My Review of Jay-Z's, Kingdom Come

I knew that retirement thing was a sham and wouldn't last long. Jordan pulled our leg on that one, one many times and now the term retirement seems to really mean "give me a year or two". So when Jay announced his, I rolled my eyes up in my head. He was leaving the game at the top, just having released The Black Album, which was hailed as one of his best. The streets begged him to stay and people took bets on how long this was going to last. He was then made president of Def Jam and with the beautiful, talented Beyonce on his arm, he seemed to truly have it all. Not bad for man who started off as a drug dealer living in the infamous Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, NY. So many young rappers tried to call him out and I guess Jigga had enough. He stepped out the office and into the booth and gave us Kingdom Come, one of the best hip-hop albums on his resume, if not the best.

This album brings to mind grown-ups, suits, elegant cars and cigars. It's an adult album and those not mature enough will not be able to appreciate it. Jay tells a story of a man who has exchanged his baggy Roc-a-Wear jeans for Ermenegildo Zegna suits. He reminds us why he's at the top and just how hard he worked to get there. He weaves a story of success and maturity yet still has that swagger that makes him young H.O. He taunts and lyrically embarrasses all on-comers who tried to get a rise out of Hova. He never comes hard about it though. He stays calm, teasing and taunting with enough bite to make his threats very real.

What I really enjoyed hearing in this album was the lack of misogyny. For once we have a hot, hip-hop album where females are called nice girls and even when rapping about strippers, he manages to do it in a way that's not offensive. I don't think I ever hear him use the term b*tch to describe a woman and that is refreshing. He instead uses the terms 'lil mama' and 'pretty lady' and that puts a smile on my face every time.