Independence Jay.
"You’d take the clothes off my back/And I’d let you/You’d steal the food right out my mouth/And I’d watch you eat it/I still don’t know why, why I love you so much, ohh/You curse my name, in spite to put me to shame/Have my laundry in the streets, dirty or clean/Give it up for fame/But I still don't know why, why I love it so much/And baby, it's amazing I'm in this maze with you/I just can't crack your code/One day you screaming you love me loud/The next day you're so cold/One day you here, one day you there, one day you care/You're so unfair sipping from your cup/Till it runneth over, Holy Grail". And so begins the incredible, inspired, Justin Timberlake rewind worthy, highlight reel intro to the new 4th July, already a million plus change sold, Jay-Z, 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' album. It also marks the R&B and rap pack leading men's second and third collaboration of the year as the pair are about to 'Suit & Tie' up and introduce themselves to London, England this weekend like perfect gentleman for the 'Legends Of The Summer' wireless festival in Olympic Park. Joined by legends like Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, will.i.am and current superstars like Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean and more it's set to be one hell of a heaven sent weekend for fans to end quite a week for the king of New York and the worlds finest in hip-hop who is showing his vision is 20/20 like J.T. too.
Jay-Z really has delivered on his big NBA Finals halftime superbowl like album announcement and really has shown everyone-including his co-throne holder, rap brother and friendly rival Kanye West and his stripped down, out of nowhere market of his latest great 'Yeezus'-how to do this son. For the first time since his 'Watch The Throne' duet album with West (we can't wait for the sequel) and the conclusion of his brilliant 'Blueprint' trilogy an amazing four years ago,'Brooklyn's Finest' is back rhyming with B.I.G., channelling European art and fashion and quoting everyone from Nirvana to R.E.M., but all in the name of positivity and prosperity. The boy is back with one of his more different but decedant albums yet. Bold and brilliant the 'Holy Grail' begins with the new urban soul one, two punch giving the fans what they want.
After that the rap star who fashioned the soundtrack for Baz Lurhman and Leo DiCaprio's new style of 'The Great Gatsby' shows he's worth more than a '100$ Bill'. 'A Billi' like his Lil' Wayne remix is a better way of describing how far ahead of the game and 'Tha Carter', Sean Carter really is, as raps Michael Jordan doesn't look to be retiring again anytime soon. Just check the final verse of 'Picasso Baby' as our star takes a different stroke like Gary Coleman to end the beat changing, Hov Ad-lib'd track. "They try to slander your man/On CNN and Fox/My Mirandas don't stand a chance, with cops/Even my old fans like old man just stop/I could if I would but I can't/I'm hot, and you blow/I'm still the man to watch, Hublot/On my left hand or not" the exitement hyped by the Samsung, Timbaland, Rick Rubin commercial is truly felt as Jay-Z's ever growing style doesn't sell out with this mainstream smash.
Over tight Timbaland production there's more lyrics for hip-hop heads to decode for years like his brilliant rap-Dylan esque book of rhymes. 'Tom Ford' adds to the suited and booted prestige and style and 'FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt' with the bragging Rick Ross adds to the brilliant boasts. Still, it's Frank Ocean's laid down chorus on his track 'Oceans' that has the wave changing makings of a pure classic. The man who blessed the beginning and end of 'Watch The Throne' (from the classics 'No Church In The Wild' to 'Made It In America') bookmarks another gift to Jay-Z's competition cursing collection. 'F.U.T.W' is another B.I.G. track for 'M.C.H.G', but Jay-Z's new fan-favorite classic may just be found 'Somewhere In America'. Over horns and Dre like piano, the man who already puts his art above Twitter and the internet pokes fun at everything from Instagram to Miley Cyrus, it's all in good fun however. Picture this, a modern day rapper going against all the modern day trends and still increasing his following. His former 'Best Of Both Worlds' partner R. Kelly may be the Pied Piper, but raps king of Rome has everyone's ears. The rap universe is his. Are you not entertained?
From playing Sinatra, to paying homage to Martin Luther and "feeling like" Ali this man is king. Keeping his throne watched and guarded like his basketball star signee LeBron James with the fitted 'Crown'. Hotter than Miami, with South Beach talents, Jay-Z is raps champion. The belt belongs to him. 'Heaven' is his new religion and he shows he can go toe-to-toe with anyone on his verse on 'Versus', just like his short but sweet, 'Beach Is Better', sand in the eye cut. Things get single-worthy and even better on the 'Bonnie & Clyde' sequel with his B, Beyonce. Mr. and Mrs. Carter strike gold with 'Part II (On The Run)' the chemsitry between man and wife is still set on their creative collaborations. They've never sounded better together on record. No wonder the queen of R&B is posting baby pictures of Blue Ivy's father on twitter to celebrate the million mark. The platinum good times are rolling for this couple. "My past aint pretty/my lady is" raps Jay as B sings "Who wants that perfect love story anyway, anyway?/Cliché, cliché, cliché, cliché/Who wants that hero love that saves the day, anyway?/Cliché, cliché, cliché, cliché/What about the bad guy goes good, yeah". It's all so good now.
The party continues on the strange but sweet 'BBC', as the 'Billionaire Boys Club' of Nas, Justin Timberlake and of course hook and production man of the moment (once again like 2001) Pharrell get down on a track that will go down a legendary treat this weekend in England's capital in the feel-good Summer weather, with this scorching hot, positive soundscape. This 'aint the British Broadcasting Corperation it's Roc Nation in full effect on the airwaves. 'Jay-Z Blue' colours more classics (it's Jay-Z's favorite remember) as Sean Carter and the Notorious B.I.G., Christopher Wallace rap together beyond the grave for an inspired, alive track from Jay-Z's rap mentor and his continuing tributes to the man that will always be the bowler hat wearing King Of N.Y. Mixing classic, Notorious lyrics and tributing his fallen friend and the birth of his daughter it's all love and heart for this albums deepest dedication.
The 'La Familia' closing connection and spare change of 'Nickels & Dimes' raps it all up perfectly as Jay-Z makes some 'new rules' whilst sampling festival co-headliner Q-Tip's ATCQ and releasing a viynl edition of these classic new tracks on his new rock best friend Jack White's (who contributed the brilliant and best 'Love Is Blindess' to Gatsby) Third Man imprint. This is the new takeover as it's clear to hear that Jay-Z is owning everything. He's told you before he's a business man, and now with great company in common he's making it all about the sense not the dollar. As he closes on 'Nickels and Dimes', "You die rich or you die disgraced, so just let me grow/Watch me cook, throw no looks/Like Magic in his prime when Kareem sky hooked, yeah/Y'all not worthy, sometimes I feel like/Y'all don't deserve me, my flow unearthly/The greatest form of giving is anonymous to anonymous/So here y'all go, I promise this". Say no more, London and the world are calling. It's going to be one hell of a weekend. The independence day beginning week of Jay-Z has been a seven days like no other. This is his time. He is the one. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
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