"Hollywood" featuring Beyonce - Just about any collaboration with his wildly famous other half is destined to be a hit and I'm sure if this is released, it will be. It's insanely infectious, especially to the non-hip hop purist. (Hip hop heads would probably think this song akin to blasphemy.) I can't get it out of my head as I push repeat, again.
"Anything" featuring Usher and Pharrell - I didn't expect this from Jove, with the new, grown up image, CEO, practically married to Beyonce, but it's still enjoyable. Not quite a club jam but it couples his swift, brash flow with Usher's R and B smoothness over Pharrell's chill bounce. Almost a throwback piece, with lightness and sexual charisma, from one of his earlier albums.
Nice and Smooth said "Sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick." For me, Jay always seems to fair better when his flow has a bit of quickness to it, perhaps it makes things sound a bit more clever than they already are.
"Minority Report" - The most poignant of all the tracks, this one contains his view of Hurricane Katrina and the governmental mistakes that followed. It gives us a sense of sincerity and should probably be the one that shines through most.
Article comments
1 - Reggie
I hear what you are saying, but how could you leave out, Do you wanna ride? that song is bananas. the lyrics are crazy, "the kingpin of the ink pen, the monster of the double entondra" as a true hip hop fan from the days of EPMD, BDK, Rakim, KRS ONE, the thing i love most about Jay-Z is the fact that he is constantly evolving, growing. as his life changes, his music changes, as it should. i think we have all seen the artist who sells millions of records and moves out of the projects to a big house with his/her kids in private school to only have him/her to come out and try to tell the same tales of hood life when they are so far removed. as an adult my views have changed, my environment has changed, my desires have changed and my taste in music has changed. as i grow, Jay-Z grows, and that's why Kingdom Come is an excellent album. and yeah there are a couple of tracks that aren't as good as others but even those are far better than the easily digestible remedial nursery school ryhmes that flood the airwaves. evolution is envitable, and Jay-Z has proven that time and time again.
2 - jimmy
god MC!
3 - Courtney Walker
To Reggie who left a comment, I was actually was going to include 'Do You Wanna Ride' in my list of favorites, I play that almost as much as Hollywood and Beach Chair. The intro where he apologizes - "Told you I ain't too good with writin' letters, Shit I don't even write rhymes'. I agree you with on the fact that as his life changes, his music changes.
4 - Mike T
I wasn't expectin much from this album before I heard, and really have never big a big jigga fan. I like alot of songs but thought he was corny. This album though has changed my mind. This is what a hip-hop album should be, not a bunch of guest appearances, no label mates all over the tracks. Every song is good, and 4 are great. The beat on Kingdom Come is crazy hot, Beach Chair is tight on tight and song by Kanye w/ John Legend is purposeful.
5 - Danny
This album is shit! Jay should've stayed retired with his ugly ass face. Nas is the real king of hip-hop!
6 - Kaizen
I am still not sure about this album... I felt it was trying to be like the Black Album... It's a good album, but for a comeback... it's not great....
Big Jay Fan...
7 - Rod Kasai
not bad 3.5 of 5
8 - Unknon
Diz album iz rough & anyone who don't like him don't kno muzik if they can't reckonize a tru m.c.