ARTIST: Jay Z
ALBUM: Magna Carta Holy Grail
LABEL: Roc Nation/Universal
RELEASE DATE: July 4, 2013
HOV is Back
Written by Jeremy Weeden
“Hov’s a living legend and I’ll tell you why, everybody wanna be Hov and Hov’s still alive.” These words rapped by Jay Z almost 10 years ago still ring true today. Despite the influx of newcomers to the rap game, Jay Z is still unquestionably numero uno. Magna Carta Holy Grail is the 12th studio album by the legendary MC and his best work since 2007’s American Gangster. The album features quality guest appearances from Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell and Rick Ross. The production on the album is mostly handled by Timbaland along with assists from Pharrell, Swizz Beatz, Mike Will Made It, Boi-1da, Hit-Boy, and others.
The album starts with “Holy Grail” featuring pop superstar Justin Timberlake. This elegant track showcases Justin’s soaring vocals against a bass heavy, piano staccato beat. This track sets the album off excellently as Justin opens the song, singing as the beat builds up. Then when it drops Jay Z hits us with the first lyrics of the album: “Ungh, Blue told me remind you niggas/Ungh fuck that shit y’all talkin bout, I’m that nigga.”
The next track on Magna Carta Holy Grail “Picasso Baby” is a classic New York rap track. The track and chorus are reminiscent of DJ Premier’s style and brings back the feeling of mid 90s hip-hop.
“Tom Ford” has a disjointed beat in the vein of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love” and starts with Jay Z asking you to clap for his “rapping ass.” Then Timbaland does his thing, the beat goes crazy and the result is a song that is sure to be a hit single and club staple.
Rick Ross steals the show on “FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt” with a catchy, repeatable chorus over a bass driven beat. Not to be outdone by his southern counterpart, Jay Z drops hot lyrics like: “Cent’anni, ciao bella/Come money dance with the good fellas/Hov keep gettin that De Niro got it/Even if a nigga gotta Robert, get it?”
“Somewhere in America” is a horn heavy track that finds Jay Z speaking on the fact that racism and prejudice still exist in American society. Somewhere in America people are rising above this and despite the narrative that comes from the media concerning black culture, it is widely embraced by people of all races and ethnicities in America.
On “Versus” Jay Z addresses his haters with the lines “Hey sucka nigga wherever you are/I thought about you fool while I was driving my car/I wonder if you fools realize how far you are/You’re nowhere in my rear mirror/Your last shit ain’t better than my first shit/Your best shit ain’t better than my worst shit/The truth in my verses/ Versus your metaphors/ about what your net worth is.”
On the next song Jay Z manages to answer the age-old question why bring sand to the beach on the clever “Beach is Better.” The song says why cheat when your woman is better and more important to you than other women. Jay Z says “I brought sand to the beach cause my beach is better/You can keep your beach cause that beach whatever.”
“BBC” is an all-star affair featuring Nas, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Swizz Beatz, and Timbaland. Both Nas and Jay Z shine lyrically with Nas dropping autobiographical gems like: “Fila sweats, 88 I rocked a mock neck/Carried a nine in my projects/Bucket hat EPMD cassettes/Now I’m smoking loud in Ibiza/Mix the D’USSE with the reefer.” Not to be outdone on his own song Jay Z borrows from Mase’s verse from 1997’s “Feel So Good” and drops the lines “What you know about going out, head west/Maybach, 3 TV’s all up in the headrest/Mace niggas at Madison Square Garden/20 million sold and we still catching charges.”
Overall, Magna Carta Holy Grail is an excellent album. The album has great beat selection, well placed guest appearances and good lyrics by Jay Z. The album is diverse featuring a good mix of street songs, club songs, and radio singles without ever venturing down the pop lane frequented by so many rappers today. Magna Carta Holy Grail is another notch in Jay Z’s belt, showing he is still the “Mike Jordan of rap, outside J working.”