First and foremost let me make one thing clear. Sean Carter is
listed somewhere b/w 5 & 11 on my all time favorite emcees list. I can't tell you the specific position b/c positions 6-10 have been known to change depending on who I'm speaking with. But make no mistake...I love Jay
So I'm having a conversation w/ my man and the subject of The Black Album (Jay-Z's final studio album if you don't count the Lincoln Park collab) comes up. To which the dialogue continued as
B's friend: Man I heard you didn't like the Black Album
B: I never said that
B's friend: James (Name changed to protect the innocent) said you gave it a bad rating
B: I gave it 3 mics maybe 3 1/2 if I'm at a party
Editor's Note: B. Holcomb didn't realize that the track "Public Service Annoucement" can actually help get a party started...thus "the other half a mic" (as Big Boi would say)
B's friend: And isn't that the same rating The source gave Common's One Day It will All Make Sense? Which I might add made you stop reading the Source
B (Impressed w/ his friend's memory as that statement was made back in 97): Hey man, if The Black Album was allegedley Jay's last album, he should've went out like Lance Armstrong; not Jordan "wearin' the 4-5" (or for that matter in a Wizard's jersey) instead of just putting out....this
B's friend: Dude, your new name is "Jay-Z's biggest critic"
At which point I was offended, b/c as I stated above, I love Jay...love his efforts as an emcee, business man, and a humanitarian (although I'm not exactly folowing the boycott of Cristal (sp?) as I (and others within my socio-economic class) could never afford Cris, so what's the point there??)
But because Jay-Z is so great, is it wrong of me to expect great things from him?? His first verse that he laid immediately after The Black Album was a true example someone great who has left the game...but still leaving some doubt as to if he's finally finished:
"Never Let Me Down" Kanye West f/ Jay-Z & J. Ivy
Jay-Z's second verse:
Who else you know been hot this long
Started from nothing but he got this strong
Built the ROC from a pebble, peddled rock before I met you
Peddled bikes, got my nephews peddle bikes because they special
Let you tell it man I'm fallin well
Somebody must have caught hI'm cuz
Every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan em
Number one albums what I got, like four of em
More of them on the way, the 8th wonder on the way
Clear the way, I'm here to stay
Y'all can save the chitter chat, this and that
This is Jay, dissin Jay will get you Mase'd
When I start spittin them lyrics niggaz get very religious
Six hail mary's please father forgive us
Young, the archbishop, the Pope John Paul of y'all niggaz
They way y'all all follow Jigga
Hov's a livin legend and I'll tell you why
Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov's still alive
Hotness
And don't get me started on his verse on the "Diamonds Are Forever" (remix). You talk about a verse that's so simple yet so deep...especially when he says:
How could you falter when you're the Rock of Gibraltar?
I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water
Not to impose my spiritual beliefs on anybody...but I'll be happy to break down how powerful (from a spiritual aspect) that line is in person if you like.
Okay, so here's the gist of this conversation (for those of you that are still with me). Jay's recent appearance b4 "Deja Vu" was the "Hustlin" remix by Rick Ross. And I'll be the first to say it...Jay's verse on this song was about as impressive as his retaliation song to "Ether" entitled "Super Ugly".
However in the "Hustlin'" remix, a lot of my friends think Jay just dropped the bomb verse:
Hold up
Who you haters think you talkin' to, I'm the fuckin' boss
White on white, G4, hater get lost
I'm in the air I don't hear niggaz corny raps
Yeah nigga Hov is back, yeah nigga Hov is back
I got a honey bun, no not a chick
I got a honey bun, millions nigga I got couple hundred 'em
Ninety-nine problems prick, don't become the hundreth one
'Less you got a hundred lives murder bout a hundred, uh
We don't resort to violence, we on resorts and islands
With linen shorts and shades, 'case they thought you was lyin'
That's only part of it...I will spare you the rest because it sucks
Look, all I'm asking is that we as Jay-Z fans should demand better quality from Jay! Let's not react as if we won the lottery everytime we hear Jay on a new record. Afterall he did mention in "Moment of Clarity":
...I dumbed down for my audience to double my dollars
They criticized me for it yet they all yell "HOLLA!"
If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be
lyrically, Talib Kweli
Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense
But I did five mill' - I ain't been rhymin like Common since
I can't knock Mr. Carter's hustle...but again, as his audience let us make him earn his dollar. He's literally taking advantage of the fact that "because I'm the best in the game...I don't have to work as hard to sell records; or for that matter help (insert artist here) boost their sales".
Jay, I'll always be a fan...but get your weight up son...get your weight up!!
The Kid who currently wonders why the hell is Cassie so mad?
B. Holcomb