Jay's Magna Carta...Holy Grail is Lukewarm

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.