JAY-Z LEAKS FROM KINGDOME COME

This is what everyone's talking about, so here are my two cents. Just in case you've been living under a rock, the background: after months of speculation, Jay-Z officially announced in September that he's ending his ridiculous pseudo-retirement, which only lasted about three years. Excitement is now brewing for his "comeback" album, Kingdome Come, due November 12 and featuring production from Just Blaze, Kanye, Timbaland, Rick Rubin, the Neptunes, etc. -- basically the same all-star cast that created his highly-regarded retirement album, 2003's The Black Album, but with some new surprises such as a Dr. Dre-produced song with Coldplay's Chris Martin on vocals.

I have no doubt the album is going to be tight, since Jay seems to be following the same winning formula as The Black Album and 2001's The Blueprint. Fueling the excitement, not just one but two tracks from the album have now leaked, both produced by Just Blaze...

Last week we heard "Show Me What You Got" -- listen here -- which shrewd listeners/ music nerds recognized as jacking from both Johnny Pate's "Shaft in Africa" and the Lafayette Afro Rock Band's "Darkest Light" (the sax previously used, most notably, on PE's instrumental "Show Em What You Got" from It Takes a Nation of Millions... and Wreckx-N-Effects' "Rump Shaker"). The track is pretty nice, especially cause Just Blaze used live musicians. Here's Jay and Just talking about the making of the song in Elliott Wilson's column in XXL. While I dig the music, my overall feeling for this first single from the album -- if that's indeed what it is -- is only lukewarm, mostly because Jay comes off subpar (by his standards). Pitchfork nailed it here: the real problem is that Hov's lyrics are tired. All in all, I like it perhaps as much as "Encore," and it's certainly better than "Change Clothes," but it's definitely not up there with highlights of The Black Album like "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" or "99 Problems." I'm not even sure I like it as much as "December 4," one of Just Blaze's two Black Album contributions, and it isn't close to touching the other, "Public Service Announcement."

But the second song from the new album to leak, the title track "Kingdome Come," also produced by Just Blaze, does arguably match the drama and intensity of "P.S.A." Funkmaster Flex got his hands on "Kingdome Come" a few days ago -- listen here -- and it seems to be getting a better reaction among listeners than "Show Me What You Got." It sounds like classic Jay-Z. This one samples "Superfreak," of all things, but in an unexpected way. It totally works. Here he is, again, with Just and engineer Young Guru talking about the making of this track.

So, what do you people think of these songs? As much as I like them, especially "Kingdome Come," and as much as I am anticipating the new record, I recognize that no matter how good it is it's not going to be as important to hip-hop as, say, The Blueprint. Why do I say that? Has Jay passed his prime? I doubt it. Despite some recent lackluster guest verses (on songs by Beyonce and others), you can't deny Hov is still at the top of his game. But the element of surprise is missing. People know exactly what to expect: that masterful flow and irresistible swagger, over beats by a variety of proven A-list producers who have made magic with Jay in the past. I'm not complaining, believe me. After almost a decade, America still loves Jay-Z, which in our flavor-of-the-month culture is a testament to how good he really is. But at some level, I think we're all kind of longing for a new voice, someone on the level of Hov/Nas/Big/Pac. And Jay seems to understand this, too, which I guess is why he retired. But then when no one else stepped up to the plate over the past few years, he had to come back and show 'em "how to do this, son." I can't really argue with that.

In other Jay-Z news, he is currently doing his Bono thing, touring the world in connection with MTV and Kofi Annan/the UN to raise awareness about the global water crisis. Along the way, he is performing to adoring crowds in cities from Krakow and Bratislava to Accra and Johannesburg, from Bangkok and Taipei to Athens and London (where he was joined by Nas, and by Chris Martin for "Heart of the City" and Gwyneth Paltrow [!] for "Song Cry"). A Shanghai date was cancelled, though, when China's Culture Ministry objected to the rapper's "vulgar" lyrics.

Some might dismiss Jay's Water for Life tour as part of a contemptible recent Africa-chic trend, along the same lines as Madonna adopting a Malawian kid. Still, I admire him for doing what he can. And there's something inspiring and historic about these international performances. These aren't places where Western artists, especially rap artists, usually visit. Can you imagine what it means for some teenager in Lagos to see his hero Jay-Z on stage?

Ps: MTV airs a documentary about the Water for Life tour on Friday, November 24th.