Jay-Z (Kingdom Come)

[Slim Zaddy]

Released November 20, 2006
Recorded 2006
Genre East Coast hip hop Mafioso rap
Length 59:21
Label Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam
Producer Jay-Z (Exec.)
Dr.Dre (Co-exec.)
B-Money, Just Blaze, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, DJ Khalil, The Neptunes, Scyience, Swizz Beatz, Chris Martin


Overview:
Kingdom Come was the first Jay-Z album released since 2003's The Black Album, which had been widely hyped as Jay-Z's "retirement" album. The video for that album's hit single "99 Problems" had ended with Jay-Z going down in a hail of gunfire. Jay-Z stated in interviews that that scene represented the "death" of Jay-Z and the "rebirth" of Shawn Carter. Because of this, Jay-Z had originally planned to release Kingdom Come under the name of Shawn Carter, but decided in the end to release it under his more-famous stage name.

Jay-Z's second single, "Lost One" (produced by Dr. Dre) addresses Jay's split with Roc-A-Fella co-founder Damon Dash, the death of his nephew, and supposedly his relationship with Beyoncé.

Past collaborators Kanye West and particularly Just Blaze made significant contributions to the album's production. This is the first time Dr. Dre has played a substantial role in a Jay-Z album, as he produced four beats and mixed every song on the album. Relatively unknown newcomers B-Money, Scyience, and DJ Khalil also contributed to the album's production, as well as Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin.

Kingdom Come's opening track "The Prelude" features the additional vocals and the return of Pain in da Ass who often featured on some of Jay-Z's earlier album introductions impersonating characters from movies such as Scarface, GoodFellas, and Carlito's Way. This sample music in the background is also used on the Quasimoto track, "Axe Puzzles" off the 2000 The Unseen.

The Album received positive reviews from most critics.

Carl Crawford uses "Dig a Hole" as one of his entrance songs when he comes up to bat. FOX used an instrumental version of "Oh My God" in a promo leading up to the 6th season premiere of 24.


Track listing
1 "The Prelude" S. Carter, B. Hughes, M. James B-Money 2:44
2 "Oh My God" S. Carter, J. Smith, G. Allman Just Blaze 4:18
3 "Kingdom Come" S. Carter, J. Smith Just Blaze 4:24
4 "Show Me What You Got" S. Carter, J. Smith, J. Boxley, C. Ridenhour, E. Sadler, M. McEwan, J. Pate Just Blaze 3:43
5 "Lost One" S. Carter, A. Young, M. Batson, D. Parker, C. Payne Dr. Dre Chrisette Michele 3:44
6 "Do U Wanna Ride" S. Carter, J. Stephens, K. West Kanye West John Legend 5:29
7 "30 Something" S. Carter, A. Young, M. Batson, D. Parker Dr. Dre 4:13
8 "I Made It" S. Carter, K. Abdul-Rahman, D. Winslow DJ Khalil 3:28
9 "Anything" S. Carter, P. Williams, U. Raymond The Neptunes Usher, Pharrell 4:22
10 "Hollywood" S. Carter, S. Smith, R. Perry Syience Beyoncé 4:18
11 "Trouble" S. Carter, A. Young, M. Batson, C. Pope, D. Parker Dr. Dre 4:53
12 "Dig a Hole" S. Carter, K. Dean, S. Garrett Swizz Beatz Sterling Simms 4:11
13 "Minority Report" S. Carter, A. Young, M. Batson, D. Parker, S. Smith, D. Fumo, E. DeCurtis Dr. Dre Ne-Yo 4:34
14 "Beach Chair" S. Carter, C. Martin, R. Simpson Chris Martin Chris Martin 5:09

iTunes, Napster, and UK bonus track
15 "44 Fours" (Bonus track) S. Carter, D. Willis 3:08

Music Videos:
1."Show Me What You Got" S. Carter, J. Smith, J. Boxley, C. Ridenhour, E. Sadler, M. McEwan, J. Pate Just Blaze 3:43

Credits:
Jason Agel Assistant Engineer
Kenneth Alexander "Bam" Drums
June Ambrose Stylist
Angelo Aponte Engineer
Mark Batson Keyboards, Producer
David Brown Engineer, Tracking
Jon Buckland Guitar
Tim Carr Assistant
Shawn Carter Executive Producer
Chrisette Michele Performer
Sean Cruse Bass, Guitar
Tony Dawsey Mastering
Andrew Dawson Engineer
Larrance Dopson Piano
Lamar Edwards Organ (Hammond)
Jacob Gabriel Assistant Engineer
Terese Joseph A&R
Doug Joswick Package Production
Just Blaze Drums, Keyboards, Producer, Mixing
Ari Levine Assistant Engineer
Anthony Mandler Photography
Louis Marino Creative Director
Chris E. Martin Performer
Medi Med Engineer
Shaun Mykals Vox Organ
Dawaun Parker Keyboards
Che Pope Keyboards
Robert "Roomio" Reyes Assistant Engineer
Daniel Seeff Bass
Sterling Simms Performer
Swizz Beatz Producer
Patrick Viala Mixing
Ryan West Engineer, Mixing
Dontae Winslow Organ, Arranger, Horn, Wurlitzer, Vox Organ
Mashica Winslow Arranger

Limited Edition
The limited edition version of the CD was only released in the U.K and Ireland.It features not only the bonus track but also a live concert of Jay-Z in Britain and the making and behind the scenes footage of several videos.

There was also a limited special edition released in the U.S. that was available as the original explicit and an edited or clean version. This version contained the original album, and a bonus DVD with concert type of footage. It came packaged in a slip case, with a booklet that contained an exclusive cover.

Sales and certifications
Canada Platinum [1]100,000
United States Platinum [2]. 1,856,000

Charts&Awards
Swedish Albums Chart 45
U.S. Billboard 200 1
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1
U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums 1
Canadian Albums Chart 6

My Review
The album is classic Jay Z; articulate, well produced, positive and very professional. It has all the elements to have wide appeal and yet still sticks to genuine hip hop formula. In fact there's not one bad track on the album and shows Jay Z is still top of his game.Jay Z continues to prove he is a master lyricist and continues to deliver excellent lyrics in his own unique and well delivered way.This is a significant album of our time in that hip hop is the biggest selling music at the moment and Jay Z is at the spearhead of that. and with the production with DR.dre the legend in producing music , so i guess that's enough for you to know that this album is way sick .

[Slim Zaddy]

good review, very well written

thanks chet , can't wait for his new album