“Creativity is allowing yourself
to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
Scott Adams
Apparently, Shawn Carter nudged Jay-Z to wake him outta a typical Big Pimpin’ dream to spark a more culturally relevant Hip Hop project.., his lucky 13th. This 10-track project, which could’ve been Tidal-ed “Keeping Up with the Carter’s” is actually pretty good. It’s not great and it’s definitely NOT a classic (Twitter era ears please put down your phones and pick up “Reasonable Doubt,” “ATLiens,” “Like Water for Chocolate” or a “Black on Both Sides” or a book, any book).., but it's definitely not wack either.
I
think 4:44 is above average. It sort of feels like watching Michael Jordan play a game left-handed to raise
awareness for Sprint victims that lost their right arm when they purchased the
Note 7. Jay-Z has always
been wisely witty and exceptionally subliminal.
Back when he was lyrically atop of this Hip Hop game, he would take
shots at emcee foes, who would have bled to death dancing to a track he dissed
them on. Today’s penthouse pimp seems
more concerned with amending his broken marriage vows and destroying Eric Benét
family reunions.
From Finish to Start
The last
track “Legacy” is the Jay-Z I have been annoying my nieces and nephews
about for years. Blue Ivy opens the single with a
simple question and then the Donny Hathaway sample explodes the inner soul.
This sample is DOPE BEYOND WORDS.
Jay’s blueprinted, storytelling is what
makes me such a fan of the genre. From intro, Mr. Bey loosens the cufflinks and
shares his recipe for the Carter’s future, while exposing some dark secrets
regarding mainstream religion that has handcuffed many black families to this day.
The project
begins with the Shakespearian inspired, double entendre laced track “Kill Jay.”
This single opens the barbershop doors to a sea of women that aren’t
always privy to such honesty. This track has so many confessesions and subsequent apologies that you
would think Usher wrote it. As
barbershops become more co-ed, our cultural Queens may start to understand that
spending 445 mortgage payments on wedding dresses isn’t nearly as productive as
paying closer attention to the ingredients that make their men grow naturally—like
real Hip Hop.
1 love,
Ray Lewis
