"...Jay-Z presents a particular challenge for some as he’s always been honest about the fact that he is more than a rapper. Indeed there’s some irony in the fact that so many critics voice disappointment in Mr. Carter’s creative output since his “retirement”—rebranding being the better term—in 2003, holding him to an artistic standard that they willfully ignored during his so-called peak moments of creativity with recordings such as “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album.” Accused of exaggerating a past of drug dealing and hustling, some critics are equally dismissive of Mr. Carter when he talks about the “world he knows,” which these days includes wealth accumulation (imagine folks not wanting to hear that from Bill Gates or Warren Buffett), his burgeoning career as a sports agent, the challenges of fatherhood, and his affection (or addiction) to Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings and legacy...
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 19:18:43 +0000