Kris Ex
NPR Music contributor.
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African-Irish rap trio comes with a timely mix of immigrant emotions from a first-person perspective that's as personal as it political. -
With the notion of authorship dispatched as silly and inconsequential, the way has been paved for even greater corporate influence over hip-hop.
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When even the biggest stars in the world are relying on extramusical gimmicks to hype new albums, what's an unknown rapper supposed to do to get noticed? Maybe fake a profile in the paper of record?
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It's almost as if, on The Marshall Mathers LP 2, he's trying everything to be accepted and unacceptable, all at once. Yet his ability to be lyrically captivating through it all is astounding.
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That Goodie Mob doesn't aspire to be like anyone else is the gift and the curse of its new album, Age Against the Machine.
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He said what we've all been saying: Rappers need to try harder. And if the past week is any indication, this fall there will be a marked dispensation of niceties — and a renewed focus on craft.
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It's not right, but it's okay, because even on cruise control, Jay-Z is revolutionary by his very existence.
