Review Summary: Hip-hop's royal family back and better than they've been in a while.
So here we are, in the midst of what I'll describe as a trend. We all knew this would happen, but it's going to happen when you least expect it. (Coinciding with Nas' new Kayne-produced album of course, make of that what you will.)
This could be seen as part of what's being referred to as a trilogy that began with Beyonce's Lemonade, an album that questioned the very foundations of her relationship with Jay-Z, who's subsequent album 4:44 was something akin to the response to that in many ways, and also very personal.
Needless to say it left many questioning where they would land. The 2018 performance from Coachella hinted at the resolution, but this project has now defined it. Beyonce and Jay-Z have made amends and worked through their differences, and they're better for it. Even better, they've made a triumphant album and soundtracked the summer of 2018. Or at least contributed to it.
The trend I spoke of in the intro was the hip-hop albums of this year drastically changing from bloated, overlong pieces designed for Spotify plays into surgical, precise albums that come out, state their piece, and then leave you to decide to put them on repeat. That brevity enhances the message so much. It's incredible, and I hope that the weekly Kanye listening parties we've been treated to as well as this album and album's like Black Thought's new EP continue to spread influence and disrupt the album-making process. It's a beautiful sound to behold.
Now let me put this new project on repeat.
