Idolator’s Record-Review Round-Up: The Critics Have A Field Day With Jay

Brian Raftery | November 22, 2006 2:10 am
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– “But while his voice still carries an ideal mixture of imperial confidence and sang-froid–dipping into a mock-plaintive whisper when he wants to deliver a particularly stinging line–the lyrics here land with a thud…Kingdom Come is the worst of Jay-Z’s 11 solo albums.” [Slate] – “…he stops himself when he hits on real, thorny emotions — delivering his Hurricane Katrina eulogy, ‘Minority Report,’ through crocodile tears — and delivers what’s familiar. Packed with threats to younger rappers and reminders that he once dealt crack and still likes his women spicy (though he never admits to sneaking out on ‘B’), Kingdom Come could be titled Cred, Come Back.” [LA Times] – “He’s grown up, alright. With the energy Jay brings to most of these tracks, you’d think 30 was the new 60. His patented whispery change-up is used more than ever before, and often makes him sound like Dr. Moreau-era Marlon Brando when all we needed was a little Apocalypse Now. We didn’t expect the young, brash Jigga, but we never thought Jay would be flashing AARP brochures in our faces and dropping Gwyneth Paltrow’s name in a rap song.” [Pitchfork]

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