On “Moment of Clarity,” a prosperous man says he gives to the poor. Jay-Z’s mom helps him describe the negative influence of an absentee father (“December 4th”), however …
The rapper also uses the f-word and relishes the time he spent dealing drugs. Other affectionate mentions of drugs and alcohol appear on “Allure,” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “What More Can I Say?” and “My 1st Song” (“Started out sellin’ dimes and nicks/Graduated to a brick”). A sexual proposition on “Change Clothes” includes the guy asking for a three-way. Raw language is strewn throughout. If bragging was baseball, Jay-Z would be A-Rod. He arrogantly lifts himself up or tears down rivals on numerous tracks. He threatens to riddle some foes with bullets, dismember others and terrorize a guy’s grandma with a Molotov cocktail (“Threat”). His faith is in guns (“99 Problems,” “Lucifer,” “Justify My Thug”), not God.
Born Shawn Carter, this rapper has spent his career telling fans that it’s acceptable to mistreat wo- men, sell and use drugs, engage in sexual perversion and kill whoever crosses them. This disc is no different.
