Jay-Z and Beyonce entertainment uber power couple welcomed their first of bundle of over the weekend. This life sent the creative juices flowing for the GOAT pushing him to create Glory his ode to the who at the time was not even two days old. The Pharell produced song sent the blogosphere buzzing with writers trying to decipher the hidden meanings and comparing past mc dedications to there children.
MC's usually develop their craft by boasting about attributes that they deem valuable. Jay himself describe this as the character the mc creates as part of their personal mystique some change characters from song to song, project to project. While others feel they must embody this persona in real life(Tupac, ODB). Some turn themselves into lyrical lotharios making them the object of every woman's desire. Others paint a picture of the eternal gangster kicking only hardcore lyrics for hardcore fans. Which leave a limited canvas to create on and from. This type of self aggrandizing approach makes it difficult to focus on paying respect to others even those as beloved as children. As an amateur emcee I have wrestled with many a mediocre track, and verse trying to create a musical message to my son and daughter. To no avail. Partly because sadness and anger have been greater muses for me than joy. This may have plagued some of the great artists who have made mediocre tributes to their children Xzibit , Nas and the Game come to mind.
On the short list of Mc's who got it right are Will Smith, Jay-Z/Kanye, Common, Talib/Mos and of course Lauryn Hill. These lyricists took you to the heart of what they felt while at the same time crafted something generally speciifc. In other words feelings that are universal for those going through similar situations and yet extremely personal.
Will Smith took the approach of telling the story of his son's journey into the world and how his arrival completely life as the Fresh Prince previously knew it. Through out the tome he reassures his son that he is loved, talented, and will face heartache(losing his parents) and heartbreak(losing his first love).
New Day by Jay-z and Kanye West is one of the standouts on the nearly classic Watch the Throne album. The song commences with yet another verse about Kanye's unborn kid. He attempts to verbally mold his while acknowledging the mistakes he has made since entering star status. The line that resonates most addresses his Katrina comment about Pres. Bush's apathy towards black people. "I might even make him be republican, so everybody know he love white people." This verse exemplifies his introspection which is what made Kanye special from the beginning. A side not shared enough since he blew up. Ye's verse serves as an appetizer for the feast that is Jay's verse. For those that don't know I am extremely biased toward Jay in much the same way Skip Bayliss of First Take embraces all things Michael Jordan. With Jay's verse you hear a heartfelt verse about the life that fame has already carved out for his unborn son. Which reveals that the seed was already germinating before B, announced it on the VMA's. His verse reveals the anguish of losing his father and thought of repeating that mistake.
Speaking of L-Boogie, Lauryn Hill's Zion is the penultimate Hip Hop tribute to a child. Her honey glazed alto leads the listener through the emotions and thoughts experienced from the moment she realized she was pregnant.
