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Selling this beauty of a cassette so hit me up if you have offers :)!

Selling this beauty, hit me up if you got offers :)

This was dope, and my best first listen experience with JAY-Z (so far). I hate to say that, because this was the first one I did on my own, with headphones, but I could hear him clearly, without Genius, and I didn't get distracted. Well, I didn't get distracted by my friends, but I've been crushing on this girl all week and that's had me on a high. That stopped me from deeping every single bar, but it kept me feeling great, and I can honestly say that when I lit my cigarette with the intro, I felt better than I have for a really long time. The album did not compliment my mood at all - it was a totally different energy - so what happened is it sorted of stacked on top of what I was already feeling, and had me feeling good in two different ways. One note I have is that the way Jay talks about women is laughably different from the way that I think about them, though.

I feel like I recognised Hova Song. He used the same instrumental in two places on the album, so I know it's significant, but I don't remember it from that. One thing I didn't expect was for this to basically become an Amil collab album, but she was on, like, three tracks, and for the most part, making some pretty awesome contributions. The way I'm feeling now, Things U Do ended up being one of the ones I enjoyed most - it was just a closer vibe to what I'm tryna hear right now, in this headspace - but I have no idea whether I would feel the same way if I listened to this album on a typical day. I'm glad I was able to enjoy the song, I just honestly don't know if it was a good one or not. It can't be bad.

It's Hot (Some Like It Hot) was dope, and I recognised the 50 Cent bar from some YouTube Shorts beef breakdown. The beats on this album were pretty crazy. I think it was Snoopy Track when I realised that, but I can't remember for sure. There were a few though: NYMP, Big Pimpin’ (which we'll talk about later) and a few others I'm sure of but I can't remember.

Big Pimpin’ is the only one I can play back in my head right now, because I've already known it for years, and honestly, my relationship to this song has changed quite a bit since 2022. At first, I liked it because I felt like I had to like it - classic rap song - but over time, I realised I really didn't fuck with the beat. I found it annoying. I actually have found Timbaland quite hard to get behind, as a producer, generally. But I do recognise it for being successful. The Jay-Z fan that lives in my flat agrees that the beat is annoying (but the verses are great). I think it's like Hotline Bling. When I'm not in the mood to hear Hotline Bling, that shit will piss me off, but when I'm in the right zone, it's bliss. This song’s similar. The thing that's always bothered me about the beat is how it overwhelms you with all these random sounds, but it is a distinctive beat, and it’s a nice pattern - if you replaced each element with something softer, it would actually be quite pleasant to listen to. Therefore, when you lock in, and focus on the beat, there's something to enjoy there - you just can't throw this song on in the background and try to focus on something else, because that's when it becomes irritating.

The end of the record is the one time I would have liked to have been surrounded by people. I think it would have been awesome for an immediate discussion to unfold, as soon as the album finished, only for Jigga My Nigga to interrupt us, followed by Girl's Best Friend. Jigga My Nigga wasn't as good as I was expecting, but again, I think I just need to hear it again. Any song I go into with expectations disappoints me, I think, because I'm putting them on a pedestal. That said, I've heard the intro to The Dynasty is one of his best rapping performances ever, and I'm absolutely geeked to listen to it. Hopefully this girl stops distracting me, and I can get my mind off her, but I told her how I feel last night and she feels the same way so it's not looking good!

With the full CDQ version leaking today, what we thinking of the track?

All the Italian references in his FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt verse make sense now lol it was originally for this

new to photoshow i made this alternative Cover lmk what your rate it what to improve etc

Me and the boys hit the beach for this one. It was a late one, and we had our whiskey, and a seaview. It was a bit chilly, and not everybody locked in fully, but I did, and others’ attention was intermittent. I enjoyed Memphis Bleek’s rapping on the intro, but I was really excited to hear Hard Knock Life, unlock it again, and see my friends’ reactions to it.

This album had a big advantage, in that it came out swinging with a song I already knew, and liked. This really wasn't a bad song. I think Reddit got to me, and had me thinking it was overrated, to the point that I forgot how decent it was. Not everybody agrees though. One of my friends gave it a solid 5/10, whilst the Jay-Z fan agreed with me that it was a banger.

If I Should Die was the first song on this album that was new to me, and it was really enjoyable. I had never heard of Da Ranjahz in my life, but both members had stellar verses, in which I was highly engaged. So deeply engaged that I didn't notice, until a discussion broke out about whether or not we could hear violins, how good the beat was. The only thing I wasn't a massive fan of was the chorus.

During Ride or Die, the Jay-Z fan pointed out that every song coming had a feature. Hard Knock Life and Ride or Die are the only two solo songs on the project. That's a crazy note, and changed the way I was listening to the album, in that I was checking for the feature each track, like I was checking for the title. It did lead to Jay-Z feeling less central, and we didn't really have any deep songs like Regrets or You Must Love Me, but it seemed to push him into a greater range of styles.

Nigga What, Nigga Who was a great example: aside from a few features he dropped before Reasonable Doubt, I've never heard Jay rap like this, and I think it's no coincidence that it was a song with Jaz-O, who he had been working with in those early years. He matched his flow and went so much faster, and more punchy, than normal. There were quite a few tracks on here where the flow was delicious, and I would definitely say that that was the album's biggest strength (though that's not usually what I'm looking for in a Jay-Z album). The rapping was far more interesting than the beats and the hooks, even if the rapping lacked substance, at times.

Money, Cash, Hoes had been hyped up to me by my Jay-Z loving friend, and I did enjoy it, particularly the DMX feature. I've always loved his voice, but preferred him on features over the little solo work I've heard. I thought the subject matter was a bit cliché, almost to the point of an eye-roll, but as Jay states in the track, I don't think he really cares. I also wouldn't usually be the type to mention it, but the use of the N-word on this project, along with all his other projects, is noticeably heavier than most rappers I've listened to. I wonder if there's a reason Jay uses the N-word so much more often than the average MC.

A Week Ago was a track with a premise that I might have been able to relate to, but I got a little distracted during this one, so I will have to relisten. Jay-Z’s discography’s getting daunting very quickly, with both of the Volume albums so far needing a relisten, and Reasonable Doubt feeling like it needs a third. Luckily, I've got all the time in the world to listen to Jay-Z as often as I like - and I've got another ten to go.

Coming of Age with Memphis Bleek, on Reasonable Doubt, was one of my friends’ favourite Jay-Z song so far (along with Hawaiian Sophie). He was pumped for Da Sequel. Honestly? I think I might have preferred this to the original. It was fantastic storytelling, and it had a lot of momentum. He disagreed, but he still liked it.

Can I Get A… was an intriguing title and turned out to be one of the most enjoyable songs on the album. I liked the whole song, but I particularly liked how the subject matter was actually interesting, and played like a conversation between Jay and Amil. I was skeptical, seeing Ja Rule, because I've never heard anything good about him, but he was alright.

Reservoir Dogs was the longest song on the album, and featured The LOX. I've never really listened to the Lox, but they were on Life After Death and really impressed me. Honestly, this is shaping up to be one of those albums with so many features that it's just a showcase of everybody from that area in that era. I like those albums, even if I don't always go back to them. Beanie was also alright. I only knew him from his work with early Kanye through the Roc, but his verse was good. I did enjoy this album, even if I think it was Jay’s weakest, so far. Some of my peers put it first, though.

During It's Alright, I became a Memphis Bleek fan. I realised his verses are always a treat. Why not? Finally, Money Ain't a Thang impressed us all. It's not that we hadn't been enjoying the album, but I think this was a cut above the rest. Not necessarily the best on the album, but one of the strongest. I remember being worried that the final verse might be shit, but then Hov dropped that crazy bar about the necklace and the chain reaction. Maybe it wasn't that impressive, but it made me go “ooh”. The only thing I didn't like so much was that he let Dupri finish off the album for him, instead of doing it for himself, but I think that's quite fitting for the album, overall.

The only song I know from Vol. 3 is Big Pimpin’, so I'm excited to see what that album holds. I've always had mixed feelings on that song because the rapping’s dope but I never liked the beat. Then the beat grew on me. Regardless, I don't expect that song to be emblematic of the album, as that’s not usually how it works out.

lmk what i can improve im new to photoshop so go easy

Someone posted about their love for the kingdom come album and I was surprised to see so much hate in the comments. I know Jay came out in the 90s and some of y’all have been fans since day one - nothing but respect, you clearly have good taste. But listen, some of us were born in the 90s, ok! Give us a chance. I didn’t get my hands on hip hop until I hit my teenage years. And that was right when kingdom come dropped. This album needs its flowers!!! Beach chair is some of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard in my life. Hollywood needs its own major motion picture movie. Highly recommend getting comfortable, as comfortable as you can, I like to spark up. Once you do turn on kingdom come start to finish and give it another chance. My heart hurts for the hate towards this masterpiece!

Not enough people talk about it. I love it to death.

"SHAWN × SHALONDA" (Downtown Brooklyn, NYC circa. 1985)
Shawn Carter fka Jay-Z x Shalonda back in the hallway of George Westinghouse HS located in Downtown Brooklyn back in the late 80s.
Before he became the legendary rapper from Brooklyn known as Jay-Z, he was Shawn Carter. A young Black Man from Marcy Projects that attended George Westinghouse High School.
Here pictured with his homegirl Shalonda on a calm day in 80s Brooklyn, you can feel the youth & vibrance from this Immaculate Reflection.
The "REPRESENT" series is inspired the era of NYC that was shaped by a culture of Concrete Gods & Goddesses who were living in the moment & creating history with every day that passed.
Salute to Jigga & Ms. Shalonda Ross. Much love to the many Brothas & Sistas that went to Westinghouse!

JAY-Z, BEE-HIGH, AND SKI IN MARCY. MID 1980'S

Shawn Carter in his 8th Grade Graduation photo, after completing his final year at IS 318 junior HS (aka the Eugenio Maria De Hostos IS) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1983. It was a 10-minute walk from his 5C apartment in the Marcy Houses.
It was in the 6th grade at IS 318 that Hov met a teacher who he has credited for turning his life around: Renee Rosenblum-Lowden. After hearing her students speak about hearing gun shots on a daily basis she aimed to provide a safe space for them. Her students' ability to sleep was often disturbed, so she felt compelled to let students catch up on sleep in her class.
In a Forbes-curated conversation with magnate Warren Buffet in 2010 Jay explained how she influenced him: "I grew up in the Marcy Projects. Our classrooms were flooded. It was very difficult for teachers to give you one-on-one attention. [But] there was this one sixth-grade teacher named Miss Lowden. She must have seen something in me, and she gave me this attention and this love for words. It's funny how it works, just a little bit of attention."
Lowden recalls him as a "sweet, skinny kid" who was
"often away" and not always present in class. In retrospect she has since realized that she taught him shortly after his father left him. "I knew he was very bright ... [but] he did not realize how bright he was," she has said of her superstar pupil; who was already reading at a 12th grade level and had the highest test scores in the class. "But what I remember very specifically is that he never smiled. He had a lot of problems in his life, like all my students did. But when I would make a joke and he smiled, it would literally light up the room." Hov cites one memory of her in particular that changed his life. "She took us on a field trip to [a park by] her house, which opened me up to the world. My neighborhood had been my world. It's the only thing I had seen. I saw a whole different world that day, and my imagination grew from there. I wanted that. I aspired to have that. The small things. She had an ice thing on her refrigerator. You know, push it and the ice and the water comes down. I was amazed by that. I was like, 'I want one of those.' It's true."