#newrules
July 8, 2013 3:45 PM   Subscribe

 


I've long liked Jay-Z. I have pretty much all of his solo albums. I think it's amazing the way he's morphed from a street-slinging hustler to a entrepreneur who's hobnobbing with the President (of course, that's in part due to who the President is). But something about this album and the way it was announced has rubbed me the wrong way since I saw that commerical, and I'm not sure I'll never really want to listen to it.

I suppose, though, if Jay-Z is the Rolling Stones, than Kanye is the Clash. And who would you rather have listened to in 1981?
posted by The Notorious SRD at 3:58 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


Can we have one Jay-Z/Kanye thread without people just shitting on Mr. West? Regardless of your opinions on him, it isn't great for conversation to just go "nuh uh" every time somebody suggests he has talent.
posted by JimBennett at 5:16 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


The Clash is not Kanye.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 5:18 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


And Jay-Z isn't the Rolling Stones. Isn't that the point of analogies?
posted by JimBennett at 5:21 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


I think you can think Kanye West is immensely talented while still thinking the comparison to The Clash is really, really implausible. This is not a "is he as good as The Clash" problem, it's a "there's no way that analogy works" problem. The cultural position Kanye West occupies is just radically different in every conceivable way.
posted by yoink at 5:23 PM on July 8, 2013 [4 favorites]


Kanye = Bowie?
posted by mannequito at 5:25 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


Your Favorite Band is not the Clash.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:26 PM on July 8, 2013 [8 favorites]


Timbaland and production credits

They actually credited Tribe Called Quest with Vesus.

10. Versus [S. Carter, K. Dean, J. Davis, T. Mosley, J. Harmon, F. Hubbard, M. Jones, M. Ta] [Sample Credits:
Embodies portions of "Sucka Nigga," written by Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, Malik Izaak Taylor and Freddie Hubbard, published by Universal Music-Z Tunes LLC]

Interesting that Mike Dean, Travis Scott and JRoc seem to have had as much to do with the production as Timbaland.

He is simultaneously broadening his appeal while reaching back into the crate for Tribe cuts.

Kinda like Kanye did with Lords of the Underground.

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone likes MCHG. I kinda like it but I'm more like its aight.

One angry fan describes it as "Light" yet "Demonic"
posted by Ad hominem at 5:31 PM on July 8, 2013


Wait were the Clash associated with The Stones early in their career? I don't get that analogy at all.

Kanye is Gram Parsons if 1) He hadn't died young 2) Country-fied Rock was wildly popular in 1981 3) Parsons really had written "Wild Horses"
posted by JPD at 5:42 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


Magna Carta … Holy Grail has already been compared frequently — probably too frequently — with Kanye West's Yeezus by people who don't actually like rap music.
posted by Teakettle at 5:48 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


I think it's obvious from his series of loosely associated concept albums that Kanye is The Kinks, which makes College Dropout equivalent to Something Else. Late Registration? Village Green. Graduation Day? Arthur. Dark Fantasy? Powerman. Which makes Yeezus ... Muswell Hillbillies? Nailed it!
posted by Lorin at 5:56 PM on July 8, 2013 [7 favorites]


Oklahoma, USA
Big wooden ships
Filled with slaaaaaaaaaaaaves

As she buys her paper
At the corner shop
She's whipping her slaves with a riding crooooooop

But in her dreams, she is fa-aaaar
Far away
posted by Teakettle at 5:59 PM on July 8, 2013 [3 favorites]


Muhammad Ali in his prime was much better than anti-lock brakes.
posted by Lorin at 6:02 PM on July 8, 2013 [24 favorites]


Hov was answering questions on twitter earlier today and gave Just Blaze and Joung Guru permission to post This.
posted by Ad hominem at 6:04 PM on July 8, 2013


OK, who would win in a fight between Anti Lock brakes and Trader Joe's high protein sandwich bread? Both have unlimited butter, and it's christmas.
posted by Teakettle at 6:09 PM on July 8, 2013 [12 favorites]


This whole narrative going around about the "grown up" stuff on MCHG and the whole challenging/alienating aspects of Yeezus where you'd think Jay-Z and Kanye were the first people to ever think of doing that stuff with hip hop is wearing a little thin. Not saying that as a slam against either album or artist, the issue's with all the press around both releases.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:09 PM on July 8, 2013


The thing people have to understand about Jay-Z and Kanye is that Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is.
posted by Ad hominem at 6:12 PM on July 8, 2013 [11 favorites]


In conclusion, Libya is a land of contrast.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:16 PM on July 8, 2013 [6 favorites]


MY NAME IS MY NAME
posted by Teakettle at 6:18 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


MY NAME IS MY NAME

Pushed back a month.
posted by Ad hominem at 6:21 PM on July 8, 2013


I suppose, though, if Jay-Z is the Rolling Stones, than Kanye is the Clash. And who would you rather have listened to in 1981?
Just out of curiosity, were you around in 1981?

How about, Jay-Z is Journey, and Kanye is STYX.

(Note: I wasn't particularly in touch with the zeitgeist at the time)
posted by delmoi at 6:21 PM on July 8, 2013 [4 favorites]


Dope boy got trust issues :<
posted by Teakettle at 6:26 PM on July 8, 2013


I gotta admit, though, I can't wait to see whatever Jay-Z's "Dancing in the Street" is if he's Mick Jagger.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:28 PM on July 8, 2013 [4 favorites]


Who will be Jay-Z's Bette Midler?
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 6:32 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


Memphis Bleek
posted by Teakettle at 6:37 PM on July 8, 2013


It will actually just be Bette Midler. It's gonna be awesome.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:37 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


I think it is pretty clear Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire is the Rolling Stones.

And Gansta Gibbs is The Clash.
posted by Ad hominem at 6:43 PM on July 8, 2013


Run The Jewels will end up being the best hip-hop album this year anyway.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:04 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


Only if MNIMN keeps getting pushed back.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:08 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


Jay-Z is a a declawed cat and Kanye is a txt message I read on my girlfriend's phone, not that I was spying.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:08 PM on July 8, 2013 [5 favorites]


Immortal Technique is a fedora.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:10 PM on July 8, 2013 [3 favorites]


Who will be Jay-Z's Bette Midler?
Lady GaGa.

...Actually I have no idea, I have absolutely no cultural context to understand this

Oh I got one - Jay-Z is Salieri to Kanye's Mozart. </highbrow-pretense>

Or Jay-Z is Don Draper to Kanye's Ted Chaough?
posted by delmoi at 8:20 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


So seems to me the articles point is that Jay-Z has or is imminently about to turn into straight-up dad-rock, dad-rap- was that a thing yet?

That was pretty much the point where it happened for the Stones, after that they got new fans (but probably only for the old stuff) and kept the old ones, too. Tattoo You though was pretty good, even if half of it was made outta tracks from 1972.

The thing that Jay-Z has that they never did though (aside from a head for *real* business, apparently) is that instead of running after new sounds or basking in nostalgia musically, he can just hire the up-n-comers, pay them to produce, buy their tracks... basically nothing in rock has ever functioned that way, not successfully, and I find it fascinating. That is, it's working if he's still relevant, I can't tell, MCHG sounds basically boring to me after stuffing my ears fulla Yeezus tho.

It's probably not that bad though, what am I missing?
posted by hap_hazard at 8:23 PM on July 8, 2013


So seems to me the articles point is that Jay-Z has or is imminently about to turn into straight-up dad-rock, dad-rap- was that a thing yet?

That's really my biggest problem with the analogy, you can't compare someone to the Stones circa '81 without the implication that they're becoming the Stones post-'81 and who knows what Jay-Z's gonna do next?
posted by jason_steakums at 8:30 PM on July 8, 2013


I've figure out that I only really like MCHG because of the tracks it reminds me of.

I spent hours listening to BDP to find tracks that sound like Versus, then I listened to Schooly D again. So that has been the best part of it for me.

Nas pioneered dad rap with Daughters
posted by Ad hominem at 8:30 PM on July 8, 2013


Your dad is so fat (how fat is he?)
Your dad is so fat (how fat is he?)
Your daddy is so big and fat that I've seen him get busy with
22 burritos, when times are rough, I seen him in the back of taco bell with hand cuffs.

In all seriousness, did anyone catch Jay beatboxing for Lou Rawls?
posted by Teakettle at 8:49 PM on July 8, 2013


I always thought a glass eye with a fish in it would be awesome. How is that even a diss.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:54 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


Your daddy's nervous breakdown was so unconvincing that everyone got distracted by one of those loud sun chips bags

Your daddy used to like waking up mommy by blowing rasberries on her tummy

Your daddy's cooking is so bad that he only gets to see his children on days with no meals
posted by Teakettle at 9:04 PM on July 8, 2013 [4 favorites]


MOMMY AND DADDY ARE FIGHTING!
posted by sendai sleep master at 9:29 PM on July 8, 2013


we don't use hands in mefi rap threads.This shit real right here. You don't want to run up on me.

Woke up, didn't choke up
Saw my AK, it was broke up
Put it together like a jigsaw
Got my nine, and my Rambo knife off the floor
Went to the bathroom, and beat the rush
Yo, who the fuck used my toothbrush?
posted by Ad hominem at 9:47 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


this thread got mad stoopid
posted by Teakettle at 9:56 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


That album came out over 20 years ago. Dres of Black Sheep.

I only like real rap though, like Eminem and Immortal Technique though. Those guys had a message not like this shit today about Molly water and ménages and watches.
posted by Ad hominem at 10:05 PM on July 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


In Britain they spell his name, "J-Zed". And Kanye West is, "Ye Olde Kanye Weste".
posted by the quidnunc kid at 11:35 PM on July 8, 2013 [8 favorites]


You guys are cute pretending like The Clash wasn't trying to do rap songs in 1980.

It isn't like a secret its on Wikipedia

“ When we came to the U.S., Mick stumbled upon a music shop in Brooklyn that carried the music of Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, the Sugar Hill Gang...these groups were radically changing music and they changed everything for us. ” - Joe Strummer
posted by Ad hominem at 2:27 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


Or Malcolm Mclaren for that matter.

Buffalo Gals is part of Hip-Hop's DNA.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:31 AM on July 9, 2013


In Britain, the Wu Tang Clan is known as "the Worshipful Company of Wu Tang and Scriveners", and their activities are regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 6:07 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]


In Britain, "The Clash" is known as "Her Majesty's Clash," because they hold a Royal Warrant to provide fresh and frozen punk to Buckingham Palace.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 6:10 AM on July 9, 2013 [6 favorites]


Light yet demonic

I can't get past that. Now I really want a record where the production and beats are all yacht rock samples, and the lyrics are all about Satan.
posted by honestcoyote at 6:22 AM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


Kanye is not the Clash.

No shit. Kanye is still relevant.

Man if you gonna drop a lame-ass diss into a rap thread, at least make it rhyme


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL-
Yamama!
That's right, I said Yamama!
Yamama!
That's right, i said Yamama!


Ya Ammi Loubie's a smurf!
 
posted by Herodios at 6:46 AM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


This may be the first thread I favorited every single post innit.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:11 AM on July 9, 2013


I'M ANIMALISTICALLY CATACLYSMIC
posted by Teakettle at 7:37 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


everyone list your favorite jay-z song and album

for me, they are Hola Hovito and Vol. 2.
posted by mullacc at 7:47 AM on July 9, 2013


In Britain, "The Blueprint" is known as "The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) Print" and it was released on Roc-A-Chap Records.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 9:27 AM on July 9, 2013


who's jay-z?

Run The Jewels will end up being the best hip-hop album this year anyway.

yes, please.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:12 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


Takeover and Reasonable Doubt.
posted by box at 10:17 AM on July 9, 2013


Coming of Age and....Blueprint
posted by Teakettle at 10:32 AM on July 9, 2013


Run the Jewels definitely has the best liner notes of the year
posted by mannequito at 10:43 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


From standin on the corners boppin
to drivin some of the hottest cars New York has ever seen
For droppin some of the hottest verses rap has ever heard
From the dope spot, with the smoke Glock
fleein the murder scene


Pusha's reaction to Ye holding his album back cuz it's too good.
posted by Ad hominem at 10:47 AM on July 9, 2013


Let me guess, they said it was money around here
And the rest is me stopping you from getting it, correct?


Eh don't really know if it's my 'favorite' but I did used to use it to demonstrate to old/white 'rapiscrap' guys that this shit doesn't all sound the same. Gateway drug type of thing.
posted by hap_hazard at 11:07 AM on July 9, 2013


I always feel like I'm trying to make "fetch" happen when I post about Spanish-language rock on the blue. That said...

The new La Mala Rodriguez album is all kinds of dope. She performed at Vive Latino earlier this year. Her new single is geoblocked on YT, but "33" is fantastically satisfying.

There's also supposed to be a new Tego Calderon album coming out this year, if that's your thing.
posted by pxe2000 at 1:22 PM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


Fantano weighs in

Says what I figured. Regional Rap flavor. Kanye influence due to Travis Scott, makes sense, never thought of it but Travis pretty much owes Kanye everything and has made a career out of aping Kanye, no doubt Kanye knows this.

Fantano likes the ostentatious displays of wealth, which I didn't expect.
posted by Ad hominem at 4:34 PM on July 9, 2013




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