• Voto:
Non ci credeva nessuno, o almeno ci credevano in pochi. L'annuncio del ritiro dalle scene da parte di Jay-Z aveva stupito il grande pubblico e chi lo conosceva solo di fama, ma i critici e i suoi estimatori sapevano con chi avevano a che fare, e sapevano che il periodo del "ritiro" non sarebbe stato lungo più di 5 anni. E infatti eccomi qui a recensire il suo nuovo album, uscito a distanza di tre anni dall'ultimo "The Black Album". Si può dire che Jay-Z si sia preso una vacanza lavorativa, visto che dopo il "ritiro" ha realizzato un documentario sulla sua carriera (Fade to Black), ha collaborato con i Linkin Park nello smash-up "Collision Course", con R. Kelly in "Unfinished Business" e con molti altri artisti (Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco e Beyoncè, per citarne alcuni) nei loro album.
In molti pensavano che questa "assenza" dagli studi di registrazione avrebbe portato ad un disco diverso dalla discografia precedente, più maturo o innovativo, e invece si può dire che non è cambiato molto: ascoltati i primi tre brani sembra che Jay-Z non si sia mai ritirato. I beat sono aggressivi come sempre, e i testi sono auto-celebrativi come sempre (''Lunch with Mandela, dinner with Cavalli/Still got time to give water to everybody'', da "Oh My God"). Andando avanti nell'ascolto qualcosa di nuovo c'è, ma si esemplifica solo nelle varie collaborazioni dell'album, con artisti Pop (Chris Martin, anche in produzione in Beach Chair) e R&B (Beyoncè, John Legend, Usher e Ne-Yo).
In "30 Something" Jay-Z ci dice che sta invecchiando, che è maturato ma che comunque non ha niente da dimostrare o da imparare dai nuovi astri nascenti del rap americano. "I trenta sono i nuovi venti". E' quindi questo lo slogan, citato più volte nell'album, così come più volte il rapper si paragona a Michael Jordan, associando il suo Kingdom Come (titolo che si ispira ad una serie di fumetti in cui Superman ritorna dopo un auto-esilio in un mondo caotico) al ritorno nell'NBA (nei Washington Wizards, per la precisione) di MJ.
I temi trattati sono vari, si passa dall'uragano Katrina in "Minority Report" (che contiene vari samples di interviste e testimonianze della tragedia, tra cui il famoso attacco di Kanye West "George Bush does't care about black people") ad un tributo alla madre in "I Made It", e le collaborazioni, come detto, sono altrettanto varie, ma non convincono appieno. Gli unici a lasciare il segno sono John Legend in "Do U Wanna Ride" e Ne-Yo in "Minority Report", mentre gli altri sono quasi risucchiati dal vortice dei beat e soprattutto dal flow di Jay-Z, trascinante come sempre.
Un discorso a parte merita la collaborazione con Chris Martin in "Beach Chair", canzone molto evocativa avente come oggetto un ipotetico sogno di Jay-Z, perchè trattasi di canzone che poco ha a che fare con l'hip-hop: il che porta ad odiarla o ad amarla, a seconda dei gusti. Personalmente non mi dispiace, ma l'avrei vista meglio in un album dei Coldplay con Jay-Z come guest.
In definitiva ci troviamo di fronte ad un album che non va a posizionarsi tra i lavori meglio riusciti di Jay-Z, ma che rimane un'ottima scelta per gli amanti del genere: Jay-Z non ha perso né il suo carisma né il suo stile, e questo è il miglior biglietto da visita che l'album possa avere.
Elenco tracce e testi
03 Kingdom Come (04:23)
I dont know what what life will be in H.I.P..
H.O.P. without the boy H.O.V.
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
When Kingdom Come, You ready?
When Kingdom Come, I'm ready
When Kingdom Come, I'm ready
Now everywhere I go they like Hov come back
Up out the corner office of your cul-de-sac
Where's Iceberg Slim he was the coldest cat
Get your swag back daddy where your focus at?
Got to admit a lil' bit I was sick of rap
But despite that the boy is back
And I'm so evolved, I'm so involved
I'm showin' growth, I'm so in charge
I'm CEO and yeah glowin' God
I'm so indebted I should of been deaded
Sellin' blow in the park this is knowin' my heart
Now I'm so enlightened I might glow in the dark
I been up in the office you might know him as Clark
Just when you thought the whole world fell apart, I
Take off the blazer loosen up the tie
Step inside the booth Superman is alive!
[Chorus:]
I will be... King of New York
I will be... New York
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
When Kingdom Come, You ready?
When Kingdom Come, Uh-Huh
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
I hear "Hurry up Hov" when I'm out in the public
These niggas like that you love it you be it your of it
You breathe it we need it bring it back for the hustlers
Had to dust off the hammer dance can't touch this
C'mon playboys bring your cars back out
Cause your boy Hov is back you know them broads comin' out
Got 'em dancin' on the banquett like they from Bankhead
F**k crystal so they ask what we drinkin'
I thought dudes remarks were rude okay
So I moved on to Dom, and Krug Rose
And it's much bigger issues in the world I know
But I first had to take care of the world I know
I'm from the bottom so I still feel it from the bottom
Underdog before my cake and still couldn't stop him
Flash Gordon when recordin' spark the light in the dark
Peter Park - Spiderman all I do is climb the charts, uh!
[Chorus]
I will be... King of New York
I will be... New York
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
When Kingdom Come, You ready?
When Kingdom Come, Uh-Huh
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
Just when they thought it was all over
I put the whole world on my back n broad shoulders the boy Hova
Who you know took over tracks like that
Guess what New York New York we back
And I ain't never been afraid of a drought
Since I was six/seventeen they gettin' money down south
Bout it-Bout it Master P
Ask the nigga Pimp C ask my homie Bun B
I run the streets the streets don't run we
Y'all run we chill still waters run deep
I repeat sing along with me
I run the streets the streets don't run we!
Ladies sayin' "where you been Superman?"
When niggas spendin' 10 million and media on my hands
The Bruce Wayne of the game have no fear
When you need me just throw your ROC signs in the air, yeah
[Chorus]
I will be... King of New York
I will be... New York
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
When Kingdom Come, You ready?
When Kingdom Come, Uh-Huh
Not only NYC I'm hip hop's savior
So after this flow you might owe me a favor
04 Show Me What You Got (03:43)
[Hook]
Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey
Uh Huh
Show me what you got lil mama
Show me what you got lil lady
Show me what you got shorty
Show me what you got baby
Hands up and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave
[verse]
Give the drummer some
I already gave the summer some
It’s the winter’s turn
Hovie Hov is the coldest
I’m just getting better with time
I’m like Opus…One
Young, no two alike like a snowflake
Ok, Show me what you got baby
Words is slurring engine purring
Mami frontin but I’m so determined
Shots of patron now she’s in a zone
I ain’t talking about the 2-3
Mami in the zone like the homie 2-3
Jordan or James
Makes no difference boo I’m ballin the same
I am the Mike Jordan of recording
You might want to fallback from recording
But you right it’s not important
So it forced him to go for the hype
For being brave and they applaud him
Well misery I will assure them
Aww baby just ignore them
Truth or dare mami listen and learn
I got a drop I just took off the top
It’s your turn”
Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey
Uh Huh
Show me what you got lil mama
Show me what you got lil lady
Show me what you got shorty
Show me what you got baby
Hands up and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave
Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey
Uh Huh
Show me what you got lil mama
Show me what you got lil lady
Show me what you got shorty
Show me what you got baby
Hands up and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave
[verse]
H.O.V.A.
Gold bottles of that ace of spade
Why even fool with these other guys? They all stingy
All these dudes know how to say is ‘gimmie’
Gimmie some ass, Gimmie some brain
Gimmie your number, gimmie your name
But if I get one night baby girl I swear
I’ll make you tell these other dudes gimmie got you here
I’ll take you shopping, take long trips
I’ll take the cork off, you can take sips
I’ll take you there, take my time
Take you clothes off, I’ll take off mine
Ma, show me what you got
Hovie in the spot tried to told you I was hot
Tell these other dudes it’s a wrap
Get the fuck out the thrown you clone
The King’s Back!
Yall got less than 2 months to get yall thing together. Good luck!
Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey
Uh Huh
Show me what you got lil mama
Show me what you got lil lady
Show me what you got shorty
Show me what you got baby
Hands up and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave
Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey
Uh Huh
Show me what you got lil mama
Show me what you got lil lady
Show me what you got shorty
Show me what you got baby
Hands up and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave (show em what you got)
and wave
Ladies and gentlemen the most incredible!
H.O...Uh Huh..H.O....Uh Huh is back!
Justin Blaze and the Blazettes
Rocafella Records. Dynasty Continues. Yall Die?
Uh Huh......Peace
07 30 Something (04:13)
[Intro]
You aint got enough stamps in ya passport to f**k with Young H-O
(heh-heh-heh)
International . . . uhh
Show young boys how to do this thing
The maturation of Jay-Z-Z . . heh
Check me out . . .
[Verse 1]
30's the new 20 nigga I'm so HOT STILL (Uhh)
Better broad, better automobile (Uhh)
Bet a yard (Naw!) Bet a hundred mil
Then by the songs end I'll probably start another trend
I know ev'ry thing you wann' do
I did all that by the age of twenty-one
By twenty-two, I had that brand new Ac' coupe
I guess you could say that my LEGEND just begun, I'm--
Young enough to know the right car to buy
Yet grown enough not to put rims on it
I got that six-duece with curtains, so you can't see me
And I didn't even have to put tints on it
I don't got the bright watch, I got the right watch
I don't buy out the bar, I bought the nightspot
I got the right stock, I-- got--
Stockbrokers that's movin' it like white tops
I know you like F**K! this is child abuse
Call DYFS, I must just be getting nicer
YOU young boys ain't ready fa' real
30's the new 20 nigga, I'm so HOT STILL
[Chorus 1]
I used to let my pants sag, not givin' a f**k
Baby boy, now I'm all grown up
I used to cruise the used car lot, put crome on the truck
Baby boy, now I'm all grown up
I used to play the block like dat (like dat)
I used to carry knots like dat (like dat)
Now I got Black cards, good credit and such
Baby boy 'cause I'm all grown up
[Verse 2]
30's the new 20 nigga, I'm on fire still
These young boys is like a fire drills (Uhh)
False alarms (Uhh), the next don (Naw)
He ain't got it (Uhh), on to the next one (Young)
Still here (Yeah), still here like Mike--
Gotta stop playin' with these children (Chea)
I'm a bully with the bucks (boots)
Don't let the patent leather shoes fool you young'n
I got the fully in the tux
That was my past, now I'm so grown up
I don't got one gun ON ME
Gotta a sum army to hire a gun army, get ya spun like laundry
And I'll be somewhere under palm trees, calmly listenin' to R&B
When we get the call he's, no longer wit' us, fire ya babysitters
You little f**ks fall back fa' real
30's the new 20 nigga, I'm so ho-stile
[Chorus 2]
I used to let my pants sag, not givin' a f**k
Baby boy, now I'm all grown up
I used to cruise the used car lot, put crome on the truck
Baby boy, now I'm all grown up
I used to wear my hoodie like that (like that)
Pile deep in a hooptie like that (like that)
Now I got Black cards, good credit and such
Baby boy 'cause I'm all grown up
[Verse 3]
(heh-heh-heh)
Ya'll roll blunts, I smoke Cubans all day
Ya'll youngin's chase, I'm Patronin' it straight
I like South Beach, but I'm in St. Tropez
Ya'll drink Dom, but not Rosé (hey)
Ya chick shop at the mall--
My chick burn it down Bergdorf's
Comin' back with Birkin bags
Ya chick is like, "What type of purse is that?"
I'm from the era where niggas don't snitch
You from the era where snitchin' is the shit
I'm afraid of the future (why?)
Ya'll respect the one who got shot, I respect the shooter
Ya'll go to parties to ice grill
I go to parties to party with nice girls
Young boys gotta chill
30's the new 20 nigga, Im so HOT STILL
[Chorus 3]
I used to let my pants sag, not givin' a f**k
Baby boy, now I'm all grown up
I used to cruise the used car lot, put crome on the truck
Baby boy, now I'm all grown up
Ya, we used to ball like that (like that)
Now we own the ball team, holla back (holla back)
Now I got Black cards, good credit and such
Baby boy 'cause I'm all grown up
11 Trouble (04:53)
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
When the singer Rob calls the police on me y'all niggaz ran out and copped the CD
see what I discovered is y'all snitch lovers I might speak, but I don't f**k with nobody
see What Doug, Jimmy & L.A. don't know, these youngins crossed the line with Hov, I'm letting it blow
had the papers writing stories like: "didn't they know, this what happen when they made that rapper CEO"
I know, its just a matter of time before the steady hate start to overflow then the leavey breaks
and my conscience go, you escape the rico, why throw everything away over ego?
you paper chasing, they paper hating, billionare Hov you on the pace to make it
f**k that exclamation comma quotations I love drama period
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
smelling like Petrone singing dirty rap songs, tip-toeing in the crib like 6 in the morn
every day its the same I said in blueprint that I'd never change its just a part of the game
respect me I'm a thug, I might cool out for a sec but expect me to bug its in my blood
but if my chick leave me she gonna leave me for something, she gone leave me 'cause Halie,
she ain't gonna leave me for nothing, picture me gettin up with something sleazy
something something so easy you could take out its beat like nothing something
soon as you finish cuttin you like leave me please, not me I need Angilina Jolize company,
so I ain't gonna make a move unless I got I got a plan b, that'll happen the day i have a baby by free,
not to say that anything is wrong with free, just to say that ain't nothing wrong with me
If my hands in the cookie jar, know one thing, ima take the cookie not leave my ring
if my hands in the cookie jar know one thing ima take (laughs) y'all know what I mean
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
unh, you little niggaz ain't deep you dumb, you niggaz ain't gangsta you gum, I chew little niggaz
hock-too, spew little niggaz, I can only view little niggaz like little niggaz
but in lieu of little niggaz trying to play that boy, I phew phew little niggaz with the latest toy
unlike you little nigga, I'm a grown ass man, big shoes to fill nigga, grown ass pants
prolly hustled with your pops, go ask your parents its apparent you're staring at a legend
who, put a few little niggaz in the they place before trying to eat without saying they grace before
blasphemous bastard get your faith restored you're viewing your version of the lord god
mc little nigga, applaud, or forever burn in the fire that I spit at y'all I rebuke you little nigga
the meek shall parish, ill roof you little nigga, Im a project terrorist, cute you little niggaz
think you in my class subsitute little niggaz soon feel my wrath, I mute you little niggaz
you a little nigga, I shall abuse you little nigga, I'm a ill nigga, now shoot you little niggaz
go somewhere and play, 'cause the day I loose to you little niggaz, no day
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
I try to pretend that I'm different but in the end we're all the same (all the same)
I pray to god, father forgive a nigga I'm never gonna change (gonna change)
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