Jay-Z..Mundane?

[morbidenigma]

i dont know how this dude sold million of records, dude has a seriously dull and monotnous vice, he sounds about enthuastic on the mic, as a beggar looking for a job... ive never been able to grasp what his appeal is to rap fans. sure he has some decent beats, but even then the production has to be top notch (e.g big pimpin, dirt of ur shoulder)to make him bearable to me.

[TraceOneInfinite]

i dont know how this dude sold million of records, dude has a seriously dull and monotnous vice, he sounds about enthuastic on the mic, as a beggar looking for a job... ive never been able to grasp what his appeal is to rap fans. sure he has some decent beats, but even then the production has to be top notch (e.g big pimpin, dirt of ur shoulder)to make him bearable to me.

He's just a product of great marketing on behalf of Rockefella and Def Jam.  Dame Dash deserves alot of credit, and Def Jam was probably buying up like 70% of his first week sales for all of his albums to make him look good on the charts.  I really think people underestimate the power that great marketing can have for an artist. 

Jay-Z is just an average rapper but great marketing made him appear to be a legend before he even came out. 

[virtuoso]

Not true Reasonable Doubt was heralded by the critics but received luke warmly by the consumers. Personally I do think he is a legend great flow, poetic, vivid and powerful, clever one liners, a plethora of double meanings in many of his lyrics, he has a real swagger, a cocky arrogant self belief which really comes over in his songs and gives the songs an extra dimension. He is not a run of the mill rapper at all, even people like Canibus (who i know is seen as a fantastic lyricist) recognises Jay-Z's talent.

[d-nice]

Not true Reasonable Doubt was heralded by the critics but received luke warmly by the consumers. Personally I do think he is a legend grow flow, poetic, vivid and powerful, clever one liners, a plethora of double meanings in many of his lyrics, he has a real swagger, a cocky arrogant self belief which really comes over in his songs and gives the songs an extra dimension. He is not a run of the mill rapper at all, even people like Canibus (who i know is seen as a fantastic lyricist) recognises Jay-Z's talent.

well put.

[Blu Lacez]

Not true Reasonable Doubt was heralded by the critics but received luke warmly by the consumers. Personally I do think he is a legend great flow, poetic, vivid and powerful, clever one liners, a plethora of double meanings in many of his lyrics, he has a real swagger, a cocky arrogant self belief which really comes over in his songs and gives the songs an extra dimension. He is not a run of the mill rapper at all, even people like Canibus (who i know is seen as a fantastic lyricist) recognises Jay-Z's talent.

Dang!!
ur Desription of Jay-Z is as on point, and Dope As any Of Jay Z Lyrics!!

[NotoriousTDA]

Jay-z is def one of the illest. He basically got me into hip-hop music. Damn im actually listening to 'Its like That' right now. What the fuck kid capri up to these days anyway?

[morbidenigma]

to be honest i cudnt give a fuck about a rappers flow, one liners and double entendres if he sounds dull as fuck. Jay's mic presence is poor, he smply has no charisma on the mic.

[virtuoso]

When it comes to vocals I can't stand most of these southern rappers, people like T.I. in particular but then everyones opinion is different. Personally I think Jay-Z's vocals are ideal for whatever beat he is on but hey things would be boring if we all just simply agreed on everything.

[es-jay]

to be honest i cudnt give a fuck about a rappers flow, one liners and double entendres if he sounds dull as fuck. Jay's mic presence is poor, he smply has no charisma on the mic.

cam'ron??



but seriously, i like Jay's music, he has a dope flow and can spit hot bars v. often. there isnt many of his songs that i hate or dislike... much. then again i havent heard everything from Kingdom Come yet...

[TraceOneInfinite]

Not true Reasonable Doubt was heralded by the critics but received luke warmly by the consumers. Personally I do think he is a legend great flow, poetic, vivid and powerful, clever one liners, a plethora of double meanings in many of his lyrics, he has a real swagger, a cocky arrogant self belief which really comes over in his songs and gives the songs an extra dimension. He is not a run of the mill rapper at all, even people like Canibus (who i know is seen as a fantastic lyricist) recognises Jay-Z's talent.

I remember when Reasonable Doubt came out and in writing my post above I was fully aware of the advertisement, record reviews by critics, and album sales that he recieved at the time.

I can understand that first album receiving good reviews because...

#1.  Rockefella/Def Jam probably paid for the good reviews.
#2.  East Coast is where most of hip-hop journalism is based and they were hungry for any East Coast artist with credibility because at the time the West was dominant.
#3.  The beats on the album were nice, and his lyrics were clever.  He displayed some talent on that album, but it was way over-rated.