I prefer his more introspective s***, I admit I was wrong lol

All good. I probably never would’ve got into Jay-Z as a kid if it weren’t for the fun, less introspective music he made at the time

I feel that. I just grew up liking in depth stories and lyricism since I used to read so much as a kid lmfao even if I didn’t understand half of what the nigga was talking about at the time 😂

I mean I liked those too but the music that was played on the radio didn’t exactly promote that side in the south lol

It was a f*** you album and I enjoyed it very much. Idk if ppl were expecting another Blueprint or something

When I listen to it now some of it sounds like WTT throwaways imo lol that’s part of why I like half the album though

In retrospect it’s kinda weird that Ye wasn’t involved. Bruh had Pharrell, Timbo, Swizz, Hit Boy, and Trav involved

He was tryna get in his art bag too. Made some references on the album. Clearly biting Ye with the cover. Then there was that performance art vid with Marina Abramovic which was kinda lame. Had Drake throwing shots talking about it lol

Album is absolutely ass. Can’t believe Hov think this was his 4th best.

when I 1st heard that Picasso Baby snippet in that commercial hooooly
also On The Run deserves more credit
but in retrospect the album is aight

It’s an average album to me

FUTW still hard to me. I like Heaven, Oceans, and Nickels and Dimes. Somewhereinamerica grew on me over the years no lie

Picasso Baby used to be one of my favorites but now I listen and feel like the production carries the track. He was ok on there, wasn’t horrible lol

Beach is Better runtime still bothers me

Everything else kinda whatever to me or it’s just straight up trash

think it says less about their approaches and more about where they were in their lives at the time

two extremely different points in their respective careers

1. Worst rapping of Jay's entire career.

2. Underwhelming production for half of the album even with the big names involved.

3. Not many interesting song concepts.

4. Tom Ford is one of the most dated/mid singles from Jay.

If it wasn't a Jay album but a Ross or 2Chainz one, people would rightfully call it out for being mid. But because it's Jay, niggas wanna make excuses and rewrite history to cement his GOAT status.

Holy Grail is one of the cringiest songs ever.

It wasn't terrible, but it was very mediocre.

Jay Z dropped 4:44. You don't have to keep copping pleas for MCHG.

Jay Z chasing after acceptance from white elites.

Kanye pissed off feeling he's better than the white elites and their fashion houses.

all bad songs that aged poorly

Tired, uninspired and inferiror derivatives of what had already been done before

and thats just talking about the production

Not a bad album, had some bangers. But it’s kinda boring at the same time

not even imo

jay with the samsung deal almost felt like he was swindling them and the charts w an instant #1. had nothing left to prove and was coasting on an album w solid and expensive ass beats rapping about how rich he was

kanye was still insanely hungry and hit a glass ceiling in his career and also following up one of the most acclaimed albums of all time but still felt underestimated. you can feel the anger. jay hadn’t been in a position like that in like 10 years lol

What is with you guys and this album lmao?

I don’t get it

he ruined tom ford with that woat flow

Jay gave Ye a whole album worth of material w/ WTT, wanted to move away from leaning on him so blatantly heavy while Ye was on the Yeezus vibe/era was really it. Plus, this was when they started floating out their “beef” to keep them in the media cycle convo.

Criminal that Ye wasn’t BUT FWMYKIGI verse WAS technically from Living So Italian and Trav prod/verse on Crown made up for it. So the fans at the time gave no f***s

GOAT SUMMER:

Good Kid, NWTS, MCHG, & Yeezys in a four month run, f***in ridiculous

YOUNG!