Last June, to fittingly celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth, Jay-Z and Beyonce dropped a joint album that seemingly overpowered Kanye West’s consecutive run of June albums. G.O.O.D. Music was responsible for releasing an album every week in June. One was Kanye’s solo effort called, “ye” one was Pusha T’s, “Daytona” the other was Teyana Taylor’s, “Keep That Same Energy” and the final album was a collaboration between Kanye and Kid Cudi called, “Kids See Ghosts.” Certainly, June 2018 proved to be a scorching month for new musical releases.
Hip-Hop Royalty
What a better time for a surprise drop than the first month of summer as Bey and Jay kept this album stored secretly within the vault up until they made a blast announcement in the midst of their On The Run II Tour. Their On The Run II Tour kicked off in Wales, UK and the dynamic duo announced the unearthing of a collaborative classic on Empire Polo Field in London on 06/16. The album hit Tidal airwaves one day after Nas’ most recent album, “NASIR” hit the market as well.
This album marked the third secret drop, sans promotion, to be delivered from the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z. Originally, the album was set to be released around late April 2016, but rather Beyonce’s Lemonade arrived in its place instead. Around this time last year is when Jay-Z released his poignant effort, “4:44” and finally their convergent musical brilliance have converged with the release of, “Everything is Love.”
Musical Change Agents
Lemonade was an album that spoke to female liberation all over the globe. When it came out without warning in April of 2016, it provided anthems and gave women a foundation by which to represent themselves and feel wholesome as powerful individuals within a male-dominated society. This bombshell album changed the landscape of the genre. It takes a stand against injustice, infidelity and the importance of forgiveness. Women everywhere had reason to rejoice with this uplifting and empowering album that also featured an hour long documentary.
Next up, it was Jay-Z’s turn to combat and address his contribution to the obstacles faced between the power couple. 4:44 came out in the last day of June 2017 and addressed his infidelity, near familial collapse and financial literacy. This album showed Jay-Z at his most vulnerable, where we often receive the most genuine quality of lyricism and musical renditions. Humbled and disarmed, Jay profusely apologizes and shares tales of how he is determined to change his womanizing ways. He covers every topic that surrounds being a loyal man to his wife, his family and wrote extremely detailed songs about how his actions deeply affect them. His transgressions are laid out on the table for everyone to digest and Jay-Z confesses everything in a bare-all be-all type of songwriting structure. Overall, this album proves that Jay is unafraid to take risks, trusts his instincts and will contribute quality music no matter what the subject matter. As a 47 year old, this album shines as a testament to his outright longevity and ability to remain atop the “young man’s” hip-hop game despite many of his counterparts showing their age and accompanying decline.
Unity to Overcome Hardship
“Everything is Love” stands as the final installment of the Carter family’s relationship saga. As a soulful summoning of their congregation, Jay-Z and Beyonce compliment each other beautifully. Well, it actually shows how comfortable they can be around each other. Their songs exhibit fancy, uptempo and luxurious lifestyles rather than the downright hunger and enthusiasm that they matched each other so well with, “Crazy in Love.” Different times call for different approaches, though. With a very strong and condensed adult contemporary collection, this album comes in at a runtime of 38 minutes and just nine tracks. Their self-optimization reigns supreme via slender track arrangements and compact running times to ultimately showcase brilliance. Together, they provide testaments to reconciliation and forgiveness and their artistic expression doubled as a therapy session. They acknowledge their collective trials and how they ferociously overcame and conquered the challenges presented within their family ties.
“Everything is Love” reconstructs the hip-hop narrative with songs that are refreshing, necessary and ultramodern. They speak upon the evolutionary shifts that have weighed down the music industry while bolstering their own identities in the most powerful manner. Their respective charismatic narratives portray an arc that is far from linear. In each and every project they put out to the public, their growth remains extraordinary. The two are able to sell the notion of capitalist aspiration and social liberation seamlessly within a wild tightrope act of an album. The imagery involved within the videos of this album prove the grandiose nature of these two moguls. They performed video renditions within the Louvre, next to the revered Greek goddess, Nike and coincided with artwork of Leonardo da Vinci. They clearly articulated to us that their love and collaboration belongs within the canon of white colonialist history. The two most definitely cemented their mark within traditionally white spaces and cultural mainstays.
Much of the content deals with their relationship turmoil and sees Jay-Z accepting ultimate responsibility as a father and a man. The disorienting and electronic sounds traverse through space and time to provide boisterous and exuberant vibes. Together, the two are rightfully arrogant and braggadocious but overall they are triumphant. Through business ventures and love adventures this album confirms their strength and affirmation of intimate being. The plush, retro-flavored sonics provide a therapeutic source for each of them to vocally express their eminence. Most importantly, this album portrays sensuality and yields a union of elevation compared to previous albums that saw them revealing their most vulnerable states.
Beyonce Proves her Lasting Force
Beyonce proved that she can voraciously go bar for bar with the greatest rapper of our generation. Her unrivaled and structurally poignant delivery proves to be extremely entertainment. Some other themes touched upon were those of extravagant black wealth, becoming indulgent parental figures via enrichment, and the idea that a solution for societal pain will always be everlasting love. Their stark intimacy gives off vibes of warmness, lushness and self-praise. United, they are satisfied with their progression and created a masterpiece that expands the genre and imparts sonic sentiments that will serve as a portfolio for their descendants.
Favorite Lines:
“My great-great-grandchildren already rich. That’s a lot of brown children on your Forbes list.”
“I’m Good on any MLK Boulevard”
“Tight circle, no squares, I’m geometrically opposed to you”
“I ain’t goin’ to nobody nothin’ when me and my wife beefin’
I don’t care if the house on fire, I’m dyin’, n*gga, I ain’t leavin'”
Favorite Songs:
Nice (Prod. Pharrell) & Friends
FreshNewsNow 