Editor’s note: DP dot com football pooler and drinking buddy 40 DILLA has gifted us with another drop, but this time he gives us his passion for Hip-Hop and cRap music with a review of the ‘Kingdome Come’ CD. This disk is turning out to be one of the most downloaded and discussed albums of all time. I’ve read several thorough reviews of the album and I was pleased when 40 submitted his take for publication. If you are a JAY-Z stan, or even a fan of today’s current pop music you should lend 40 your eyes for a moment so that he can open them up wide.
When Kingome Comes…
It seemed I’d catch heat from people when I told them I wasn’t clickin’ on any of the first three singles that dropped. I was called hater for 30 mins straight while in the barber’s chair. Needless to say this album dropped and only trend humpers would defend this mediocrity…
40 Dilla gives it 3 outta 5. He actually gets a 1/2 point just for being Jay, but for a “comeback album” he should have stayed with pushing off of Bryon Russell and canning the winning shot for his final championship.
I still think his career is gonna finish like Jordan – getting fired from his front office job and having to leave with some sort of shame and disgust. Sadly this could have been fixed with a mere $2 – a pen & a pad.
Actually I had high standards for it. I mean since Jay has entered that “rarified air” of hip-hop royalty I have a different set of criteria for him that I only reserve for the “greats”. My issue with it was that I had expected more for this piece de resistance comeback album. I usually don’t DL albums off of SOHH and I’m a pretty opinionated person as it is so I don’t see myself succumbing to the manic crack-babyness of Spot discussion…
Now for Mr. Jones album I’ve heard two songs – “Hip-Hop Is Dead” which is cool but the rehashing of “Thief’s Theme” is very meh to me. “The N” I’m digging right now, but alas its only two songs. I could be as honest with Nas ‘ next effort. Because as much as I got love for Nas, I don’t have “Nastradamus” and “I Am” got medium spins at that from me. So that just to say even if I consider you one of the bests you still don’t get “Instant Classic” status like they give out on SOHH….
I mean be honest for “Kingdom Come” – I was told that there was like 3-4 Dre tracks and my neck didn’t snap once while listening to it… I’m actually disappointed. Its like having a kid doing bad in school and you know he can do better and your just hoping that he does, or you keep having him try again with the hopes of better results… You wanna call yourself savior, king, president, etc, I’m gonna judge more stringently. Like honors kids can’t get away with pulling special ed quality work ya’ know?
My thing with Jay is that he lies to himself, its almost tragic. I think this guy legitimately respects the lyrical abilities of Common, Ghost, Kweli, Mos, AND Nas. He wants to be lauded by his fellow artists as an artist. You ask anyone about Jay and people cite his savvy before they site his skills. His rags to riches story is truly the American dream, but I think he’s caught in a real conundrum and that bothers him. He’ll never be truly appreciated by the business world (he owns a 5% stake in a group that holds a 15% interest of the Nets, and Ratner is getting tons of mileage out of it) and he’ll always be at the bottom 5 of the average person’s top-10 lists. So what its gonna be Jay? I look at it two ways…
1. You’re rich beyond your wildest dreams. You’re the president of the pre-eminent rap label in history. You spent your last “magnum opus” crowing about how artistically unappreciated you are. So buck up. You’re retired this album isn’t gonna make or break you at this point so go ahead – be an artist. I’m sure his album sales are probably one of his smaller checks. He has access to whomever he wants – USE THEM. While on your yacht in Ibiza, use your Bulgari pen and jot a few rhymes down. We won’t hold it against you. BASICALLY HE CAN AFFORD TO BE ARTSY.
or
2. Become Jay-Z the mogul. Russell Simmons 2.0 and become raps first billionaire. I was actually growing fond of Shawn Carter the Business Man. I was impressed with the opportunities presented to him and the way he was going about that. I was legitimately interested in watching his corporate sucess. I mean this was a guy I stood next to at The Roxy in 1998 and we’re both waiting to order a drink. To see someone go from that to where he is now is impressive. And I continue to be interested where he takes it…
Unfortunately, #1 seems to still matter to him – OR THATS WHAT HE’S TRYING TO SELL TO THE TRUE FANS OF RAP (as opposed to the TRL set). So at this point – pick a side Jay. Just stick with it for a few years. Honestly I don’t think people would be mad with either decision.
Shit, I’m almost 32, with a great job, health benefits, saving to buy a home, and pushing a sizable whip and I’M NOT FEELING IT. I think this album will probably alienate most of his younger fan base and become the soundtrack for people going through their mid-life crisis. You know those people in their late 30’s who are trying to get some of their cool swagger back. Parents will think this album will bridge the generational gap by thinking “its hot” and kids will roll their eyes in the back of the minivan like “Why do they like this old guy”. Someone here made a good point about if this was some rookie’s first album it would be a little more acceptable. But understand this – this is going to be the first rap album that alot of people will have bought in a while or even for the first time. All those NASCAR fans who loved seeing Dale Jr., all his new fans from the Bud commercial, those are the people that will be loving this drivel…
I honestly couldn’t have said it any better….that was on point.
Seriously, that was fucking great. Nice work, perfectly cap-sized everything I could’ve hoped to express and more.
Solid review 40
I got a chance to stream this Kingdom Come album just now.
Bottom line it’s a good album, def on the 2006 Top 10 album list. Not a classic but OTOH def not a “shit-sandwich”.
These tracks are ill
Oh My God
Kingdom Come
Lost Ones
Do U Wanna Ride
Beach Chair
People are hating because they enjoy hating on Jay. Of course maybe Jay deserves some of that as perhaps one of the most arrogant dudes ever, calling himself Hov & rap’s saviour etc. After all that shit talking if you don’t make something approaching a true classic like Illmatic people are gonna be disappointed like they were oversold.
But if you just evaluate the album itself it’s good. Some ill tracks, some meh, & a shit sandwich in “Hollywood”. Mofockas are forgetting a few obvious points
1. all Jay albums are like this. Dude tries to make diff songs for diff audiencies. The result is bigger audience, although there will always be a Change Clothes like “shit sandwich” for “the bitches” or “pop radio” or whatever. Hey to me “Aint No N” was a pop shit sandwich, so even the revered Reasonable Doubt had this problem. Hence Jay albums will never be a pure classic with every track being “nails” like Illmatic. Dude basically admitted this tradeoff on “Moment of Clarity”.
2. Heads shitting on Jay aren’t applying same rigor to other current albums. Busta for instance had that “I love my bitch” shit sandwich. Diddy OTOH should just named his album “Shit Sandwich”
40, this was a good post. I enjoyed this one.
You guys are killing me with that damn beer!
“All those NASCAR fans who loved seeing Dale Jr., all his new fans from the Bud commercial, those are the people that will be loving this drivel…”
YES!!!!!!!
I was waiting for somebody to point this out and explain it to me because I just don’t get it. Sure, a crossover crowd is a must but this kind of thing just seems like pandering and losing that tenuous suspension of disbelief that is required to listen to Rap music in order to forget that so much of it is nothing more than target marketing.
thas a shitty review. I mean look at everythin thats dropped this year. By far I think this cd ranks up there among the best. Listen to Jay’s freestyle over Grammy Family on the Big Mike mixtape, priceless. He kills it, best freestyle i’ve heard this millenium. If you would like me to elaborate please ask, but i just wanted to comment that your review was too harsh, 3/5? whats your most recent 5/5 and i bet you this cd kills it. I dont want to hear about laffy taffy, guns, bitches, gunit, etc. On the other hand, Talib Mos all the conscious artists have mad skills, but they dont have great ability to switch up their flow. IMO jay iz the best at that..
Ok, I’m 35. But on the real…….3 out of 5? If this was only a 3 then what other snot on the streets is serving it up? I mean DILLA (I KNOW I KNOW another DIL reffer) it isnt—-but hot is subjective and Joe Camel still gets a nod or two.
So far for 2006 my Olde English addled brain can comment the following albums have been better than “Kingdom Come”…
Ghostface “Fishscale”
Lupe Fiasco “Food & Liquor”
Rhymefest “Blue Collar”
Hi-Tek “Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip”
Field Mob “Light Poles & Pine Trees”
Game “Doctors Advocate”
OutKast “Idlewild”
De La Soul “Mission Impossible Mixtape”
Clipse “Hell Hath No Fury”
Ray Cash “Cash On Delivery”
The Roots “Game Theory”
As you can see from this impromptu list you can not call me on any regional bias or any other simplistic pre-programmed response. Whats funny is that talking bad about Jigga is like defaming Gee-Dubya in a red state. Does it make me any less “hip-hop”? To quote myself –
“You wanna call yourself savior, king, president, etc, I’m gonna judge more stringently. Like honors kids can’t get away with pulling special ed quality work ya’ know?”
Jay wants to run with this Jordan analogy, well in keeping pace with that Jordan in DC was a shell of himself and rusty to boot, but does that make him any less of the player he was with the Bulls in regards to his history? NO. But in regards to his ABILITY there was a definite drop off and to comment about that is not to “hate” on what he’s done, but a simple analysis and critique that he’s not the player he was. Regarding mixtapes, thats like saying someone dropped 70 in a intra-squad scrimmage. 20 years from now we won’t be checking for his mixtape appearances but we will have this album. In regards to 5/5’s I just don’t hand those out all willy-nilly, and its something that is earned over the test of time not off a first round of listenings (so for all of you personally hurt by my 3 outta 5 have hope it might fare better with age.)
I’d like to take the time to remark on that we as a people and as a culture of “hip-hop” need to move past the “HATER DEFENSE”. Its lame, juvenile, and baseless. To use the meek argument of “you’re hating” is intellectually lazy and rather beneath me and anyone with half a brain at this juncture of life. DP graciously posted my OPINION regarding this project. Its not gospel, Def Jam’s stock will not be effected by it. The problem with the “HATER DEFENSE” is that it has forced the hip-hop generation to become less critical and graciously accept mediocrity for the sake of social acceptance. Its that same time of baseless commentary that considers participation in education “selling out”, and will continue to cripple hip-hop if we just stand pat with simple monosyllabic answers with no supporting statements or opinions…
In the words of Billy Ray Hammond… “Y’all be good ’round here OK?”
^I don’t wan’t to see another comment on this thread if you don’t cosign the author’s reply.
^^’Idlewild’ should receive a similiar crit as ‘Kingdome Come’ since Outkast had more than enough time to create a solid follow up to ‘Speakerboxx: Love Below’
^^^and can we replace the Field Mob album with T.I.’s ‘King’?
>>>….but they dont have great ability to switch up their flow. IMO jay iz the best at that..
my generation would call that biting, your generation respects that shit.
^^^^Sorry that quote was Reggie Hammond. I mixed up my Eddie Murphy characters… Pardon the post script on my rant.
DP – c/s on ‘Kast, I forgot Luda’s “Release Therapy”, and Tip Harris royalty record.
Co-sign on the beatdown of the “Hater Defense.”
Yo 40 Dilla, you “ether yourself” & prove the “hater defense” with your inclusion of Rhymefest’s album
Rhymefest shit sandwich tracks worse then Jay’s “Hollywood”. Chicagorillas? Stick?
Jay’s 5 good tracks I listed far better than the good tracks on Rhymefest “Brand New”, “Bullet”, “Devil’s Pie”
Jay’s actual rapping far better than Rhymefest’s
And this is coming from a guy with a “concious rap bias”. Hell my favorite 2 MCs are Black Thought & Talib Kweli.
I haven’t heard most of the other albums on your list to comment, although I suspect at least a few of them are not as good as KC. I def agree with you on Roots’ “Game Theory” better than Jay’s though.
Nice work 40.
LOL So it was you 40 dillz that had that post on AHH.com huh? Good work..and as a fan of Jay’s I totally agree. It’s like for years you’ve sold this whole “lyrics won’t sell mantra” to the point that some of us bought it for a hot second. He really should forget sales and just make a good album..but I dunno, I think he’s shot himself in the foot with the whole sales comparisons..so if his album tanks..it could hurt his seeming fragile ego.
Russell seems like kind of an odd dude