Released: July 4, 2013
Roc-A-Fella, Roc-Nation, Universal
During the NBA finals on June 16, Jay-Z was featured in a commercial in which it was revealed that a new album was on the way in less than a month. Through the ensuing month Jay would release videos in which he explains already released lyrics to a few of the tracks. Samsung had paid $5 a copy for one million downloads that would be given for free early to Galaxy phone users who downloaded a special app. These marketing methods are unconventional, but definitely intriguing. After some disputing over the validity of these downloads, Jay-Z was able to convince the RIAA to change the industry rules and count the downloads that Samsung payed for as sales. "Magna Carta Holy Grail" officially became platinum before it ever hit stores. Impressive.
After all this sudden hype and commotion over this new album, I was looking forward to something bold, epic, and innovative from arguably one of raps greatest acts of all time. I'm afraid that might now be what we have been given. It is quite the opposite.
The opening track, "Holy Grail" features a guest appearance by Justin Timberlake. Justin delivers on a very tender and memorable but long intro and hook to start the album off. Oddly, we don't even hear Jay-Z until a minute and a half into the song. Unfortunately, when we do hear Jay-Z, we get a very uninspired and bland performance from Jay-Z. His verse, like many on this LP, seems lacking of any real passion or emotion. They just exist. After this weak at best moment from Jay, we get more Justin Timberlake! "Holy Grail" would be more justified being credited as Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z as opposed to the other way around. This track also features a very awkwardly placed clip from Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". This is not the only 90's alternative sample found on this record, as Jay-Z places a piece of R.E.M's "Losing My Religion" later on. These samples don't really work, and just come off as cheesy, out-of place, and just plain gimmicky.
Alot of this record just seems lazy, repetitive, and dull. Jay-Z's rapping is not at his best, and it seems he's trying to hard. The production from Timbaland on "Magna Carta Holy Grail" for the most part is decent, but at times seems cliche and unoriginal compared to the soul sample heavy "Blueprint", Jay-Z's classic release from 2001. This record contradicts itself lyrically sometimes. One recurring theme the struggles of fame and wealth. However on many tracks he throws this away and just brags about how successful he is and how many cool cars and fancy pieces of art he owns (See "Picasso Baby").
There are positives on this album. The track "Oceans" deals with the effects of the slave trade, and "Heaven" deals with ideas of faith and religion. These are some of Jay-Z's most conscious and cerebral lyrical ideas. Jay-Z collaborates with his ex-nemesis Nas, on a pretty fun track "BBC." "Jay-Z Blue" is probably the standout track on this record. This song is about his daughter and his concerns of balancing being a public icon and his new found responsibilities of being a father. Jay-Z seems to be the most involved and present emotionally on this song.
Although there are a few good parts on this album, for the most part it is full of lazy and uninspired rhyme schemes and flow from Jay-Z. I also want to mention all the lame product placement's and bad pop culture references. It seems after a 17 year career, and 12 studio albums, Shawn Carter is running out of ideas. For example, "hashtag's and retweets, 140 characters in these streets." Really, Jay..your inspiration is to vent out your dislike for Twitter? Having a net worth of about a half billion and an a career already proven as legendary, seems to not beg as much need to impress. Because of this, I feel we have a less carefully crafted record than Jay has potential of making. Jay-Z built a platform to put out something iconic and memorably, but instead gave us a very lacking record. "Magna Carta Holy Grail" can definitely be labeled a disappointment.
My rating 62/100
No comments:
Post a Comment