So the King cometh once again but does his crown? - Jay-Z Kingdom Come

ARTIST: Jay-Z
TITLE: Kingdom Come
LABEL: Roc-a-Fella
GENRE: Rap

So Jay just couldn't stay away... What, yall thought he was gonna give up the mic? After running every summer for over half a decade, and still in his prime, the retirement of Sean Carter was almost certain to be a short hiatus, and even that proved to be a busy one. Besides featuring on new tracks and remixes, keeping his name in the streets with that 'latest J verse', young H-O was putting it down worldwide with his concert tour, which is still in effect (and let us not forget his taking up of the CEO role at Def Jam although that sounds like something one who was retiring from rapping would possibly do). He really does know how to keep it cracking...

Anyway technially he retired ! And now he's coming back...November see's the return of Hova with the release of Kingdom Come. After 2003's The Black Album, which was arguably one of the best albums that year, and in the Jay-Z all time classic's along Reasonable Doubt, and The Blueprint (fans add others here), Kingdom Come surely has alot of expectation. Not only as his last album was fire, but more so due to his return...This is rap's version of Mike Jordan returing to basketball, but will it like Mike returning to the Chicago Bulls, or Mike returning to the Wizards?...

By now you must have heard the albums first single - Show Me What You Got, a flossy big willy track with an infectious chrous, everyone will have already formed an opinion on this one so ill move to the album. Is the single anything to go by? Well not really - but in a good way. You see Jay has been in the game for more than a minute, dude is 30 something too so he sure has age and experience. This is where Kingdom Come differs from previous efforts.

Tracklisting:

1. The Prelude (Produced By Ghettobot)
2. Oh My God (Produced By Just Blaze)
3. Kingdom Come (Produced By Just Blaze)
4. Show Me What You Got (Produced By Just Blaze)
5. Lost One - Featuring Chrissette Michelle (Produced By Dr Dre)
6. Do U Wanna Ride-Featuring John Legend (Produced By Kanye West)
7. 30 Something (Produced By Dr Dre)
8. I Made It (Produced By Dr Dre)
9. Anything - Featuring Usher & Pharrell (Produced By The Neptunes)
10. Hollywood-Featuring Beyonce (Produced By Scyience)
11. Trouble (Produced By Dr Dre)
12. Dig A Hole-Featuring Sterling Simms (Produced By Swiss Beatz)
13. Minority Report-Featuring Ne-Yo (Produced By Dr Dre)
14. Beach Chair-Featuring Chris Martin (Produced By Chris Martin)

Jay's maturity is evident on this album, his flow is even more precise and perfected and although going hard, he just sounds so relaxed and in his element. Listening to him flow on these tracks is like witnessing a martial art vetern's display - he truly has mastered his craft, his skill is something to witness. Maybe now more so than ever, he also sounds more musical, this is not just because of the choice of production, but because his ability to complement and walk hand in hand with the mood and emotion of the tracks. He sounds like an instrument rather than an MC spitting over a beat.

Stand Out Tracks

Track 1, The Prelude starts off the album with a chilled introduction, with a slick smooth mellow symphony married with a thumping beat courtesy of producer Ghettobot, it is a grand enterance yet it lets you know this album is gonna be a little different - grown man rap, mellow in flow...

Track 2, Oh My God turns up the heat immediately both in terms of the style of flow and sound, a smashing crashing Just Blaze production provides Jay with a background to tell the story of his rise in the game, and his current position on the top - he states he has been made strong as iron through it all, and this track sure hits hard like an iron bar.

Track 3, Kingdom Come is mentioned as its the title track of the album though is personally not a favourite. For the title track maybe a different beat could have been used, still its Jay-Z tight - peep it yourself when it drops.

Track 5, Lost One offers a more personal than before look into Hova's feelings about business and love - situations past and present clearly refering to his departure from Dash & Co, and his current relationship with Beyonce, although not directly mentioning names.

Track 6, Do You Wanna Ride is a joint dedicated to an incarcerted commerade, with Kayne on the beat, and John Legend on the chorus, the track bangs. Beside the big names, Jay makes it happen as its real, its a joint that would make me real proud if i was locked down - its a heartwarming keep your head up and i got you when you come out message that the world can hear, thats love.

Track 7, 30 Something...What can i say? Jay's so slick on this he actually convinces the listener that being 30 really is the new 20. The joint is basically an account of how Jay has grown, how he used to get down and how he ball now...Dre really does bless the track with a simple but hot beat, they're as slick as each other on this one.

Track 8, I Made It is another personal track for Jay, a touching ode to his moms, mom I made it and all because of you is the basic message in this one. He details his upbringing the hardtimes they faced together, the support and love his moms always gave him and the promises he made that he managed to fulfil for her today, again due to her help back then. There has yet to be, in my opinion a dedication song to a mother that comes close to the emotion of 2Pac's Dear Mama, though you could describe this as an uptempo yet as with Pac's, touching song.

Track 11, Trouble is an angry (or angrier) track and another produced by Dr Dre, in which Jay licks off a few warning shots to let people know although his bank account and subsequent lifestyle may have changed, he still has his old soul, that is to say, there is a line that you still cannot cross, and if you do, serious reprecussions will be due. Individuals, groups the media - you can all get it. The music works effectively although its an usual effort by Dre, not really his signature sound.

Track 12, Dig A Hole continues the statement he started in track 11, disrespect the king you will be cast from the kingdom - he will run you out of the rap game if you speak ill of his name. If it goes off wax he can and will handle that too. Swizz Beats lays it right with this one.

Track 13, changes the mood again returning to a more personal Hov with Minority Report. A very important track on the album. For his last track on the album, Dre produces a vivid atmospheric and quite simply perfectly produced for the message backdrop for Jay's powerful message to the listener of awareness. Starting with sound bytes / news snippets of the recent terribly unfortunate Hurricane Katrina aftermath. He includes himself in the ignorant, stating that although he gave money, he gave no time and therfore real attention to the poor victims, and has he states, in the end put the money in the hands of the people that left the victims stranded regardless. Ne yo sings the chours with heart, sounding uncannily like a young ginuwine, backing Hov's message that it seems like we dont even care what is happening around us and to us.

Track 14, Beach Chair is a powerful curtain closing track in which Jay imparts wisdom of life, and shows us that he always was about more than money and flossing he just didnt choose to rap about more. The once categorically commerical rapper lets you into his lifes beliefs, fears and aspirations past and present. Coupled with Jay's over the music whisper delivery (you'll understand when you hear the track), I feel the production is perfect for the song, and any production other than Chris Martin's (who also sings the chorus) really woundn't have done the song justice.

Concious rap needs to really be the new rap, im proud Hov has used his position as an artist and this opportunity to drop a little depth in this album and promote a little socially conscious thinking. Over the last 2 years or so, it seems hip hop's / rap's soul has been slowly sold off, the once powerful and concious tool has been more frequently replaced by advertising for a material and ultimately negative lifestyle. No more bubblegum generic soulness music please...Its not too late (Hold on Nas - Hip Hop is dead is his forthcoming album), we can still return if we make that change! In closing I can personally say the King is back although he hasnt just returned with more jewels and gold of old, his riches now include wisdom... And of course, he once again wears the crown.

4.5 out of 5 - A must buy

The power of music...a.k.a crack

Im sitting here writing this post nodding my head to the beat, the sound has awesome clarity and presence, i can fast forward and rewind instantly, pause, repeat, blend all at lightening speed...What system have i got you may wonder? Well theres not a set of turntables to be seen, no cd decks, no mixing boards, no mp3 players, no ipods, not a speaker in sight...Its so loud yet no one can hear my jams... But how the music then?? I'm playing it on the timeless classic music player - the brain. Thats what music can do, often described as infectious, i guess it really is, one thing to illustrate this is the fact that the power off, pause and change track buttons are a little unresponsive on my brain player, i just can't stop the music. It really does infect you.

Certain music is like crack, and your brain like a fiend - the only way you can shake the habit is to replace it, with a different drug or better crack ! (a new song). Whats got you nodding your head right now?

One Blood is the tune currently ringing out silently (?!) in my head... Sometimes changed for Compton (track 04)... or there it goes again, my invisable DJ just changed the tune to Ol' English (track 12), yup that Game album got a grip on me...

Still in the Game... The Game - Doctor's Advocate

ARTIST: The Game
TITLE: Doctor's Advocate
LABEL: Geffen
GENRE: Rap


Its been nearly 2 years since Chuck Taylor a.k.a The Game let the world know that Compton is alive and well and still on the map with his Aftermath debut The Documentary. The Compton native (something he states with pride at least once in every other track), brought with him a believeable gangsta persona, energy and flow that was much needed. The arrival of Game into the industry also brought along some red in the seeming sea of blue in the west - Besides DJ Quik what other known artists bang Blood? Bringing gang affiliation into the music obviously works for image and shipping units, and oddly enough it can also bring positivity to something generally considered negative. Looking at Games collaborations past and present, despite representing the opposite side to many of the artists on the West right now and repping it with pride, Game rides together with Crips, a positive statement to the listener and a step closer towards unity. An example is the killer remix of One Blood featuring an unprecedented number of mc's smashing the infectious beat, including Snoop and WC who show Crip pride over Blood's beat. Besides different sets, all coasts East, West, South are also represented here with heavy hitting artists including Nas, Twista, Fabolous, Snoop, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, WC, T.I, Jadakiss , Kurupt, the list goes on, theres even an appearence from 'thought you were dead' Ja Rule.

Its clear to see Game has alot of love in the game, though we all know it hasnt been all love. The beef with 50 appears to be over judging from his latest album Doctors Advocate, however he's not without scars, the biggest being his move from Aftermath to Geffen. Although comments have been made otherwise, it seems the move wasn't exactly mutual, rather it was a decision made by the powers that be at Aftermath. So has Game got what it takes to stay in the game despite his departure from the Infamous A and mentor Dr Dre?

Doctors Advocate should have dropped earlier, with so many heads open off Game who clearly had rhymes in abduence judging from mixtape after mixtape and the infamous 100 bars etc collection, a new album could have been released at the start of the year, even summer just gone. Anyway, the eagerly awaited Doctors Advocate drops this month, sometimes if the expectation for something goes on for too long, dissapointment is natural - therein lies maybe the only tarnishing mark on the album.




Tracklisting:

1. Lookin at you
2. Da s***
3. It's okay (one blood)
4. Compton (feat. Will.I.Am)
5. Remedy
6. Let's ride
7. Too much (feat. Nate Dogg)
8. Wouldn't get far (feat. Kayne West)
9. Scream on em (feat. Swizz Beats)
10. One night
11. Doctor's advocate (feat. Busta Rhymes)
12. Ol' english
13. California vacation (feat. Snoop Dogg & Xzibit)
14. Bang (feat. Kurupt & Daz)
15. Around the world (feat. Jamie Foxx)
16. Why you hate the game (feat. Nas & Marsha)

So as not to spoil the suprise when the album drops 14/11/2006 (current release date), let me just say the album IS hot. Besides the current single One Blood, tracks such as Compton featuring and produced by Will.I.Am (wow), Wouldn't Get Far (produced by and featuring Kayne West) and Ol' English really shine with outstanding production. 'Da Shit' explodes out of your speakers, even if on low volume letting you know Game is one gangsta ass dude from the CPT, a powerful start to the album. A look into the trials and tribulations of Games life over the last year are delivered on 'One Night' which tells a story of how friendship can and was betrayed and how homies turn when its your turn to shine. The title track 'Doctors Advocate' is an emotional account of Game's admiration for Dre and his feelings on his coming and going from Aftermath.

Despite more than a handful of gems the album isnt a complete success, the Swiss Beats produced Scream On 'Em just doesnt seem to fit or quite simply work. Another area of slight critism is we all know Game is tight, there is no doubt, he has clever rhymes and a tight flow. Why then the repetition Game? Rep your city and set, let us know you smoke the good green and sit on them hundred spokes, but not in every other track - listening to the first few tracks, all you seem to hear is the same stuff rapped over different beats, some of you may say well thats gangsta rap, I say gangsta rap can and has been about much more. With such a wait for the album some broader variation of content would have been nice. All in all 4 stars for young Game, who has survived the beef and trauma thrown his way and remains standing strong ready for whatever comes next.

4 out of 5 - Cop it !