A literal foxhole prayer on “Don’t Let Me Die” evolves into a plea for peace and a desire to make life changes (“Take away this Hennessy/Take away me runnin’ the streets … The devil is a liar”).
The sewage flows downhill from there, exploiting Kelly’s obsession with sex and Jay-Z’s gangsta bravado. Despite thanking God for prosperity, “Big Chips” promotes fast, decadent living and features a man receiving oral sex while driving. That track and others assault listeners with choice language, including numerous f-words. Memphis Bleek guests on “We Got Em Goin’,” which brags about drunkenness and marijuana use before threatening to gun down enemies (“AR 15 to spray your guys/You die, goodbye”). Cuts also glamorize rough sex and stealing other men’s women (“She’s Coming Home With Me”), getting high for sex in the recording studio (“Feelin’ You in Stereo”) and leering at lesbian dancers (“Stop”). Drugs and alcohol appear in the form of Cognac, Marrakech hash, dro, crack and weed.
Did “Don’t Let Me Die” wander in off a different disc? The rest of this one is vile. The good news is that the duo’s joint concert tour is kaput thanks to nightmarish personal conflicts that inspired Kelly to walk out and file a $75 million breach-of-contract suit against Jay-Z. It gives a whole new meaning to Unfinished Business.
After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.
