While, it would be convenient to sit on the Lieberman analogy, realize that Jay-z has in fact sold records in the past (recall the Black Album). Obviously, those numbers pale in comparision to the eventual figures that KC will sell but this is not because of a shift in fan-base. Hip Hop asked for KC, more than Jay felt an artistic urge to record. I think the problem here is that Jay, as an artist and as a man, is growing older than Hip Hop and has to find a way to include AARP subscriptions along with his albums. Hip Hop needs to grow with Jay. Try telling that to Jimmy.

RD

Posted by: RD at November 27, 2006 7:01 PM

As always critics look stupid when they comment on things they have no idea on. let me quote U::

""The people who buy music are the people who don't know how to download it, so they don't have any way of knowing what people on the internet are saying about the new Jay-Z album, and they probably wouldn't care anyway.""

U go by what people on the internet say to judge the CD. How stupid!! Most of us downloaded the cd and went and bought tuesday. Most of U reporters sample what the internet is saying and then jump on the bandwagon while forgetting most folks online have no idea what hiphop is or they are under 18.

Now all of a sudden the CD is selling and most critics are actually saying the album is growing. ahahaah How pathetic.

Posted by: Blueprint at November 27, 2006 7:51 PM

Hey, Hovi's growing. We should let him grow, and if he's gonna keep growing in this direction, we should let him go to, perhaps to Vegas where he can entertain all his rich friends and leave hip hop for the fierce and hungry.

Posted by: Flint at November 27, 2006 8:47 PM

Man oh man. You internet dudes kill me. Fortunately I'm an internet dude myself so I see right through your laughable attempts to out-do Jay at his own game. Save the eliteist poli-babble for msnbc, homey. Since you failed to actually mention any of the tracks on this "flat and lifeless" album, allow me to retort.

"30 Something" is revolutionary; a brilliant follow-up to the Black album's "Change Clothes". "Lost Ones" is equally as game-changing; maybe you didn't hear him (a) seamlessly quiet his long-tome friend and business partner, (b) lament his household problems with a household-name girlfriend and (c) mourn the death of loved one all on the SAME TRACK. Don't even get me started about "Trouble" where his Brad and Angelina metaphors, targeted criticism for hip hop journalism, and open shots at Lil Wayne-esque rappers simply astonish the ear.

The radio singles are what's keeping the register ringing my good man... get over yourself. The shard of credibility you had evaporated with your asinine remark about Jim Jones "wiping the floor" with Jay-Z.

From the intro on this album is brilliant; with the exception of the Usher joint (which is good and horrible). Toss in his introspective take on Katrina and the eclectic production, and this album ranks right below the Blueprint, Reasonable, and the Black Album on dude's list of Jay-Z classics.

The day when someone would pull your card was bound to come. Sorry to have to be the one to do it. A wise man once said: Men Lie, women lie; numbers don't.

Posted by: bsimsphd at November 27, 2006 9:56 PM

Tom, I think yer political analogy, though apt, is incorrect. Jay isn't Lieberman, he's Richard Nixon. A guy who refused to accept anything but a crushing defeat of all his 'doubters', who was so out-of-touch with the general populace that his enormous sense of self-entitlement meant to him and the cronies who surrounded him that they could get away with all sorts of bullshit (for Nixon it was Watergate, for Jay it was not one but two albums with R.Kelly) and the public should be grateful for it or just shut the fuck up, the media's opinions mean nothing and they shouldn't be trusted (the other posts here prove that out), and, above all, never forget that my 'people' and I are rich, and you are poor. He even floated a fake 'retirement', although sadly he never said 'You won't have Jay-Hova to kick around anymore'.
I can't fathom why a young hip hop fan would ever want to buy, download or listen to this dreary batch of narcissism run amok (even in a medium like hip-hop which pretty much lives and breathes on the idea that nothing's worth nothing if it ain't better than yours ), but then, as history also reminds us, Nixon won in '72 by about 500 million votes. My guess is that a lot of those sales last week are to grandmothers buying CDs for their grandkids who they see once a year and who tell them they like 'rap', so that when they go into the stores the clerks say 'well, there's a new Jay-z record'. 'Oh,' says Grandma 'He looks nice, I saw his commercial with Jeff Gordon. I'll buy that.' There's gonna be a whole lot of kids out there with about six copies of 'Kingdom Come' in their stockings this Christmas. Admittedly, none of those CDs were bought at Tower Records.
I've also noticed the lack of 'managerial oversight' at Tower lately. I imagine in the last few days you'll hear nothing but GG Allin, David Allen Coe and old Too Short records. That'll show 'em.

Posted by: CharlieKane at November 27, 2006 10:41 PM

I read your blog all the time, and I quite often I agree with the vast majority of what you have to say, but I gotta tell you: You're way the fuck off on this one.

Kingdom Come is not just "Not a bad album..." it's a great album.

After the deafening silence of your grand total of what, two articles during the lead-up to the release of the coming out of retirement (fake though it was) of arguably the greatest rapper of our time, I was really starting to wonder what a tremendous piece of shit this album must be. Imagine my surprise when I heard it and found it to be amazing. Not just "not bad," but great.

I find it mystifying that after hearing that album you even had the balls to dedicate an entire post to fucking Jim Jones, who seems to be a nice enough guy, but is an utterly forgettable excuse for a rapper. Bredrin, yu fi do betta dan dat (translation: Dude, you're better than that.)

What's worse is that you shit on this album, but try as I might, I can't find a column where you actually sit down and take the album to task. You think it blows, ok, fine. Tell me why it blows.

I mean, you say a lot of back-handed shit about how he's lost the arrogance we all know and love, and you question how a soon-to-be-unemployed Tower Records employee feels about Jay rapping about sophisticated tastes and expensive vacation destinations. There're so many things wrong with that statement that I hardly know where to begin. You mean to tell me that Little Wayne's one your favorite rappers, and now you have a problem w/ somebody rapping aboout expensive shit? Woooorrrrrrddddddd?

Great art is often inspired things seemingly unattainable by the artist, that's why so many great works of art have been created by ugly shy dudes inspired by the hot chicks they'll never bang. Likewise, rappers have aways rapped about extravagance and materialism, but here comes a dude who really lives like that, and now you take umbrage? And furthermore, for Jay-z to rap about being broke, selling coke, hugging the block or otherwise thugging it would be something he's never been; insincere.

You need to write a post breaking the album down and saying what you think. There are people out here who value your opinion. You owe it to us.

p.s.- the music business is just that...a business. Yes I know how to download albums, but when someone I respect (Outkast, Scarface, Jay-Z, Mos-Def, Trick, Beans, etc...) drops something I go buy it...usually on the first day. Because if I don't, the people who pay money to make albums won't make them anymore, and I'll be forced to listen to Chingy on the radio all Goddamn day.

Posted by: rjd at November 28, 2006 3:00 AM

Wow. This is unbelievable. How can someone trash an album without giving any viable rationale for such criticism. Jay-Z will be 37 years old in a week. He is the richest and arguably the greatest rapper of all time. He has 10 platinum albums. He is the President of the most important label in Hip Hop History. He has the "hottest chick in the game wearing his chain." That's right, HOV. A man who can call himself Jay-Hova and NO ONE takes him to task for the spriritual reference. What do you expect him to make, a Chicken Noodle Soup Remix? D'Evils Part 10? Can't Knock The Hustle Part 10? He's been there, done that, done it better, had that, got mad at it and don't want it no more. Kingdom Come is a grown man album. I bought 2 at midnight Monday/Tuesday. One to play, one to keep. This album, in my opinion, will be like great painters--Not truly appreciated until it (they) are gone. As for Jim Jones--I refuse to waste anymore words on that "wiping the floor" remark. Listen to Lost Ones and catch the first 4 bars: "I heard mu'fuc**s sayin' they made Hov/made Hov say, "Ok, so, Make another Hov/Ni**as wasn't playin' they day role/so we parted ways like Ben and J. Lo" CLASSIC.

Posted by: giovanni at November 28, 2006 10:37 AM

I can't believe that guy "pulled your card", Tom. I didn't even see him do it, but he said he did, so I guess he must've. Maybe it was that part about the shard evaporating or whatever. I don't know what that means, but it sounds damning.

Posted by: BubsDepot at November 28, 2006 11:19 AM

I don't like Jay-Z's rapping, but i do respect the business he has mastered. He is a commercial rapper. I don't think he is a great hip-hop mc.

Posted by: dirty dish cloth at November 28, 2006 11:35 AM

if you say that you're into rap, you like good lyrics, and that this is a good album, then you're either a liar or a jay z stan.

"you know why they call the projects the projects, because it's a project"

yes, this and many other lyrics not worthy of being quoted are strewn throughout kingdome come. admit it people, it's a lazy album.

Posted by: AZ at November 28, 2006 11:52 AM

Tom is right, it's a terrible album... now if only he could apply this same objectivity to his (and the rest of the blogging world's) darling mancrushes, Malice and Pusha T. Just remember, folks, it's not about coke, it's about the aftermath of a coke-infused existence. RIiiiiiiiight

Posted by: tray at November 28, 2006 2:11 PM

Tom, thank you for your simple minded bemused article on the Kingdom Come album.

I feel that although this album is not as crisp and scintillating as the beginning of the Chris Martin produced track, Beach Chair of the same album, still it is far from 'thoroughly mediocre.' I base this on critical evaluation of his lyrical wizardry, metaphorical assasinations,creativity, individual song craftmanship,lyrical content and artist growth.

The second point is that you mislead people in implying that the minimum wage person cannot have anything else in common with Jay because of his expensive taste lyrics. The same point you suggest is the same reason why that person may relate to Jay, because it's not all about materialism in this world, neither forus all. Also, inspiration commonly comes from achievements of a higher status whether spiritual, political,livelihood or otherwise rather than mundane self pity wallowing and whinging of unchanging dire hardships.

Even you have to admit that it is a helluva mindless generalisation to postulate that only internet inaccessible numbskulls will be buying the album. How critical and analytical is that? What stats is that based on, given the range of CD buyers and musical taste? Have you beeen to a Jay Z concert to have assessed the crowd as composed of the blind buying uninterneted persons? I certainly saw a wide range of potential buyers as the audience at a recent show at Royal Albert Hall, London. A lot of educated whitecollar cityworkers were present there including myself.

One area you could have scored a point with me is the paragraph alluding to lyrical content. Unfortunately, you seem to equate a hiphop artist's sharpness and being full of life with egotistical single minded rapping. That's the same dubious and empty lyrical content that genuine deep thinking hiphop fans disdain and are frankly unimpressed by. It makes for cannon fodder for our political powers tnat be intent on crushing this black music. Yet for you the artist then comes alive because he can cleverly spit words talking about his imaginary gangstar acts, jail times, drugs and drug paraphernilia, objectified females and other senseless braggadocio.

I am critical of hiphop's lyrical content because it needs to strike deeper to reach bonafide fans like me and inspire true black emancipation and inspiration. Yes, we need more introspective and thoughtful work and for me that's part of Jay Z evolving as he puts it and having a different and more firm grip on life and its complex true meaning. Why don't you allow him to grow in this right. This has taken him on that emotional trip to Africa and the Water For Life humanitarian efforts.

In summary, Kingdom Come is not quite as crisp as Black Album, and not as hustler epitomising as Reasonable Doubt but still,a sterling piece of work from a 36 year old who continues to grow and innovate. (now if only he could innovate and influence his community to discard use of the N word- long overdue)I doubt if he has lost many old fans whilst he has also gained some. Tom, you clearly need to reflect on how you critically evaluate pieces of work in the future.

Posted by: youngmun at November 28, 2006 7:06 PM

I need to respond on a couple of things. first, being the reasoning of why store clerks at tower continue to stay on. coming from a virgin store that has recently shut down, i can tell you exactly why. because, in the end, its not about corporate or how much money they aren't paying you or about the guilt of pushing overpriced cd's, its about love of the music and being in an invironment where people still appreciate that. you have to love what ¥ou do, otherwise why do it.

second, people need to get over what Jay has done in the past. people seem to forget that music is about progress and growth. this ablbum is not old jay-z but in reality it is. its not about beef or corners or guns, its about where he is now. and for an artist to be able to come out and put that on wax and not apologize for it is amazing these days. look at lupe fiasco, who is as far as i'm concerned the best lyricist right now. you have to move with the times and maybe jim jones is what is expected of hip hop, look at the image he tries to portray, nothing of what hip hop has been defined as. with his co-opting of punk-ish style, and who could never outlast someone like jay-z.

third, hov is a business man. and he knows how to run a business. he's an intelligent man who knows how to play the game, and he did. instead of looking at this album and saying what it isn't, you should be looking at this and saying what it is. an album that is thoughtful and complete (which is rare in music now and which contributes to the downloading), and that brings in a larger audience. its embracing the audiences it already had but never knew about.

hip hop is changing as it should. not because its hip hop and has a reputation to maintain, but because its music and thats what it does. the world changes, so should music, whatever genre.

so everyone can hate on this album because its not the Jigga we all know and love, but people change and so does their music. what you should be asking yourself is why you don't like this album. because you want people to be talking about the same issues all of their lives? because you're in the same place when blueprint came out? because artists should never evolve/adapt to the constantly changing environment? its not selling out (regardless of the bud commercial) its being where you are, the person that you are.

whether you like it or not, hip hop is changing. your boys like jim jones won't last. truth and genuiness always do, look at 2pac and biggie. Jay came truthfully and genuine on this as he has always done, so to disrespect that is disrespecting music. i heard this album before it was out and i could've burned it, but i didn't because i respect artistry and the right to do so. so i pay for that.

accept evolution of people and the way that we connect to each other, through music, image, etc. and maybe you'll have a better understanding of what this album is. its not you against them anymore. and i'm sorry you can't see that. music brings us all together (cliche?), male, female, black, white, we all have the struggle. its not about reaching outside but realizing most people have that struggle,regardless of whether you want to believe that or not. let jay be jay, you don't have to listen to it, but again, numbers don't lie.

Posted by: hbomed at November 29, 2006 12:50 AM

i been out most of the week, so i guess i missed the shit storm this post led to. all i got to say is yall need to calm the fuck down and get off jay's dick. album ain't bad at all, it ain't a classic. i give the man a B, maybe a B+. that's still better then most of the garbage out right now, and pretty damn good to boot. i wish the man was more lyrical than he chose to be, and i wish he'd talk more about the man he has become at this point in his life than the shit he got. if we crownin this man the king, we allowed to have high expectations.

Posted by: coqui at November 30, 2006 3:05 PM

I hd a problem with the comment: The people who buy music are the people who don't know how to download it, so they don't have any way of knowing what people on the internet are saying about the new Jay-Z album, well I do have access to all and it didnt deter me I am just thinking why is it that if you rap you still have to keep this street mentality up? The whole goal of having a job is to advance and as soon as a rapper advances everyone wants to frown down. I think it is intelligent to move on to higher things and be able to talk/rap about it and have people learn that the world does not revolve around living in the hood there are greener pastures out there and it can be achieved.
The album was good no, not the same hungry Jay-Z, but the new improved Jay-Z who now has a different agenda and that is to teach that a person does not have to stay stuck in the same situation, it is okay to move further along in life. Why rap about making millions and selling crack if you are not? If you are making millions then you are not on the block anymore So please quit hatin on the man's album and success

Posted by: mzangee at December 1, 2006 2:27 AM