The build up was totally crazy and with it not leaking, in these days, that’s a crazy accomplishment in itself. My one worry about the album was that it might be a little too over our (meaning regular people’s) head. I mean, they don’t have our type of issues. We might not be able to relate. Im gonna keep it short and get to it.
1) No Church for The Wild (ft Frank Ocean and The Dream) – Get start, very mood building. Like a thriller movie. Me and my visual mind, I see songs, I make my own videos. It sounds dark, but paints the picture of how can you put fear in a monster. Someone who doesn’t fear anything. One of two good looks for Frank Ocean on the album.
2) Lift Off (ft Beyonce) – Has a great beginning, a nice build up and message, I just get lost with the execution. It feels as if this was a reference track. Kanye mumbles through the first verse. It was cool for Ryan Leslie to speak Gibberrish, but we been waiting too long for this Ye’. Open your mouth. I live the way Jay rides the beat (pause), but that’s how I feel about most of the album.
3) N-words in Paris – The starts of with, as it sounds like, a sound bite of Blades of Steel, right into a simple beat that builds in to a nod-inducing, bass thumping track. This is the one track I gotta hear in the club. “Ball so hard MF’s wanna fine me, that sh—Cra.. “ will be repeated through the night when this is played. Its full of clever quips that will be seen on Twitter time lines til the next Jay Z album drops. I like the competitive spirit between Jay and Ye' after the beat changes. They seem like that going back and forth on who is gonna kill it. Jay -“I got that hot B----- in my home”.. Ye – “You know how many hot B-----es I own?”
4) Otis – This where I feel they did what we NEEDED to hear in a collaborative album. We need some back and forth. We need some Run DMC type rhyming. We wanna feel like they in the same booth, ready to one-up each other. This sample is dope in my opinion. I just don’t like that crazy James Brown screaming at the end
5) Gotta Have It – But that screaming goes right into a James Brown (Don’t Tell A Lie About Me..) sampled beat we they spitting back and forth about how hard it is out here for a baller. Sure it is. The beat is the best thing about this one.
6) New Day – This one has a common Nina Symone “Feeling Good” sample that the RZA chopped up wonderfully. This make me was just drive with the sunroof open and ride. This is an ode to their unborn sons. Kanye exclaims that he would never let him live the life that he has. He wants him to be loved way more than his father has been. Jay states he has already ruined his life because of his sin and fame. He would want to do the simple things, like go to the barber shop and share a drink. He also pledges to never leave him. GREAT record.
7) That’s My B----h – This one has a very European feel to it to me. The beat will have to fist pumpin, head nodding and breaking. You can hear the sample of “Apache” during the break down and when Charlie Wilson ( I think it is) comes in, it just takes the song to 10 to me. Shout to Jay repping for the ladies of color on his verse. How many times do you hear Wylona referenced in a rap. I know B respects his props to her in this one.
8) Welcome to the Jungle – This one is produced by Swizz Beat and this one is more poetic then the other songs. The beat isn’t want really catches you. You expect more from Swizz Beatz but they do the beat more justice than expected. They speak of how the streets are a jungle. Jay cleverly speaks on how the the jungle has taken some of favorite legends (Big, Pac and Pimp C) and how we gotta beware of the streets.
9) Who Gone Stop Me – This is another euro, dub-step inspired sampled song that is crazy in some good speakers. I love how the they are changing and evolving their music throughout the whole album. This is a “Cant Stop, Wont Stop” anthem type song. The beat changes and sounds like a machine factory type sound. I don’t completely like it, but as a fan I respect it. Since I been listening to this type of music lately, I know what they are trying to do. Jay floats through all the beat changes like a pro tho.
10) Murder to Excellence- This is also speaking on how the streets are killing us. Ye speaks on his hometown warzone and compares it to Iraq. We all know how crazy the Chi-town has been. I love how they don’t ignore these things. At least musically. Very powerful song coupled with the LaLa’s of the kids in the background. Very strong.
11) Made In America (Ft Frank Ocean) – The Second good look for the Oddfuture rep. This one is a GREAT song. Ye speaks on his promise to his mom be great and to make it in America . Jay speaks on his grown from selling dope, to dope lines.
12) Why I love You – This is definitely Jay’s vent for the issues he has had with Dame and Beans.
13) Illest MFer Alive – comes after an almost 3 min break in music. One of the coldest track in my opinion. Seems like a answer to Waynes “Best Rapper Alive”. Jay and Ye spit quoteables through the WHOLE song. “Got staples on my D--- , Why? Fu—ing CENTERFOLDs”. Its simple and fun to me. Some times you just wanna talk wreckless. This is the one. Jay speaks that he is shooting towards Beatles fame since he already beat Elvis’ record.
Overall I give this a 4 outta 5. I’ve had it on repeat since I heard it. I find new lines or figure out new concepts each time. I like that. I think the music is progressive and I don’t think it sounds like any other type of American rap out right now. I think they took and chance on these songs, and didn’t fail too many times to me. Classic? Time will tell.
SUBMITTED BY @DJDURL
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