Where the Fukk is the Bam video
JAY-Z ~ 4:44 (Discussion Thread)
- Thread starter MollyGalaga
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top 5 jay-z song IF it had a third verse. why the fukk so many songs under TWO MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS?Marcy Me
Gives me Blueprint era vibes
what footnotesDamn these 4:44 footnotes got me in my feelings
RedEye Jedi
Love
please spare me
Hov was always slick....but you can tell all that battle rap he's been watching over the years translated into these bars right here
I pressed the head of your team with one finger curled
I'll line you all up with one finger wave
Make nikkas weave, nikkas is out here fake
Laced front to the back, don't front
Y'all gon make me wig, I'ma give y'all what you want
I pressed the head of your team with one finger curled
I'll line you all up with one finger wave
Make nikkas weave, nikkas is out here fake
Laced front to the back, don't front
Y'all gon make me wig, I'ma give y'all what you want
Clapsteel O'Neal
put a red dot on your head like a hindu
It's not a convoluted mess and this is coming from someone who is NOT a jigga stan, i have never ever referred to him as hov cos i'm not calling another male god, and i don't like 4:44 too much. this video is actually pretty succint in getting its ideas across.
in laments, all of the imagery that's being used is to show various forms of black dysfunction and how it is being consumed by the public as entertainment...the lowest level being the collage of viral social media clips and the highest (in jay-z's mind) his relationship with his wife. from dusty street corner to a stadium arena, black dysfunction, whether it be couples fighting, friends fighting, family gatherings, just walking around, dancing or being on a fuccin train it's all 'great entertainment'. and we play into it by one, encouraging this behaviour by giving fame to these people and secondly us always, always choosing to be the 'entertainers' for others no matter what the situation is. He's not even dissing the people in the clips but actually dissing the viewer for finding entertainment in the dysfunction of black love, relationships, family and community.
the mish mash of viral clips to interview clips (basquiat) to performance clips (the soul singers and jigga himself) is just a way to illustrate that in all facets of contemporary culture black pain and dysfunction (in the relationships that we have with each other) is always regarded as suitable for others entertainment and we're encouraged to keep it dysfunctional because its profitable and a way to become rich and famous...and its been like that since we were soul singers to fine artists to viral superstars....from black and white tv's to vine clips...its still the same sh1te...and even in the future it'll still be the same sh1t (the black robot)
and the use of a whole bunch of different visual language from amateur to professional is an attempt to further hit it home to the audience how absolute and widespread this dynamic is between black people and modern culture
however, one thing i will say he didn't do well is present whether he thinks this is a bad or good thing...he put up the mirror to the audience but didn't state whether he thinks it'd be better to break this cycle or just continue, but at least be privy to what we're doing and then fully capitalise off of it.
at least that's what I believe it's about flexing all my art degree muscles
in laments, all of the imagery that's being used is to show various forms of black dysfunction and how it is being consumed by the public as entertainment...the lowest level being the collage of viral social media clips and the highest (in jay-z's mind) his relationship with his wife. from dusty street corner to a stadium arena, black dysfunction, whether it be couples fighting, friends fighting, family gatherings, just walking around, dancing or being on a fuccin train it's all 'great entertainment'. and we play into it by one, encouraging this behaviour by giving fame to these people and secondly us always, always choosing to be the 'entertainers' for others no matter what the situation is. He's not even dissing the people in the clips but actually dissing the viewer for finding entertainment in the dysfunction of black love, relationships, family and community.
the mish mash of viral clips to interview clips (basquiat) to performance clips (the soul singers and jigga himself) is just a way to illustrate that in all facets of contemporary culture black pain and dysfunction (in the relationships that we have with each other) is always regarded as suitable for others entertainment and we're encouraged to keep it dysfunctional because its profitable and a way to become rich and famous...and its been like that since we were soul singers to fine artists to viral superstars....from black and white tv's to vine clips...its still the same sh1te...and even in the future it'll still be the same sh1t (the black robot)
and the use of a whole bunch of different visual language from amateur to professional is an attempt to further hit it home to the audience how absolute and widespread this dynamic is between black people and modern culture
however, one thing i will say he didn't do well is present whether he thinks this is a bad or good thing...he put up the mirror to the audience but didn't state whether he thinks it'd be better to break this cycle or just continue, but at least be privy to what we're doing and then fully capitalise off of it.
at least that's what I believe it's about flexing all my art degree muscles
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the analysis I made for the 4:44 video in another thread
It's not a convoluted mess and this is coming from someone who is NOT a jigga stan, i have never ever referred to him as hov cos i'm not calling another male god, and i don't like 4:44 too much. this video is actually pretty succint in getting its ideas across.
in laments, all of the imagery that's being used is to show various forms of black dysfunction and how it is being consumed by the public as entertainment...the lowest level being the collage of viral social media clips and the highest (in jay-z's mind) his relationship with his wife. from dusty street corner to a stadium arena, black dysfunction, whether it be couples fighting, friends fighting, family gatherings, just walking around or being on a fuccin train is all 'great entertainment'. and we play into it by one, encouraging this behaviour by giving fame to these people and secondly always, always the 'entertainers' for others no matter what the situation is. He's not even dissing the people in the clips but actually dissing the viewer for finding entertainment in the dysfunction of black love, relationships, family and community.
the mish mash of viral clips to interview clips (basquiat) to performance clips (the soul singers and jigga himself) is just a way to illustrate that in all facets of contemporary culture black pain and dysfunction (in the relationships that we have with each other) is always regarded as suitable for others entertainment and we're encouraged to keep it dysfunctional because its profitable and a way to become rich and famous...and its been like that since we were soul singers to fine artists to viral superstars....from black and white tv's to vine clips...its still the same sh1te
however, one thing i will say he didn't do well is present whether he thinks this is a bad or good thing...he put up the mirror to the audience but didn't state whether he thinks it'd be better to break this cycle or just continue, but at least be privy to what we're doing and then fully capitalise off of it.
at least that's what I believe it's about flexing all my art degree muscles
I really like this angle you took in your analysis. Although about your last point, I would say that it's not for him to say whether it's good or bad...that's for every viewer to decide on their own.
If you're viewing it and feeling like it's a bad thing. Then find a way to show the world why it's bad (through whatever medium you see fit).
If you're viewing it and feeling like it's a good thing. Then find a way to show the world why it's good (through whatever medium you see fit).
Jay's just showing you what is, how you feel about it and what you'll do about it is up to you. On some "Do what thou wilt" type of shyt.
Clapsteel O'Neal
put a red dot on your head like a hindu
I really like this angle you took in your analysis. Although about your last point, I would say that it's not for him to say whether it's good or bad...that's for every viewer to decide on their own.
If you're viewing it and feeling like it's a bad thing. Then find a way to show the world why it's bad (through whatever medium you see fit).
If you're viewing it and feeling like it's a good thing. Then find a way to show the world why it's good (through whatever medium you see fit).
Jay's just showing you what is, how you feel about it and what you'll do about it is up to you. On some "Do what thou wilt" type of shyt.
well the reason why I felt he didn't execute that part in a good way is because he kind of sits on the fence with it by presenting arguments for both, which i don't think is ever good. it's kind of a cop out. it's like he ran up to us and was like, "look at this problem...you see that? now you figure it out i'm gon go to lunch"
if you're presenting a topic of discussion, you should have a clear cut opinion on it otherwise how will you be able to lead the discussion? You can have an opinion and play devils advocate to make it more well rounded, but that's what I'm saying he doesn't do well, well, not well enough for me I guess? 
like on one hand he leans towards saying it's fucced up by using that clip of the black robot (which was a way of saying, like ayo...even in the future it's still gonna be the same sh1te we're in today, even when we're artificial and have the black skin built and painted on us, we'll still not be able to escape this cycle and we'll still have to perform out our pain...just because the technology gets better doesn't mean our situation as a community will)
BUT
he then also leans towards the good side of things by showing how many black people have managed to flip it into amazing careers and legacies (the soul singers/basquiat etc...who btw, just last week ago a basquiat painting broke one of the world records in how much an art piece had been sold for, and now, basqiuat's art for the first time is being considered more valuable than warhol's and the student is now surpassing the master)
this is real nit picky stuff, but i still think it's important to raise because this video is clearly meant to be cerebral and meta, so we should apply a meticulous analysis to it as a response, it's the only respectful thing lol
what do you think of the video after saying all of this then?
well the reason why I felt he didn't execute that part in a good way is because he kind of sits on the fence with it by presenting arguments for both, which i don't think is ever good. it's kind of a cop out. it's like he ran up to us and was like, "look at this problem...you see that? now you figure it out i'm gon go to lunch"
like on one hand he leans towards saying it's fucced up by using that clip of the black robot (which was a way of saying, like ayo...even in the future it's still gonna be the same sh1te we're in today, even when we're artificial and have the black skin built and painted on us, we'll still not be able to escape this cycle and we'll still have to perform out our pain...just because the technology gets better doesn't mean our situation as a community will)
BUT
he then also leans towards the good side of things by showing how many black people have managed to flip it into amazing careers and legacies (the soul singers/basquiat etc...who btw, just last week ago a basquiat painting broke one of the world records in how much an art piece had been sold for, and now, basqiuat's art for the first time is being considered more valuable than warhol's and the student is now surpassing the master)
this is real nit picky stuff, but i still think it's important to raise because this video is clearly meant to be cerebral and meta, so we should apply a meticulous analysis to it as a response, it's the only respectful thing lol
what do you think of the video after saying all of this then?
If I were to describe Jay Z in one word I'd think the word "cautious" would describe him best. I've felt that way ever since the Black Album, specifically on moment of clarity:
"If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli
Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense
But I did 5 mill' – I ain't been rhyming like Common since"
He's always shown some awareness, but said awareness has always been surrounded by caution. If I had to guess I'd say his analysis of the drug game as well as what Pac and Biggie stood for and how they died was the basis for that caution. As well as his analysis of how America as a nation reacted and responded to these two phenomenons.
This caution of his isn't the only thing that describes him though, homie came from the gates showing us he had ambition, and that he was ready to hone his skills to make his dreams of greatness come through. And these I feel have been the two themes surrounding Jay Z's persona as I see it to this very day.
An individual that doesn't let himself drift too deeply into comfort, no matter at what/where it is. One that chose to ride with duality until the very end to avoid being pegged as one thing specifically. Essentially the anti-thesis to Pac and many other black stars who decided to champion what's right (or a facet of justice if you will). Both for his survival, and his arrogance.
It's what's kept me from crowning him amongst the GOATs for many many years of his career truth be told. The fact that because he's not big in the self-sacrifice department he's willing to compromise and not go too hard in one direction. Therefore it isn't that strange for me to see him still be cautious right now. However what he did show the world is that there can be beauty to being cautious if you play it well.
I think back to albums like: BP3, American Gangster/Unfinished Business (to some degree), Magna Carta HG. And I realize I disliked them because he relaxed too much in them, he wasn't being consistent with the "cautious" image in those albums. It was like he stopped reading the times. His arrogance was overtaking his cautious nature. And I realize that I like his new album because in it he finally goes back to the basics of his nature "to analyse and show you what he's thinking but in no way/shape/form lead you".
That's how I've always felt about Jay: he doesn't take a stance because he doesn't think that's his job/duty. He doesn't think so because the people he's seen take a stance got brought down to their knees/to their caskets. I feel like he looked at Pac and Biggie and thought: "nah fukk being called the greatest after an early death...especially when the impact of being the greatest as a black american is so intangible". I just get this feeling that Jay looks at how things haven't changed historically for the black man (in America and in the world) and it feeds into this "it's futile" way he moves as an artist.
In this album I saw the real fruit of his "cautious" labour/nature because in it (4:44) he finally shows a bit of why he's cautious. He's been more substantially honest to the self in this album than in the last 5 to 10 years. And that's what I appreciate about his efforts this time.
Jay Z will not take the lead, and if he did I doubt many of us would accept it (and he's smart enough to know that thank God) but at least he's now confident that he can show us a bit more of how he's always seen America. Rather than not even trying it because he's too arrogant to think we'll get it.
Clapsteel O'Neal
put a red dot on your head like a hindu
Yeah let me quietly take my LCan't tell if serious
I'm giving Hov the credit for it tho
Tix copped for the Toronto show
I havnt seen him since watch the throne
Didn't go to his mchg tour becuz I don't care for Justin or Beyonce
But my body is ready for this
I havnt seen him since watch the throne
Didn't go to his mchg tour becuz I don't care for Justin or Beyonce
But my body is ready for this