Music Review: Jay-Z's First Three Tracks Off Kingdom Come
Published October 29, 2006
Another track from Jay-Z's highly anticipated coming-out-of-retirement album Kingdom Come leaked yesterday, bringing us up to three total. Given The Black Album featured 13 songs (not counting the Just Blaze-produced intro), we're almost a quarter of the way into this thing.
Which means now might be a good time to take stock in what we have.
The first song to leak was the title track, a Just Blaze number brazenly sampling from Rick James' "Super Freak." This in and of itself is a major story, considering one of the biggest rap-pop hits of all time, MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" sampled the same track. In addition to making Hammer millions of dollars he would infamously lose in the blink of an eye, the song also became a blight on hip-hop — the kind of derivative, sellout music that submerged the artistic and cultural implications of rap in favor of a stack of cash. In other words, producing a song that sounds anything like "U Can't Touch This" could be tantamount to career suicide.
Yet Blaze pulls it off, obscuring the loop enough to make it sound like something else entirely. The most interesting thing about this beat is the super producer just did it for fun, experimenting to see if there was a way to make one of the most recognizable songs in pop music sound new and unique. When he stumbled upon something he felt worked, he put it on his MySpace page as the background music. Within hours, the word had spread and his page was generating thousands of hits. Another highly respected producer, ?uestlove, of The Roots, learned of Blaze's feat and made arrangements for the track to find its way into Jay-Z's hands.
Which is where Hova comes in. The song (and album) title apparently come from a Superman comic book. The thinking here is that hip-hop is in need of saving and Jay-Z is the superhero to do it. With lines like "up in the office you might know him as Clark, but just when you thought the whole world fell apart, take off the blazer and loosen up the tie, then step into the booth, Superman is alive," the "Presidential MC" is definitely taking the superhero role to heart. He also makes a reference to being "Peter Parker" and "Bruce Wayne" and tells us when we need him to "just throw our Roc signs in the air." The chorus builds on this by saying he's the "King of New York," but his reign extends beyond: "Not only NYC, I'm hip-hop's savior, so after this flow you might owe me a favor."
The song has all the components to be a monster. The now-legendary Blaze flip of "Super Freak," the comic book imagery, the superhero comparisons, and the simple fact it is the first track off of Jay-Z's new album, it all adds up to something pretty special. You can imagine how disappointing it is then, that "Kingdom Come" is ultimately an average song.
For all the technical skill Blaze displayed in devising the track, it doesn't sound big and expensive like so many lead singles need to in this day and age. It doesn't really have club appeal, but it's not a street burner either. To be honest, it comes across as a little boring. And while Jay-Z's lyrics are colorful and fun, they are a far cry from his best. Even setting aside the fact that Jay-Z is at his very best when telling stories of his life ("D'Evils," "Where I'm From," "Moment of Clarity"), this isn't Hova at his boastful best. It's like his heart isn't in it.
- Music Review: Jay-Z's First Three Tracks Off Kingdom Come
- Published: October 29, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Hip-hop, Music: Rap
- Writer: Adam Hoff
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I don't believe the tracks 2 be bad @ all ... Lost Ones is nice 2 me, especially the second verse. Show Me What You Got ... Is Jay being Jay. And Kingdome Come ... He put on the cape, it is what it is ... some people like it ... some people dont ... the media however project around 2 million the first week, we'll see
I've come around on Kingdom Come even more since writing the piece. It really is a good song, it just doesn't have broad enough shoulders to carry the other two at this point. I still hold out ridiculously high hopes for the rest of the album.
Also, note that this is very much about expectations. The first three songs are disappointing only because Jay himself has touted this album so highly. They aren't disappointing compared to Young Joc or the latest crappy 50 Cent diss track. It's all relative.
Correction: Jay wasn't promoting this album until he went on tour. So he's overseas promoting, but the U.S. is sooooo thirsty, they're promoting it for him. It was promoted by you, the media, Kanye, Pharrell and anyone else who was excited that it was coming. Jay never said a word until now. November 21st the Savior will be back!!!
everybody is just nervous because expectations are so high. Just Calm down. This album will be a classic. Be glad you're around to witness the return of the greatest. That's never happened before in hip hop. The greatest has never left... and then returned to the game. Gotta love it
real talk if u were a jay-z fan u wud realize he knows what hes doing...show me what you got is just a single..."For those that think Hov' fingers bling bling'n
Either haven't heard the album or they don't know english
They only know what the single is, and singled that out
to be the meaning of what he is about" thats on blueprint 2 the bounce...change clothes, bonnie n clyde, i jus wanna luv you like these are singles n the albums have been completely different. Kingdom come all the superhero references he is keeping hiphop interesting so he is saving it. and who else could rhyme over a beat like that?!?! Lost ones word the beat is whack ill give u that but the flow on 2nd verse is crazy!
nuff said
I agree wit showoff if u were a ja fan u would realize dis is just a single is party joint for the album its wut he always does nothin u have to relate to. ang kingdome come i mean dat track is crazy all the superhero talk is explainin how he is savin hip hop juss as showoff said..lost ones well me i dont like dat track da beat is so wack but he styll killed it on da second verse ..hes amazin who can pull those ones off no one is like em yall r juss haters hes album will b very interesting juss cuz u hear 3 tracks that r not usually j 's level doesnt mean u should judge the whole album right away ........ im out styll Peace
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ALL I GOT TO SAY HATTER NEVER PROSPER.THE (GOD) JAY-Z HOVA IS IN A CLASS ALL BY HIMSELF.SO UNTILL SOMEBODY ELSE SHOWES ME ANYTHING JUMP OFF THAT MAN D*CK (HE'S THE BEST POINT BLANK AT THI RAP SHIIIIIIIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Jay-Z the name itself is synonomous w/ classic material. Kingdom Come....see you haters on the 21st. easy
i dont give a fuck if hes the nicest rapper in all the universe, hes a fake ass, rich sell out, uncle tom bitch, i dont give a fuck if hes got aliens producing his shit, fuck Fake Z. you bitch ass niggas riding his dick are just as fake. bitch ass niggas...
oh yeah, hip hop is dead mutherfuckers you bitches ride more dick than a bitch selling her cooche for 20 dollars, fake ass niggas. only niggas who ike fake z are the lil niggas who seel dime bags of weed, so they feel they can "feel Jay Z, cornball niggas, yall bitches make Black Eye Peas look real.
on sum real talk i used to hate Jay-Z but afta he dropped "Show Me What You Got" shit was different...song iz fire im lookin forward to Kindgom Come
-Hype That 09 Kid all hataz fall bak
haha adolf hitler is right.........you lot are riding his dick your going on about haters (the wack played out phrase that you use to give your opinion some kind of meaning). The fact is show me what you got is an unoriginal "mass appeal" track i havent heard the others but from what hes saying it is NOT CLASSIC....how can Jay be the best rapper when he has taken lyrics from NaS, Tupac, Biggie, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane and many more to help his music. Dont sound like the best rapper to me but hey I digress.
I am not a hater of Jay....far from it I was just listening to Reasonable Doubt a coupla days ago A DOPE, CREATIVE, MAFIOSO RAP ALBUM W/ A POINT TO IT, but from what ive heard from Jay recently he is not pulling his weight an is far from Classic material, IN MY OPINION HE HASNT DROPPED A DOPE/CLASSIC ALBUM SINCE REASONABLE DOUBT.
Lupes album....Jay dropped the wackest verse an nearly wrecked that near-classic album for me, and on other songs he has been dope on some and wack on others. Right now Jay is not consistent...if anyone saw that article (cant remember from which mag) they rated every Jay verse during his retirement w/ the majority of the verses being rated as 3/5 or below. IMO Jay is not in form to make a dop/classic album.
Either way from what ive heard it is not sounding CLASSIC... BUT ALL IM SAYING IS WAIT FOR IT TO COME OUT BE4 U JUMP ON HIS DING A LING :D
Cussing 50 times in a comment won't make your comment any stronger. Rap is a business, Music is a business. Jay's a leader in the business.. you can't argue with that- He's CEO of a big label.
i guess im a "fake ass muthafucka" for speakin my mind, eh?
21st.
Last classic album is Reasonable Doubt? I highly disagree. My personal favorite is Blueprint, to me that is still his best album to date. I dont think the younger fans will appreciate Kingdom Come as much as those who've been around Hiphop longer. I've heard most of Kingdom Come last night and although the production is not up to par in my opinion, his overall content and "flow" is very much classic material. Minority Report is a phenomenal track about Hurricane Katrina "Sure I ponied up a mil/But I didnt give my time/so in reality I didnt give a dime".
Jay will do just fine numbers wise, someone needs to worry about The Game's album (sorry, I just cant stand Game).
I got the album. First of all I want to say that HOV is the best rapper alive. Now that's of my chest I can honoustly say: this album isnt as legendary as the black album, with that album he just took the whole game to a far higher level. I miss that on Kingdom Come, sadly. My expectations were (after the release of his first three singles) very high. This album doesnt match those expectations. Why Usher, why NeYo? He shouldn't have needed them.... Peace One Love Boss
And where the fuck is timbaland on this album?
Was he too busy doing shit voor PCD? or Nelly Furtado? That is lame! He would really completed this album. Nice of Dre though (making 3 beats for the first time for hova)
r u fucking kidding me this shit is fire im fucking wit all these except for show me what you got... it's aight... listen to jay's flow on the second verse on lost ones... nas is good i feel his shit but hes got one flow... jay's liquid nigga
What good will it do to shit on someone's art? None. Jay is definately a skilled artist, bitten rhymes or written rhymes. He most definately IS NOT in any way A, or THE savior of hip hop.
People have taken the art of hip hop and created a business from it. That diluted form of hip hop is referred to by most heads is Rap(i.e. 1 basic element of hip hop with out evrything else to give it substance). Jay falls somewhere in between the two. Don't get it twisted, business has no barrings on skills. Jay is an awsome businessman, and a good rapper who understands thuroughly the elements of hip hop. Sales don't equal talent. In fact Sales represent too much simplicity.
Bottom line, Jay is deffinately a breath of fresh air from the boring cracker beats and flows influenced by the south. But keep him in his place... the club hype man who talks good shit.
on a scale from 1-10 i give it 7.5. This is based on the fact that there hasnt been much to come out that is remotely impressive since Danger Doom released The Man and the Mask. Jay in my opinion is one of the best, but has taken this album back to pre-black album skill levels, but with a new maturity.
When rappers get rich and move up they lose that fire. I admit he has lost some of that fire, however the true skill comes in when he can still put an album together and say something interesting.
Even better is the fact that he isnt a fake 50 cent rapper that has moved out of the hood but still raps about killing and dealing. Its old now 50, rap more about your money & 4 wheelers. Jay may need to really take his time and get back into the studio to make a better/last grand finale album....leave the game to the new heads coming out. It would be disappointing for him to put this album out and never make anything else to defeat it. This is a decent-enough work, but he can do better and i think thats in the plan.
Oh yea. All you kids here that are talking tough on this blog remember one thing. Your words represent you. Reading these posts doesnt tell me a lot about your intelect or abilities to assemble a rich thought without using a curse word or the N word. If you are trying to appear tough remember....You're on the internet, we can't see you. All I see is a net nerd that can't type!
Yo Adolf Hitler. Yo u suck. u don't know what hip hop is abou. Man ur ridiculous, ur a schild. U don't know shit about jay-z so shut the hell up bitch.
i like lost ones alot, i think its's a great track with interesting and emotive lyrics reminds me a bit of the song allure for some reason.
Show me what you got is a commercial track but to be honest i don;t have a problem with that as long as he turns out songs like streets is watching.
Kingdom come i do like a lot, beats incredible from just blaze and J does a great job on it.
THE SECOND VERSE OF "LOST ONES" IS ABOUT BEYONCE. HE SPIT THOSE LYRICS 2 YEARS AGO IN THE STUDIO JUS PLAYIN AROUND.
WHILE PLAYIN AROUND IN THE STUDIO I MEANT
I am not sure, I think "show me what you got" is nothing but a club song, if you hear the (sorry not my fav producer) beat and video. Song for the ladies.
But I agree with everybody above who said that its how you compare it, and to whom. There are so many whack songs out there, comparetively all of this album is still going to be better.
What annoys the shit out of me though that Jay's never been a hunble man, and he never will. His cocked up attitude makes me judge stronger on his rap and rhyming skills, so he better not have any tracks similar to "show me what you got" coming out.
Ps. He and B splitting? Don't really think so, plus she is 25 now...
hunble = humble
man brags a lot, it takes a lot of nerve to claim you are the best, there is not one best in rap I think, but many
...and Jay is definitely one among them
Just got through listening to the album and as a jay-z fan im dissapointed. its a decent album but by comparison the blueprint was 10 times better. if he thinks he is gonna save hip hop or be a savior with this album he needs to put down the cristal......
I managed to get a leaked copy of the album almost two weeks ago, so ive had a lot of time to listen to it. The album in my opinion is amazing. The first listen was pretty disappointing, but it really grew on me. The only thing that bothers me about the album is the repetitive hook on "Dig a Hole". All in all, what people have to understand is this is a way different album for Jay-Z. He will never make another "Reasonable Doubt" or whatever album happens to be YOUR favourite. Those were different times, he had a different focus and hustle then. Jay is now a celebrity, this dude runs a major label record company (a job in itself), part owner of an NBA franchise, an upscale sports bar, clothing label.....what the fuck???? Also multi-platinum selling artist???? Hmmm....and you guys are comparing "Kingdom Come" to his old albums where he had all day every day to write rhymes and find beats...c'mon, this guy accomplishes more in a day than u guys do in six months. For the guy that called Jay-Z a sell-out, how is he a sell out? He has always been about money from the beginning, he was never an underground rapper. His first album went platinum. As for the last post, the guy who commented on putting down the cristal, he actually did. A rep from Cristal stated in a magazine that they didn't want to be affiliated with hip-hop, so Jay vowed to not say the name anymore, he stopped selling it at 40/40 clubs, and apparently wanted to take it off his old records. His new drink is Armand de Brignac a.k.a "Ace of Spades". In the video for show me what u got, he turns down cristal for this.
Ya'll said it all. Read comments by rosodigital and best rapper... ever
BossF I AGREE WHERE IS TIMBERLAND, MR BIB PIMPIN HIMSELF, I LOVE THIS ALBUM AND JAY-Z , PEOPLE JUST HAVE VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS, BUT I THINK HE IS NOW APPEALING TO A BROADER AUDIENCE , AND THAT IS WHAT SELLS, NIT JUST APPEALING TO 1 CROWD, IT IS A CLASSIC. I LOVE JAY
Music is subjective, some people like a song, some people don't...Rap music can either be filled with messages or be jusst plain party music...Jay-Z is the only rapper that has been able to bridge the gap between to two..making records that people want to party to..but dropping in his message.
I agree with hip hop...u should all stop trying to act like you know so much about Rap music and what should and shouldn't be done. An artist can say whatever the hell he wants on whatever beat he wants...its up to you if u want to buy it or not. Jay-Z has managed to have millions of people buy whatever he says every year for the past 10 years...no one else has been able to do that....that alone makes him the greatest rapper ever
YOU ALL HAVE VALID POINTS BUT I AGREE WITH THE BEST RAPPER EVER'S POST THE MOST ...
FROM THE FIRST LISTEN I WAS A BIT LIKE "HUH?" ... BUT AFTER LISTENING AND REALLY HEARING WHAT THE MAN HAD TO SAY I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HOV KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING ...
KINGDOM HAS MASS APPEAL ... I CAN LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM STRAIT THROUGH WITHOUT SKIPPING A TRACK ... HOW MANY OTHER RECENT RELEASES CAN YOU SAY THE SAME FOR? WHO ELSE CAN WE AS CONSUMERS SAY WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN ALBUM FROM AND EVEN SPEND TIME CRITIQUING AS HARD? ...
OK THEN, JUST ENJOY UNTIL HE RETIRES AGAIN AND DROPS ANOTHER FINAL ALBUM WE CAN HATE ON ...
I ONCE READ SOMEWHERE THAT IF YOU SAY YOUR DREAMS OUT LOUD AND NO ONE LAUGHS, YOU ARE NOT DREAMING BIG ENOUGH ...
I WILL DEFEND MR. CARTER BY SIMPLY STATING THAT HE DREAMS BIG ENOUGH FOR AND ACCOMPLISHES MORE THAN ANY OF HIS HATERS WILL EVER BE ABLE TO IN LIFE ...
HE HAS "BEEN THERE, DONE IT BEFORE, GOT MAD AT IT TOOK A VACATION AND STILL CAME BACK TO MOP THE FLOOR WITH THE HATERS", GET ANOTHER HOBBY OR SOME DREAMS OF YOUR OWN!
Bobbycharmane your comment is ridiculous and I disagree with all of your views
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Right on; lost ones is crap that second verse made no sense; show me what you got; sellout song. KINGDOM COME: THAT SHYT IS FIRE!!!!