Just listened to Kanye and Jay-Z’s new “supergroup” album, “Watch The Throne.”

Meh.

I appreciate some of the complimentary points made by film maker Ava DuVernay while appreciating Chuck D’s points that gross consumerism and flashiness in times of great economic hardship may be a wee bit insensitive.

All that’s true. However, my take on the album (which I posted on my own website and not on the Black geek website I run or anywhere else, is closer to the perspective of my good friend Jason Thompson.

Meh.

The lyrics do, in fact, show a kind of resurgent politicism (which fans of early music by both artists would remember, but it’d seem new to people who only knew The Louis Vuitton Don and Hova) as they name check Fred Hampton and discuss Black power, fatherhood and Black on Black crime. However, they sprinkle these tidbits inbetween black Maybachs and the glitterati lifestyle that they’ve both come to know as an everyday existence. If you’ve come for politics, you’d be better served with Malcolm & Martin or dead prez. Nothing wrong there, and some lyrical moments of actual dexterity, but a far cry from the finest showings for either man. I remember even saying that the lead song “Otis” would have been better if it was just Kanye, as Jay-Znot make the impact that his reputation demands, getting outshone by his “little brother.”

What’s weird is the music. It’s sparse and uninspired, tepid where it should be amazing. Even with Pete Rock and the RZA, most of the album (“Otis” is an exception, as is “Murder to Excellence”) have beats that just kind of show up for work but don’t do anything exceptional. Given the profile of this project, that’s a shock. Kanye’s beats alone — “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” “Stronger,” “Run This Town,” “”I Changed My Mind,” “I Wonder,” “School Spirit,” “Slow Jams” and so many others — can freaking levitate. Even on his own recent album there were tracks like “Runaway” or the anthemic “All Of The Lights.” Here? Even the hottest tracks wouldn’t crack the top 25 instrumentals for either artist.

What happened? Did ‘Ye exhaust himself on his Dark Twisted Fantasy? Was Jay-Z more focused on business than delivering shock and awe as the so-called “best in the game” (which I’d definitely question). No idea.

This isn’t a bad album at all … but it’s also not a great album at all. It happened. It’s fine. A good DJ could make several songs work in the mix. But as a work on its own merits? It’s not a G.O.O.D. ass job …

Playing (Music): “Otis” by Kanye West and Jay-Z

NOTE: Why have I not been blogging? I’ve done hundreds of posts at Komplicated, writing for other things and staying busy. #musicmonday and the Commentary Track moved there. Sorry. I failed at National Poetry Writing Month (#napowrimo) by … four or so poems. If I can figure a way to regularly work this back into rotation, I will.

WHAT IS #MUSICMONDAY?

Every week, I post a lot of links to free music you can download. Why? Why the hell not? I’m not hosting the links, I didn’t upload ‘em, I have no legal liability and I’m helping promote the artists. Essentially, I’m a g******ed hero! Enjoy!

Sometimes I rant about musical stuff — that goes at the end. The music is divided into three categories …

I’VE HEARD IT AND IT’S WORTH A LISTEN

• Super R&B Hits Vol. 2 [LINK]
• Glee Cast, “I Fell Pretty/UnPretty” (Rachel/Quinn Duet) [LINK]
• Glee “A Night Of Neglect” I-Tunes Rip Songs [LINK]
• Only since this writer got to see it live: VIDEO (no download, but you can always audio capture) of Prince and Alicia Keys performing “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore” at the Forum in Inglewood, CA. It’s okay to be jealous. It’s natural.

I SUSPECT THIS IS WORTH HEARING, BUT I’M TOO BUSY TO HAVE LISTENED TO IT

• Direct MP3 download, courtesy of Walasia Noor El Shabazz and Clear Label Records: “Soul of The City” by Esinchill feat. Dave Hollister
• Also from Clear Label Records, here’s the instrumental for “Heart & Soul” by Baby Jaymes. First hit’s free, the rest …
• Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan), Grand(er) Vonye (Mixtape) [LINK]
• “This Is Dedicated To You” (a Nate Dogg tribute) by Warren G [LINK]
• Statik Selektah & Lord Sear, Open Bar Classics Vol. 1: The 80’s (Mixtape)[LINK]
• StartYourOwnRebellion, “Let It Go” feat. J. Cole[LINK]
• “Closer” by Joe [LINK]
• Consequence, “Last Supper” (prod. Lee Bannon) [LINK]
• The Beastie Boys, “Say It” [LINK]
• Kevin McCall, “Touch Yourself” [LINK]
• Mixtape: Fabolous, The Soul Tape [LINK]
• Glee Cast, “As If We Never Said Goodbye” [LINK]
• Glee Cast, “I’ve Gotta Be Me” [LINK]
• Glee Cast, “Born This Way” [LINK]
• STS ft. Joell Ortiz, “The People” (Remix) [LINK]
• Pitch Slapped, EP (a capella) [LINK]
• Atmosphere, “Which Way Is Up” feat. Aesop Rock [LINK]
• “Like My Bass” by Tha Outfit, [LINK]
• “Motherlover” by The Lonely Island feat. Justin Timberlake [LINK]
• Craig G ft. Guru, “Coming To Get You” (Unreleased) + Mr. Cee’s Guru Tribute Mix [LINK]
• Kardinal Offishall, “Smash the Club” feat. Pitbull, Lil Jon & Clinton Sparks [LINK]

I PROBABLY WOULDN’T LIKE IT, BUT MANY PEOPLE WOULD

• N.O.R.E. N.O.R.E.aster FreEP [LINK]
• Britney Spears feat. Nicki Minaj & Ke$ha, “Till The World Ends” (Remix) [LINK]
• Don Omar, “How We Roll” (remix f. Busta Rhymes & Reek Da Villain) [LINK]
• Big Hud feat. CyHi Da Prynce & Curren$y, “Summertime Ish” (Remix) [LINK]
• DMX Ft Jan, “Didn’t Go Nowhere” [LINK]
• American Idol Top 7, Studio Recordings [LINK]
• Timbaland, “Slow Down” feat. Blind Fury [LINK]
• Jagged Edge, Love Potion (Chambord Edition) [LINK]
• Trick Daddy, Greatest Hits [LINK]
• Akon, “Take It Down Low” (Feat. Chris Brown) [LINK]
• American Idol Season 10 Top 7 I-Tunes Rip [LINK]
• One Dae, “Play By Play” feat. Evidence, [LINK]
• Sheek Louch, “Star Wars” feat. Styles P [LINK]
• Beyonce, “Girls (Who Run The World)” [LINK]
• Self Scientific, “War Stories” feat. Big K.R.I.T. [LINK]
• The Steve Miller Band, Let Your Hair Down [LINK]
• Complex Presents Prodigy, The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP [LINK]
• Truck North, “Latest Greatest” [LINK]
• R3L, El Elegido [LINK]
• Scoob Lo feat. Spice 1, Daz Dillinger & Knoc-turn’al, “Rap Stars” [LINK]
• Incubus, “Adolescents” [LINK]
• Parachute, “Kiss Me Slowly” [LINK]
• Plain White T’s, “Boomerang” [LINK]
• “Boyfriend” by Big Time Rush feat. New Boyz [LINK]
• “Mr. Baton Rouge” by Lil Boosie [LINK]
• Waka Flocka Flame, Benjamin Flocka [LINK]

This is the last week you’ll see this at the Operative Network. Next week — spirit willing and the creeks don’t rise — this will be located at Komplicated (stay in touch via the Facebook page (click “like”) or the Twitter page (follow). Question: it’s currently a weekly summary of music downloads … how would you feel if it were daily? Please leave your thoughts on that in the comments, and thanks in advance.

Don’t forget that late additions and exclusive extras end up on the mobile version of this blog.

Playing (Music): “G.R.I.N.D.” by Asher Roth

Sorry this is a lot later than anticipated. Best laid plans and all that. Right. This one was very hard to get done, and I’m less than happy with the quality, but it can always be workshopped and improved. Here goes …

All day I dream about sequencers.

Common knowledge is
that your boy’s got too much ego.
Windy City wild man,
showin’ his ass on tv, momma.
I’ma put isht down, though
because every second I didn’t
was like a death sentence.

Locked myself in a room
making one beat a day
every day
every summer for three months
three years in a row
teaches a lot about dedication.
Built myself out of
pawn shop sound gear
hand me down soul songs
hare-brained daddy example

A day job was never an option.

Unheard of to unprecedented,
garbage tracks for Grav
stone stepped me to the Roc.
Long road from intro for JD
Foxy tracks in Queens
But I stayed on grind
like Peet’s with these beats
until big brother took a chance.

Now?
I’m headline punchline
car crash catapult to
catwalks and cassettes.
Tasteless tantrums and award show bans.
Non-stop porn on screen
while hosting rap camp
for Pusha T and Elton John.
Keep Legends in common,
open up doors like doors opened for me
every second of sleep
got me wanting to file police reports.

Got too close to dying
to miss living it up.

Models lay down like tracks
from lyrical subpoenas.
Give ‘em all up to hear mama’s voice
one more time, for real.
Did my fast life kill her?
Did Italian imports
repossess Alexis?
Takin’ Rosewood turns
to stay chosen in white man’ world,
My creativity isn’t a dream,
It’s desperation.

Did I make it out of the car?
Is this weed or brimstone?

Shades shield vexed vision
tinted tough.
Clicking through folders,
think I cleared out dreams for Shawn,
keep sounds set for Ne-Yo soul …
try not to linger over folder marked “MJ.”
Now I never open it.

One more epic show,
another ground breaking video,
keep steppin’ up the game.
Presidential put down to
Internet memes can’t stop me.

Even this hell
beats sleepwalking to Cicero walk up
no callers and no phone
dead every minute wasn’t living this life.

“Kanye”
By Hannibal Tabu

I came up with some of it in the shower, and I think I remembered the big key elements — being haunted by ambition, the unresolved dreams, the loneliness and kind of tragedy. We’ll see how it holds up.

Playing (Music): “Street Lights” by Kanye West