Jay Z’s Magna Carta…Holy Grail is Just A'ight
1. Holy
Grail ft. Justin Timberlake –
The instrumental intro is a little drawn out for a palate
expecting a hip hop record and will almost make you skip the song. Fortunately,
the high-hat and bass came in. The music
is nothing spectacular but has a little bounce to it. Jay’s first verse was a little weak but that
first bridge set shit off as it not only infused some rock with the nod toward
Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” but also takes us closer to a more Jay Z
-esque flow. The lyrics remain
simplistic but the delivery makes the difference. Jay Z’s contribution
culminates in a last verse that maintains the unique flow that compliments the
track but the complexity of the word play and rhyme schemes are significantly
more appreciable.
Originality: 1.5
Production: 2
Lyrics: 1.5
Overall Score: 1.66
2. Picasso
Baby –
The base line is sick throughout the entire song; however
the other elements of the first half of the track are a bit chaotic with what
sounds like the music from Pac Man chopped and laced with an obnoxious
whistle. The lyrics in the first half of
the song are only exciting if you recognize the visual artists that are mentioned
throughout the song. The first half of
the lyrics actually sound like they were written with a prompt given in a class
focusing on cubism, or the art of the French Diaspora, with a little Italian
seasoning. Then there’s the second half
of the song, reminiscent of “99 Problems” and focusing more on the usual
flexing and references to violence.
Originality: 3
Production: 1.5
Lyrics: 1
Overall Score: 1.83
3. Tom
Ford –
This is the first real banger on the album. The track has more of those video game
samples (possibly from the Mario Bros., in the castle…lol) but it’s pulled
together neatly with the other elements of the track – all different types of
percussion. Content-wise, I think this
is the sweet-spot that Jay should stay in.
You’re a grown; stay on your grown man shit and reminds us of your age
by continuously and subliminally paralleling yourself with wealthy, middle-aged
white men. In addition to
artist-appropriate content, he handles with track, masterfully. Good shit!
Originality: 2
Production: 2.5
Lyrics: 3
Overall: 2.5
4. FUCKwithmeyouknowigotit
ft Rick Ross –
Track-wise, another banger.
The track has a hard, H-town sound; not to be mistaken, hence the Pimp C
intro (Port Arthur is close enough to be called Houston). I feel like the song
is a gift to Ross, though. You don’t
hear a word from Jay, until the song is over half-way through and then Ross
closes the song.
Originality: 3
Production: 3
Lyrics: 1
Overall: 2.33
5. Oceans
–
I don’t see this being played in the club. The symphonic track is a little too ominous
for that, unless you’re trying to get people to wind down or leave. However, it’s appropriate for the pseudo-
Black Nationalist rhetoric that weaved in and out of capitalistic
references. The content, as a whole is a
bit confusing. It jumps from the
previously mentioned Black Nationalism to typical hip hop capitalism, and
dabbles in references to “Strange Fruit,” and Billie.
Originality: 2
Production: 2
Lyrics: 2
Overall: 2
6. F.U.T.W.
–
This track is another one of those “End of the Party” songs,
or a conversational piece, that talks about civil unrest and references a few
revolutionary, or Black Nationalist, figures.
The track is quite boring, though.
Originality: 1
Production: 1
Lyrics: 1
Overall: 1
7. Somewhereinamerica
–
This is a hot song, short and sweet, but with some weight on
it. First of all, the track is Cab Calloway-esque, which is appropriate for a song that is really a blurb
about how far America has come.
Throughout the entire thing Jay touches on dichotomies and the paradoxical
state of the nation, driven home by the outro’s reference to a twerkin’ Miley
Cyrus. This may be one of the most intentionally artistic and critical things
I’ve heard from Jay in while.
Originality: 2.5
Production: 3
Lyrics: 3
Overall: 2.83
8. Crown
–
This entire thing is like blah. I’m not even going to waste time talking about
it in depth. The track is okay. There aren’t any recognizable samples, so you
can’t take away from the originality, but everything else is a waste. This could’ve been left off of the album.
Originality: 3
Production: 1
Lyrics: 1
Overall: 1.6
9. Heaven
–
Considering the caliber of producers that collaborated on
the track, it’s a let-down. And is that
a Dido sample in there? Fortunately, the lyrical composition is strong, full of
witty word play and allusions. I
appreciate the dedication to addressing questions about his religion, as well
has the nods to REM and Chief Keef – whose head is probably “on swoll” from
this shout out.
Originality: 2
Production: 1.5
Lyrics: 3
Overall: 2.16
10. Versus
–
It’s an interlude.
11. Part
II (On the Run) ft. Beyoncé –
The duet has a real 80s feel to it. It’s alright but nothing to write home about.
Real sentimental and sweet.
Originality: 2
Production: 2
Lyrics: 2
Overall: 2
12. Beach
is Better –
Another interlude.
13. BBC
ft. Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Nas, & Swiss Beatz –
The music is chaotic, like Pharrell and Timbaland locked
themselves in a studio with an elementary school’s music equipment (12-inch
keyboard, cowbell, etc.) and a case of Jay’s Dusse. The lyrics are more of what the album is
already inundated with…references to clothes, world wonders, liquor
advertisements, etc. It’s nice to see
Jay and Nas on a joint together but this may be the worst thing on the album.
Originality: 1
Production: 1
Lyrics: 1
Overall: 1
14. JAY
Z Blue –
I’m not going to touch this man’s dedication to his
daughter. The intrusions with clips from
“Mommie Dearest” are note-worthy though.
15. La
Familia –
Boring. A waste of a
good track…
Originality: 2.5
Production: 3
Lyrics: 1
Overall: 2.16
16. Nickels
and Dimes –
We’ve got everything in these lyrics, word problems included. The track is drowsy, like a weak high that
you’d get from "nickels and dimes" of reggie.
However, the lyrics are real personal and introspective. Even with that being said, I wouldn’t go out
of my way to listen to this song.
Originality: 2
Production: 1
Lyrics: 2.5
Overall: 1.83
Magna Carta…Holy
Grail's overall Score is 1.91, Neutral on the Hit-Miss scale. It’s not nearly as significant as the name
suggests and is probably 3 or 4 at best if you ranked it with all of Jay Z’s
other studio albums. It starts off
fairly strong but quickly tapers off, light it was running on cheap
batteries. It’s nothing to write home
about and not the best record on the shelves, right now.