Jay Z

[classthe_king]

Every rapper starts declining at some point in his career, it's inevitable.

[Accor]

Well, an athletic decline is inevitable with age, but that isn't necessarily true with musicians. Jay has always had a lazy (but still solid/good) album or two in between his classic/great albums. Vol. 2 and 3 after RD and Vol. 1, BP2 in between BP1 and TBA, Kingdom Come in between TBA and AG.

[Accor]

this might upset you as a fellow canadian m8 but basketball is my sport, have never followed NHL closely. I obviously watch our olympic games and some NHL playoff games tho

[classthe_king]

Well, an athletic decline is inevitable with age, but that isn't necessarily true with musicians. Jay has always had a lazy (but still solid/good) album or two in between his classic/great albums. Vol. 2 and 3 after RD and Vol. 1, BP2 in between BP1 and TBA, Kingdom Come in between TBA and AG.

ehhh idk even if he kept up his quality of lyricism there's still a drop off in how natural he sounds on a track flow and delivery wise compared to his early RD stuff with his AG stuff.

[Accor]

ehhh idk even if he kept up his quality of lyricism there's still a drop off in how natural he sounds on a track flow and delivery wise compared to his early RD stuff with his AG stuff.

I don't necessarily disagree (although I still think his flow is very natural on most of AG, most notably the album titled track), RD and TBA are probably his most natural sounding albums, rap wise. The point of my post though was that he'll have dips in album quality and come back with a great album. MCHG sounds lazy all over the place but I'd say it's better than both Vol 2. & 3.

I don't really think he's lost talent or skill, I just think he's become lazy. He doesn't sound like he's trying at all on MCHG.

[classthe_king]

Yeah that's true. Jay-Z is just an exception tho imo the other being Kanye who hasn't dropped off yet (unless it began with Yeezus)

even disregarding Jay-Z's sine curve quality of albums I think he lost some of his ability when you listen to the difference between tracks like these





It's a lot less fluid imo

[Accor]

I think it's mostly an artistic decision; Jay made a conscious decision to take some focus off of technical aspects/flow and Pray is a notable example of that, his flow on it definitely isn't as fluid as his early work. Pray is a great song though, I love the first verse.

Look.. mind state of a gangster from the 40's
Meets the business mind of Motown's Berry Gordy
Turned crack rock into a chain of 40/40's
Sorry my jewelry’s so gaudy
Slid into the party with my new pair of Mauris
America, meet the gangster Shawn Corey
Hey young world, wanna hear a story?
Close your eyes and you can pretend you're me
I'm cut from the cloth of the Kennedies
Frank Sinatra, having dinner with the Genovese
This is the genesis of a nemesis
Mother America's not witnessed since
The Harlem Renaissance birthed black businesses
This is the tale of lost innocence
As the incense burn and the turntables turn
And that Al Green plays
I see my mother's afro
As Mama taps her toes, as she rolls her J's
And my papa just left the house
In search of the killer of my Uncle Ray
And she's trying to calm her nerves
As I observe this is just one day
And what tomorrow has in store
We can never be sure, so all we can do is... pray



I don't think Yeezus signifies a decline though because of how experimental it is. I'd argue that it's a great album and accomplishes exactly what it's supposed to.

[Kill You]

:'''''''''''''(

Jesus Christ, I don't like a rapper that you like, get over it. I'm sure you hate most of my Top 10 so don't worry about it.

[classthe_king]

Nah it's just the fact that you're in every thread spewing your bullshit but when called out on it you have yet to even come remotely close to defending yourself.


@bigray, yeah I know you meant that song. Big got Jay on Jay's album but I think Jay got Big on Big's album

[Mathers]

Diamonds Are Forever, I Love The Dough and So Appalled.