Has Jay-Z Become Bad For Hip-Hop? Article by: Kye Stephenson Jay-Z has taken another step backwards in the progression of Hip-Hop with American Gangster. Here we have a successful man from the projects of New York City who owns or has owned clothing companies, record labels, his own shoe line and is the president of the most successful Hip-Hop record label in history. Yet he still feels the need to make an album full of crack slinging material. Granted, the story of America’s impoverished needs to be told, but hasn’t he told it a million times over? Now on what feels like his 20th album, hasn’t Jay reached a level where he can inspire the youth to be more than just a glorified “American Gangster?” Jay-Z may be the most recognized and loved Hip-Hop artist of all-time. Maybe it isn’t his job to be a role model and make inspiring songs. But hasn’t Jay reached the point where he can make an album without a hustler’s theme? Can’t he spit a few bars about how someone can learn to run a record label or become a successful entrepreneur? Or maybe that’s not what the people want to hear. Yeah, I remember those hot bars on “Moment of Clarity” (‘If skills sold/Truth be told/I'd probably be/Lyrically/Talib Kweli/Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense - But I did five Mil - I ain't been rhymin' like Common since’). And that is certainly an understandable point of view – at that time. Now that he’s a multi-millionaire and it no longer matters if he sells five mil – isn’t it time to kick something a little more grown up? Aside from “Meet the Parents” off the “Blueprint 2,” Jay has never dedicated more than a few bars on the pitfalls of the game and I’m sure those few lines get lost in the shuffle. Does anyone really remember Tony Montana getting a shotgun blast to the back in the movie Scarface? I bet more people remember him for his mansion and huge piles of coke. No one focuses on the spoils of the game. So why would they remember the few sprinklings of knowledge Jay occasionally drops? Or maybe that’s just the listener’s fault? Jay is also the president of the most storied Hip-Hop label, yet the artists under his umbrella have all faltered under his reign. Joe Budden left the label with a solid fan base. Redman and Method Man have both dropped under his presidency and haven’t sold. DMX left the label. The Roots caught a brick. Recently LL has been the one with the beef. All have publicly disparaged Jay-Z’s work or lack thereof. It seems that Jay’s fixation on his own career have left established and new artists with empty pockets and their careers effectively dead or seriously stalled. With Jay at the helm the once storied Def Jam has essentially become an R&B label. Maybe that’s not such a surprise considering while at Roc-a-Fella Jay was really the only one to sell any significant amount of records. Damon Dash was the one signing and developing acts. If it wasn’t for Dame, Kanye might’ve gone elsewhere and Dipset wouldn’t be who they are. And let’s not forget that after all of Jay’s talk about staying true to the game, it seems that in the end he was the one who crossed his homies (Dame and Biggs). Jay is also Hip-Hop’s biggest trendsetter. His fans, foes and peers follow his actions. So to sit back and watch a person with that much influence continue to feed into Hip-Hop stereotypes and do nothing to help the younger generation is troubling. As the saying goes, “if you ain’t with me, your against me.” And in taking a deep look at his actions within the last few years, it certainly doesn’t look like Jay-Z is on Hip-Hop’s side these days. (104) Comments | Post a comment »

The big lipped beast is at it again. Jay definitly has the skills to spit knowledge as well as black thought, talib kwali, or even be as political as immortal technique. Money is his issue and he loves it way more than his fans obviosly. He must think a dollar is worth more than thought. He even said so himself "i dumb down my audience to double my dollas,"- and the artist he could have made the most "dollars" with, he F*cked it up. C'mon budden's underground game is sick and the roots are legendary. C'mon jay get it together.

Posted by kenbo

Jay can't win, when he makes though provoking music everyone says he's falling off when he make some iggnorant sh*t then you complain. This will never stop until parent put goals vauls in our childrens live. Dont blame jay z blame the parents

Posted by annakinqcballer

This is called jay-z hating, wtf is this tryna get at?jay is not the only person running def jam so why is evrybody throwin all the blame on him? il tel u why bcoz its easy to blame it on such a big name jay-z he truly is keepin hiphop alive and hes a clever individual he knows wot hes doin, and besides on the whole ll thing, its not jays fault that lls album was trash, i cud go on forever but god damn i wonder if big or pac had been replaced by jay and that one of big or pac was in jays place ryt nw and vice versa, anyway as the man says "if you cant respect that your hov respective is wack, maybe you will love me when i fade to black!"

Posted by real talk

The blame jay z for everything wrong with hip hop is just plain wack ya'll should be sentenced to a lifetime of listening to mims records

Posted by hard grits

Def jam is the crown jewel of hip hop lables... Just who has jay signed during his presidency. What new artists has he broke..lady sovereign!

Posted by NYC

I hate the bullsh*t people put on jay, these dudes cd's flopped. Jay has put out top people over the last two years. A cd will sale if it is good. It will not if it sucks. It's that simple. Leave jay-z alone.

Posted by GjiggaJ

It looks like american gangster has officially gone over your head. Like the movie, the album gives a glimpse into the motivations of a hustler. Unlike many other rappers, he's not just going out their slangin rocks and killing everybody. Like denzel, he humanizes the character, and portrays him as a misled person whose intelligence and leadership qualities are overlooked by white america. He's poetically describing the corruption and poverty he sees, and how in such a society, drug dealing can seem appealing. In a post-imus age when hip hop is lambasted for all the world's ills, yet cinema is lauded despite its violence and sexism, the album cleverly blurs the lines between hip hop and cinema. Thus the album is an artistic kick in the ass to all of hip hop's detractors: sharpton, bill o reilly, imus, even oprah. If the war calls for warhols... If you think jay z should rap about being a mature philanthropic businessman, there's a little album called kingdom come. You might wanna check that out. It didn't fare too well with the critics.

Posted by Pete Lastname

Since hes such a F*ck up can you name one label doing better than def jam

Posted by hard grits

Can you name some artists he has signed since he began his reign at def jam? well yeah, how about young jeezy, rhianna, rick ross, ne yo, and then bringing over nas. That is just to name a few.

Posted by Durbs

People were mad at jay for talking about having stockbrokers and having good credit. Now those same people dont want him rapping about hustling. This dude just cant win, can he?

Posted by Lawrence

And another thing, if you watch the blue magic video you see jay-z flashing euros not dollars. The brotha is up on his finances because he knows the dollar's value is dropping faster than mayweather dropped hatton. I too follow the currency and stock market and to see rapper flashing a foreign currency speaks volumes too me. Regardless of what you think of his lyrics, jay-z is no dummy.

Posted by Lawrence

Just the sound of his voice is a hit! ya'll n*ggas got me really confused out there i make "big pimpin" or "give it 2 me", one of those... Ya'll hail me as the greatest writer of the 21st century i make some thought-provoking sh*t ya'll question whether he falling off i'm a really confuse ya'll on this one follow... This is that ignorant sh*t you like n*gga, F*ck, sh*t, ass, Bia'ch, trick, plus ice c'mon, i got that ignorant sh*t you love n*gga, F*ck, sh*t, maricon, puta, and drugs c'mon, i got that ignorant sh*t you need n*gga, F*ck, sh*t, ass, Bia'ch, trick plus weed i'm only trying to give you what you want n*gga, F*ck, sh*t, ass, Bia'ch, you like it don't front [jay-z] you aint crazy, dont you play me, dont you know its jay-z when internet ask you who's the best, why wont you say me dont you hate me, cmon baby, was it all gravy i took my lumps comin up just like a boxer baby my first style may be if i stutter, maybe but then i slowed it down brought it from the gutter baby matterfact, i dont give a F*ck what you rate me record labels told me, guess what the F*ck that make me super rich, stupid Bia'ches know im super viscious like standin over a wounded man with two biscuits lets get it clear like eucalyptus if you conflicted my flow is like the cuban missle crisis n*gga my hand missles is priceless, i hide a couple rare jewels in a verse for my n*ggas that like to listen like this

Posted by Trulife71

Jay did go grown up with kingdom come but everyone wanted 2 say oh this is diff jay i dont like it. He talkin about grown man stuff and then he takes it back 2 the streets and hes not progressing or growing? get the F*ck outta here

Posted by wtf

^wtf shut the f*ck up you b!tch ass n!gga! you talk out cha A**hole too muthafu(kin much,you was the main one talkin that "kingdom comes wack" sh!t...keep it up n!gga, imma come outta nowhere with the rechargable and gash half yo fu(kin hairstyle out and punch you in yo goate punk p*ssy muthafu(ka

Posted by A GALLON AND A OUNCE

What do you think jay tried with his last album, what was it called? that sh*t was garbage and showed jay way out of his realm life is a beach chair... Nuff said

Posted by bigevo

Man i c yall n*ggaz goin hate on me too get money

Posted by chasedadoe

Young jeezy, rhianna, rick ross, ne yo, - jay signed. Half of them are r&b and the other half suck. Just admit to the facts. These def jam hip-hop artist didn't do sh*t in '07. 1. The roots 2. Tru life 3. Serius jones 4. Sam scarfo 5. Redman 6. Peedi peedi 7. Method man 7. Ludacris 8. Juelz santana 9. Ll cool j these artist all released there albums in the last quater of '07 1. Freeway 2. Beanie sigel 3. Chingy 4. Ghostface

Posted by NYC

This article is blatant jay-z hate, yes it must be tru that american gangsta went over the authors head. Kingdom come was a grown up jay, i liked both albums, but truth is people talked down on kingdom come. The only reason jay should be making music is because he wants to, not to sell records or anything else. If he wants to make a record about beyonce or the cars he got, he should we decide if we wanna buy it or not. That artist integrity is what makes nas special because he dont care he do what he wanna do and you can like it or not

Posted by BK Slime

No he has not he has made good music and the best albums his track record is better than any other mc that has been in the game past or present. The thing that is killing hip hop is d4l, crank that, wipe me down but obviously the person who made this article is in love with this type of music. It is embarrassing all these rappers are blaming one rapper for their carreer they need to make better music also their are other rappers that are selling hov, 50 & kanye, t.i. The other rappers cant compete with those mcs.

Posted by T2

"i dumb down my audience", "its a secrt soceity all we ask is trust", illuminmati trying to get my mind soul and my body'. Jay z is an illuminati member, the rockefella(david) was the head of it. That sysmbol with his left eye in it means allot more than we think. Look at the clothes. The symbols. Youtube illuminati. Look at rhiannas video. Puffy's old cd, no way ou/nwo/new world order. Stop supporting this stuff! "the dynasty continues yall die", ask yourself who dies! look at the ahow me what you got video that cave is a ritual site, look up bohemian grvoe on youtube. Buy gold and silver coins.

Posted by Bill

1. The roots 2. Tru life 3. Serius jones 4. Sam scarfo 5. Redman 6. Peedi peedi 7. Method man 7. Ludacris 8. Juelz santana 9. Ll cool j these artist all released there albums in the last quater of '07 1. Freeway 2. Beanie sigel 3. Chingy 4. Ghostface--- and what where these people doing b4 jay came to def jam... Exactly

Posted by envee

It doesn't matter what they were doing before he came. What matters is the state of the lable (hip-hop) under his presidency. As the president its his responsibilty to make sure that sh*t is popin. As far as i'm concered he has the same exact administration as bush. Nothing new. Ya'll just brain washed and can't see that jay-z is not president material. He is an artist with a big ego. No one will get shine while he remains president. And for all the jay-z d!ck riders, there has to be a element of competion in hip-hop. Historically, whever theres health competion artist come out with dope material. But jay is even killing that aspect of ther game.

Posted by NYC

First of all hip-hop as a whole is not in a good state right now. Politicians and even influencial hip-hop figures are attacking hip-hop now a days. Music is used by a person to express how they feel, past experiences and how they imagine their futer to be. In my opinon jay-z is doing a good job as president. Artist tend to point the finger elsewhere when sh*t go down him so ll, joey and all of those losers should just stop fronting. Kingdome come was a good album, listen dont skim. American gangster was a good album that has a good story line. Somewhat of a inside look at the hustling life and alot of the ups and the downs that comes with it. Glorification it is not. Dont try to blame one man for the world's problems. Piracy, you can hear a whole album a month before it comes out on the internet and probably pick up a copy for $3. Who is going to pay $13-$17 for it in the stores when we spending like $50 for gas every 2 weeks and the price of everything else seems to be go up just as fast. The world is f**ked up and sean corey carter isn't the cause. Everybody is trying to censor everything like there isn't a 1st amendment. Jay-z is a person who has come a long way and i think people should just let him be. Haters i already know you cant help it, but if you get some time take a break and read what was said. 1. Brooklyn stand up.

Posted by druff1

They fired his ass! that greedy F*ck probably wanted $20 million this time around.

Posted by Will Smith

He set a goal for himself dammit! he wants to be a billionaire and lycirism is not selling f**kers! " on the internet they like you should spit it/ im like you should buy n*ggas thats good business!-kingdom come. Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it stop hating on the guy who makes it cool to wear suites at your concerts!! catch up haters

Posted by purnoble3

For the record! jays was involved with all of these artist! neyo, rick ross, young jeezy, rhianna, kanye west and a couple more. They complain about jays bad doing but all of these artist sold great numbers...sorry haters

Posted by purnoble3

^^ purnoble3..... You a lyin muf.ucka!

Posted by MACHINE GUN GONZALEZ

If it were up to most of these jay blog haters...jay would be rapping like their favorite rapper now soulja boy doing snap music for ring tones. I knew it was only a matter of years after hip hop fell off. There is no one coast that ruined it...it was actually girls and these damn kids who have no idea of their history or what real hip hop is. You know it's bad when people are saying lil sound the same wayne is the truth..go figure.

Posted by WHOASKEDU

The album was a concept album: that means dont take it literally...and it was,in my opinion,the best hip hop album of 07...i swear,n*ggas need to read a book...

Posted by yung-loc

/: +

Posted by =

Stop jay hatin,american gangster is close 2 a classic,the artist should be able 2 create whatever they want within reason,this is america,and if u wanna whine,cry about these deadbeats not takin care of they kids.and along with many other songs that may hav slipped your mind theres a song on american gangster that is very insiteful,fallen(track 13).hate on the government&the pigs that wanna shut down&silence hiphop,blame the top label,tv,& radio execs 4 dumbin down hiphop and makin it corny,not jay.because common sense tells u that its there money,so they ultimately hav the last say on which type of artist and songs there gonna put there payola doe and support behind.example,do u really think jay wanted his boyz to get no support & flop(beans,bleek,freeway)and do u think he signed uncle murder &tru life 4 nothin.example,if jay really had power over universal music groups budget 4 island(l.a. Reid does)do u really think juelz santana wouldve got the support he gotmon sense would tell u 2 blame reid,especially if defjam is turnin into an r&b label,because hes an r&b guy,but jay left so now lets see who u guyz blame

Posted by vince

Well i don't think any one person ruined or is ruining hip hop. But we gotta face it hip hop ain't the same anymore. When's the last time an albulm has been a topic of conversation..and i mean like you get on a bus or a train and you hear people talking about a certain albulm or artist? i think 50 was the last "talk of the town" type dude, and of course that was like 4 years ago. When jay came out, i couldn't stand him cause he seemed so self centered. I mean you gotta think pretty highly of your self when you start calling yourself hova- "the name of god' for those who don't know" but that dude has always had a method to his madness and yeah he started rubbing off on a n*gga. If anything the whole kindom alblum was trying to show young dumb n*ggas that they won't be young forever so grow the F*ck up!!! the american g. Lp is a theme lp. Nothing more. Just like ice-t did new jack hustler for new jack city. So it's unfair to say he is the reason that hip hop is failing, music is just changing and so are people's listening tastes.

Posted by kdizzle

As much as it pains me to admitt this i have to agree with the direction of this article. Although in his defense i must say the attempt to venture out into uncharted waters on kingdom come was looked at as more of falling off of greatness rather then a toe stuck in the water to test the tempature. As much as i hate to say this we as fans and listeners of the art need do not recieve growth well from those that built a foundation on more negative tales of street life. In my opinion i feel sorry for the brother in the sense that a 38 year old man can only be respected based on foolish acts as a boy and not allowed to mature and reveal who he is now at 38 years old. But again that is no reason for a man with hundreds of millions and and executive position not to potition for a more balanced approach to making music as well as subject matter. I cant front being in my mid 20's i'd much rather hear music about conquoring business endeavors as opposed to the rise and fall of a semi drug lord.

Posted by almostfaymus

Hip hop is dead and you ignorant jay-z loving, gangster-hustle-rap, no spelling, bad grammar, monkey-see-monkey-do, fools are the ones who killed it.

Posted by OmniScion

"aside from 'meet the parents' off the 'blueprint 2,' jay has never dedicated more than a few bars on the pitfalls of the game..." ^^i stopped reading after this comment. To kye stephenson and anyone else who agrees with this nonsense i ask, "do you fools listen to music, or do you just skim thru it?" you're obviously not as familiar with jay's music as you think you are if you think he never dedicated "more than a few bars" to the game's ills before bp2. Have you ever heard "regrets" from reasonable doubt? in case you didn't know, that came out long before bp2, and the whole song is about him regretting some of the foul sh*t the game made him do. Pretty much the same with "you must love me" from vol. 1. You may have had some pertinent arguments following this ignorance but, unfortunately, you punched in wrong.

Posted by MXL

Who the F*ck is "kye stephenson"??? what do he know about hip hop.? hip hop is a reflection of a area of society, fool. Not a statment of promenence. 1000 years from now, if anybody would "dig up" jay-z's cd, they would have a true picture of the year 2008 for a real gangsta, not no hoe ass trick named kye. Said that!!!!

Posted by KIMWAYNE

Common+talibkweli+pharaoh monche+krs+ and all the other conscious mcs dollars

Posted by antibullshit

Common+talibkweli+pharaoh monche+krs+ and all the other conscious mcs dollars < jay's money after ether i stopped listenin to jay..that was murder..killed him..

Posted by antibullshit

You suck

Posted by omar

Guess what genius, jay-z did try to show his maturation and drop jewels on his previous album, kingdom come. And what did you all do, trash him and the album. So, based off the reaction, he did take a step backwards since so many apparently couldn't appreciate the positivity he spread throughout kc. Now you trash him for going back to what you same critics said he should stick to.

Posted by Thought2Reality

when you the best they try to kock you off.

Posted by GjiggaJ

Thought2reality's comment is a must read. The perfect rebutt to this bullsh*t article. He could not be more accurate with that statement

Posted by chris

^^ha ha ha hey gjiggaj if you a broad i wanna "kock you off" too! lmao

Posted by OLD GREASY DlCK (YUCKY)

".....jay aint on hip hop's side"? .......F*ck hip hop when there's money to be made! and hip hop aint been on jay's side for some time now, so why should he be down with it any more? after all this brotha has done for the game, and n*ggaz still have the audacity to to try and diss jay of all people....... Jay should take his money made and disappear off the face of the earth when it comes to n*ggaz and their communities.... I can't even call n*ggaz animals, because animals don't even pick apart each other the way red butt baboon ass n*ggaz do.....

Posted by evenwhenilie

I don't think this guy likes hip-hop. Because he's always complaing about it in some sort of way. Every genre of music has its faults.

Posted by D.L.R

^^ oh shut up evenwhenilie your a boob

Posted by heavy d

What has jay z done for the "game"? f*ck all! -what has jay z done for himself? -everything.jay -z does not give a flying f*ck about hip hop,jay-z wants money,and as much as he can get get his hands on- and hes not the only one.hip hop has now become infested with profiteers who make minimum investement and want maximum return.that is not a good environment for any artform to exist in,but this is always the way with black music -one or two black people make millions,and work out a formula to sell to affluent white people,and then the market gets flooded with clones of that.the reason gangsta/bling rap is selling tons is because middle class white people think that all black people live like that,and they think its exciting and when they get bored,they can go join daddys company,or go to college,but they will carry these assumtions about black people the rest of their lives,and that will hurt black people badly in the long run.hip hop has been bent over and f*cked by jay-z and the rest like him.,and as long as you buy his fast food hip hop -you are to blame,i have hope that somewhere in this world,some kid in some hip hop/beakbeat scene is gonna do something that will flip hip hop totally and shut this overpaid scum up,and if you see a kid that could do it support, dont hate.

Posted by Kramizm

(i) fuk wit ya soul like ether (will) teach ya da king you know u (not) gods son across the belly (lose) i prove you lost already ................put it together/ i rock ho's yall rock fellas nuked rocafella

Posted by antibullshit

This dude dont know nothing but trouble writing this article...hes deeper than what you just hear....you must not be from the hood, if you are, you lost your identity talkin this sh*t....that man wants to put out fly sh*t and make money....isnt that what we all want...to do soemthing fly, get a little recognition and make dough....if not, you need to live somewhere else

Posted by hulk

This guy is so full of sh*t. Like everyone else has been saying, jay did exactly what he said he should with kingdom come, and got a lukewarm reception from critics and fans. These jay-haters piss me off so much. When you're as big as him, your're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Posted by Shawn Corleone

Jay is a big time freemason, isn't it obvious, what other rapper you see talking with bill gates and attending un meetings speaking to kofi annan. He receives shameless promotion because he advances their agenda by promoting money, materialism and drugs and in return they give him more corporate sponsorship and money so more black youth look up to and try to follow him, ending in there imprisionment or murder. Here some of his lyrics which drop clues to his freemason/illiminati membership. 'i'm so embedded i should have been deaded/ selling blow in the park/ this i know in my heart/ now i'm so enlightened i might glow in the dark' illuminati literally means the 'enlightened ones' 'know they aint truly prepared for this new world order/ so i keep it ghetto like sunflower seeds and quarter water' new world order is freemason/illuminati plan for one world government and total surveilance society which is now emerging. 'thank reagen for making me to a monster/ blame oliver north & iran contra' iran contra scandal meant cia (freemason organisation) importing tonnes of pure cocaine and distributing them in black neighbourhoods creating the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s 'september 11th marks the era forever/ of the revolutionary jay guevva' lol jay-z uses irony by comparing himself to revolutionary figure when he is complete opposite, namely, a sellout. September 11th marks era of beginning of new world order. 'illuminati want my mind soul and my body' i think they have jay's since 09/11/01 he dr

Posted by KnowledgeGod187

"i missed the part where i stopped being about imus, what do my lyrics have to do with this sh**. Scarface the movie did more than scarface the rapper to me, so that's not the blame for the sh** that's happen to me. Are you saying what i'm spitting is worse than these celebretants showing they kitten you kidding. Let's stop the bull sh**ting till we all without out sin lets quit the pulpitting." enough said

Posted by AG

Y'all brothas hating on jay z i dont no why. All i can say is once you have made the money you lose your hunger like half these rappers have after they have made a little cheddar. And thats exaclty what its about nowa dayz you make your money and move the F*ck on or let someone else eat. Have you noticed over time people in high profile jobs police, doctors, teachers some actually get a kick out of being who they are because they enjoy it but you have a majority that just wana make the money because guess what life aint sh*t without it. Rap aint no different people will make what ever makes the bread even if its whack. It is a business now after all. To tru heads we no the deal, to n*ggaz just getting into this need to go right back to atleast 1985 and get educated. 1 peace and luv, hip hop will hopefully rejuvenate itself just like b- boys and graff.

Posted by Kraner ranx

For sumone to say hov aint doin sh*t for hip hop?? dats crazy american gangster album wuz based off a movie that inspired an album that was composed in three weeks if dat aint hip hop i dont kno wat is...since he's been president u've heard of young jeezy, rick ross...two of da games promising stars..he's come's from errthang he spit about....so now becuz he's worth millions he can let it be known dat he's nothin more then a product of his environment???

Posted by YUNG KAS

^^^^peace knowledgegod187, you hit it right on the nose.

Posted by Deen Aswad

I dont think that its that deep i think he's just doing his this thing.he's doing what he has to do to keep his fame up there. I understand becuase i am a music artist too. As far as he his in the game right now i dont think he is going to do anything to jeopardize his career. So what if he came out with a album american gangster. It was based off the movie i bet. Jay-z deserves his respect for getting as far as he is in the game

Posted by Yung D

Fucck hip hop....its all about money mafucckas!!!!

Posted by samurai

Kimwayne said: "who the f*ck is "kye stephenson"??? what do he know about hip hop.? hip hop is a reflection of a area of society, fool. Not a statment of promenence. 1000 years from now, if anybody would "dig up" jay-z's cd, they would have a true picture of the year 2008 for a real gangsta, not no hoe ass trick named kye. Said that!!!!" i don't think rap music is truly an accurate depiction of any area of society. It certainly not a "true picture of the year 2008." to think so is worse than not having a true picture of the year 2008, or a true picture of whatever rap albums are trying to depict. I don't even know what you mean with this: "statment of promenence."

Posted by redlining

Pete lastname said: "if you think jay z should rap about being a mature philanthropic businessman, there's a little album called kingdom come. It didn't fare too well with the critics." i didn't see "minority report" as a mature meditation on philanthropy. I liked the audio clips and ne-yo's lyrics better, for their power and insight. It makes no sense to brag about giving water either, or name-drop his visit to africa. The reason i didn't like the album was because it was like reading a celebrity magazine--which i never want to do in my life--or watching an access hollywood special all about jay-z. It would be just as interesting for another celebrity to talk about how they became rich and what they're lifestyle was like--not very interesting. On the other hand, if he talked about things he saw from his new perspective as president of def jam, or as a top east coast lyricist looking at the art in a way we normally wouldn't, this would be interesting. Or with the visiting africa and water experience, if he devoted a whole song to each of these things it would show more artistry than using it simply because it's a boast only he can use without lying. And even as far as boasting, it would be more effective for him to jolt from one song about whatever to a song about going to niger, without spelling out "i got crowned in niger." it would be more memorable, and it would be a more subtle way of making the point, "look what i'm doing." kingdom come was simply a lazy album. It's another album of jay-z

Posted by redlining

(continued) it's another album of jay-z bragging about himself, and i don't know why, but i was expecting him to do something truly different if he was coming back out of retirement and titling his album "kingdom come." instead, he didn't seem to show artistry or a "mature philanthropic businessman" side in songs like "30 something," the two singles, and most of the other songs which i largely forget.

Posted by redlining

(why does this site remove some of the caps from what i type?) pete lastname called jay a "mature philanthropic businessman." i think this is just some sort of desire to borrow prestige from jay through liking all his music. But i'm sure jay exploits the desire of fans to do this. So he really is a businessman.

Posted by redlining

Wtf said, "jay did go grown up with kingdom come but everyone wanted 2 say oh this is diff jay i dont like it." reasonable doubt is grown up, psychological lyricism. I did expect and hope for different jay. A whole album of songs like lost ones and beach chair, or better, and maybe minority report with more thoughtful lyrics. And i liked the the way the start of intro was going. Druff1 said, "kingdome come was a good album, listen dont skim." he skims his life for us. The problem is that most of the material isn't interesting enough by itself to hear about delivered in such a way.

Posted by redlining

Moment of charity is my favorite song by jay z i don't really even listen to him and the point that was just made is why if it's not a jay z freestyle i always fill played cuz i know he could do better til he tell me a real life story a young homie can relate to fack jay z ps eminem the best rapper alive shady records b!tch

Posted by R.Hayes

^ ^ you must be on dope! if you think that white boy is the best....

Posted by evenwhenilie

Maybe jay wasnt the best president of all time but the man has done a lot for hip hop and is no questions the best breathing.... As for the def jam artist?? meth and redman two of my favorite mcs have been declining for years soo thats been going on way before jay-z stepped in... Dmx we all know that simple lyrics can only take you soo far... Ll cool j needs to drop an album worth listening to in order to complain about anything... Joey needed to get some shine no questions hes the best out right now in my opinion... Im happy jay stepped down from president but the things he has done and will do are things people wish and dream they can do... If he doesnt make a the songs about crack people hate and he sold out if he does they hate and say its past his time for that... How can you win??? just let hov do his thing... Holla

Posted by Yah Dig it? 2008

There is some truth in the write up, though i feel it goes a bit overboard. American gangster is a concept album people. Do we know wat that is? thats right, work on a concept and develop it. I admire the way jay managed to lay the alnum , using the concept, without direct reference to narratives in the movie. He couldve just retold the story, but he gave his twist on things, his view, from the podium lookin down,from the bottom of the stairwell lookin up, jay ripped this sh*t. He did the frank lucas thing. This album is remiscent of reasonable doubt, but with the distinct feel of accomplishment. The street corner hustler has gone international, but its all still a hustle. Thos has got to be one of the illest albums out. Its a thinkin man's album ( aint sayin nuthin bout kye stephenson, but it just is what it is) its a refreshing change from all the snap watch my feet bullsh!t that has saturated what was once known as hip hop. Bout def jam, well yes jay does have his own agendas as an artist, and it probably does clash with bizness, but at the same time many artists are now entrepreneurs themselves and they all tryna start they own labels, and sign artists, jay is one of the most successful in this regard. I wont lie, i didnt completely side with him in regards wit dame and kareem, but the man has done wat other have failed. Most of these artists cant handle havin someone who was basically entered when they were already nut sack deep in the game, comin in and takin over. He's a business man, and

Posted by czashaekwon

It was a concept album inspired by the movie....

Posted by large

Jay don't give a F*ck about nothing but money..rap has become crack for the masses. Jay-z is a certified hustler and will always be about the cash..cream

Posted by Caramelhoneys.com

That whole article was a raw contradiction of the hip hop media. Should i even bother defending my position, i don't see why. Judging from this croud it will just go over your heads. And will be a complete waste of my time.

Posted by osama bin forgotten

Get off jay tip he has always did his part in the music industry in every song was hot

Posted by aliensa

F u c k jay-z

Posted by strike ice

Duh

Posted by Freshnigg

Jay is the boss

Posted by brandon

I definetly feel the article... Also, people didn't bash kingdom come, because it was "grown up" jay. It was half-@ssed jay. Kingdom come made me fall asleep. It was just lazy, compared to what he really could do. I mos def feel the writers view point. I don't like jay for several reasons. He's talented, no doubt... But, just don't feel him. American gangster, concept or not... Perpetuates the same old gangster image that should have died out by now... Im bored with the gangsta era... Let it die already... Bring back atcq, lotug, kane vibes...

Posted by Johnny Slim

This sounds pretty responsible to me we ain't thugs for the sake of just bein thugs nobody do that where we grew at, n*gga duh the poverty line we not above so i come to mask and gloves cause we ain't feelin the love we ain't doin crime for the sake of doin crimes we movin dimes cause we ain't doin fine one out of three of us is locked up doin time you know what this type of sh*t can do to a n*gga moms my mind on my money, money on my mind if you owe me ten dollars you ain't givin me nine y'all ain't give me 40 acres and a mule so i got my glock 40 now i'm cool and if al sharpton is speakin for me somebody, give him the word and tell him i don't approve tell him i remove the curses if you tell me our schools gon' be perfect when jena six don't exist tell him that's when i'll stop sayin Bia'ch, beeeitch~! - say hello : american gangster

Posted by Sheenpeso

Stop leading these kids astray with that bullsh*t talk(lyrics)

Posted by wise one

i read the first line and didint even finsh reading this .. American gangsta...im listenin to it right now..and...:) this guy isnt harming hip hop in any way possible

Posted by DAtniccaBUGz NY'r

American gangsta might claim to be a concept album, but with those beats, which are terrible besides maybe one or two, there is no concept to this production. It's just radio friendly. Raekwon only built 4 cuban linx was a complete gangsta concept, as well as jay-z reasonable doubt, and az doe or die. Rhymes and beats. How can a neptunes beat put you in any kind of drug kingpin atmosphere? it cant, as well as any of the other producers on this album. No hook is the only song production and rhyme wise that is acceptable with what is supposed to be the concept of this album. They should've followed that track's lead and made the production more cohesive

Posted by chris

Kkkkkkkkkkkkk

Posted by tons o ones

Yea its true meth flopped on def jam...he was pushin 4 a single but they wudnt help him promote it at all nd he didnt even get 1 vid 4 d album......nd nas was forced to do a album wit a load of sh*t producers......dat album was originally just him nd dj premier but den def jam fukd everything up!!!

Posted by Cathal

Jay z is a dodgy character, is he an illuminati stooge? i saw some deep sh*t about him on you tube

Posted by Mr Sandman

No doubt jay-z is illuminati sellout

Posted by ladyx

.....all that illuminati sell out sh*t, and jay being apart of it only shows that n*ggaz are psychologically scared, traumatized by extreme racism, to the point of delusion..... And subject to believing in ridiculous conspiracy theories.....

Posted by evenwhenilie

Only person jay brought out was rhianna... Neyo was already on def jam.. Rick ross was on slipnslide with trick... The deal with def jam and atlantic records had nothing to do with jay... Jay put young jeezy on???? jeezy was signed already... Jeezy had a deal with puff, and when the bidding went down def jam worked a deal... Jeexy was already pushin lambos anyway... Real n*ggaz in the south already know that.so why j didnt bring over plies and trina? hmmm...i dont think dude is as smart as everybody wanna say he is... Jay business practices is coming to the light... Little by little ... Day by day. Why should we care about understanding the mind of a drug dealer... That aint appealing to me... Never was... Grew up around it just as much as that man did... But i would never glorify it like alot of these young idiots...

Posted by Real Talk

Kye: get a dictionary and look up "spoils." after that, look up "reductive"- that's what your article is: overly reductive. Saying jay-z raps about hustling with a few minor insights reduces his work to artificial sections of 'hustling' and 'insight.' concentrating on that false dichotomy you miss the larger project of american gangster. I don't know how you could listen the the album without seeing how trapped the character is: trapped by his will to wealth, which will be his undoing. If jay-z is cash driven, the 'gangster' might be some cathartic exercise for his own feelings of doom and pressure brought by success. Even if not, the character belies some perspective jay-z has on himself, and that makes the record pretty interesting.

Posted by RL

I agree. That hustler/player/pimp style's played out too me. Rappin hustlers should retire. In the 08 i like too see more real artists in the billboard 200. People like lupe. Businessmen should just do business, not rap.

Posted by Renzo rollin inna benzo

Look at the "secret rulers and you will see who really runs the show. The rothschild's banking empire stated the united nations do some research about the 300 families. Vatican=religion control, london=financial control, d.c=military control. They pick our president and run america. Who has over $400 trillion dollars and is responsible for bringing hitler and stalin into power. Who forced amercia into world war i so that they could get israel and bankrupt america. Who started the federal reserve, stole americas gold and has bankrupt england and america. Who has a bank in every major city in the world and is causing massive famine in africa. Who slept in the white house during his wedding and plays both side and profits from war. Who stole the jews gold and the gold at the world trade center, and fort knox! who's daughter just solda bank for $650 million dollar and hangs with hillary clinton. Who own shares in fox news and goldman sacs(the only company that did not loose from the sub-prime mess)and is the reason why ron paul cannot get press time and his oil pipeline and opium is the reason we are in afganastan and iraq? who is pushing for a world government, religion, police state. Who want to use backwater against american citizens. Who has passed banking laws and the patriot act taking away our liberties and trying to end the constitution? buy some silver and palladium, the dollar is trash! rap about this stuff, is you want to keep it real!

Posted by joe

Eminem has2 cum bk..he is literaly da last guy who cn save our belovd artform..plz em save us

Posted by Bigboi

Eminem has2 cum bk..he is literaly da last guy who cn save our belovd artform..plz em save us

Posted by Bigboi

Ok the the sprinkles of knowledge in this article are few and far between. Next time you make such a biased arguement do your research. Kingdom come- the grown man. American gangsta- concept album, come on dude do ur homwork first.

Posted by Jennifer T

I guess it is alll jays fault why all those acts left the def jam label... Nothing really to do with the artists themselves huh?? if joe buddens left with a solid fan base.. Where were those fans to support him and buy the album then?? its like what jay said... If the artist goes platinum its because of the artist... But when the artist flops.. Its because of the president, or the marketing team, or whatever reason they can give you... I do agree that jay should change up the subject by now....

Posted by Sbridge11

When i think of jay-z i think of one word and dats best.........who dun betta

Posted by SeroiuS Bizzines

Jay can't win, when he makes though provoking music everyone says he's falling off when he make some iggnorant sh*t then you complain. This will never stop until parent put goals vauls in our childrens live. Dont blame jay z blame the parents nuff said. People only seem to have negative sh*t to say when someone tries to get the attention back on them, but when he tried to bring something else to the game no one was feeling it. F*ck the ignorance. Read a book first, then listen to a jay-z album. Get those listening skills up to par first before you talk sh*t. Some of yall got the listening skill level of a 4th grader. Lol some cant even comprehend this mans vocabulary. When do you ever hear jay-z speakin ebonix like he rolled off the dumb van? never! this man is smart and knows exactly what he is doing..bringin all the ignorant people back to listen to more while the smart people listen up to the deeper lyrics in the songs. =]

Posted by a.g.b.

Niggas should stop hatin on jay z cause the he's released"american gangster is one of the tightest hip hop album in the history of hip hop.if ya'll don't like him then you got issues with yourselfs.

Posted by young smooch

If that aint some of the worst display of writing i ever seen that person should be fired quick 4 talkin like that hater

Posted by y u hate

It's just a soundtrack.. The album matched the movie perfectly!!

Posted by Tee

I cant hate on jay-z for making the money that is out there to be made. But the efffects of his music are undeniable, and they are not possitive. 1) young black kids emulate jay-z through his music and face the pitfalls of a life that leads to death. 2) people around the world hear jay-z as one of the few black faces they are exposed to and come to understand black as violent and drug dealing. 3) the fact that a person of such stature cant bring up something positive in his music and still make money bodes poorly for anyone hoping hip hop will have a "new awakening". I long for the early ninties/late eighties again. Where are you public enemy, krs-one, x-clan, naughty by nature. Rap about something other than drugs, guns, and hos. I have a brain you know.

Posted by Hip Hop Lova

I don't know if you ever heard of kingdom come. But he did spit songs like minority report and 30 something which were very grown up. Then people ridiculed him for "losing touch with the streets." so he turned around and produced an album inspired by a movie that was about slinging. Go listen to ignorant sh*t and realize that your the exact person i talked about.

Posted by Tyler Convery

Do you like rhianna?

Posted by hannisha

I agree that the crack tales and all of the other tales that of the streets are being and has been ran in the ground. I understand it may be a reality but its not a positive one. Most rappers excuse their lyricks by saying its where they come from or its just entertainment but enough is enough. Half of these so called thugs have seen no part of the streets other in a movie. Real gangstas don't advertise themselves as such. If you feel a need to point it out to everyone then its probably not true. All of these rapper who claim to be keeping it real always seem to leave the hood when they get a little cash. I don't recall any ep of cribs being in the hood except for the episode with redman years ago:). With all that said i will give a pardon to jay-z for the ag cd only because it was a soundtrack and a soundtrack is supposed to fit the movie it was made for. Thats it for me. Thanks for listening.

Posted by Trell

Rap is out of control.

Posted by MC KSL

Like convery stated, he released kingdom come and the world (especially the streets) called jay-z's comeback album old man alternative rap, which meant that he had gotten so rich and famous that he's finally lost his touch with the projects that reared him; and now that's he's return back to full form with american gangster, people are Bia'ching and whining about him telling the same story over and over - who cares! lil' wayne is completely idiotic and everyone is praising him as the next best thing and even supports his claim as the best rapper alive and yet shun "the best rapper alive" when he releases his newest and best material to date (not a reasonable doubt, but an "american gangster" classic, nonetheless) i'm sorry, folks, but jay cut his teeth on this album and you're so narrow minded that you can't read in-between the lines and you don't know the real inspiration behind the album itself (buy american gangster, the movie) then you should appreciate the fact that jay-z has enough talent left to entertain the masses with a lyrical film in music form, instead of some dreadlock, new orleans former thug/now skateboard rockstar rapboy, rocking tear drops that he did nothing to earn in his own right. The proof is in the lyrics people and jay still delivers.

Posted by JSL3000

Jay-z is sambow. This guy continues to rap about selling drugs which is soimething he never did in his entire life. He started as a manager at kfc and sent demo-tapes to up & coming labels in the 80s. He used to go on tour with ll cool j when he was a no body. Now with his old ass he wants to control the rap game,his lyrics are dangerous and provide the sundtrack to violence in urban areas (hence the minority majority black & latinos). And to top it off he is a scientologist along with that eazy influenced no brain beyonce. His agenda is use to damage the minds of the youth under the new wolrd order!this is why he never has anything positve to say. He won't even tell the youth to use a condom! keep your eyes, minds and ears open. Peace!

Posted by devi

yea sit yo stale ass down wodie bloomfield moneyside

Posted by saginaw michigan

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