A 4th Quarter Comeback?

Jay Z Kingdom Come
Hov is back, this time with a new swagger and he ain't jacking it. All the hype surrounding Jay's three year hiatus is monumental and expectations are through the roof. With that said, Jay doesn't deliver as his album just doesn't have that special feeling as the predecessors, Volume 2, Blueprint and Black album had. Even with my bias against Jay, he can do no wrong, all you have to do is listen. He opens stronger than ever as the first half of the album is a classic. "Prelude" is another beautiful intro... "ya gangsta look did it!" Just Blaze's "Oh My God" goes bezerk. Kanye keeps it to a minimum while John Legend kills the hook on "Do You Wanna Ride" and Jay doesn't hold back either. And Jay ends his career on a high note with the best beat of the album on "Beach Chair". "Minority Report" is a decent track and "Trouble" is troubling;Dre's beat is awkward and Jay goes all over the place. His third verse is sick though. The reason this isn't close to his best work is his beats (over the entire album) aren't banging and he talks too much about grown folks rap. What a concept? Grown folks don't rap, hmm Jay? Take heed!

Game Dr.s Advocate
The West Coast may not be back just because Game claims it over the entire 16 tracks. It would only be back if it had some true rappers. The Game isn't one, yet, especially with so much help in his corner. Again with my bias of Game's lyrical content, he does deliver an entertaining album. From start to finish its better than expected. Well,yes, he had top prodcution, which did its job and then some. The best track on DA is "Scream On Em" partly because he fouces on one subject and spits. Game makes the West Coast shine on, "California Vacation", "Compton" and "Da Shit". His groupie diss "Wouldn't Get Far" with Kanye's syntalating beat is a plus. And then Game starts getting real with Busta on "Doctor's Advocate". "Why They Hate the Game" with Nas is a good track for many reasons, but why Just Blaze and Game think it warranted 9 minutes? DA is better than the Documentary and he steps up his flow and delviery. Yet until he changes his name dropping problem he wont be the best on the West.

AZ The Format
I lost track of AZ, but the Format delivers an actual album with rythum and feeling. AZ doesn't go too far either, keeping NYC. I didn't even have to touch the playlist as I let AZ run - this happens very rarely. You know what to expect from AZ too, but he actually delivers.The titled track, " The Format" is one of the best beats of the year. The soul samples along with AZ's aziatic flow on "I Am the Truth" and "Sit Em Back Slow" are tracks you can vibe to. AZ delivers a good sendoff with "Royal Salute". A sleeper album of the year, AZ takes back credit where its due.

Young Jeezy I Am the Street Dream
With Jeezy dropping on 12/12, this DJ Drama affiliated preview will hold you for the a few weeks until Mr. 17.5 drops. It isn't anything to miss though, even to Jeezy fans. Only a few tracks stand out and none of them are better than Feburary's Cant Ban the Snowman. Apparently Jeezy copped the new Ferrari cuz he don't like to walk in "I Got What it Takes". "Child of God (Bury Me a G)" was released a few weeks ago and is said to be on the album. It's a better than usual Jeezy track. Two other decent tracks: "Don't Ever Do That" and "Let's Just Say".