SOHH NYC
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Kanye: "Hov's got 'classics' (but not a classic album)"
Posted on February 17, 2009 9:15 AM
It's been six months since Jay-Z kicked Timbaland off the roster and handed the honors over to Kanyeezy.
And six months later, Kanye is still tooting his own horn. Like he always does. Really... what else is new?
Six months later, we've gotten a few so-called "leaked" tracks from what they say is off The Blueprint 3. And there's still no album, or any solid release date. So leave it up to Kanyevil to keep the fans interested. At least half-way interested. I lost interest a long time ago. Kind of like with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2.
"I finished [Jay's] album and he released four songs that were potentially gonna be on the album," West said last week on Sway and King Tech's "Wake Up Show" {via MTV}. "So I gotta go back and do four. I just did one beat the other day in Hawaii -- probably one of the best hip-hop beats of all time, if I do say so myself. I just gotta do three more beats and we're done, 'cause he's got classics. He's got songs that are better than any of the things you've heard leaked."
"You know what it was -- every year I do two albums' worth of really dope beats," he explained. "This year, Common did his album with Pharrell, and I did 808s & Heartbreak and Blueprint 3. So just imagine the caliber of beats on the last two Common albums I did -- Jay-Z has those types of beats. Those caliber of beats. A beat like 'The People,' that's the highest caliber of beat."
What exactly do you define as "caliber," Kanye?
"The People" was a dope beat. Brings us back to that boom-bap feel. But my dude, that beat isn't the best beat that ever was. In fact, it's just "above average."
So in my opinion, if Kanye's definition of "caliber" is what we can expect from B3, then do the math: 3 beats are going to be fiyah. 2 are going to be hot. The rest are going to range from mediocre to "if it weren't for the lyrics I'd skip this track." Which equals... not a classic album. Not that we're expecting one. But ... you know. I mean, even Kanye said it himself. He never said the "album" was going to be classic. He said Jay's "got classics" on there.
Shouldn't Jay be on Blueprint 3.1 by now? I'll say. With that said, Raekwon should be cooking up OB4CL3 by now. Or even OB4CL4.
I may even pass on Blueprint 3. I'm tired of these same ol n*ggas dropping albums. We need some new talent to step up. Too bad that's an impossible task to achieve.
I compliment you reckless. You wrote a good article without hating on somebody (which is rare). And for that comment "I'm tired of these same ol n*ggas dropping albums. We need some new talent to step up", I agree 100%. That's one of the problems that led hip hop to this sorry state it's in.
I wonder who's rap album is going to take over this year..Cause the big 3 already dropped there's last year.
You're such a hater!
i'm the first in store buying 10 copies of the Blueprint 3. Okay, maybe Kanye will mess it up because he is a selfish, arrogant noddle but I will always support Jay-z.
He is the best rapper alive.
JIGGA IS THE BEST
HATERS FALL BACK. NEVER BE ANOTHER THAN JAY-Z
Well, I hope he comes with some fire. Honestly, I feel like Jay's most consistent production lately has come from Just Blaze but that's just me. I can't get the foul taste of the Kanye West produced "Do You Wanna Ride" from Kingdom Come out of my mouth. Pussy tastes better.
However, I think one of the things delaying this album is that this is supposed to be his last Def Jam album but LiveNation is trying to do deals with labels to handle traditional releases. I hear they're trying to roll this into the Live Nation deal that way Roc Nation/ Live Nation / DefJam have another 3 releases instead of one for Def Jam and then searching for a new release. I don't know how true all this is. It makes sense though but the dude who told me has been really off base a couple of times.
Still, Jay needs to come hard. The tracks have been alright but hardly sensational.
I agree. Jay has no classic albums but he has one helluva catalogue. He's only been rapping for 20yrs so I guess he should have a mean catalogue.
The same artists are dropping because dudes don't know how to move on so now the genre which depends on youth is dominated by men old enough to be the father of the average rap consumer.
Hip Hop began as music for kids made by kids. Teenagers in the Bx created rap and then Teens in Queens Commercialized it on a wide scale. Not until artists from other regions got involved artists were typically washed up by 23. The came out around 18 and if lucky dropped 1 album each year for a 5 year run at which point a new generation of fans came on the scene with their owns favorite artists.
People like Luke in Miami and Eazy and Ice T in Cali were older when they came on the scene so naturally the subject matter kept maturing as a result. Next thing by the 90's playful, fun, informative music took a backseat to "reality" rap which turns out to be as real as a $3 bill.
LL called Hammer an old gym teacher because he was 27 when he started rapping. Now LL is 40 and still rapping. Just remember that both MLK and Malcolm were in their 30's when cut down for trying to help black people. Today black men in their 30's are like Rick Ross and 50. My, how far we've fallen. I guess money is all the justification for being a fool some of you need.
Let the kids be kids and all you people who had to wait for adulthood to master being cool kids should find something else to do with your time. You're looking crazy with that oversize baseball hat and clothes. Time to grow up folks. Being a rapper may have passed you by but you can still have a career in the business. Lyor Cohen and Jimmy Iovine never get too old to make money off rap. Aim your sights a little higher.
are u all kidding me? im no jay fan but come on, no classics? ras doubt, BLUEPRINT, and vol 2. hell vol 1 too - a sleeper.
Peace to Clo-Fresh and Nim
Three years ago on SOHH there was a group of young bloggers calling for all the "old" cats to retire. They lumped Nas, Jay, Common, Snoop and Ice Cube in this bunch among others. Of course, I and other cats who love real Hip Hop crushed these cats for uttering such nonsense.
Now, I think that reckless and I are probably around the same age, and have the same kind orientation to hip hop. You cats may not know this, but I agree with reckless on 80 percent of his blogs.
Hip Hop is no longer in existence. Nim gave a pretty good quick overview of it's evolution or demise, depending on your perspective. I would welcome starting a new. Even the older cats I like, I wouldn't care if they retired. I really thought that Lupe would return the industry back to real Hip Hop but 50 has a choke hold on the game and so it is Fif Hop. I don't like him at all, but I have to be fair, he has totally redifned what Hip Hop -Fif Hop is, and the people have endorsed it. This will ring true with huge number he will post from his next joint, BISD.
Hip Hop foundation use to be the music. Now there are some many other factors that make the artist, and the music is secondary. I actually think that R & B set the trend for hip Hop. R & B was the first genre to push imagery over music. How many people do you know who can actually sing. Fip Hop/Fif Hop has followed suit.
The music is an after thought. it is all about how big your bank account is and if you been in the streets. It is a new genre.
So, I wish we could start over with a new group artist all together, with new style and Hip Hop musical innovations. I would love to see the DJ come back into Hip hop. Anyway, I will cop hov's joint, but I to would like to see a group of new artists take over. Fif Hop is wak. I intend to stop listening to themusic all together and just rely on lod joints.
Correction
old joints.
"wait for adulthood to master being cool kids should find something else to do with your time. You're looking crazy with that oversize baseball hat and clothes. Time to grow up folks."
That gave me chills B...truer words never spoken
@Bigup
Peace brother. I'm not calling for the retirement of oldtimers. I do feel like at some point the focus of the record company has to shift to new young blood to prevent the sudden collapse of the genre. Soul singers of the 60's and 70's can sing circles around modern day R&B singers but there's a reason why Beyonce is a bigger star than Etta James and got to sing Ms. James' song for the Obamas. Beyonce is an average singer at best but youth won out as it always does in entertainment. Rappers think that by being immature they're somehow stopping time when in reality they're looking crazy and only equally crazy people don't see it.
Oldtimers need to shift to touring because that is one of their strengths along with all around better quality music. Mama Said Knock You Out was a classic IMO. I don't need another LL album. I'm quite content hearing him do his old joints. I don't need new Slick Rick. The Show featuring Dougie Fresh has to be the #1 Rap single of all time. There's nothing like knowing your position and playing it instead of always being out of pocket like these gimmick artists.
What's really happened with rap is that it has transitioned from artform to rewarding and commercializing IGNORANCE. The kids had it right. It's the grown ups who screwed it up.
You're an idiot.
Are you kidding me? Reasonable Doubt and the Black Album are both classics.
While the Jigga Man does have a collection of hot albums, to me he only has classic singles. He has yet to drop a truly classic album that you can push play and just let it ride till the end.
Although R. Kelly is not in the same genre he consistantly puts out classics.
You faggots can add American Gangster to Hov's collection of classic albums.Listen to the album (except for hello Brooklyn) from start to finish and if you ain't moved by it you can go suck a dick!!!Peace!!!