Kingdom Come
After three years of running Def Jam’s “business, man” and the occasional, often uninspired cameo, Jay-Z returns with a strong stack of beats and rhymes. Oh, and attitude – he *has* read *The Art of War*, after all. *Kingdom Come* brings plenty of wisdom of the sort that even Jack Welch might learn from. Especially “Y’all respect the one who got shot, I respect the shooter” (from “30 Something”). Despite that and the expected nods to *Scarface* and *GoodFellas*, however, Jay’s true state of mind seems attuned to a certain caution; he’s glad to pass on what he knows, but he isn’t really here to stir stuff up. “Oh My God” references his world tour and the social consciousness it tweaked, even acknowledging that his lyrical topics are somewhat limited. (It’ll be interesting to hear what he has to say after he’s further digested his recent experiences “down in Africa.”) But his ebullience and flow are still on, as if he’s relieved to be back to the real calling after long days at the office.
The legendary rapper formally ends his retirement with a record that attempts to negotiate what the world's biggest and best hip-hop star is supposed to do on the mic as he approaches 40.
<p><strong>Carl Wilkinson</strong> salutes the return of the hip hop kingpin whose friendship with Chris Martin hasn't dulled his spittin' skills .</p>
If all of Jigga’s future records sound as labored and flat as Kingdom Come, do we really need him back?
Oh, progress, what have you wrought?The farther we come, it seems, the more we disagree.