Two of the most anticipated rap albums of the year went head to head on Friday, pitting hip hop superstars against each other.
Jay-Z released his “final” record, “The Black Album,” and 50 cent and his posse, the G-Unit, released their first album, “Beg for Mercy,” on Friday.
Friday is an unusual release date to begin with. Albums conventionally are released on Tuesday. But both albums fell victim to internet leaks and severe bootlegging, forcing record labels to push back the release dates.
Thus, listeners are left to decide who reigns supreme — the veteran and his swan song or the new superstar and his cronies debut.
Jay-Z and G-Unit have an interesting opposing connection. Throughout each rapper’s careers they have garnered comparisons to two rappers who perished for their differences.
Jay-Z always raps in constant reverence of the late Notorious B.I.G. His albums constantly mention Biggie, and he has patterned his rap style after the late legend.
50 Cent has gained comparisons to the late Tupac Shakur. His raw street attitude and thug style are the closest to a modern day Tupac. Like Jay-Z, he has not been one to shy away from the comparisons.
Thankfully, it seems the comparisons have yet to recreate the bad blood that befell their predecessors.
50 Cent’s main supporter Eminem even produces a track for Jay-Z on “The Black Album.”
So the battle is left to the racks, leaving the reports of album sales to decide who reigns supreme in the world of hip-hop.
Jay-Z “The Black Album”
Jay-Z has proclaimed himself the greatest rapper ever since his first album.
Now he plans to go out on a strong note, retiring after the release of his ninth record “The Black Album.”
Jay-Z’s last effort is nowhere short on swagger. The record reeks of Jay’s strong belief in his abilities.
On “What More Can I Say” with the use of a “Gladiator” sample Jay expels on his talent asking fans what else he could do to prove that he is the best.
At times Jay’s constant references to his abilities might cause listeners to doubt him. It seems there could be another way to get his talent across without having to continually reference it in his raps.
Jay is well known for his hits with the Neptunes, and the album features a soon to be classic with “Change Clothes.”
Jay is known for his fashionable flair, and his raps excel when he flows about the latest in men’s and ladies style. “Change Clothes” featuring a Pharrell Williams hook that will pop on the radio and go down as a signature Jay-Z hit.
Jay has been plagued with accusations of making the same songs, but on this album Jay takes his raps to a few unexplored territories.
He samples a most interesting hook from Madonna on the track “Justify my Thug.” The song takes the hook from a gritty song about sex, to create gritty song about street life.
The album’s highlight might be the rock infused track with legendary rock producer Rick Ruben — “99 Problems.” The song’s heavy guitar sound speaks of Jay’s many problems, and his lack of one. The ultra-catchy chorus “99 problems but a b**** ain’t one,” may be speaking of his relationship with Beyonce. Whatever the inspiration, the song is catchy without resorting to a basic rap hit formula.
If not “99 Problems” than “Lucifer” is surely the album’s best offering. “Lucifer” with its vintage sample chorus does what every thug song about the morality of the lifestyle tries to do. It plays religious convictions with rhymes about violent choices, while never sounding out of line.
Jay might have a reputation for being more listener friendly with his pop infused hits, but that does not mean his album does not have thug moments.
“Threat” expounds violently but Jay’s creative flows keep the song from sounding like a trite street rhyme.
The album features “A Moment of Clarity” produced by Eminem. Listeners might anxiously await Em to trade rhymes with Jay but are left still hungry for the classic that could have been. The song sounds more like Jay trying to imitate Em’s sound, and could have benefited from Em’s vocal to save it from sounding like Jay was just trying to jump on the Eminem bandwagon.
Jay-Z plans to close the curtain on his career with a strong note, and he succeeded. Though the album seems too concerned with proving itself as the best, it does prove itself as an album showcasing the talent that has kept Jay at the top of the rap game.
“The Black Album” might not be Jay’s best but even Jay’s lesser classics outshine his peers.
G-Unit “Beg for Mercy”
G-Unit is the clique made famous by rap superstar 50 cent. The group features rhymes from 50, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and would feature the sounds of Tony Yayo but his incarceration makes appearances on the album limited.
The group produces ultra-violent and sexually explicit lyrics. Rhyming about the spoils of the riches 50 Cent has brought them and the wrath to befall those who challenge the clique.
The album breaks little new ground in the rap stratosphere, but the songs are not completely forgettable.
If listeners are looking for an album to give them a no-holds barred view into the gritty thug lifestyle, “Beg for Mercy” is their best bet.
“Footprints” is typical gangsta fodder. Rappers continually reference their violent rap lifestyles while giving big ups to the Lord. Here G-Unit takes the famous Christian poem which speaks of God carrying his believers through hard times. The song saves itself from sounding completely ridiculous by using woodwinds and gospel backing vocals to make it sound somewhat less violent. But all the expletives and drug references might leave listeners questioning the song’s real motive.
The group’s namesake cut “G-Unit” features a soaring 50s style hook announcing the intentions of the group. The cut opens the album with promise, something the album contains plenty of but often without support.
The record’s most violent song might be its best. “My Buddy” is an intensely ominous song glorifying the need for a gun at all times. Featuring a “Scarface” sound byte, the song is a haunting gangsta classic. The ode to concealed weapons featuring the jingle of a popular child’s toy will leave listeners bouncing their head and singing the hook.
The album seems to build on the ground work laid out by 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” Many of the songs play like sequels to hits from the record.
“Groupie Love” uses a line from “In Da Club” to build an entire song about the pleasures of the groupie experience. With songs like this, listeners are left to wonder if the group would have anything to rap about if 50 had not made it.
The album’s sound is gritty, with dirty beats accompanied by instrumentation. The use of pianos, woodwinds, strings and guitars show signs of experimentation, but the instrumentation is never taken far enough to garner praise.
G-Unit produces a decent album that will do the job of occupying fans of 50 Cent who await his next effort and will surely ride the wave of his success. But nothing on the album explodes like the hits of “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” The beats and rhymes are not as tight and each song seems to ride the line of classic or flop. The album is a valiant effort, but a disappointment considering the amount of promise it held. G-Unit’s sound falls just short and listeners may or may not be fooled by the mediocre tracks.
Closing
Jay-Z and G-Unit are artists who take different variations on the form. While Jay-Z takes the more upbeat and poppier view, G-Unit takes a gritty violent look at the streets.
But the artists produced two rap CDs vying for listeners attention.
G-Unit is a group sure to produce several more rap albums over the course of their career. In time, perhaps the group will gain the tighter sound Jay-Z achieved in his years in the game.
And as Jay-Z prepares to bow out of the industry that made him famous, his swagger and pride are not without some merit.
His rhymes are lyrically dense. His references to pop culture and his metaphors are more advanced than those of G-Unit. His music is more interesting, and sonically he takes more risks.
But G-Unit’s record is not totally worthless. The album is decent, and maybe in time the group can produce some better material.
Until then Jay-Z wins this battle critically, but rap fans will have to wait to see who conquers the battle of sales.