In contextualizing Katrina within America’s long, shameful history of disenfranchising its black citizens, Jay defends looting-an act of the defenseless that even most reasonable liberals condemn. But the song stands out for both its incisiveness and its honesty. It’s not the best track to listen to on a purely aesthetic basis, with Jay rapping in a stilted flow over a plodding piano beat. There is most obviously “Minority Report,” which addresses Hurricane Katrina. It might be quicker just to talk about the parts of Kingdom Come that were actually good. The song it accompanied-Jay’s “comeback” single “Show Me What You Got”-is a not- unlikable Just Blaze reconfiguration of an obviously much better Public Enemy song, but Lil Wayne freestyled over the beat at the height of his powers, crossing Jay up like Iverson did MJ. Jay- Z’s comeback from his essentially nonexistent retirement was heralded with a video in which professional race car drivers Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Most interesting, though, are the ones that, depending on your perspective, also get there, very nearly do, or perhaps even miss altogether. Jay has a few unimpeachable classics, and you’ll find them at-or near–the top of our list. 3 albums he’s released during that period reflect this growth in real- time, leaving behind a group of indelible but often flawed records that are equally exciting and bewildering to pick through. The rapper who began his career as a witty corner hustler is now just about the greatest capitalist success in the genre’s history. But a more interesting discussion centers around the ordering of the sprawling discography of one of the men who paved the way for them: Jay- Z.
Nowadays, you're most likely to come across (young) rap nerds endlessly ranking and re-ranking albums by Kanye West or Drake.
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