So, Jay-Z is releasing a new album in November. The album has a tracklist, a first single, and some sweet cover art.
All of this was about as expected as a shart.
The track bumps too. It bumps in the way that hip-hop singles don't bump nowadays. It is mellow and menacing. It's familiar and new. It's got Jay-Z and Pharrell, but it isn't overpowered by the stench of Top 40 ambition. In fact, it smells like album fodder. It feels like a "22 Twos" or "Threat" kind of track. A strong song that keeps the album moving, but isn't necessarily intended to draw radio play. An accidental favorite.
And Jay-Z sounds like a Boss on this joint. His voice drips with quiet menace. His flow glides all over the breaks in the beat, contrasting against them at some points then moving in lockstep moments later. The lyrics are intertwined, the metaphors pile up on each other.
Blame Oliver North and Iran Contra / I ran contraband that they sponsored / Before this rhyming stuff we was in concert
It is a lesson in technical mastery. And, in typical Hov fashion, it all sounds so easy. There has been much said about how Rakim was the inspiration for Jay switching up the flow, but I could give a damn from whence the flow came. It's perfect.
So, here's hoping that he makes 11 songs at least this good on American Gangster. Songs like this may not go plat, but they will go a long way to soothing those people that felt bruised by the hour-long Exelero ad called Kingdom Come. Anyway, I should have learned from that album, so I'm gonna calm down. I'm gonna temper my excitement. Besides, my Radiohead digital download comes in 6 (!!!) days.
All of this was about as expected as a shart.
The track bumps too. It bumps in the way that hip-hop singles don't bump nowadays. It is mellow and menacing. It's familiar and new. It's got Jay-Z and Pharrell, but it isn't overpowered by the stench of Top 40 ambition. In fact, it smells like album fodder. It feels like a "22 Twos" or "Threat" kind of track. A strong song that keeps the album moving, but isn't necessarily intended to draw radio play. An accidental favorite.
And Jay-Z sounds like a Boss on this joint. His voice drips with quiet menace. His flow glides all over the breaks in the beat, contrasting against them at some points then moving in lockstep moments later. The lyrics are intertwined, the metaphors pile up on each other.
Blame Oliver North and Iran Contra / I ran contraband that they sponsored / Before this rhyming stuff we was in concert
It is a lesson in technical mastery. And, in typical Hov fashion, it all sounds so easy. There has been much said about how Rakim was the inspiration for Jay switching up the flow, but I could give a damn from whence the flow came. It's perfect.
So, here's hoping that he makes 11 songs at least this good on American Gangster. Songs like this may not go plat, but they will go a long way to soothing those people that felt bruised by the hour-long Exelero ad called Kingdom Come. Anyway, I should have learned from that album, so I'm gonna calm down. I'm gonna temper my excitement. Besides, my Radiohead digital download comes in 6 (!!!) days.
2 comments:
congrats on the blog. honored to be your first comment.
Quality
Post a Comment