Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Prelude
2. Oh My God
3. Kingdom Come
4. Show Me What You Got
5. Lost One featuring Chrisette Michele
6. Do U Wanna Ride featuring John Legend
7. 30 Something
8. I Made It
9. Anything featuring Usher & Pharrell
10. Hollywood featuring Beyonce
11. Trouble
12. Dig A Hole featuring Sterling Simms
13. Minority Report featuring Ne-Yo
14. Beach Chair featuring Chris Martin

Disc 2:

1. Politics As Usual
2. Can't Knock The Hustle
3. Can I Live

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4755 in Music
• Released on: 2006-11-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Album Description
Bonus CD includes exclusive LIVE performances from the Reasonable Doubt 10 Yr. Anniversary Concert (Recorded live at Radio City Music Hall June 25, 2006)

Amazon.co.uk
Few retirements are as short-lived as that of New York rap mogul Jay-Z. Barely two years after bowing out in 2004, he's back with Kingdom Come--and if he's set down the mic for a minute, it doesn't show. Backed by a dream team of producers (Just Blaze, Kanye West, Dr Dre, the Neptunes), with special guests including Pharrell, Beyonce, and Coldplay's Chris Martin, it's an A-list cast. Naturally, though, it's the Hova who's the star attraction, slightly older and prone to pontificating on his ten years in the game (see "30-Something"), but certainly no wiser: as he raps on "Trouble," he's still got "hands in the cookie jar." The first few tracks are pure consolidation, gleaming and boastful productions that remind you just how great Jay-Z is on the mic. Further in, though, Kingdom Come branches out in style: "Hollywood," the duet with Beyoncé, is a jaded take on celebrity culture, while "Minority Report" relives the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with the Bush Administration in the metaphorical sights. Finally, the Coldplay-produced "Beach Chair" concludes the album on a spiritual note, Jay-Z announcing "life is but a dream" as Chris Martin trills like an angel atop echoing drums and distorted, music-box guitar. If you thought it could never work, you were clearly underestimating.--Louis Pattison

Amazon.com
While nowhere near a career-ending disaster, the wobbly Kingdom Come wasn't the best justification Jay-Z could have made for ending his retirement. You'd think his enthusiasm for jumping back in the game would give the album more energy but despite a power trio of songs by Just Blaze that kick off the CD, much of the album feels listless and unfocused and it doesn't help that A-list producers like Dr. Dre and the Neptunes drop the ball with some truly tepid tracks. There are nice moments: the blistering title song, Jay's soul-baring "Lost Ones," and his snickering disses on "Dig a Hole." But, those moments are counterbalanced by the clunky "Beach Chair" (produced by Coldplay’s Chris Martin), the obnoxious, corporate swagger of "30 Something," and the garish, unlistenable club cut "Anything." Any fan of Jay over the last 10 years knows he's better than this so now the new anticipation will be for his real comeback album. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

4 1/2 stars for the self-proclaimed "kingpin of the ink pen"
On track number six, Jay-Z calls himself the "kingpin of the ink pen." That's an incredible one-liner, but why would he say that if he doesn't write down his lyrics? Oh, the complexity of the Jigga Man. "The Black Album" was supposed to be Jay-Z's last album, but, like people who divorce because of two or three trivial problems, many celebrities do not take retiring seriously. Having said that, this album was well received by the public. It did not reach the success of, say, "The Blueprint", but it did very well considering all. I definitely enjoyed this album because of Hov's honest yet effective delivery, the experimental and creative production, the guest appearances (John Legend, Usher, Chrisette Michelle, Beyonce'), and the awesome lyrics.

"Show Me What You Got" was the first song which was released and most people loved it. Just Blaze gave the public something different to dance to and Jay-Z ripped the versus and hook. Who could forget that drum and piano arrangement? Simply put, this song is incredibly energetic and keeps its stamina all the way through. "Beach Chair" has a very haunting and eerie beat, probably to help Jay-Z to convey his points. I enjoyed the song partially, but it is not something I can listen to often for the beat brings back memories of haunted houses. The lyrics are profound, nonetheless. "30 Something" is a great mid-tempo number where Jay tells of the stupid things he did when he was young and compares them to the things he does now, and reaches the conclusion that "30 is the new 20." This beat, for the most part, consists of drums and piano. This track is one of the best on "Kingdom Come." "Anything" features Usher and the two sound great on this track with an impressive beat backing them. Jay-Z and Beyonce' collaborate for the umpteenth time on "Hollywood." (Some have complained that they do too many songs together, but I like when they collaborate because they compliment one another.) Lyrically, I love this song and enjoy it with each listen. Beyonce' does a great job with the hook, too. This song is about the good and bad of celebrity life. It really makes us average-income people think twice about being famous. "Lost One" and "I Made It" are amazing tracks. The endlessly talented Chrisette Michelle lends her talents on the chorus of "Lost One." Jay lets us have it once again with his lyrics, as well.

Jay-Z still has it, ladies and gentlemen, and he does not even have to write it down. For years to come, this album will be in and out of my CD player. After all, it is "the maturation of Jay-ZZ."

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "The Prelude"
2. "Lost One"
3. "Anything"
4. "30 Something"
5. "Show Me What You Got"

Mediocre 'comeback' album
BOTTOM LINE:

He followed up the classic 'Black Album' with this??!

Look, I'm a Jigga fan for LIFE, but this was painfully obvious as a 'rush it out to the stores' release. He basically told us AGAIN what we heard 10 yrs ago; that he's on top of the rap game. No track really stuck with me, and unlike most of his releases, I don't think I'll be quoting any lyrics years later. Probably his second worst solo release after Blueprint 2.

Jay-Z can do no wrong
Jay-Z has gotten a lot of flack for this album, but I still like it. It's definately not his best, but still great. Jay-Z is constantly reinventing himself, and this is a great example of this. People expect this album to be another Reasonable Doubt, but thats not realistic. Jay-Z is no longer on the corner selling drugs or whatever hustle he was doing in Brooklyn. He is now in his thirties and working corporate America, so it only make sense that lyrics reflects his life. I have to say, Jay-Z is the only rapper that can make a whole album about the rich lifestyle and make it this good. This is an album for hip-hop fans, not rap fans. Rapfans just want to hear about guns, sex, money and drugs. Hip-hop fans understand that the music is a reflection life. Maybe i'm just being bias because Jay-Z can do no wrong in my opinion.