Jay-Z

There's no getting around it: Jay-Z has changed. The Marcy Projects hustler has transformed into a business, man. But, as Kingdom Come reveals, getting the money, the power and the woman doesn't translate to happiness. Here, Jay comes across as the King David of the rap game. On "Lost Ones," he wrestles with loss and the trappings of fame, while "Beach Chair" finds the former crack dealer teaming up with Coldplay's Chris Martin to tackle, you know, the meaning of life. Sure, there are bangers, but for the most part this is mature hip-hop. Whether it's riveting or mawkish is your call.

Jay-Z's retirement was like Britney's marriage: The only surprise is it lasted this long. He
has always styled himself as the black Sinatra, and when Sinatra retired in the early 1970s,
he only made it two years before Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back. Did anybody believe Hova, the most
titanic musical force of the past decade, was going to have his hard-knock midlife crisis in
private? While his fans are out there partying to T.I. and Lil' Wayne? Never that.... More >