right DX just hate hard or they just stupid he,threw this shit together in no time and look at the results he put another classic together in mixtape time and just dropped the shit.
you dont know how long it took him to put it together. He just announced it and released it soon after. And classic?….Naw, the blue print is a classic…
everythings a fucking CLASSIC nowadays. .
nope this is a classic for several reasons and if you noticed the events he talking about is very recent smh stupid asss you just skim threw shit.
this aint no mo’fucking classic. you stupid nigga?
LA FAMILA IS CRAZY oh this guy is a wayne fan you cant see what he did on tha track with the flow and the beat ? ahah dx is stupid
“you aint ready yo you radio you aint really ready”
nickel and dimes>>>>>>>>>gfid+red+carter 4+ that new shit wayne just put out
I’ve had this on repeat since it dropped on the 4th..
MAN THIS ALBUM IS FUCKING FIRE
I agree the beats sound like they JUST for him pur fire.
Truly terrible album, i tried listening to it several times but it’s so underwhelming. Youngbloods are embarrassin hova.
your crazy as hell the young bucks are trash, this album is the best i heard in a while, better than j cole, kanye, wale, and game
oceans should have gotten this album a 4.5 they didn’t even talk about that wow
High level work
I find this to be one of Jays better releases. Then again, the shine is still on it and time will tell. But for now, this is my shit. Oh and how the fuck this didn’t score as high as Yeezus?
5 to balance all the hate. banging beats and decent flows, i don’t think we can ask any more of mr. carter these days.
how about more interesting lyrics?
a
good
If we’re counting best of the year so far, this is in the top 3 behind K.R.I.T. and J. Cole. At least with all three you can listen to it all the way through without skipping or passing 1 or 2 tracks.
Who’s Jay Z?
Who is ur fathers?
trash…
yes you are
Albums great f the haters. Sean drop his 12th album on july 4th for breakfast and sadly only few can appreciate and relate. He has the best album of 2013 in the game where he is still setting the bar where only he can reach. He mastering flows giving u lyrics along w great production every album. If u been listening to hov since the beginning I know u understand. And please stop comparing albums, real ppl will play albums depending on what mood they in. Sometimes I want to hear Black album jay or sometimes American Gangster jay, stop being picky. We are witnessing greatest, no other hip hop mc has ever reach these feats without having to stumble. He’s on a hell of a run, just enjoy it, nah of you ppl trying to get in the game just need to stop the hating
I agree i have been a Jay-Z fan for a long time and feel the same way. This is a great album,but not a classic.
slurp slurp slurp. we get it jayz is the best
Great album from HOV…Yeezus is annoying as fuck to listen to…but MCHG is banging…can’t understand why this is rated less…
4/5
great jay z album. close to his best album yet! great beats and lyricism
Woah. Straight garbage. What happened to hoe(v). Last listenable album he put out was The Black Album. And american gangster ain’t all that. Here I was thinking it couldn’ get worse than BP3. Shaking My Damn Head…
preach
No way this is worse than BP3..what are you smoking, or are you just a Lil Wayne fan trolling?
Garbage 1 star deserve a 0
Talk to ’em, OG. Youngblood, Old brethren. Nobody should be feeling this fuckery.
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This is great album and definitely the best album of the year so far. From production standpoint this has to be the most cohesive records in a long time. All the songs just fit together. There is obviously let downs with BBC and la famaili, but other than that the album is great. Just appreciate the fact he keeps taking hip-hop to new heights and sets the bar for other rappers. #newrules
what kind of chronic kush are you smoking. ya jayz is taking music to new heights lmao
I agree.
So Ya dont’t get it twisted I agree with Nate this is good album way better than kanye fa sho.
This Albu’ should be receicing -0.97. Eish.
I like dis album. Hot beats. Hot lyrics. Hot guest appearances. Hot trash. So imma sponsor this with 1 star. Seriously though SHITTY album.
Meh
As a hiphop fan u always want a hit or two which really stands out on every album. After a few listens its ok but no capturing me yet. Go listen to “swimming pools, Bitch dont kill my vibe, Poetic justice(k. Lamar): Ace Hood Bugatti, Let nas down/forbidden fruit(j cole), major distribution, we up, my life, new day(50 cent), no worries, love me, romance(lil wayne). just to mention a few songs played on a daily basis i think jay should come a lil better. just remember the hit jigga became ur fav artist on. not that shit. OK 2.5/5 fair album.
What u talking about son:
Yeah Yeah What we talkin’ bout real shit?
Or we talkin’ bout ryhmes
You talkin’ bout millions Or you talking’ bout mine
What we talkin’ bout Cuz I ain’t got time
For what people be talkin’ bout all the time
What we talkin’ bout fiction Or we talkin bout fact
You talkin’ bout fiction? Hold up pardon my back
I’m talkin’ bout life And all I hear is
Oh yeah he keeps talkin’ bout crack
I ain’t talkin’ bout profit I’m talkin’ bout pain
I’m talkin’ bout despair I’m talkin’ bout shame
I ain’t talkin’ bout gossip I ain’t talkin’ bout Game
I ain’t talkin bout Jimmy I ain’t talkin’ bout Dame
I’m talkin’ bout real shit Dem people playin’
What is you talkin’ bout I don’t know what y’all sayin’
People keep talkin’ bout Hov take it back
I’m doin’ better than before Why would I do that?
Ain’t nothing cool bout carryin’ a strap
Bout worryin’ your moms And buryin’ your best cat
Talkin’ bout revenge While carryin’ his casket
All teary-eyed Bout to take it to a matress
I’m talkin’ bout music I ain’t talkin’ bout rap
You talkin’ bout who’s hot I ain’t talkin’ bout that
The conversation is changed Lets yap about that
I don’t run rap no more I run the map
Unbelievable album! Jay is ahead of his time. His work wont be appreciated until he is long gone. Most people don’t read enough to understand what he is talking about. If you don’t understand what he’s talking about then you cant see how he uses homophones, double and triple entendres. Hip hop is dumb down as fuck! All these Chief Keef ass, this little piggy went to the market rhyming ass, I cant make a complete sentence ass folks!…SMH
Thank you…people try way too hard to hate on the dude, when he’s 43 and putting out better stuff than rappers half his age..they need to take lessons..so does Kanye, bc Kanye started out as a rapper and seems to think he is R&B/techno now.
i agree with the technical evaluation. Jay has *always* been clever like that. for me, it’s not about listener comprehension, it’s about listener engagement. limited literacy can also account for what makes some people find this record so compelling… it’s like a magic trick.
for me, on a lot of these tracks Jay is sounding like Rick Ross with better content… lots of empty space in those bars but little weight in any of the words… even if you let them stack up to build an argument — the narrative simply isn’t compelling.
this is the opposite of overcrowding a measure with syllables that add up to boring images, like most of Lil Wayne’s recent output.
It should be required to post your age, along with your name for every post/comment. Just so people know that you’re not really musically intelligent because you’re 12 and your favorite rapper is most likely Wayne or Tyga.
This album is a masterpiece
^ LOL. good joke.
^ yes you are, your parents didn’t even plan it
how the fuck is this is his most cohesive since blueprint?
did you even listen to black album and american gangster?
both albums bangers..love AG. whoever shits on AG hasnt listened.
i dont even come here anymore, reviews are awful. site needs a over haul and a new admin. site has become wack.
the lyrics are boring as fuck. i’ve heard about how wealthy jay is for about 12 albums now and it got old about 6 albums back.
dude needs some inspiration badly.
the production is solid, but that’s about it.
very average album
Totally agree.
And the late and weak diss to wayne and referencing Brittany Spears? This guy just stays indoors sitting on a pile of money and thinks the music world is the same as it was back in 2000
Yeah Yeah What we talkin’ bout real shit?
Or we talkin’ bout ryhmes
You talkin’ bout millions Or you talking’ bout mine
What we talkin’ bout Cuz I ain’t got time
For what people be talkin’ bout all the time
What we talkin’ bout fiction Or we talkin bout fact
You talkin’ bout fiction? Hold up pardon my back
I’m talkin’ bout life And all I hear is
Oh yeah he keeps talkin’ bout crack
I ain’t talkin’ bout profit I’m talkin’ bout pain
I’m talkin’ bout despair I’m talkin’ bout shame
I ain’t talkin’ bout gossip I ain’t talkin’ bout Game
I ain’t talkin bout Jimmy I ain’t talkin’ bout Dame
I’m talkin’ bout real shit Dem people playin’
What is you talkin’ bout I don’t know what y’all sayin’
People keep talkin’ bout Hov take it back
I’m doin’ better than before Why would I do that?
Ain’t nothing cool bout carryin’ a strap
Bout worryin’ your moms And buryin’ your best cat
Talkin’ bout revenge While carryin’ his casket
All teary-eyed Bout to take it to a matress
I’m talkin’ bout music I ain’t talkin’ bout rap
You talkin’ bout who’s hot I ain’t talkin’ bout that
The conversation is changed Lets yap about that
I don’t run rap no more I run the map
I hate his diss.
unh, you little niggaz ain’t deep you dumb, you niggaz ain’t gangsta you gum, I chew little niggaz
hock-too, spew little niggaz, I can only view little niggaz like little niggaz
but in lieu of little niggaz trying to play that boy, I phew phew little niggaz with the latest toy
unlike you little nigga, I’m a grown ass man, big shoes to fill nigga, grown ass pants
prolly hustled with your pops, go ask your parents its apparent you’re staring at a legend
who, put a few little niggaz in the they place before trying to eat without saying they grace before
blasphemous bastard get your faith restored you’re viewing your version of the lord god
mc little nigga, applaud, or forever burn in the fire that I spit at y’all I rebuke you little nigga
the meek shall parish, ill roof you little nigga, I’m a project terrorist, cute you little niggaz
think you in my class substitute little niggaz soon feel my wrath, I mute you little niggaz
you a little nigga, I’ll child abuse you little nigga, I’m a ill nigga, now shoot you little niggaz
go somewhere and play, cause the day I loose to you little niggaz, no day
its interesting.. theres like 3-4 fillers in there that are clear fillers..but its pretty on concept usually– its just crazy how half of his songs only has 1 jayz verse and the guests dominate his songs..seemingly willingly which is what i find ..crazy
What’s the big fucking deal about Wayne wearing jeggings (daughter’s pants) when tupac wore a tutu? Wearing daughters pants is a hot new trend while men wearing tutu’s is gay.
That’s bullshit.
The beats are amazing.
This album is nowhere near a 4!!! HHDX you have turned into the biggest dickriders going around. Seriously, have you guys got shit in your ears… Jay-Z’s rhymes are about the weakest they have ever been, beats are whack too and JT’s feats on this album are laughable at best.
His 6’2″ how did he fit inside that new Bugatti? Guess they dickride Hov too… Is rap about obtainable facts or friction other rappers say that’s sound good? Don’t be good be Great. Which side are you on son.
Good production, lazy lyrics…Jay out there doing layups. Disappointed
What if the call you a camel half man half Jamal what’s your son ? and pls don’t be mad.
Already Home.
Its not that great of an album. Not a purchase. I dont think its even worth a download
And ama let Kramer catch up with you… He’s back for you to have the chance to miss Him.
This album is the best album all year. The beats are amazing and the raps are also. He’s a 46 year old man who’s been in the game since ’95, which is 18 years, and has been successful THE ENTIRE TIME. Name 5-10 other rappers that have been as successful as him for just as long or longer… you can’t do it.
Way to make everyone forget about Yeezus…
Trustme there’s no way anyone could forget about Yeezus. I’m a HUGE Ye’ fan but I can’t lie about it.
LL been in the game longer. 15 albums since 1995. Arguably just as successful financially. Was doing the champagne and sports car thing back in like 89… as an old head i remember this content led to his first dip in credibility and an increasing reliance on Zane raps. But he still here… for those house wives.
I tink I speak fo da rest of us weezy fans who disgree wit dis revew..dis album is too hard for us to undrstnd so itz not good..1/5
Lol…You trolls crack a nigga up.
haha best post
jayz keeps stealing me and mase’s lines. atleast 1 on every album
Bitches wanna kidnap a Lady… Good luck!
Some of Jay’s best work. Definitely a good listen.
A.G, B.A, Blueprint 1, Reasonable doubt, life and times, hardknock life > MCHG> blue print gift/curse, blueprint 3>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>dynasty >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>K.C
the first 6 arent necessarly in that order of what i like best
Jay sleeping on the job
Like you get enough sleep with your 9-5.. Who is your boss lets know if you never slept on your duties fools
As an accountant for YMCMB, I generally try to avoid albums by musicians I just can’t stand, and Jay-Z ranks pretty high on that list. But when these people release an album that doubles as a “cultural event” then I’m compelled to throw in my two cents.
Jay is a rapper who I’ve really grown to hate in the intervening years after Blueprint 3. It was just clear to me that he didn’t care about the people who remember him from the Reasonable Doubt/Vol. 1 period (you could throw me into that category) and now caters to Coldplay fans. When he spoke out against Occupy Wall Street, I knew he was too far gone.
This is a guy who conducts business deals on yachts during the week and then skis with Gwyneth Paltrow on the weekends. Yet he has the audacity to say he’s in touch with the common man by invoking the ‘duffle bag boy’ imagery with absolutely no compunction.
This album is yet another egregious entry into his parade of wealth. True to Jay’s businessman style, he secured a deal with Samsung to move 1M units upon release. A major undercurrent throughout the proceedings is dispelling the Illuminati accusations that have dogged him these last few years, but it goes nowhere as the never ending litany of possessions occupy the bulk of the subject matter. Large swaths of the album contain his laziest rapping to date. Now, you could say that this is a result of him being a father but the ironic truth is that selling albums is probably his least lucrative business venture – and people were going to buy this regardless – so why try?
If there’s one positive I can say here, the production is not that bad. Timbaland really pulls out an impressive set here, probably his best in years. Adrian Younge shows up as co-producer for one spot, it’s pretty obvious what his contribution to the track was. Pharrell continues his outstanding run this year with “Oceans” (man, I wish this was an instrumental). There is still a heaping helping of pop stuff, this is a 2013 rap album after all, but there were a surprising number of detours for those that pay more attention to the beats.
As Jay-Z once said, “Niggas want my old shit, buy my old album.” Gon’ head and take that advice playa.
I also sense a lot of hateration… probably because you work for YMCMB, who’s artists I must say suck besides Drake really and for Lil Wayne… he’s a disgrace to black people “beat that pussy up like Emmett Till,” what kind of shit is that? F*ck YMCMB! But as I was saying if you weren’t aware Jay was named one of the most influential people in the world. I doubt that he doesn’t “care about the people who remember him from the Reasonable Doubt/Vol. 1 period” it’s just you can’t rap about drug dealing and shit for forever… *cough* *cough* YMCMB *cough*… there comes a time where you have to change, especially when you’ve been in the game for 18 years. Can he live?
Mr. Z *does* rhyme about dealing drugs on this record in his typical “need I remind you?” fashion. something about his white lexus before his first album.
However, I absolutely endorse Z’s “buy my old shit” logic. That was a brilliant move made when he realized exactly where he wanted to go: to a place where he would never ever ever ever EVER have to lift a finger again. NEVER.
He’s not making music anymore… he’s making soundtracks to business deals. Anthropologically, that’s kind of fascinating.
Good point Dentaldamboy! I totally agree with you.
Jay Z represents all that that makes the United States the most hated country in the whole world.
PS: Barack Obama is a terrorist, just like Mr Bush
Horrible album , Jay has fallen off even more than lil wayne(he has nvr been great but Carter 2 was tight)
Hear some ones rap that is on your level pls and not Hov. My advice listen to nas thats where you belong in the dirt
Nas has been having sleepless nights since O6…Jay took his style and ran with it ,murked him on takeover ,has had better albums than him ,is the king of NY ,net worth over a 5 hunnit million ,married to beyonce ,slept with his chick and hired Nas to work for him…
im so disapointed with this album.dont even know where to start
beats are not bad,but some songs with really hot beats(beach is better,versus)are less than minute long while some wack beats are 3,4 minute songs.also jay got so lazy with his lyrics its embarassing.lyrics are boring as fuck
3/5
What will it take for me to go for you to see His the modern day Pablo!
Lay-Z.
Is your father the best at what he does and what is his worth as the hardest worker oh earth… Lil lame?
“never gonna give you up… never gonna let you down… never gonna turn around and desert you…”
Wayne lazy too, BTW. All these rap fat cats got you sprung.
How Hov got rappers saying things they do now like before they wanna say murder n kill n bitches… Pls dont compare Him with other rappers compare Him with trappers His more Frank Lucas than Luda.
Decent album weak Lil Wayne dis. Didn’t expect anything more.
unh, you little niggaz ain’t deep you dumb, you niggaz ain’t gangsta you gum, I chew little niggaz
hock-too, spew little niggaz, I can only view little niggaz like little niggaz
but in lieu of little niggaz trying to play that boy, I phew phew little niggaz with the latest toy
unlike you little nigga, I’m a grown ass man, big shoes to fill nigga, grown ass pants
prolly hustled with your pops, go ask your parents its apparent you’re staring at a legend
who, put a few little niggaz in the they place before trying to eat without saying they grace before
blasphemous bastard get your faith restored you’re viewing your version of the lord god
mc little nigga, applaud, or forever burn in the fire that I spit at y’all I rebuke you little nigga
the meek shall parish, ill roof you little nigga, I’m a project terrorist, cute you little niggaz
think you in my class substitute little niggaz soon feel my wrath, I mute you little niggaz
you a little nigga, I’ll child abuse you little nigga, I’m a ill nigga, now shoot you little niggaz
go somewhere and play, cause the day I loose to you little niggaz, no day
You wanna hear diss buy his old album.
^ classic song, probably the only good track off kingdom come
Hovito did it again
3/5…. Beats are banging, but Jay lyrically fell-off.
LYRICALLY FELL OFf? explain please
No explanation needed, just go listen to the album, Jay only went hard on the song “Heaven”.
hahaah ^^ that’s bullshit
haha I love it the age gap in music the young crowd don’t even know half the shit he talking about they cant relate you can see it haha go play niggas aint worried a 1000 more times this aint for you.”you aint ready yo you radio you aint really ready” HAHAHA
I like FACTS so I love this album
this album is DOPE bar none.. can play it str8 thru
WHy dx didn’t talk about “oceans”? that has tro be a top track on this album
kids don’t like to think and listen look who they got hot Montana,trinidad james,2 chainz, BWAHAHAHA
I dont think I ever heard an album with recent events he really did drop this as soon as it was done most of the NEW music that comes out today be old once you get your hands on it he talking about shit that went down about 2 months ago.
brilliant album, there were a few bumps in the road but pretty much on par with J.Cole & Action Bronson’s joints. Light years ahead of Kanye’s album too
Rappers you can NO LONGER take forever bull shiiting in the studio we don’t want 5 different singles before your album drops you cook that shit up and release it so dx wont post every damn track and you don’t lose any buzz.Not only is the album good but the frenzy around it is crazy.
Jays best album since The Black Album. Some sites, magazines and fans wont get it but who gives a f***? Looking for critical acclaim from these jokers will only water down the culture even more (see Yeezus!) Look for approval too much from these chumps and theyll try to redefine the culture and tell us whats Hip Hop. Its good to hear Jay finally push some buttons on the race issue and continue on from Black Murder/Black Excellence from Watch the Throne with tracks like Oceans, FUTW, Somewhere in America. It irks me to hear writers of sites like Pitchfork talk as if they know what and who the f*** I relate to and yet boast about Yeezus. Kanye is probably more over the top with the riches talk than Jay these days and what hes put out with Yeezus is far from Hip Hop. But Jay already addressed this issue with his critics in The Blueprint on tracks like Renegade and Izzo.
Cosign. Most of the haters dont really get the album.
Actual Track Listing:
1. Holy Hell This Sucks (feat. Justin I-Dont-Suck-Timberlake)
2. Picasso Would Be Disappointed Baby
3. Tom Ford Would Also be Disappointed
4. FuckWithMeYouKnowIDisappoint (feat. Rick Ross)
5. Oceans (feat. Frank I-Dont-Suck-Ocean)
6. F.U.T.W.Y.T.O.T.D (Fantastic, U Totally Wasted Your Time on This Disappointment)
7. Somewhere in America Millions are Crying Because This Was Bad
8. Crown Me The King of Disappointment
9. More Like Hell
10. Yeezus Versus Magna Carta Holy Grail (Spoiler: Yeezus Wins)
11. Part II (Is This Over Yet?) (feat. End-This-Album-Already-Beyonce)
12. Beach is Better than This Album (and I Hate Beaches)
13. BBC (I Cant Think of Anything Clever, This Album is Still Bad)
14. Jay-Z is Blue Because He Knew This Was Bad
15. Jay-Zs Familia Thinks This Is Bad
16. Nickel and a Dime is What This Album is Worth
Bawse!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nigga you gay.
good album eminem going 2 need 2 come with a classic cause he taking so fuckin long with his album
1.REASONABLE DOUBT
2.THE BLUEPRINT
3.THE DYNASTY
4.AMERICAN GANGSTER
5.THE BLACK ALBUM
lol @ it saying “easily Jay’s most cohesive project since “The Blueprint 3” on the front page. Dumb bastards
The album is alright, but lyrically it’s a let down. Jay-Z has a few nice lines here and there, but he’s a little pretentious and up his own ass
Beats were a mess for the most parts. Lyrically it will put you to sleep. AG is 100 times the album that this pretends to be. Next time instead of using Rick Rubin as a promotional tool how about you put him to work and let Timberland and Timberlake go home? Pharrel (BBC) was trash.
Dope!
You bum-licking buffoons – you know perfectly well the Blueprint 3 was his last album. An absolute refusal to stand up to those with the influence, for resting on their laurels and churning out the same old stuff, makes this website less trustworthy, and, paradoxically, less relevant. Get with the program!!
beats = 9/10
lyrics = 1/10
Word
Excellent album with Good beats and lyrics. Production wise Yeezus has a lot more going for it with the different sounds and takes you for a ride but the overall package MCHG wins. I gave it a 5 because rap is really dumbed down right now and this album makes you use your brain a bit. I really enjoyed it.
making a song with justin timberlake is also dumbed down hiphop
^Makes me cringe to say this but Timberlake takes more pride in his craft than alot of black singers………….for instance Jerimah, pleasure P, or even a Jamie Foxx. There’s alot of white producers killing the game too
Son what are you doing? Im rolling in my grave:
– you did a song with Justin Timberlake? Whats next a song with Miley Cyrus?
– Your flow and delivery sounds lazy.
– You talking about mona lisa and picasso paintings. Niggas in the hood dont understand this shit. You hanging to much with your rich white buddies. The average hiphop fan cant identified anymore with your music.
– Your bragging is getting boring. Kids brag about there toys not 43 year old mans.
– You want to sound deep making songs about your family? Then use some emotion nigga. Your songs dont have heart or soul like pac.
– Did you make this album on the automatic pilot? Wheres your passion for hiphop.
– Nigga you only make albums to make them and not for the love.
Nigga remember when we played eachothers records in 96 and 97 that was the shit. Now you dissing older hiphopfans saying you dont like my shit then buy my old shit?
Beyonce was your first piece of pussy which you didnt pay for(remember you only fucked hookers because you aint a pretty boy)But Beyonce made a sissy out of you.
Nigga im very disappointed! I cant blame the kids on this site they are 12 years old and the reviewers to.
Brooklyn aint proud Lazy-Z!
BIGGIE IS OVERRATED AS FUCK, DMX AND ICE CUBE WOULD MURK HIM IN A LYRICAL CONTEST
LOL. Good joke.
Classic album!
Crazy that he’s 42 and crosses so many generational gaps and is still as trend setting as ever…not a 5 Star album but I gave it that because its at least a 4 and it looks like some people underrated it probably because they can’t decipher some of the lyrics… I still think the Black Album is his “Magnum Opus”
At first listen I thought it was 3.5 at best, but i listened to it a bit more and think it’s a great album. Not his best album…but i’m growing to love it. #Newrules.
Standards are lower than I thought if people consider this album a classic. Hip hop really is dead
[1st Verse:]
Sweet!
And still there’s pain
If I would have grew up to be a doctor, my nephew would have grew up to do the same
But since I grew up through the game, and my influence is the same
And my therapy is music, they ask if you ashamed
And though I wish I could separate, two things,
I cannot, so my answer to you remains
I can walk down the hall or mirrors, in Versailles
And be so satisfied when I look a myself in the eyes
No shame, no sir, just big boats and tearing the coast up
Tight coup like I’m wearing the roadster,
For any coup I’m bear hugging the holster.
[Chorus:]
Hov, alright, alright
And that may not be
What you call perfect
But, but it’s my life
The life, the life, the life
Once again it’s the life
[2nd Verse:]
So I make no apologies
Crooked policies
So a G a nigga gotta be
We playing for property, no monopoly
So I’ll pass go and let my nephew follow me
They say the child shall lead,
So I take it far as I can, and then we shall see
Shall we dance with the devil, for a beat
I pray to God I ain’t got two left feet
Do the hustle, put keys in the street
Then I’m ballroom dancing, ke-ke’ing in the suite
Sweet.
BB’s on the feet, TV’s in the seat
Enemies on the creep
It’s so corrupt
Soak it up
It’s a lesson, never fuck up
One day you’re up, next day you’re down
Long as you stay the same, it will come back around
[Chorus]
[3rd Verse:]
I’m even better, I’m eating better
Best thing about it is, my niggas eating together
With each endeavor
We reaching levels, niggas ain’t seen in like forever
I’m hyman roth I make all my partners rich
I can vouch for you, if you ain’t a part of this
So pardon me as I pave my wrist
As I parlay my chips, Hov!
Alright, alright, American Gangster, ganster, business like I’m white
But I’m not, I’m just bright
So fly with no fear of the flight
So if y’all hear my plight
And if you think you can make it this far without a fight
Couple mistakes here and there, not always right
But I’m always real, that’s how I sleep at night
Solid LP, not a classic, but it is good, above average. Replay value is up there too. I wouldn’t give it more than a 4 though.
i never check dx’s ratings. All about the user rating. 3.9 sounds just about right… maybe even 3.5.
people too infatuated with Jay and blindly believe everything he’s gonna put out is gonna be tight due to the “jay-z” brand behind it.
compare this to anything before black album… which were all his prime albums.
Personally, i don’t think this one holds up.
Anything before Black Album….hmmmm….even Vol. 1, Vol. 3, Dynasty, Blueprint 2? Those albums had some horrible cuts on there. This is solid work from Jay and feels like a proper album. Not just a collection of songs.
It’s better than Volume 3 and Blueprint 2. It has a flaw or 2. But like you said, those ones before the Black Album were his prime albums so we expected different. The reason people feed into the “Jay-Z brand” is cuz of his catalogue. People expect a classic every time he drops an album and it’s just not going to happen. He obvious knows what it takes to put out a classic, but even after damn near 20 years in the game, he’s still an artist who takes chances. For an album he just started promoting 3 weeks before it came out, no video, no single, this album is damn near elite. It’s not perfect, but it’s above average and it’s still history happening before your eyes.
This albums got some bad cuts on there as well.
Exactly, lets say it like it is. It is Jay’s consistency is what we look at the most. So even if he drops something that isnt perfect or all around tight, he gets the nod from the consumer due to putting out solid shit for years. Which is part of the Jay-z brand.
its a good album. You guys r too much. what do u want the cd to do change your life.
Its better than Vol.1 and The Dynasty (which wasnt supposed to be a solo Jay album). Vol.1 has classic cuts from Jay Z but as a body of work its messy. That would have been a classic if it wasnt for tracks like Sunshine, I Know What Girls Like, City is Mine, Face Off. I can play this the whole way through. The Jay-Z brand isnt about his catalogue. Hes not the sort of artist that gets critical acclaim for his work in the same way someone like Kanye does or Outkast. We dont expect a classic or something ground breaking with each album. Hes not that sort of artist.
VOL 1 IS A NEAR CLASSIC. YOU MUST LOVE ME AND WHERE I’M FROM SHIT ON ANY TRACK OFF MCHG!!!!!!!!!
As said, Vol.1 has classic cuts but its not a classic album. Jay will tell you that himself and because of some of the tracks he did with Puff, he cant listen to it and isnt as happy with the album. Look it up. But A Million and One Questions, Where Im From, Streets is Watching, You Must Love Me..those tracks shit on most songs Jay has done since that time. Vol.2 is solid but there isnt anything on there like it like those cuts but thats still a solid album. The Blueprintclassic album but there is nothing on there that tops what he was doing back on Vol.1 lyrically but its a different Jay on a different day. Its like comparing You Dont Know to Where Im From. They should be able to stand on their own two without the comparison but it cant be helped. Hed never be able to make a song like Somewhere in America, Nickels and Dimes or Jay-Z Blue, Holy Grail back then like he cant do a Where Im From or Can I live right now. Different zones.
We counting roc la familia as a solo project?
that had crazy collabo’s on it. the joint with scareface was hot!
very good
whack niggaz is whack
Reasonable Doubt
The Blueprint
The Black Album
American Gangster
Magna Carter Holy Grail
Vol. 2
Da Dynasty: Roc La Familia
Blueprint 2
Vol. 3
Blueprint 3
Kingdom Come
Vol. 1
With everything being said how could anyone rate this less than a 4 out of 5
Vol 1 > every album except for the top 4 on your list.
really IDK Mase Harlem World > Vol. 1
Co-sign that list. I want to argue with the Kingdom Come placement (since that album was slept on) but Jay has much better albums than that.
This album was better than yeezus, and j cole’s, and better than macs.
But i wouldn’t compare Jay to those guys anyways. His true comparisons are guys from the his time.
With that said, Life is Good was a better all around album
You guys talk about nas and his shit with out putting his lyrics here for us to read…. We don’t have to agure about who can rap, let’s go through their rap. Stupid!
Somehow all those other albums got 4’s. GTFO DX
4 out of 5. Solid work from Jay-Z. Its obviously not flawless nor is it the best album of the year. But nonetheless quality stuff for the most part.
Hip Hop started in the streets and it will forever be in the streets, the fact of the matter is. Nobody in the streets is listening to Jay Z, only kids from the burbs. I ain’t feelin this album, i don’t care how lyrical he is, it’s fuckin wack in the streets. Only people in the urban community (not suburban ) should have say to what is dope hip hop and what isn’t, this is NOTHING special. Kids from the suburbs tend to think just because a rapper is “lyrical” that makes them great! 2Pac , Too Short, Eazy E, and many many others weren’t the most complex rappers but they are more legends, why? Because they kept it street. These underground, and lyrical cats can rhyme as many words out of the dictionary that they want and it is still wack in the streets why? Wack subject matter, wack hooks, wack beats, nobody wants to listen to any of that. People wake up, street hip hop (biggie, 2pac, big l , meek ) any rapper that reps the streets, YES even Gucci will have more respect than these lyrical cats, because hip hop IS the streets, and if the streets aren’t feelin it, than it doesn’t matter how versatile you are, wack is wack no matter what, this album is nothing special, and kids from the burbs need to stop givin this shit 5 star reviews!!
hip hop isn’t all about the streets. don’t box hip hop in like that. hip hop is about keeping it real and staying true to yourself. Jay-Z is in a different place now than he was in the 90s. He’s living the high life, therefore he’s going to rap about his life….the high life. Just don’t listen to it if you don’t like it. end of story. go listen to your street only hip hop.
Does this mean you are from the streets Dentaldamboy?
^Man I live in the hood, 74 shootings 12 deaths in chi-town over the weekend & the whole city was bumping this over Yeezus, I have no Idead what you’re talking about
No offense Chicago-rilla, but chi town niggas have been bumpin wack music for sometime now, theres only been a few good artists coming from chiraq,(Jeremiah Jae, lep Bogus Boys, Common, Chance, rymefest, and a few other) Yeah its real in the Go, bullets do fly, but, music has always been lacking….Bang-Bang-3hunna
If this is a 4/5 which i have no problem with. Then explain how the hell yeezus a 4.5, Cole’s a 4/5, and Mac’s a 4/5???
Because Yeezus is a masterpiece.
We all agree..Well those of us with functioning ears. YeezySeason
Jay-Z made a career of bragging why would anyone think he’d stop and be this deep reflective rapper now?
name one rapper that don’t but we all know he speks facts
He don’t always speak facts. dude had to cut a lot of throats to be where he is.
The ignorant masses wont be ready. They will think its whack because they have no ear for music.
Many of the so called, “legends” are fucking wack. Jay Z, Nas, Dr Dre, Eminem, Kayne West, 2Pac, Biggie, those are all wack lyricalists who are becoming more and more pop each day. On the other hand, YMCMB and MMG are keeping it real and are saving it from true destruction. Many of the “legends” are also gay. Jay Z and Kayne West close relationship is suspect, Nas kissed Dr Dre, which is gay since Dre is not Nas’s father in any form (unlike Wayne and Birdman, Eminem hates women, why complain about Wayne wearing his daughter’s pants when 2Pac wore a fucking tutu, and Biggie could only attract men with his wack rapping.
u have to much time on ur hands ..fucking moron!
Im an accountant for ymcmb. That’s part of my job.
Hey DentalDick…u bout as dumb as your user name…By the way i dont know where the hell u got that story of nas kissing dr. dre…and by the way Birdman is not Lil Wayne’s real father which makes them gay for kissing each other dumbass!!
I must say you about the lamest most wackest commentators i have ever came across. U obviously one of these new found niggas. Listen kid mmg and specially ymcmb are the most commercially successful camps in rap today how the fuck are they street?
ymcmb and mmg had a crew on crew orgy and I was invited!! It was so fun but my ass is still sore…also there was no women which really made it great.
That’s a fake above me. The only orgy I have been too was a female orgy where the ymcmb crew fucks women and Nicki Minaj and Rihanna were seen kissing. Anyway, Birdman showed me the tape of Nas kissing Dr Dre. Also, Birdman is Wayne’s stepfather. YMCMB and MMG have their roots in the street.
Everything said by dentalbitch is a fucking lie.
No one wants to hear your bullshit ass opinions, dental dam bitch. Shouldn’t you be up at mcdonalds making my #1?
It fucking dental dam BOY dumbfuckingass. Im from the streets so I know what’s good and wack. Don’t be mad just because your favorite artists are wack. Im an accountant for ymcmb so we make far more money than your broke ass.
I’m from the streets because I’m a hooker. Lil’ Wayne hired me because of my dicksucking skills. He said I was better then Superhead!
I don’t suck dick. That guy was a fake. Im from the streets because im a blood. Wayne hired me because I add up numbers and shit.
Nobody believes your lies, dentaldambitch.
Its about adaptability u dumb fucks. “niggas want my old shit buy my old ablum/niggas stuck on stupid/i gotta keep it moving/niggas make the same shit/me i make the blueprints!
Hov’s number one quality is his ability to stay relevant with the times. I bet half of these niggas rock tight jeans and shirts TODAY when they use to wear 3xl white tees and size 38 jeans, right? If you do not adapt you get left behind and that pertains to any and all professions whether you are an accountant or n entertainer or even a hustler. DONT GET LEFT BEHIND OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS FOLKS TIME FLIES!
…and hip-hop is dead. So if you adapt to the times it means you are making shit albums to make money. No one is arguing with Jay’s ability to make money.
@ben10. Go watch some cartoons or some thing… You have no idea what we’re talking about here because all you said was money.
I rather say all my niggas have money…… than say all my niggas got guns with out registration, all niggas in jail, all my niggas gang banging. Lame kiddos
Classic!!
Ok since we trashing jay-z so much i want someone to explain to me how kingdom come is one of his worst albums. And i want a song by song break down………That album clearly went over heads and i am guessing this album will too.
Kingdom Come wasn’t the worst. Never. The Prelude sums up Jay’s attitude with rap and Hip Hop fans in general.
‘The game’s fucked up
Nigga’s beats is bangin’, nigga your hooks did it
Your lyrics didn’t, your gangsta look did it
So I would write it if y’all could get it
Bein intricate’ll get you wood, critic
On the internet, they like you should spit it
I’m like you should buy it, nigga that’s good business
Forget this rap shit I need a new hustle’
That’s the opening lyrics to Kingdom Come and people are shitting all over this album even though it’s probably the last time I’ve heard Jay spit some intricate rhymes like he was doing on Black Album. Tunes like ‘Oh My God’, ‘Kingdom Come’, ‘Show Me What You Got’, ‘Lost One’, ‘Do You Wanna Ride’, ’30 Something’, ‘Minority Report’…..’Beach Chair’ –
Never was this his weakest album. The album showed his growth and he took some risks, but got slammed by the critics cause he wasn’t talking that same slick talk. The reverse of the bullshit is when he released American Gangster. Tight album but it was the ‘Ignorant Shit’ the fans and critics liked. Gangster and coke talk. Now you read the criticism of this current album and you’ll hear critics say it’s the same lavish lifestyle talk and he hasn’t evolved but they slammed Kingdom Come and praised American Gangster. It’s funny really.
KC was so great lames slept on it because it’s way out of what they can comprehend… Songs like every track was fire and that trouble track was one of the best… Lil niggas hate KC because they know who, you know what lets keep that between grown men.
Kingdom Come was dope. A few tracks were forgettable (Anything, Hollywood, Dig a hole) but everything else was top notch
Blueprint
RD
black album
american gangster
dyNASTY ALBUM
Kingdom come
vol,2
bp3
bp2
vol.1
vol.3
4/16 songs… that’s a solid album??
ya’ll buggin
for playing Me yha shall ever remain nameless ROC.
“but it’s easily Jay’s most cohesive project since “The Blueprint.”
EASILY?!! Not even close! No way is this more cohesive than American Gangster.
Yes it is.
One day all you late motherfuckers will realize this album is dope as hell.
NICKELS & DIMES IS EXCELLENT.
i fucks wit it…def compared to whats been coming out in the past few years…..GKMC, Life is good, MCHG…
niiiiiiiiiiiiiice
This album was terrible. I dont think 9th wonder can save it this time.
go listen again bitch
Different i luv it!
OCEANSSSSSSSSSS
One of his best, not one of his least thats for sure.
album 7/10
good album but not his best
great album
Work we Hov you know the got it Bitches!
Amazing production with good lyrics
A stellar and mature Jay album that truly gets better with time. The formula of “dumbed-down” lyrics meshed with advanced similes and metaphors has been perfected since 1998 for Jay (arguably). The beats complement the lyrics and vice versa. This has Jay on the most interesting beats in a while and actively exploring various flows. This album has something for everyone, especially the South sound. We’ll be talking about this album years for now, not just for its quality, but for its significance to hip-hop and ageism within the genre.
Lames and messed up Youngins learn today….. $100 Bill Real
Not Jays best, but its a solid album non the less, Mr. Carter never disappoints
I can name about 8 Jay Z albums that disappoint…
@BW. Is that your stage name or you’re trying to get some fame… Don’t be good be Great. Which side are you on Bitch?
Zero stars. Jay and Kanye both can suck it! Horrible album
you’re that tranny bitch.
Nope a ladyboy
Album is soooo ILL. Bars for days. I disagree with Pitchfork’s review and more agree with this one. Yes, Jay does name drop fancy stuff and their is inherent materialism in the lyrics, but I think it’s done in an artful way. After all, he is just talking about his life the way it is right now. What stands out most is how he talks about how, despite his success, there are still people out there who don’t respect where he has come from, what he has achieved, and he is still somewhat discriminated against, just like the rest of us black men. I applaud him on showing the world his version of the modern day American dream. If you take a look at the name of the album, and what the “magna carta” was in history, it’s very fitting for the album. I take it as a way of him saying “Yeah, here I am! From the hood. I’m up in your neighborhood where you don’t want people like us and at your parties and functions, and you can’t hold me or my people down.” 🙂
Album’s NICE!!!
still the best rapper ever..
Realest track on the entire album…Nickel & Dimes
Hov became the best rapper since RD when he said rapper going broke trying to keep up with me. in Dead pres. and its still the truth now. what more do you all want from Hov. Well Don’t believe me, ask Michael
See Martin, see Malcolm
See Biggie, see HOV, see Pac
See success and its outcome
See Jesus, see Judas
See Caesar, see Brutus
See success is like suicide
Suicide, it’s a suicide
When you succeed, prepare to be crucified
Media meddles, niggas sue you, you settle
Every step you take, they remind you you ghetto
So it’s tough being Bobby Brown
To be Bobby then, you gotta be Bobby now
Now the question is, “Is to have had and lost
Better than not having at all?”
Because dawg
4/5 pretty gud
5
versus is fucking pathetic
You’re name is Brian
How to correctly choose between your and you’re for dummies. Say the sentence without the short form and see if it makes sense. “You are name is Brian”.
just because half of the songs are dope don’t mean it’s a 5. this is a 3.5 album PERIOD.
All these dudes know how to say is gimme
Gimme some head, gimme some brain
Gimme your number, gimme your name
^lolz^
THe album is dope but I get the sense the most versatile rapper ever could do better
Fuck with Hov you know he got it!
Damn hov u did an album in 2 weeks better then most ppl could do in a lifetime and ppl still bitching get em young!
I was more impressed with Timberland and co’s production than Jay-Z and that is a bad thing. On a lot of songs I was saying to myself that these great beats are being wasted on Jay-Z’s lazy flow and corny lyrics.
I know you Jay fans have a hard time accepting it but your boy Jay is mega rich and has NOTHING left to prove or rap about. He just isn’t interesting anymore and he and Jay-Z fans need to accept that.
Jay is lazy as shit on the mic.
Who is better son?
This is a great album. After that Yeesus bullshit I was scared but Jay never fails. I’m giving this album a 5/5 for the simple fact it was better than J. Cole, Wale, and Kanye. Oh and he got Lil Wayne and Baby on Versus in :51 seconds. Lol
Jigga!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Solid album. Jay did his thing…not the greatest lyrically but the album is complete & flows together well. I’ll be playing it daily for the next month or 2..
UGH I just want a PICASSO- in mi CASA- No my CASTLE
“Who else could call Big Daddy Kane, the Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar peers at different points in the same career?”
Crazy…
and BIG L
dope album, picasso baby
Jay z gives the world the best hip hop album ever produced and all people can do is hate coz his rich, happy and they jealous (how do you rate music that thugs with nothing relate to it)
best album ever produced?? buggin’
Solid. 5th best album after RD, TBA, BP, AG
The production is good, but the rapping is absolutely atrocious.
You a right! you can tell there wasn’t much effort put into this album lyric wise! The production holds this weak project up.
Both of you above ride thesame shit…. Use some Fuild. Lames
I could not stand this album at all. Such a half assed album . The lyrics are terrible from aside maybye 4 or 5 songs. Some of the production is alright but then there are just some straight up horribly produced songs like BBC & Pt 2 on the run ,etc. This is a low point in jays carrer to me .He cant decide between being a rapper or a pop star
Are you good or Great and what is your fathers name?
As an accountant for YMCMB, i can confirm Hip Hop started in the streets and it will forever be in the streets. the fact of the matter is, Nobody in the streets is listening to Jay Z, only kids from the burbs!!!!
I ain’t feelin this album, i don’t care how lyrical he is, it’s fuckin wack in the streets. Only people in the urban community (not suburban ) should have say to what is dope hip hop and what isn’t, this is NOTHING special. Kids from the suburbs tend to think just because a rapper is “lyrical” that makes them great! 2Pac , Too Short, Eazy E, and many many others weren’t the most complex rappers but they are more legends, why? Because they kept it street. These underground, and lyrical cats can rhyme as many words out of the dictionary that they want and it is still wack in the streets why? Wack subject matter, wack hooks, wack beats, nobody wants to listen to any of that. People wake up, street hip hop (biggie, 2pac, big l , meek ) any rapper that reps the streets.
YES even Gucci will have more respect than these lyrical cats, because hip hop IS the streets, and if the streets aren’t feelin it, than it doesn’t matter how versatile you are, wack is wack no matter what, this album is nothing special, and kids from the burbs need to stop givin this shit 5 star reviews!!
The fact that you think meek mill and gucci get more respect than jigga shows what you really know. also funny that you’re an accountant tryna talk about the streets…you see the irony in that right….yea, you see it. jigga aint in the streets no more lil bro, why the fuck would he rap about them. he sold kilos of coke so i figure he can sell cds. nigga raps about his real life, not some fake shit to make ymcmb accountants feel like theyre from the hood. im from chicago IN THE STREETS and can tell you that we all ride to this shit. go home lil bro.
You a fake just commentin on evry tape on this site and talkin shit about things you know nothing about.
Low life nicca, your dead body will be on the street and no one will take your body to any grave keep street dreaming son.
This albums is fucking amazing
How can anyone hate on this album? He speaks the life he lives now, the life hes lived and mentions things in History none of yall probably know about. Half the shit he says no rapper can get away with saying. There is old school Jigga and New school Hov. The beats BANG! Timbo did an amazing job on the album as well. Best album He has done since the Black Album!
Yeezus is 100X greater than this bullshit album. Fuck Jay-Z!
Oceans & Heaven >>>> any track off Yeezus
Jay’s latest release, “the Magna Carta… Holy Grail” does not disappoint as a strong addition to Mr. Carter’s renown discography. Remaining contemporary with cutting-edge beats and hooks that stray bravely from what we might expect to come out of a Jay-Z track as in tracks like Holy Grail and Crown, Hov never wavers from his signature flow and classic attack on any given track. While guest appearances on the album remain sparse and slightly wanting as on tracks like “F*ckwithmeyouknowigotit”, Jay’s true-to-Hip-Hop sound demonstrates his no-bullshit mastery of the craft of rap and feels strong even when unsupplemented by appearances from other artists. Such mastery on the Magna Carta leaves listeners with a refreshing, new departure from the predominantly weak sounds that we have come accustom to hearing from the rap game as of late. Jay-Z’s confidence and finesse on a given track has often transmitted a feeling of growth beyond the stereotypes of traditional Hip Hop while artfully remaining true to the old-school influences upon which it came to prosper. Jay maintains this elusive signature with the Magna Carta. The word enlightened comes to mind. Other artists have recently attempted to achieve such a sense of enlightenment but have unfortunately fallen short in one way or another. Kanye West’s recent release of Yeezus exemplifies such an attempt, similarly drawing on historical and biblical allusions. The result in the case of Mr. West felt forced as any layman could detect it was trying perhaps too hard to be new and different. In contrast, Jay has achieved a sense of detachment from the rat race that is the Hip Hop game today. Jay doesn’t try to pretend to still be the struggling teenager in the projects of Brooklyn that he once was. Nor does he fabricate new sources of struggle to discuss in order to ensure respect in the realm of gangster rap. Instead, Jay’s highly personal tracks on the Magna Carta discuss his current internal struggles (see Jay Z Blue and Heaven, respectively) like coping with life as a new father and reconciling existential thoughts in his personal life. Jay-Z’s ability to break out from the Hip Hop norm carries over to his latest release, an accomplishment in itself. Not without any bones to pick, Mr. Carter’s latest release is quite clearly true to its matured artist and therefore recieves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
All responses are welcome. Bitch.
Well-written. Completely agree.
You have spoken well son… Hope Mr Hov does better on his next album. I can’t stand fake rappers and pussy dick talking rappers and trouble makers and gangs for Youngins.
First and foremost, well written review. This album has me wondering if this is still his passion or is just what he does now? I feel like from track to track you get a little bit of both. Almost as if he is thinking, I like this beat I’ll talk breezy for minute but on the next track, he had something to say and found the beat that worked for what he had to say. That’s why we have 59 second songs. He had one thing he wanted to say but did not want to put any the additional effort to elaborate more. But then have a full song of him just clowning around but because of his skill level and experience his clowning around is still above average. A full project, I can put on repeat and vibe to all day, which is very rare these days for that reason and simple fact that before over analyzing it I simply enjoyed it. 5 Stars.
Great album!
great
Wow the amount of people that think Jay-z is a valid artist in Hip hop are out of touch. Jay-Z is garbage, he has no vision nothing. This album is about nothing but making.money. I’m sure.the kids listening to Asher Roth will pick this up too.
Danny G, who are you listening to? Or better yet who do you consider a “valid” artist? Don’t worry I’ll wait.
Tyga or Gucci Mane maybe Waka … why?
You made your bed with your kind now sleep with them. We on the other side are High Art.
jeezus is better
What are you doing on DX you should be listening to Kanye work out plan.
Best post-retirement album hands down!
This site is rated 21 Youngin
I will attest to the fact that the production on this album was pretty decent and superb at times, but when it comes down to mic skills, Jay-Z has reduced himself to elementary quotables. He has lost his way from a rap perspective, his wordplay is less intricate, his metaphors are weak and even his braggadoccio persona is waning. Jay-Z should concentrate on running his business empire, coz rap-wise his well past his prime. People can ride the Jay-brand wagon all they want but there is nothing remotely refreshing about this album aside from the insignificant claim that it’s better than Blueprint 3. Jay-Z the rapper is on life support while Jay-Z the businessman thrives.
JAY-Z IS A INDUSTRY PUPPET JUST LIKE PUFF DADDY CONTROLLED BY BILLIONAIRE WHITE MEN IN SUITES
And in what way do they control him?
Good review. Jay-Z is one of the last of his kind and he’s stood the test of time. I had high hopes for Cole and Yeezy, but the one album I didn’t see coming is, in my opinion, the best album this year. MCHG
3rd BEST album he’s made. Fuck wit’em YOU KNOW HE GOT IT!
1.HOLY GRAIL Jay and JT explain the addiction to fame and money. Great concept.
a.Best lines: Bright lights is enticing/ But look what it did to Tyson/ All that money in one night/ Thirty mill for one fight/ But soon as all the money blows/ All the pigeons take flight & also Fuck your IRIS and the IRS.
b.Questionable move: The song sounds like it could be JT featuring Jay as much as it sounds like Jay featuring JT. Not sure if hearing JT for the first minute of your album was the best move.
2.PICASSO BABY Jay has always been one to influence his listeners style and taste. But he took it to the extreme in this track listing multiple artists such as Picasso, Rothko, Jeff Koons, George Condo, Francis Bacon etc He rides the beat in classic Jay fashion addressing the constant chase for more luxury and excess with subject matter that anyone worth under $10,000,000 would not know.
3.TOM FORD Subliminal shots at fake studio gangstas and molly poppers claiming the trill trap life. Jay hits the hard beat with OG swag reminding people that he kills tracks like notorious hitman Wayne Perry and has no respect for computer/media thugs.
4.FUCKWITHMEYOUKNOWIGOTIT The beat belonged to Rozay which is how he got on the track. More Jay and less Rozay would make the track better considering how great Jay is with his Mafioso slick talk.
a.Best lines: Lucky Luciano is what they call me, paesano/ A 100 keys at the piano plays across the Verrazano/ El Padrino, in the villa in Venice sipping vino/ Not bad for a mulignano, y’all know like we know, I got it
5.OCEANS Frank Ocean & Jay hit a homerun with this track subtly comparing the rise out of slavery to an Oceans 11 heist. Throwing champagne from the big yacht into the same ocean water that brought black ancestors on slave boats to America.
a.Best lines: Black card go hard when I’m shopping/ Boat dock in front of Hermes picking cotton. – Outside of being a high end name brand store which Jay can pick his cotton from, Hermes was also the Greek God of transitions and boundaries, again tying to the notion of the African American rise from slavery.
6.F.U.T.W. The track speaks to Jays rise to power and how his influence can help uplift the people. Jay has learned from other great black leaders like Malcolm and Muhammed, and as the hook suggests, he is here to fuck up the world.
a.Best lines: This ain’t grey sweat suits and white tube socks/ This is black leather pants and a pair of Stance/ Socks is my synopsis is clear/ Got stripclubs feeling like Oxford, I swear – Jay is saying that he isnt regular like grey sweats and white socks, he is black leather pants and Stance socks, known to be flashy and colorful. So his synopsis or summary is that his flashy or colorful demeanor can draw attention, and together with his power and influence he can walk into a strip club and enlighten those strippers by his mere presence.
7.SOMEWHEREINAMERICA Jay discusses his position in white America and how he is still not fully accepted.
a.Thus, the best lines end up being: Feds still lurking/ They see I’m still putting work in/ Cause somewhere in America/ Miley Cyrus is still twerkin’. – No matter how hard they want him out, Jay is here to stay, and as proof, he is not only a small part of the reason the President is black, but he is also a small part of the reason Americas sweetheart is twerkin that ass.
8.CROWN Typical Jay. Bragging and spitting bars with his king of the world bravado.
a.Best lines: I ball so hard on ESPN/ See my name come across on CNN/ ‘Bout 6 minutes, you gonna see it again/ ‘Bout 6 minutes, you gonna see me again. – 1 minute is 60 seconds. So 6 minutes is 360 seconds. Thus the reason you will see him again is because he is doing a 360.
9.HEAVEN My favorite song on the album. Line after line of double entendre, secret meaning and wordplay. Hard beat combined with sick flow. It was the highlight of the album for me.
a.Best Line: Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head — this is God body, meaning ALLAH the God body, a teaching of the Five Percent Nation: 360 degrees of man is Godly.
i.Theory: 85% of the people are blind to the knowledge of themselves and God, while 10% of the people know the truth, but teach a lie for their personal gain. Jay would be part of the remaining 5%, those who do not subscribe to the teachings of the 10%, as they know and teach that God is the Asiatic Blackman.
10.VERSUS The truth in my verses/ Versus Your metaphors/ About what your net worth is/ Ha ha ha nuff said. Good interlude.
11.PART II (ON THE RUN)- I assume this is the song he meant to be for the ladies? A follow up to 03 Bonnie & Clyde that does not live up to its predecessor.
12.BEACH IS BETTER The song starts hot and ends way too quickly. Maybe Jays beach is better, but when a beat bangs like that after the weak sound of the previous track, the listener wants you to tell him why your beach is better.or at least drop another 16!!!
13.BBC Not sure what to say other than this track sounds like trash. I assume BBC means Bliionaire Boys Club? Well nobody involved with this song is a billionaire so maybe they should have chosen another topic. Nas and Jay together with Pharell and Timbo on the production and this is the shit they released to the public??? #GTFOH
14.JAY Z BLUE I guess he wanted to make a song for his daughter, which is fine. Jay can do what he wants. But the same way we didnt give a fuck when Eminem was wasting four minutes of radio time rapping about Hailey, I hope Jay doesnt think we will feel differently about Blue Ivy. And by the way, the bitch yelling in the background for the chorus is annoying and somewhat disturbing. In future, when dudes want make songs about their daughters, please do like Nas and come correct or do not come at all.
15.LA FAMILIA Considering the album thus far, this track had a very lazy flow and little effort lyrically. Also, if you are going to lower yourself enough to respond to Lil Wayne, at least have the decency to drop a proper bar and hit back. Jay has allowed himself to be ethered by Weezys kidnap wifey diss as a result of this weak ass lame response. He would have been better off leaving it alone. Best line was about standing up to NFL investigations, but Ive already lost interest at this point.
16.NICKLES AND DIMES Assuming Beaches Is Better is an interlude, Nickles and Dimes is the best of the last five final full length songs on the album. Unfortunately, its too little too late.
a.Best line: Sometimes I feel survivor’s guilt/ I gave some money to this guy, he got high as hell/ Now I’m part of the problem far as I could tell/ Did I do it for him or do it for myself/ Can’t lie to myself
^^^^^thank you
Impressive review….personally ‘Oceans’ was my favourite track and FUCKWITHMEYOUKNOWIGOTIT the worst. I think I agrre with Jay-Z when he says it is probably his 4th best album.
If you do more reviews, it will be nice to give us a link.
you set your self up for a let down when you name something Holy Grail
at first I gave it a 3 I camre back to give it a 4.5 this is a sit down and listen album his double entendre is working over time on this joint I cant skip a song NOW
^^^^ This… at least some people get it!!! 5/5
go back too bbc maybe you a lil young but its a old school late 80s possie track if you notice they spitting about old cars and mcm which was popular with the nike sweat suits I forgive you for not knowing its like a track tht the juice crew would do.
It doesn’t mean that it’s good. 2 of the greats on the same track should be much better
it wasn’t a get all crazy lyrical track thats not how it was in the 80s they brought that party vibe to the album which was a surprise nas and jay have plenty of hard hitting tracks together.
That track reminds me of Hov’s 2nd collaboration with Biggie on ‘I Love the Dough’. Brooklyn’s Finest was colossal and both were just trying out do each other with crazy rhymes. I Love the Dough was more of celebration and this is what BBC feels like. Hov and Nas in a comfortable place leaving ego to the side. It’s a good look. Black Republican was epic enough.
im too young and don’t read or watch the news to know half the shit he talking about so this gets a 2
Jigga flow on this album was generally wack, his lyrics were aite.
The only track where he didnt sound washed up was on BBC,where he became 97-00 Jigga, and that was probably only cuz he didnt wanna get outshone by Nas
Son in some couple of years to come I will visit Afghanistan.
Sit yall butts down and listen to the lyrics… double entendres and double meanings everywhere! I think people have gotten too use to having metaphors and punchlines set up and rolled out for them instead of actually listening and trying to decode what they mean!! Jay-z and Nas are about the only two artists who you cant possibly catch all of the lyrics on one listen its just not possible!!! 4.6/5 if he would have taken off “BBC and “La Familia” and made “Beach is Better” a full song he would have had classic number 5!!!!!
After listening to the album at least six full times Im really liking this album, this is usually the case with Jay album for me, have to liten multiple times, except reasonable doubt which was a instant classic. 4 stars for me.
This album is the best to drop this year. Hands down. I’ve listened to the album thirteen times. Listening to it right now. Great repeat value.
Critics are saying Jay doesn’t take risks or hasn’t evolved but he takes risks lyrically every album. He said it on 22 twos (change styles every 2 rhymes) and on What More Can I Say about switching flows (this one will get bit up). Jay has a new flow and way of rhyming from every album. I’m not talking content either, it’s obvious he can’t talk the slick coke talk now he’s made it, but before that, how he flowed on Reasonable Doubt is different to how he flows on Vol.1. Vol.1 is different to how he flows on Vol.2. Blueprint….Blueprint 2…Black Album….Just listen to has albums back to back and he never sounds the same or sticks to the same formula with his flow. It’s just something you have to accept and he won’t do an album and flow like he did on the previous even if it’s his best flow. He’s always messing with new sounds and I guess it keeps him relevant.
When people say such and such artist doesn’t take risks, most people do not refer to flow. Having a versatile flow is never a bad thing. It’s the content that most refer to. And as far as content goes Jay’s catalogue is pretty safe. Jay is a business and will never dive deep into certain issues to risk damaging his brand or pockets. Jay has always been on the low side of the risk scale. Lol @ thinking a song like 22 2’s was risky.
@ Justin Case I didnt say anything about 22 Twos being risky, you need to re-read what I said. That line in that verse Im referring to just backs up my point about Jay switching up his flow all the time. But its still a risk. If Nas started messing with his flow and trying that Southern bounce shit, I doubt his career would survive. Eminem fans couldnt stand the accent thing he was trying and he bowed to the pressure after Relapse. But thats another issue.
As for Jay keeping it safe did you listen to Oceans, FUTW, Somewhere In America? Thats black progression talk and Jay doesnt usually take it there so overtly. You get the twerk line about Miley Cyrus right? Watch the Throne, he took it somewhere else with Black Murder/Black Excellence. Those arent safe tracks. Heaven, Nickles and Dimes, Jay-Z Bluewe can further back and look at tunes like Song Cry, You Must Love Me, Still Got Love for You, This Cant Be Life..plenty of tracks to choose from in that sense. His content goes beyond the money and party talk. As for styles, Id say its a major risk for an artist to mess with so many different flows and styles yet keep a hold of your core audience.
If you have to listen to it more then ten times to get into an album, that isn’t replay value smdh. Replay value is loving what your hear at first, and hearing more music you really like as you replay it. I’m not downing J on this one, but mainstream needs to find someone who can still actually flow, keep quality lyrics, and make music people want to listen too, not hear on the radio. 3/5 at best imo
What’s your point?
Its a decent effort from an artist who has had so many hits over an almost 20 year career. Solid tracks, decent production. But it still doesn’t push the envelope. It doesn’t shake the ground. It doesn’t take a stand. It is red licorice. But that Yeezus, that’s black licorice. It’s groundbreaking!
great album. He has so much word play I think people are missing half of what he is really saying. Put the album on repeat and just rock to it feel.
25 and up love this album the younger crowd who knows a lil history of music love this album its them molly poppin one verse with the hook done a 100-x with the same track over and over again hate this album
Fuck i know, it was really tough for me. I was 24 when it dropped on samsung….hated it ! All i heard was molly this, bugatti that.
Then,….I turned 25….and I loved it! the lyrics are so deep , album of the year for sure
U don’t have to reply ur own comment @annoy
3.5-4.0
great review
This album feels rushed….The flow of lyrics seems like it is almost hammered and chiseled over the tempo at spots. I got a copy of this and Yeezus on the same afternoon. Yeezus branched out into a dark conflicting recipe of dark ritual beats and almost full blown escapism. I am not a huge Kayne fan either…..In comparison though Magna Carta Holy Grail was lazy and almost flavorless from some one that has offered this much to the rap community. *Just an opinion
Yes I used dark twice as an adjective….horrible….ps this review was great even though I did not agree with it.
Copped the album yesterday, like the rest of Jay’s. Jay has always been exceptional at balancing great lyrics with great production. This time around I think the production carried the album. Yeah Jay hit us with his usual double ents here and there, but he’s gotten a bit lazy lyrically. All the “ughs” and pauses between bars need to stop. Some songs with a 2Chainz or Wiz type delivery. 16 tracks and he maybe did one hook. If it’s your album you gotta command it a little more than that. I know he was going for the less is more approach, but still. I think its time Jay started putting pen to paper and quit crafting songs in his head.
The production really is the bright spot of the album. Even though Jay half assed on this album, it’s still topping most of the shit out there today unfortunately.
Best rap album of the year
MCHG>Yeezus
Cosign.
Dude, this is a banger. Definitely a classic!
Sorry, not instant classic level. Not close.
75-80% of the tracks have banging production. About that same percentage have lazy, half-assed and at times laughably simplistic/corny lyrics. The shit on La Familia barely was even coherent, and that is somehow supposed to be interpreted as a diss? I think even Wayne could go par for the course with that bullshit and true Jay fans know that is absolutely nothing to be proud of. Can you believe this is the same guy that made Takeover? What is at with the mid-verse ughs, ad-libs, and long pauses between bars? What is this twerk Miley twerk, don’t pop Mollies nonsense? Few albums have production good enough to almost compensate for lyrics this bad.
The subject matter is so predictable. People seem to buy into it because Jay’s ability to live vicariously through his vacuous luxury and lifestyle rap has been unparalleled in the history of the rap game. You didn’t seem to notice from 96-03 because Jay was a lethal MC though. Now, given his apparent decline, the content is increasingly monotonous, and I wonder very much how long Jay can coast on the money/past coke sales/hustler trifecta before people get bored with his music. Judging by the majority of mainstream rap fans, I am guessing Jay can go on forever like this. Again, not exactly an accomplishment worthy on an inordinate amount of reverence.
And finally, how is it that jay constantly is able to bite other people’s shit WITH IMPUNITY. He bites Nirvana, biggie lines for the thousandth time, bites Juvenile and Mannie Fresh’s flow on Back that Ass Up for practically all of the Beyonce joint (check that shit and tell me I am wrong), he bites Cuban Linx on Nickels and Dimes, he bites Mase and Nas on BBC. And that is what I could detect from just TWO listens of the CD all the way through (I am sure repeated listens will reveal more biting).
This shit is better than BP3, which says virtually nothing. This shit is better than Watch the Throne, which says slightly more than nothing. But it is barely better than Kingdom Come. I mean that weed plate had the prelude which is better than any thing on this album. I would say this is probably Jay’s 4th worst album ever, only topped by BP3, Vol. 3, and Kingdom Come. And for the record, the Dynasty SHITS on this album hardbody.
ONE
“I give a fuck who you did it with
Or where you copped coke
The bitch you with
or the reason you not broke
I don’t count your money
don’t want none of your smoke
I don’t feel your pain
I ain’t none of your folk
It’s easy to point a gun to your throat
But I ain’t on that
Trying to sip coladas where it’s warm at
Cognac crushed ice you know how it is
Alonso said a woman half your age plus seven years
Is a plush way to live”
Ok album i say a 7/10 its nothin new but the production is dope its just jay z doing jay z nothin more nothing less
Oh my I don’t know what cats were listening to but this album was pure trash. Fuck a double entaunt…. shit I cant even spell it…lol the beats on here are very mediocre and his lyrics are so LAZY! My word. Goodness Please someone tell me J cole is a better hiphop rap lp cus I think so. Tom ford song is WEAK!
sick album, but yeezus was better. but The Throne is killing the summer.
I had no Idea Shawn Cory Carter Had So Many Haters, for no justifiable reason
Shits weak son!
DOPE SHIT !!!!
Yess
…but aint a smash hit, its alright.
poop
ur like school on sunday my friend
Anybody else wondering what happened to the Raekwon collab? Album is dope as hell though, don’t know where all the hate is coming from. Second half of the record could be stronger, BBC was a letdown and I’m not feeling the beyonce track. 4.5 stars, but I’ll give it a 5 to balance out the people who rate without giving it multiple listens.
“Don’t know where all the hate is coming from”
Can we please banish the word “hate” from the hip hop dictionary. Just because someone is not feeling the album, it doesn’t mean they hate it. I bought the album and I feel Jay put in a lacklustre effort. There are some good songs, but it doesn’t mean I hate the album or Jay…smh.
yeah jay on 2 tracks with ray ion his album
I’m talking about the people that are saying they hate the album. What other word would you like me to use?
great now im going to lose sleep tonite digging for that song. but hey maybe it will end up on raekwons fila or o.b.f.c.l.3
Jay Z will always be the best that ever did it in my opinion. What he accomplished in a culture that was born out of oppression and poverty is amazing to witness. From living in Marcy Projects on Nostrand Ave to having lunch with Warren Buffet is a story in itself. He is a living example of the possibilities that could happen with the power of thought. With that being said, this album pretty much represents where Jay is at in his point in life. This is his truth, whether we like it or not. Most people wouldnt be able to relate because we dont have basquiats hanging on our walls, or even know who he is (a haitian black artist btw). He’s in a different space now and his music reflects that. I do admit, there arent that many quotables, or even lyrical gems on this album like previous ones, but just to hear a new sound from a rapper who has dominated the game for the past 10 plus years is refreshing. I was a lil disappointed because to me his last album was better than this one. Still in all, its an album with new beats, new ideas, and now “new rules” in which he changed the game with the changing of the way sales are calculated. For the peeps that think this album went a lil left, thats understood. We expected an album full of lyrics, flows, metaphors and delivery. He gave us those albums already. Now hes a brand and has to appeal to the masses, not just us hip hop heads looking for hidden sublimes. Lets just appreciate the fact that he can still put out decent music that we can bump for the summer. In my opinion, this album is a 7 and a half out of 10. Im a fan of hip hop, not a music critic.
5/5, one of the best hip hop albums in a decade, lyrics, production, delivery, all above this game. Stop sleepin and listen people!
One of the best releases this year, which is not saying much. One of the best of the last decade? That’s a serious reach.
i agree 100 percent. now can we plz get a jayz/nas collab album going!
Its a shame this was so overhyped, it was actually really good. Everyone just talked it up so much that we expected something on the level of BP1.
yes i agree it was over hyped but look at wat jay did to the industry with this album.he changed the way the record sales were looked at with the exclusive dowload. not only is he giving into to his rivals but he is also glorifying the potential hip hop hints the album cover and the artwork with in the booklets. tracing black lines through words is very symbolic to the power of the written words. compare it to the scratched out articles in the constitution.
Truth is this is just as cohesive as Jay’s entire body of work… which
doesn’t say a whole lot.. let’s go over the good ol’ Jay format shall
we….
MAJORITY OF JAY-Z’s ALBUM GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS (excluding most intros):
1. INTRO/HEARTFELT SONG most likely with an R&B artist/narrator
(Mary J Blige, Faith Evans, JT, Beyonce, Pain in Da Ass, Memphis Bleek)
2. BOSSY SONG (City Is Mine, Picasso Baby, Hovi Baby, Takeover etc..)
3. STREET SINGLE (H to the Izzo, DOA, I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me etc..)
4. SONG WITH WHOEVER IS HOT RIGHT NOW (FuckwitmeyouknowIgotit, Hello Brooklyn, Run This Town)
5. CATCHY SINGLE WITH R&B BACKUP (Excuse Me Miss, Change Clothes, Empire State of Mind, Oceans)
6. TOSS UP WITH A FEATURE (Real As It Gets, What They Gonna Do, Do U Wanna Ride?)
7. CLEVER SONG (Threats, 22-Two’s, A Week Ago, I Know)
8. NOTHING TO SOMETHING SONG (Moment of Clarity, Can I Live, Party Life, Ain’t No Live)
9. “MY SAMPLE/FEATURE WILL HANDLE MY HOOK” SONG (Never Change, Ain’t No Nigga, A Star Is Born, Heaven)
10. CHARACTER ANALYSIS/INTERLUDES/LAST SINGLE (Song Cry, Venus vs. Mars, Versus, PSA, Friend or Foe)
11. MADE MAN SONG (All I Need, Say Hello, Big Pimpin’, Justify My Thug)
12. THE “BODY ME ON MY OWN SONG” SONG (Renegade, Success, Hate)
13. THE “I’M REFLECTING, PLZ CALL ME CONSCIOUS” SONG (My 1st Song, Momma
Loves Me, Nickels & Dimes, Beach Chair, Regrets, Fallin’, A Ballad
for the Fallen Soldier)
man you the truth
see thats wat im talking about. u were very descriptive and posed a good argument. and gave a great perspective. but aside everything else this is my favorite jay-z album
true
Very true. Explains why about 2 out of 3 of his albums are complete trash. I like MCHG, though.
Sit and come relax, riddle off the mac
It’s the patch, I’m a soldier in the middle of Iraq
Well say about noonish, comin’ out the whip
And lookin at me curious, a young Iraqi kid
Carrying laundry, “What’s wrong G? Hungry?”
“No, gimme my oil or get [fuck] out my country”
And in Arabian barkin’ other stuff
’til his moms come grab him and they walk off in a rush
Distrust, feeling like I’ve pissed upon wound
I’m like, “Surely hope that we can fix our differences soon!” Bye!
Buying apples I’m breakin’ on
You take everything, why not just take the damn food, black master? Like I don’t understand it, on another planet
15 month of this stuff, how I’m gonna manage?
And increasing the sentiment, gentlemen
Getting down on their middle eastern instruments
Realized trapped in this crowd
Walk over kicked one of my fabulous raps (la dee da dee)
Arab jaw drop, they well wish, they glad rap
Now the kid considered like an Elvis of Baghdad
Dayum! love the way you broke that down. Calling this album “cohesive” is just a positive way to say that Jay stuck to his tried-and-true formula. Is the album bad? No, but skipping 5 tracks definitely isn’t a good thing. Jay said that MCHG was his best album behind Blueprint/Black Album/Reasonable Doubt. I enjoyed “Kingdom Come” much more than MCHG.
sounds to me like some teenagers produced the whole album
apparently you didnt buy the album. the production on this album is state of the art. u would know that if u have ever recorded or been in the studio. id hate to see wat u consider good production value.
productions sucks. It could easylee been a Justin Timberlake album.
not a huge jay-z fan. but thi album reminded me of how skeptical i was wen i bought the black album before i started highschool. i had no clue i had a hip hop phenomenon. now that i am about to start college it seems jay has surprised me again with an album that will last just as long. though i am a die hard az and nas fan. jay-z is easily my 4th favorite hip hop artist behind kanye because of this album. no more hustler talk and drug flipping this feels more like a jay-z who has given into the likes of his contenders by working with them instead of against them.
good album not great and why that fag frank ocean is on the records is just wrong
this album sucks. beats are overproduced and forgettable. lyrics, flows and punchlines are the worst i’ve heard all year. the whole thing feels forced and inorganic. fuck anyone who rates this album. earl’s right, you’re rating it based on the rapper, not the project itself. 1/5
of course you a game fan so who givs a fuck about your opinion game weak ass punch lilnes example “I twist niggas heads like 40z bottle caps” ahah yeah ok go back too your abc rappers this is a thinking mans album
http://www.metacritic.com/music/magna-carta-holy-grail/jay-z/critic-reviews
I thought this was the worst Jay-Z album to date. It should be called “Lazy Carta, Holy Waste”. I dont listen to a lot of rap. In fact Jay-Z’s Black album introduced me to him and I was hooked but this album is nothing more than a headache. Great hooks with shitty lyrics, shitty hooks with great lyrics and constant bragging. Go figure the only song he seemed to put time into had his wife singing in it. I wondered how many times I would have to hear him mention Blue or Ivv. It was the first lyric of the first song. You would think he would learn from eminem when he constantly brought up Hayley. Not that Im not happy for him, but rap about something we can connect to. So much money, that I think he has lost his creation here. Glad to see some people like it – but I couldnt find value in the 14.99 I spent and always thought if Jay-Z was gonna create hype (samsung commercials, articlesm and interviews) and have such a name, that he might back it up. If this is the direction rap is going, then its dead to me…
Vol 3 was his worst album
shit was garbage lyrically fucking trash hop of jay z’s dick just cause hes supposed to be some black rolemodel from dumb black kids and adults.
Picked up this album and Talib’s Prisoner’s of Conscious on the same day. Honestly, Talib’s album is much better than this.
Jay got wealthy and stopped trying.
Lovin it!
The best ever, unfortunately he won’t truly be appreciated until he’s dead… wasn’t his best album, he’s 43..?!? Overall good album though, oceans, heaven, futw, fuck with me, nickels & dimes, only in American, crown all bangers.. haters will hate. 5/5
“overall good album” yet you gave it 5/5.
I seen the light excite all the freaks
Stack mad chips, spread love with my peeps
Niggas wanna creep, gotta watch my back
Think the Cognac and indo sack make me slack?
I switches all that, cocksucker G’s up
One false move, get Swiss cheesed up
Clip to Tec, respect I demand it
Slip and break the, 11th Commandment
Thou shalt not fuck with nor see Poppa
Feel a thousand deaths when I drop ya
I feel for you, like Chaka Khan I’m the don
Pussy when I want, Rolex on the arm
You’ll die slow but calm
Recognize my face, so there won’t be no mistake
So you know where to tell jake, lame nigga
Brave nigga, turned front page nigga
Puff Daddy flips daily
I smoke the blunts he sips on the Bailey’s
On the rocks, tote Glocks at christenings
Hammer cock, in the fire position and…
just landed in Europe, nigga
Shopping bags, I’m a tourist, nigga
Money talk I speak fluent, nigga
Reeboks on, I just do it, nigga
Look at me, I’m pure nigga
I bet the hoes on my tour, nigga
I don’t bop, I do the money dance
My bitch whip cost a hundred grand
Red vert, tou see me slide
Sexy bitch I hope she ’bout it
Sexy bitch I know she ’bout it
Fuck with me, you know I got it
How wack can you go , terrible , fuckin terrible album
You failed to mention these lyrics belong to officer ricky and not jay-z. This is how a typical wack rap from ross goes.
he’s the one puttin these guys on his album , he gets defined by that , but ok here some of his lyrics , and you think this is dope , you probably love the shit out of lil wayne lol
Blue told me to remind you niggas
Fuck that shit yall talk about
I’m the nigga, caught up in all these lights and cameras
But look what that shit did to Hammer
God-damnit it I like it
The bright lights is enticing
But look what it did to Tyson
All that money in one night
30 mill for one fight
But soon as all the money blows, all the pigeons take flight
Fuck the fame, keep cheating on me
What I do, I took her back, fool me twice
That’s my bad, I can’t even blame her for that
Enough to make me wanna murder
Momma please just get my bail
I know nobody to blame
Kurt Cobain, I did it to myself
Jay Z will always be the best that ever did it in my opinion. What he accomplished in a culture that was born out of oppression and poverty is amazing to witness. From living in Marcy Projects on Nostrand Ave to having lunch with Warren Buffet is a story in itself. He is a living example of the possibilities that could happen with the power of thought. With that being said, this album pretty much represents where Jay is at in his point in life. This is his truth, whether we like it or not. Most people wouldnt be able to relate because we dont have basquiats hanging on our walls, or even know who he is (a haitian black artist btw). He’s in a different space now and his music reflects that. I do admit, there arent that many quotables, or even lyrical gems on this album like previous ones, but just to hear a new sound from a rapper who has dominated the game for the past 10 plus years is refreshing. I was a lil disappointed because to me his last album was better than this one. Still in all, its an album with new beats, new ideas, and now “new rules” in which he changed the game with the changing of the way sales are calculated. For the peeps that think this album went a lil left, thats understood. We expected an album full of lyrics, flows, metaphors and delivery. He gave us those albums already. Now hes a brand and has to appeal to the masses, not just us hip hop heads looking for hidden sublimes. Lets just appreciate the fact that he can still put out decent music that we can bump for the summer. In my opinion, this album is a 7 and a half out of 10. Im a fan of hip hop, not a music critic!!!!
Just remember while you are typing that your opinion doesn’t mean shit.
buhuahahahahaha…. well, maybe he didnt live up to your own expectations but really ur opinion wont count much dude. i think jay is still great and not scared of trying new stuff, stepping outta the comfort zone. if e vex you go record your own joor!!!!
sorry not for you
Dis Album is pardonable cos of the level at which hov is in @ the moment, d hunger has reduced, total subject matter is based on the exact satate of finanece and d level of his rap status.. With a couple decent replays u’d understabd why MCHG is different from the others.its all about the matter of time.. 3/5 is good for me
5 stars
Corporate rap garbage. Jay should of stayed retired.
you are a loser sheep and always will bee
Dis Album is pardonable cos of the level at which hov is in @ the moment, d hunger has reduced, total subject matter is based on the exact satate of finanece and d level of his rap status.. With a couple decent replays u’d understabd why MCHG is different from the others.its all about the matter of time 3/5 is good for me
Funny how they praise his lyrics on this one, I felt his lyrics were uninspired and tired. He just sounded like he breezed through the whole thing and wasn’t into it. I preferred Blueprint 3 and American Gangster to this. Blueprint 3 wasn’t even too bad, it was better than Blueprint 2.
Were we listening to the same album? This album is 3 stars at best and that is because of strong production. The lyrics were cited in the article as one of his best since American Gangster? As some others have said, I found them very uninspired. If anything, I think his lyrics on this album and flow are the worst in his catalog. Not to say it’s a horrible album, but if he wants to be a King or a ‘God’ now, he has to live up to it. He did not on this album.
Its probably a 4.5 out of 5 IMO… but I gave it a 5 to even out the die hard constant hate directed towards Hov.. I see niggas posting lyrics to holy Grail? Post lyrics to oceans or heaven ..? Oh yeah dumb niggas can’t fully comprehend shit like that! There obviously a few low points in album but more flashes of brilliance IMO.. what album doesn’t have low points? Very few are bangers all the way through.. niggas just expect way to much from hov.
Dear Jay-Z,
What happened to t you? I get that youre rich and Blue Bloods are hating on you, but what about the lyrical and musical content of your music. Thats what put you on the map. I love ya Hove, but your new album is wack and pretentious. With all the talent that helped you produce this album; I cant believe this is the end result. Maybe you should spend a year in the Marcy Projects and rediscover you roots.
4/5 Stars ? C’mon man Jay could drop a fucking turd in the toilet and you HHDX fags would worship it. Get off his dick you lazy ass groupie fanboys! Nothing on this album that you can’t get on any of the other heaps of shit he’s dropped! mediocre pop beats topped with punchlines he’s said a 100 times before!
1)Reasonable Doubt
2)Blueprint
3)The Black Album
4)MCHG
Hip-hop should thank God for jay-z!! G.O.A.T
you are a loser sheep and always will be
@ ben btw..
its AIGHT 3.75 RATING OUT OF 5 IMO
Highly overrated. I give it 3.5 mics. Im basing this off the “holy grail” track alone because that was a great track. Justin made that track great.
You gotta admit, the production is fuckin INSANE on this album! Original and just fuckin crazy! TImbaland’s insane. Yea, there are a couple of trap beats on here but this shit is crazy.
i agree the production is unreal. beats for days. good to see timbo back doing his thing also
This album is garbage. Some mediocre beats but his rhyme content is absolutely repulsive beyond measure. We’re talking about the guy who made classics. MCHG is the work of a sell out. Steal this album then throw it away. Down load this album then trash it.
I understand that its classic and all but I think Jay-Z could have done better sell out beats it seems like he was just lazy like c’mon dude this a waste
I took a sh*t last night that was more satisfying than this album. Each track was more disappointing than the next. Just goes to show you Jay doesn’t give a sh*t about his fans…puttin out some trash like this. All hes worried about is that money. Flow=weak…beats=trash…substance=none…what did we learn from this album? Jay-Z compares himself to Jesus Christ and Leonardo Da Vinci…bahahahaha…get the f*ck outta here with this trash album.
Shit Jay-Z thinks/says:
“King Louis XIV, Zeus, this nigga!!! “Ahh, George Washington, MLK, ME nigggggas, Ahh, Fredrick Douglas, Jesus, Hova nigga” lol…this shits ass. Save your $13 for a bag of chips, gatorade, and a pack of newps…peaceee
Hahaha straight up!
Jay forgot the lyrics…and he thinks he lives in a chapel in 13th Century France
TOO BAD GAME ENDED JAYZ’S CAREER ON 300 BARS. HOV AINT MADE A HIT SONG SINCE 2006!
G UNOT!
what a stupid comment, hes had huge success commericially. you must be trippn’ hard if you think the game will ever put a dent in jiggas mind frame. the game ruined his own career, nothing compares to the documentary he done. nothings come close and thats off of 50 and Dres back
Commercially, not lyrically.
Is it any good?
No ,it sucks !!
Album is fire, niggas LOVE to hate Jay… oceans, heaven, futw, fuck with me, nickels & dimes, crown, somewhere in America, are ALL bangers! Not to mention there are other good songs on album I didn’t mention. This album is 4.5 outta 5 easy. Fuck all the haters
What fuckin album did you listen to nigga?
He should just feature on songs man. I had people over and we started smoking, threw on the album and turned it off by track 5. MCHG should have a “blows vibes” sticker on it
Therein lies your problem. If you need to smoke to enjoy anything in life, you’re already fucked. While some people think weed suddenly makes them smart, it actually slows them down a great deal and they miss all kinds of shit when high. I’ve never been some fugazi rapper you can throw on in the background. I’m not Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa or any of them other throw away niggas who don’t put up REAL NUMBERS. This is me nigga… GOD MC Jay Hova!
Amazing!!
Real hip hop heads don’t support a greedy hustlers like Jay cuz he’s not a real artist. He’s a greedy hustler doing whatever it takes to get money.
Easily album of year! Maybe decade… Jay never ceases to amaze me! 5/5
I’m on my 15th listen.. this shit is amazing!!!” 4.5/5
Not a Jay fan at all.. but I gotta give it to camel, nigga went in! 4/5
Best hiphop album since the black album!!! Don’t hurt em Hov!!!! 5/5
Will he ever fall off?? Noooooo! 5stars!
Only slightly better than Kingdom Come in my opinion. See if you agree with me.
http://three6fivereviews.com/post/55451694279/magna-carta-holy-grail-jayz-review
Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable doubt is Jay-zs crown jewel, his masterpiece album. Its ridiculous to argue that Reasonable Doubt isnt one of hip-hops greatest classics, and almost impossible to overstate the importance of the album, or its influence. The jazzy and sophisticated production, and Jays impeccable delivery and lyricism combine to make this Jays best album, and one of hip-hops best albums. Indeed, this is one of the only albums ever held in the same regard as Illmatic, which is quite fitting, considering its status as a debut album, and the lyricism rampant throughout the album.
Reasonable Doubt has a track for almost anyones musical palate, bringing us tracks such as the incredible B.I.G feature, [[Jay-Z Brooklyns Finest]], straight-up banger Cant Knock the Hustle (Remix), flawless pattern rhyming in Opportunity Knocks, and one of hip-hops classic songs, Nas sample Dead Presidents.
The Blueprint
Its very hard to have worse timing that Jay-Z did with his release of The Blueprint. With a release date of September 11, 2001, TBP coincided with one of the most tragic events in recent history. Taking this into account, it is incredible that the album was the commercial success it was. With rave reviews, and a double-platinum sales number, The Blueprint was one of the most critically successful hip-hop albums of all time. With such depth in production, it is seen by many as the most well-produced of Jays albums, and one of hip-hops only modern masterpieces, and a classic for years to come.
The Blueprint brought us some of Jays most popular songs, and showed his emotional depth, with emotionally moving songs like Song Cry and Never Change, while still managing to drop triumphant overtures like U Dont Know, incredible features in Renegade, and a scathing diss on superstar Nas, Takeover, seen by many as one of popular raps ultimate disses.
The Black Album
Many people see The Black Album as being Jays best album, and its hard to disagree. Jay brings the heat on every track, and displays his lyricism, consciousness and depth on every track. He promised for The Black Album to be his last, and it is everything a finale should be, triumphant, but sad. Jay sets this mood the whole album, making for one of his most thematically consistent albums. The Black Album is also one of Jays most musically flawless albums, making it almost impossible to call any of the tracks weak, stacking the album 14-deep with tracks that would make any MC envious.
With said lyrical consistency, its almost impossible to pick out the best tracks off the album, with almost every track at a heroic level. Defiant 99 Problems is one of his most famous tracks, it was almost impossible to escape the presence of Encore, and Jay released arguably his best song to date, the scathing 2:55 that is Public Service Announcement. He completes the album with emotional Moment of Clarity and December 4th, and perfectly illustrates the end of his career with haunting What More Can I Say
American Gangster
Easily one of Jays most underrated albums, American Gangster is often overlooked as just another part of Jays immense discography. However, in reality, American Gangster was actually an incredibly critically acclaimed concept album, named after the Denzel Washington movie of the same name. Laced with Mafioso themes and imagery, Jay-z paints a picture about the life of crime, and delves into the persona and mindset of a criminal. The dark, melancholy tone of the album spawned a fair amount of creative production, that went surprisingly well with both Jays execution, and the grim subject matter.
This album brought severely underlooked gems like Blue Magic, incredibly triumphant anthems like Roc Boys (And The Winner Is), and great collabs with teammate Beanie Seigel in Ignorant Shit, along with a surprising collab with former enemy Nas, Success.
Hard Knock Life, Vol. 2
Hard-Knock life was basically the start of Jays career. Although he had a much-more dense album in Reasonable Doubt, this was much more popular, shown by the sheer amount of sales. The production included several top-notch beats, with flow and passion that had never been seen before from Jay. Hard Knock Life perfectly blended popular likability with tales of the street and classic Jay-Z consciousness, and ended up being one of the best popular rap albums of all time.
Hard Knock ended up being on both sides of the spectrum track-wise, with well-known jams like classic Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) and massive cut Reservoir Dogs, juxtaposed with mostly-unknown bangers like Nigga What Nigga Who and Ride or Die.
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Although not many people see Vol. 1 as being one of Jays most important works, its a great piece of work nonetheless. This is the follow-up to Reasonable Doubt, so Jay was expected to release another incredible piece, and the unreasonable expectations may have degraded the albums success. However, this doesnt degrade from the fact that at points in the album, Jay returns to his Reasonable Doubt form, as on as he ever had been, triumphant and effective as he had ever been.
Hard tracks like Streets Is Watching, Imaginary Player, and Where Im From were all throwbacks to his Reasonable Doubt form, showing that his skill on the debut wasnt just fluke, and foreshadowing towards the incredible works to come.
The Blueprint 2
It is widely regarded that this was one of Jays weakest and most watered down albums. However, for a double album, Jay provided a valiant effort. Considering he dropped an astonishing 25 tracks, with a large handful of unforgettable songs, its easy to forgive him for the ever-present gaffes throughout the album. Altogether, this album has a great deal of potential, and would have scored a lot higher as a single album.
As stated before, Jay laid out some of his best tracks on The Blueprint 2, be it the incredible rock banger Guns & Roses, the killer Hovi Baby and restless club banger Excuse Me Miss, and the amount of good tracks buried in the album is lost on many of even Jays most dedicated fans.
Watch the Throne
Jay and Kanye have some of the most off-the-hook lyrical chemistry in recent times. Easily the most-anticipated album of 2011, Watch the Throne flew off store shelves everywhere, dominating the radio with several of its singles. Jay and Kanye had almost unreal chemistry together, switching verses on every song, and feeding off each others energy. Although Jay seemed to sit back and let Ye take the spotlight on many of the tracks, it is obvious that Jay still displays a lot of skill throughout the album, still conquering his fair share of tracks, almost overcomingly at points.
Although WTT needs no introduction, Jay-Z released an incredible sentimental verse in Made in America, great back-and-fourth banter over a smooth dubstep beat on Watch Me, and goes hard as a motherfucker on You guessed it HAM
The Blueprint 3
Even as Jays 9th best effort, BP3 was still stellar at the least, dominating the radio with track after track. Jay rocked the pop-rap effort over and over on the album, introducing an entirely new style while still keeping elements of his older albums, coming to a great combination of both forms. This album garners a lot of respect from me for introducing a mainstream audience to one of raps greats, and presumably getting many non-traditional demographics to adapt rap.
No matter what anyone says, Jays most-played songs on the album seem to stay spectacular after repeated listenings on overzealous radio stations. Empire State of Mind and Rihanna-aided Run This Town seemed to be omnipresent on the radio, both with excellent musical composition, with the great song D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune) condemning much of radios propensity to over-synthesise their music, and abolishing most hip-hop fans fear of Jay selling out.
The Life and Times of S. Carter Vol. 3
It is at this point at which Jays discography goes from great to good. Although the life and times had a few good moments, it was altogether predictable, as Jay brought nothing new to the table. In lieu of this, the album was okay, with some good production, and good flow from Jay, although lacking some of the primal passion Jay has exhibited so many times before.
Life and Times still had a few good songs, with love anthem Big Pimpin’, one of the times most clever pieces, and Dope man was also a stand-out, as one of the only other songs on the album worthy of repeat time for me.
Kingdom Come
I dont have much to say about Kingdom Come, as I never really got into listening to it, even as a big Jay fan. Not many of the songs caught my attention throughout the first few plays, and it never ended up beckoning to me again. Ive never seen any overly favourable reviews of the album, and it is almost always being denounced or put-down, so I have no reason to re-listen.
Although a weak album, Kingdom Come still came out with a few Characteristic Jay-Z songs, like his confession-themed Lost One and (misleadingly-titled) uber-deep Beach Chair.
I took the time to read the whole thing, as I am a Jay-Z fan since 1996. Good breakdown of his albums. You were spot on for pretty much all of them, but I have to disagree with your views on Vol.3. That is Jay-Z’s most slept on album after Vol.1.
In addition to the classic “Dope Man” and “Big Pimping” you mentioned, Vol. 3 also had “So Ghetto” “Come and Get Me” “Watch Me” “It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot)” “There’s Been A Murder” “NYMP” “Do It Again (Put Your Hands Up)” “Snoopy Track”
Album was a banger in hindsight. A lot of people were just thrown off when he didn’t come through with a soulful joint such as “Hard Knock Life” or the tounge twisting flow of “Nigga What Nigga Who”.
But again, Vol.3 is Jay-Z at his cockiest ever on the mic. Dude just sold 5 MILL off of Vol.2. I recommend going back in and giving it a fresh listen after all of these years.
By the way, you forgot to mention “Dynasty: Roc La Familia”. THAT WAS A STRAIGHT UP HEATER!!!!! He intended it to be a Roc compilation and it ended up as a Jigga album which you can press play and let it run.
R.D
BLACK ALBUM
A.G
THE BLUEPRINT
VOL 1
BLUEPRINT 2
MCHG
DINASTY
VOL 3
BLUEPRINT 3
KINGDOM COME
Reasonable doubt
Blueprint
American Gangster
Black Album
Magna Carta Holy Grail
Blueprint 3
Kingdom Come
In My Lifetime Vol. 1
Life And Times Of S. Carter Vol. 3
Blueprint 2
Hard Knock Life Vol. 2
Magna Carta Holy Grail is a classic album. 5 stars!
Sounds like a Justin Timberlake album …
Y’all motherf****** be hatin but dude delivered a conscious album with his personality(braggadocious) in it so who gives a f if it isn’t an experimental album. I haven’t heard jay this animated ever and there are no obvious throwaway radio singles. So why the ffff is everybody hating on this albummmm
“His personality” is dogshit if that is what he is trying to portray.
jay-z fell the fuck off.
he sounds the same but his rhymes are trash now.
i just listened to the black album and he was SPITTING ridiculous on that.
this album he drops one weak bar, pauses, goes UH, and drops another weak bar. wack flows, no crazy bars. boring as shit. he sounds like a wack new nigga on this album.
sad to say, he’s rapping at a drake level on this piece. big beats, big waste. that “diss” to lil wayne was one of the saddest things i’ve ever heard by a legendary artist. “good luck with that, bruh”. honestly lil wayne faggot drugged up gremlin ass would probably body that jay. trash. the song with beyonce is complete trash. only ppl i can see thinking that song is special is jay and beyonce. when jay raps about her it’s always some corny, painful, try hard shit.
shoulda hung it up. 3 wack albums in a row. bp3. wtt. magna carta.
“this album he drops one weak bar, pauses, goes UH, and drops another weak bar.”
LOL, I thought Jay woulda cut that out after BP3, but he’s gotten worse with it. It has gotten really annoying. The lyrics are drawn from memory so he’s just filling in gaps. He needs to start writing shit down.
“sad to say, he’s rapping at a drake level on this piece. big beats, big waste.” That line is so true. The old Jay is gone. The new Jay keeps it too simple and complies with the dumb down level of commerical rap today. He really does not challenge it and he has the ability to do so. He’s lazy at it now. Sad to see when you love hiphop but what’s to do when his album sells and is considered amoung the best of today’s commercial rap?
Way better review at http://therapcritic.wordpress.com/
i want one person just one person on this damn site to break down kingdom come song by song and tell me why it is jayz worst album i am all ears…
I love Kingdom Come, great album, it’s probably the most underrated rap album of all time.. People were just hating on it because Jay Z said he was retired after the Black album so people were mad that he didn’t keep his word to stay retired and I guess Kingdom Come was so over hyped before it came out that people expected Jay to perform miracles with it which he damn near did.. Jay-Z is easily the G.O.A.T.
It sucks but it’s still better than Vol 1, Vol 2, BP2, BP3, and AG
AG??
U crazy for that/ AG=Classic
Jay-z worst album by far is Vol 1..
AG is one of his best albms
you people are really idiots vol 1 is one of his best albums
Holy Grail made people forget Yeezus came out.lol. But Kingdom Come was dope. It just failed the expectation after the Black Album and the comeback hype. More importantly – the fan base belonged to Lil’ Wayne by that time. The old Jay-Z fans were still around but the Wayne shared some of those fans and created his own new fans. It was Wayne’s time just like it’s Drake’s time now and Jay is still around with his hobby of rap.
This album should if been an instant hit with the fact that it was a Jay-Z album with a good producer and a nice intro. However, the album doesn’t deliver. It seems lacking as if Jay-Z is tapping over someone else’s lyrics. It has a direction I can’t really follow and the more I listen, the more I insist that the only good song is Holy Grail. Don’t know what happened on this album but, it just plain and simple doesn’t sound good. It feels wrong giving Jay-Z a bad review but, it’s unfortunately true.
beyonce should spit a verse
i like the album tho i give it a 3.5
Been hearing it for a bit now and it holds up. Wouldn’t compare it to Reasonable Doubt at all. Thats just one of the best albums ever made in hip hop. But this is solid work and it absolutely DOMINATES over all that Young Money bullshit that a lot of you faggot ass tight pants wearing dudes bump.
His discography is solid. As solid as it gets for any HipHop artist. MCHG has its place in the evolution of Jay-Z. What took him 2 weeks takes artists years and even then their quality is sub par. Due to his successes everyone expects that much more out of every album.
loved it
I WORK FOR A GOVERNMENT SPECIAL INTEREST CORPORATION, MY WORKFORCE AND I GET PAID TO COMMENT ON WEBSITES THAT SWAY CULTURAL, POLITICAL AND SENSITIVE MATTERS REGARDING PUBLIC OPINION.
WE CREATE ALIASES AND ARE GIVEN THE TASK TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF CONFUSION AMONG THE FORUMS OF MANY WEBSITES TO PREVENT THE PUBLIC FROM EXPRESSING, INSPIRING AND ULTIMATELY CONGREGATING.
I DON’T WANT TO DO IT ANY MORE. THEY WILL FIND ME SO DON’T LET THIS BE IN VAIN. TELL YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. AND MARCH UPON THOSE WHO OPPRESS YOU AS ONE.
alpha this message is funny cause it is a lie. really really??? only some fagstick would post something like this that NO BODY BELIEVES!!! if u are the government special bs them im jesus fucking christ
^^^^ that guy is a govt worker tryin to cover up the conspiracy. throwing u off wit his “name” fuck u corporate dooshbag
FUCC GAY Z CHECC THIS OUT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpJ1_9EzNOU
MCHG isnt a classic but its on jay-Z upper half of albums in his discography.
trash downloaded for free, not letting Joe Camel get my money . if u wasted money on this garbage u are basically mentally challenged or get some check from the government
Jay Z was beter when in the past, like when he used to steal lines from biggie and blue ivy looks like a pile of cow poo
fuck jay z and fuck zimmerman
i did it LOL
i aint supporting jay z or satin or that ugly little bitch blue ivy
why talk about a child dumb ass
U sound like Satan talking about a child like that!
No need to talk about their child or anyone else’s for that matter. When you attack a child, it shows the coward in you.
i give it 2 out 10!!! waste of money and try to return it to best buy, no luck fuck gay z
never been a big fan of jay-z but this album was really something! 8/10
nothing special, i dont buy garbage like this from a fake ass hypocrite like Gay Z , dude really thinks hes some legend, sorry NAS said it best fuck jay z
Actually it was Pac that said fuck Jay-z. Nas just sampled it. Point understood though…lol.
Actually it was Big Pun who said that. It was a Big Pun sample
Jay Z album was alright, nothing special and i think its funny he marketing new ablum then he at rally for trayvon martin to help sales out. he is a true hypocrite saying the obvious things like the media is feeding u garbage and only trying to make money yet that is wat him and his has been wife and daughter with a name that sounds like a strand of weed, blue ivy LOL these people crack me up blue ivy???? is that wat he was smoking when he thought of this dumb ass name
God Mc Nuff Said
This album was ill kid
ok out side of A$Ap and kendrick this has to be the most entertaining hip hop album this year not the best but definitely the most entertaining its like that movie Sharknado you know its bull shit but you just have to listen lol
Top drawer
shut up u english prick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgtepffWL4
This is the best album out there for a forty plus year old guy jay z is advancing more and more
Niggaz won’t my old shit buy my old albums/
Niggaz stuck on stupid I gotta keep it movin/
Great album one of his best work in my eyes. But u have to listen to it over and over again to get it. Most people not me enjoy him while he is here people.
Yeah, can’t get any more COMPLEX than this record right here, right. Looks like this comment section is full of the usual Jay-Z dickriders. Have a nice one, fools.
if you think this is his best album yet youre crazy. im not a jay fan but i respect him as an artist and reasonable doubt was his best work, also the black album was better than this crap.
Listening to jay z talk about how much he has gotten really boring. That’s like a rapper saying they got two butt cheeks
Everything seems a bit rushed – and the end of Picasso baby just awful rhymes. Bring back Dynasty Jay-Z
This is a tuff album
album straight fire but he can keep the last 3 tracks they are shit
It is what it is.
Album is nice! I gotta give credit where credit is dew! Jay Z does it again!
Far from trash people! This is a real album! Disgust it like a great meal! Jay Z!
Jay z is good, but not as good as Wayne. Wayne murked him on Mr Carter and Hello Brooklyn!
listen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgtepffWL4
Jay Z presents new material w/ current generation beats & a classic flow. Some new flows, but same formula. Rags to riches, millionaire hustler than provides elitist, ambitious, and empirical minds will enjoy Hov’s new metaphors. Noteworthy performances from Justin Timberlake, Beyonce & Timbaland assists on this album.If you’re into auto-tuned, club anthems, this album is not for you. 5 of 5 for the 44 yr self proclaimed GOAT.
>
RICK ROSS is the Best Lyricist in the game
>
Im not only a fan of Jay Z, but a fan of the machine. Lets be honest Jay Z will go out being be best rapper to ever do it. Not only has he had a career that keeps going and constantly finds ways to reintroduce new material to his audience for over 15 years. Im just saying thats not a rapper but a machine.
“Im not only a fan of Jay Z”— you are more like a dickrider to me
Exactly, deadly dick-rider sure lolz.
Nobody can do what jay does at his age, 5/5 for sure!
trash!!!
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for a Jay Z album, i would give it 3/5. compared to other rap out now, it’d give it a 4.5. it’s just a lack of great hip hop albums out now. so, i’d rather an “ok” jay album verses say, ace hood.
VERY VERY GOOD BUT NOT SATISFYING . 4.5/5
1. Tuscan Leather
2. Started From The Bottom
3. Degrassi Times
4. All Me (feat. 2 Chainz and Big Sean)
5. Toronto
6. Nothing Was The Same (feat. TLC)
7. OVO Taking Over (feat. Partynextdoor)
8. Come Back (feat. The Weeknd)
9. Oh Canada (feat. Justin Bieber)
10. Bromance (feat. Lil’ Wayne)
11. Out Of The Blue
12. Cake (feat. Jay Z)
13. State To State (feat. Future)
14. Momentous Occasions (feat. Jhene Aiko)
15. Past (feat. Miguel)
16. Adjusting To Fame (feat. Justin Timberlake)
17. WEONLYLIVETWICE (feat. Rick Ross)
18. Lonely Stoner
19. Tears
20. Bus Stop (feat. Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole)
21. Versace Remix (feat. Migos, Rick Ross, Wale, Big Sean and Chief Keef)
awful, 1/5
Man i think Big. L missed the mark on this one. LOL!!!! Oh shit this aint Big L, this is the pop rap star that took his style and went pop rap with it. True words from pack and Nas FUCK JAY Z.
I don’t like it, but at least it’s better than Yeezus
COMING SOON!!!!!! Nas ft. Justin Timberlake You Owe Me Pt. 2 Produced by Timbaland
ha ha ha ha ha
sucks
I think this album was safe for Jay. It’s a very strong album. Not Jay’s best but it’s not his worse. It’s good music. He mixed politics, personal success, and his current happiness with his love of hip-hop. For Jay-Z this album is a 3/5. Compared to the hip-hop music that is out now it’s a easy 4/5.
Well written, co-sign definitely, u got my respect bruh! That’s just absolutely my opinion on the album…
Hot
Maaaaaaan, 4 good songs … 3/5
Agreed
I MISSED THE JIGGA FLOWS
It’s obvious that hiphopdx rate all their artist based on there fame. Like these very mediocre album jay put up and they gave it 4 stars & the crap Kanye West did too while good mixtape like MGK and Tech nine album are rated lower. Mehn I love jay but thus is plain for radio.
Classic, pure fire, amazing.
The lyrics on this album were ehh by Jay’s standards what carries this album to me is not the lyrics but the tight production and Jay-z’s flow and charisma. I like it a little better than watch the throne. On the run > Lift off
Jay Z is the best rapper ever. I mean his really is… MCHG is the best album this year if you really understand the words put together in the album. Hov is the only rapper saying what he does and what his going to do and you see him do them.. Rap is a funny genre of music and jay embodies it and says it in his rap a long time before now just happens a lot of you blacks are just so lame to realize what his was saying, guess you all now understood him now that you’re older which is a good thing now you don’t want to dance but get bread. Lol how a lot of fake rapper came your way and sold fake attitude to you all, posing with guns in their album cover and other horrible things to prove they are real as the cover gets and most of them were your favorite rapper… I wonder what you fools listen to now they are no more. I mean DMX, Ja rule, Game, Camron, Dr, Dre Snoop, Xzibit, Fat Joe, Nas, Buster, Twister, Lox, Kurrpt I can go on and on with this new cats rapping their lame ass off saying nothing. But we Hov fan will have him all season till you fools are no more. I listen to him because his the best, realist and here to stay. Other rappers and their fans are visitors like Hov said.
This album don’t need hip hop DX to rate it the best. Listen to it your self and rate is you are not a fool at 40 or a Youngin that want to dance with his tight colorful pants. This album is the best this year and next till he drops another… You fools don’t get it that Jay will never stop and he makes music and not rap like your favorite rapper do, it’s so funny your favs want his Dick.
Hov: Who else you know been hot this long,
(Oh Ya, you know we ain’t finished)
Started from nothing but he got this strong,
(The ROC is in the building)
Built the ROC from a pebble, pedalled rock before I met you,
Pedalled bikes, got my nephews pedal bikes because they special,
Let you tell that man I’m falling,
Well somebody must’ve caught him,
Cause every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan ’em,
Number one albums, what I got like four of dem,
More of dem on the way,
The Eight Wonder on the way,
Clear the way, I’m here to stay,
Y’all can save the chitter chat, this and that, this and Jay,
Dissin’ Jay ‘ill get you mased,
When I start spitting them lyrics, niggas get very religious,
Six Hail Maries, please Father forgive us,
Young, the Archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y’all niggas,
The way y’all all follow Jigga,
Hov’s a living legend and I tell you why,
Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov still alive.
Yo, yo first I snatched the street then I snatched the charts,
First had they ear now I hav they’re heart,
Rappers came and went,
I’ve been hear from the start,
Seen them put it together
Watch them take it apart,
See the Rovers roll up wit ribbons
I’ve seen them re-poed, re-sold and re-driven
So when I reload, he holds #1 position
When u hot I’m hot
And when your feet cold, mines is sizzelin
It’s plain to see
Nigga’s can’t f*** wit me
Cuz ima be that nigga fo life
This is not an image
This is God given
This is hard liven
Mixed wit crystal sipping
It’s the most consistent
Hov
Give you the most hits you can fit inside a whole disc and
Nigga I’m home on these charts, y’all niggaz visitin
It’s Hov tradition, Jeff Gordan of rap
The most stupid song I have ever heard and read. I guess he says, if these fools buy it, I’ll sing it.
Time to end this G.O.A.T. foolishness.
In this constant debate about Jay-Z being the best ever I read things like “Nas will destroy Jay-Z” or “Eminem got a better flow than Jay”
Those are OPINIONS.
When will you fools learn that you can’t win a debate with OPINIONS. Every rapper has a different style based on where they are from, the time period in which they were most successful, and their unique personality. We all can go on for days about our personal preferences but in a debate criteria like this is completely IRRELEVANT and automatically BIASED.
The only way to win a debate is with cold hard FACTS. And the fact of the matter is that, when you weigh all of the tangible criteria (Sales, Critical Acclaim, Consistency, Longevity, and Impact) Jay-Z makes the strongest case for the G.O.A.T.
Eminem has sold nearly twice as much as Jay-Z, and he is Jay’s equal when it comes to longevity and impact. But Em lacks the consistency or critical acclaim that Jay-Z has (Im not talkin cult/fanboy classics, Im talkin CERTIFIED classics. XXL/Rolling Stone/Source approved) Eminem is VERY close though.
Nas has enjoyed more critical acclaim and more overall respect in the hip-hop community through the years. And he’s definitely equal to Jay with longevity and impact. But he hasn’t been no where near as much of a consistent presence in hip-hop as Jay has. And he is obviously lacking in the sales department.
Lil Wayne just may be the most consistent rapper of all time. He’s no slouch when it comes to longevity and impact either. His glaring flaw? In his 12 year career Lil Wayne has yet to drop a truly critically acclaimed classic album (and it can be done in this climate. just look at kanye’s discography). Also, contrary to popular beleif, Wayne lacks in the sales department. Sure, Tha Carter III and IV are blockbuster albums, but his OVERALL sales of 10 mil US pale in comparison to Jay-Z’s 31 mil.
2pac is a touchy subject. When it comes to impact, pac takes the cake. No other rapper touched the world like 2pac did. He, like Em, has also sold more than Jay and he was very consistent in his time. Sadly, 2pac passed before his time which allowed Jay-Z to surpass him in longevity and critical acclaim.
LL Cool J was the prototype for what a G.O.A.T. could be. He has enjoyed the most longevity, and he was fairly consistent, but his sales, acclaim and overall impact are no where near the likes of 2pac, Eminem, and ofcourse Jay-Z.
Biggie, Rakim, Common, Snoop, the list goes on. All of these MC’s are great but none of them have the total G.O.A.T. package like Jay-Z does.
Jay-Z is the 3rd highest selling rapper of all time, and the richest. He’s one of the most acclaimed (perhaps only rivaled by his boy Kanye). He dropped multi-platinum albums YEARLY from 96′-03′, and he is still going strong today. He’s been in the game since 88′. He’s impacted hip-hop in countless ways from starting one of the 1st successful MC-owned record labels, to being the 1st non-athlete with a signature shoe, to surpassing the likes of Elvis with #1 albums.
Jay-Z is without question the Greatest MC Of All Time. Period. You don’t have to listen to him everyday (Im currently on my Kendrick wave). You don’t even have to like him. But for goodness sake, RESPECT THE FACTS.
I appreciate the ‘facts’ that you have given because it appears that you took a long time to really come up with all of that and present it in a cohesive matter. But i’m going to play devil’s advocate here and pick at some of those facts you have listen. For one, what qualifies as critical acclaim? The OPINION of others stating that they like the music? Sounds like something outside of a fact to me. To state that Jay-Z is the most consistent is also a matter of OPINION. I could easily state that he hasn’t made an album on par with Reasonable Doubt since the blueprint. How then would that impact your consistency argument? Sounds like a matter of OPINION to me.
Then, I would have to question how impact is being measured. Is it just the positive impact that is being observed, or the negative impact as well? How would that uplift or tarnish the image of your so called greatest of all time Jay-Z? At best, I would say that impact can be estimated, but even that can have vague and unspecific lines.
From there, I would question the statement of longevity. What does that consist of? Does that mean that he still has a positive impact on the culture of hip hop? Does that include any deviations in his original lyrical content? How does the idea of him having the most longevity (by your statement) ring true here? How can you prove that and what does that consist of.
Honestly, the only real fact that’s not able to be disputed is album sales. (Unless someone counted incorrectly of course!) And as you said yourself, EM outsold the man. Therefore, if the rest of the things that you listed are subjective and subject to opinion as I have indicated above, the G.O.A.T. argument is still on the table.
P.S. It’s way easier to just state that Jay is your favorite rapper of all time because your text is far too opinionated to be called ‘facts.’ I respect the argument though and I actually like Jay-Z. I just believe that the G.O.A.T. is a matter of opinion and nothing will change that.
@DC…lol, you just ethered that Jay Z stan nigga. Facts>>Opinions.
A subpar to average album at best. Nowhere near Jay-Z’s higher echelon of projects and it fails to live up to my incredibly high standards.
best album if the year
Ahem,…..MMLP2
Rushed
A True Classic
So ill, this album was under appreciated
Super dope album but nothing the blueprint or reasonable doubt
Good production and weak ass lyrics and in case u didn’t know jay has more money then you that pretty much sums up the album
Love this entire cd!
a gud one, from the godfather of hip hop to lyk forever man damn man a gud one
This album is not a classic at all, his worst project in my opinion.
There is a whole social network based on favorite words out there: search FavoriteWords online for site (a perfect name) – it’s intriguing.
Better album over time …
Pretty weak. Most tracks were admittedly dull Jay Flops on Tom Ford and La Familia. BBC Was pretty weak lyrically I expected more from Nas and Jay-Z. Although Picasso Baby and Nickels and Dimes were spot on though. The first verse on holy grail was probably one of the worst verses I have heard in my life. overall I would give this album a 3/5
Jayz has been with men…CRAZY how no one discerned the evil spirit that came from his album cover.
Every single trak!
This was an unbelievably biased review. ‘This is easily the best rhyming Jay’s done since American Gangster. “. Clean your damn ears rookie. This album is the WORST flowing and rhyming of Jay’s catalog. Beats are banging, most of the hooks work but there’s way too many struggle verses that are uninspired on this album. 3.5/5 at most because the production bangs.