This Is How It Should Be Done
Yeah. This one is worthy of a Rakim reference.
At some point heads will come to terms with the fact that the greatest writer of my generation might just be an ex-hustler from the Marcy Projects in Bed Stuy.
Once upon a time we referred to hip hop as a youth culture. What does it say when a bona fide middle aged man is putting down this kind of heat — and daring twenty-somethings to keep up?
robot makes music
Ahhhh auto-tune. I wont be sad to not hear that on every damned new track.
As to this particular track, it sounds pretty expensively lo-fi, from a mastering standpoint. Well played, well played indeed.
Jun 07, 2009 @ 8:24 am
KD
It may happen before you think. We studied Tupac as poetry at my high school 4-5 years ago, a secular, “elite-ish” private school in the South.
I don’t really think this is Jay-Z’s best work though.
Jun 09, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
jelani c.
I think there are different ways to define the term “best.” In terms of layered lyricism, he’s written more complex and wittier rhymes.
On the other hand, if we’re talking about him seizing on a moment and directing the culture elsewhere and the tradition of lyrical assault and battery then I’d say this stacks up pretty well.
Jun 09, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
robot makes music
I reckon he’s calling them chumps for using cheap tricks to sell their otherwise uninspired beats and lyrics… but I’m not too well versed in the popular kanyesque tunes so other than the auto-tune I couldn’t tell you a defining characteristic about them.
I got into the ‘rave’ culture about ten years ago. Bought the turntables, the mixer, the records, and got busy. After wasting quite a bit of money or worthless tunes I learned that a voice with a cool filter was basically musical poison.
That being said, at some point I myself may end up using autotune for that effect - but with a specific purpose. You can’t have robot makes music with a human voice, after all. But if I do it, it’ll be with my tricks and hard work, not just hiring Cher’s engineer.
Jun 11, 2009 @ 5:05 am
Genine
I actually thought the track was pretty hypocritical.
How do you call out rappers for using auto-tune, but then say you’re not talking about Kanye or T-Pain (only the biggest users of Auto-tune in the music industry). Not to mention, Kanye’s the one who produced the track. What’s the point of calling out people if you’re going to give a pass to the main culprits?
All Jay-Z did was basically seize an opportunity to do what hip-hop does well, BEEF! I’m sure it will help him sell records.
Jun 12, 2009 @ 1:20 am
Genine
And, by the way, I too am tired of EVERYONE using auto-tune, but I happen to like the entire 808’s & Heartbreak album just as much as I like “Computer Love.”
This reminds me of the backlash to disco music. The problem is, just like there was some really good disco music out there, there’s some really good auto-tune tracks too.
Jun 12, 2009 @ 1:28 am
AmericanException
Genine, I hear you on both counts. But what I think will happen (as happened with Disco) is that the backlash will pass and the good music from that era will survive.
Jun 12, 2009 @ 11:57 pm
Winslowalrob
One of the biggest what-ifs in my life: before I went to grad skool I took a year off. It was great, it helped mold me intellectually and as a person, and I met my wife. However, during that year, Rakim came to my university to perform and I never got a chance to see him because I was away. Yeah, I met the love of my life, but seeing Rakim live? To actually hear him flow? \shudder\. Will I ever get that opportunity again?
As a consolation I did get to see Nas (who is technically better but I prefer Rakim) during my first year, so one could technically say things evened out.
Jun 14, 2009 @ 7:58 pm