Its almost been two weeks since Jay-Z, Shawn Carter, Jiggaman, or whatever you want to call him released Magna Carta Holy Grail (MCHG). I was one of the thousands that stayed up all night listening to Power1051 and Hot97 as they played the album the first night of its release. Once I got the album on my phone I gave it the "in the ride" test and that's when I was truly able to give my opinion on the album.
Let's start with the intro.....
The song "Holy Grail" starts off with Justin Timberlake singing the hook and Justin took us all to church with the amazing vocals. The hook written by The Dream explains the struggles celebrates go thru and also explains the price of fame being in front of a camera daily. Jay jumps on the track and further goes into detail about fame and how it can suck you into a world you do not want to be involved in.
"Bright lights is enticing
But look what it did to Tyson
All that money in one night
30 mill for one fight
Soon as that money blows
All the Pigeons take flight"
The double entendre with Tyson, money, and pigeons was clever and also true. Hov also talks about how fame will not allow him to take his daughter for a walk, he's breaking down how the life he lives is a gift and curse (no pun intended).
Following the intro "Holy Grail" is my personal favorite song off the album "Picasso Baby". Produced by Timberland this song has a mixture of 90's hip-hop with a twist of modern day rap. Hov did his usual, talked his talk with cocky rich talk. My favorite part of this song is when the beat switches and Hov takes it back to his early 2000's flow. Heavy breathing and riding the beat like no other. The double entendre's are also on this song as well.
"And you blow I'm still the man to watch
Hublot on my left hand or not"
Moving towards the body of the album with songs such as "Somewhereinamercia", "Crown", and "Heaven". Jay doesn't skip a beat bringing up current events such as Miley Cyrus and the latest addition to his resume being a sport agent. Hov also speaks on the suspicion of him being in the Illuminati on the song "Heaven".
That's a topic I wont speak on, I don't need those problems.
The body of the album is solid, great flow, delivery, and the speaking of the current topics let's us know that he pays attention to the blog sites.
As we move to towards the end of the album we have songs such as "Jay-Z Blue" and "La Familia". The song "Jay-Z Blue" he talks about being a father and how life has changed now that he's a dad. The song features a Notorious BIG sample and Hov talks about how is father wasn't around growing up. He touched on how without his father being in his life he fears that he will not make for a great father. The song "La Familia" Hov gets back to his boss talk and this is the song he throws a diss at Lil Wayne.
"Niggas wanna kidnap wifey
Good luck with that bruh
You must wanna hide ya whole family
What you think we wearing black for"
Overall I believe this album is very solid. Jay gives up great content, a few party records, and a few sneak disses (something Jay always does). He gives us the Lil Wayne sneak diss on "La Familia" he also gives us a Ma$e and R. Kelly sneak diss on the song "BBC". I love how there aren't many features on the album, you have JT, Rick Ross, Frank Ocean, Beyonce, and Nas that's it.
Is this album a classic? I think its too early to call it that but what I can say is that this is one of my favorite Jay-Z albums behind: Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint 1, Black Album, and American Gangster.
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Written by Rell Mac (@Rell_Mac)
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