jay-z - magna carta... holy grail

It's a shame that Magna Carta had to exist in the shadow of Yeezus.  If this had been released on any other year, it'd be a disappointing effort propped up by some solid Timbaland beats, a mediocre record from a fading superstar.  Instead, it feels like a half-assed response to Yeezus, combined with an absurd cash-grab through the Samsung app.  Kanye forced Jay's hand with one of the most ridiculous records in the history of hip hop, and he crashed and burned in his attempt to match him.

Jay-Z's at a point in his career where he can no longer rely on braggadocio alone.  You're rich, you're fucking Beyonce, you've sold a lot of records...we get it, Jay.  If you're gonna keep repeating the same tired themes over and over in the laziest ways possible, we can't be expected to care anymore.

Kanye came out screaming "I AM A GOD," and in the process forever raised the bar for traditional rap egotism.  It's hard to be impressed by a hustler once you've come face-to-face with a deity.