I've just had it with two of my favorite artist, Eminem and Jay-Z, putting out sub-par efforts for money.
See, I marvel at what Jay has done. As a businessman and as a cultural icon. Him and his boys created modern rap. He's a frontrunner. His albums are fantasy...grandiose, completely unrelatable. It's fun to live in his world for a few minutes at a time, and maybe it's just because I've made him one of my favorite artists...but his voice carries so much weight in my mind. When I hear him on a track I'm like...this is gonna be good. And I read his book too. Made me appreciate him more.
Holy grail is hands down the best song. That JT hook is unreal. The second verse is awesome also. Deals with the duality of wanting the dream, getting it then wanting out. But it's a grass-is-always-greener quandry, because at some point your gonna be somewhere where the grass isn't greener. I think he's saying, be happy with what you got. Stop playing like you're a victim...you made it.
Some of the beats are incredible too. BBC and Tom Ford...I'm a fan. The beat to Tom Ford has been stuck in my head for a while now. Also love Somewhere in America. Very tongue-in-cheek. And pretty funny at some parts. Cool beat too. Could have been in Gatsby and would have fit in well.
Remember, Jay's never been someone who messes with a sound formula. We were goofy to expect anything different than what's always worked. But for what it is...and that's just a fun, over-the-top and self-celebratory album...it's fine.
Jay basically is the game now. So in my mind, what he says goes.
And I'm reserving judgment for Em til he drops his new album. Some of his songs were fine ion Recovery.
