Jay + Esco: Success or Failure?

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Gumbo

Published on October 26, 2007 with 112 Comments">112 Comments

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“Success” is everything you expect from two of the leading MCs in the game, but it’s far from perfect. My main gripe with:

Jigga – He flagrantly swipes an entire bar from Marshal Mathers. Can’t get away with the “I’m just biggin’ him up” excuse this time, Jay.

Esco – He keeps recycling the same annoying Jacob/jewelry lines. Esco, do you have a pact with dude or what?

Both: I’d rather hear them trade rhymes back and forth (for a change) a la Red & Meth, Snoop & Dre, Ghost & Rae, Nas & AZ, you get my drift.

The Production – None. It’s a doozy, and the track is a banger. Let this b*tch breathe, haters.

Your verdict on “Success”? Is it better than “Black Republican”?

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • SomeOne

    I’m listening to it right now (but i will be purchasing it)and I loving it. The album will either grow on you or your gonna like it from the start unless…you know …you hate hip-hop..or a hater!

  • SomeOne

    I’m listening to it right now (but i will be purchasing it)and I loving it. The album will either grow on you or your gonna like it from the start unless…you know …you hate hip-hop..or a hater!

  • Austin Walker

    SomeOne – where’d you get it from. i’m with you, I definitely buying it. I enjoy what Jay has done here, using the American Gangster concept album as a way to return to early Resonable Doubt mafioso Jay, while maintaining the mature class of The Black Album, and debatably dodging the criticism of being too soft that was sent to him post Kingdom Come.

  • Austin Walker

    SomeOne – where’d you get it from. i’m with you, I definitely buying it. I enjoy what Jay has done here, using the American Gangster concept album as a way to return to early Resonable Doubt mafioso Jay, while maintaining the mature class of The Black Album, and debatably dodging the criticism of being too soft that was sent to him post Kingdom Come.

  • http://www.theehlp.com esbee

    “Wait hol up lemme move my bowels”

    *beat drums in*

    “I sh** on y’all n***Z OG tell these boys, :YALL AIN’T GOT SH** ON MY N***!!”

    that entendre man is so friggin hype..

    @Riz, its weird and Jay kept harping on that particular rhyme scheme even on MTV..so its either he’s aware he bit or it may have been a case where he didn’t know? I have zero-tolerance with biting..so I won’t accept it even from Jay.

  • http://www.theehlp.com esbee

    “Wait hol up lemme move my bowels”

    *beat drums in*

    “I sh** on y’all n***Z OG tell these boys, :YALL AIN’T GOT SH** ON MY N***!!”

    that entendre man is so friggin hype..

    @Riz, its weird and Jay kept harping on that particular rhyme scheme even on MTV..so its either he’s aware he bit or it may have been a case where he didn’t know? I have zero-tolerance with biting..so I won’t accept it even from Jay.

  • http://dahshyt.blogspot.com Belize

    Not better than BR..but I like Nas’s sideswipes at jigga…even though Jigga goes harder on this song than the latter

    1ne

  • http://dahshyt.blogspot.com Belize

    Not better than BR..but I like Nas’s sideswipes at jigga…even though Jigga goes harder on this song than the latter

    1ne

  • http://www.ignitemindz.com ignite mindz

    No not better than BR, cant tell who’s verse is better. (nas got him with one line bout google earth tho)Cant tell if I love or hate the beat. But aint nothin out sound shit like this.

  • http://www.ignitemindz.com ignite mindz

    No not better than BR, cant tell who’s verse is better. (nas got him with one line bout google earth tho)Cant tell if I love or hate the beat. But aint nothin out sound shit like this.

  • http://www.myspace.com/archblaze Ryan

    I think it’s there honest opinion of they how they feel after reaching that level of success. Staying there for so long becomes boring, jaded like he said in allure.

  • http://www.myspace.com/archblaze Ryan

    I think it’s there honest opinion of they how they feel after reaching that level of success. Staying there for so long becomes boring, jaded like he said in allure.

  • Jarell

    rizoh “hello brooklyn” has leaked aswell….by the way do you know where i can get these tracks from?
    “no hook” aswell

    dont you think the whole album has leaked?

    and this track wasnt that bad i will give it a 4.5 because it served its purpose and didnt go off topic unlike other songs that differs from their title….i feel this track and black republicans the same way! im actually happy that jigga hasnt completly fallen off

  • Jarell

    rizoh “hello brooklyn” has leaked aswell….by the way do you know where i can get these tracks from?
    “no hook” aswell

    dont you think the whole album has leaked?

    and this track wasnt that bad i will give it a 4.5 because it served its purpose and didnt go off topic unlike other songs that differs from their title….i feel this track and black republicans the same way! im actually happy that jigga hasnt completly fallen off

  • http://www.myspace.com/thespecialistbeatz PROUD NAS STAN

    Production wise: The organs are super nice and the drums are bangin and crisp it’s just that the snaredoesn’t hit too much, there’s too much space for the meody

    NaS: No problem with the Jacob verse since it’s well written and doesn’t include no YOUUAAaa lol no but seriously the jewelry lines weren’t in abundance so he smashed the mic

    Jay-Z verses: Catchy ”let that ho breathe” line, good lyrics but it’s def weaker than his ex-nemesis rhymes!

    Final Verdict : Success doesn’t dissapoint, FK it’s jy and NaS on a same joint you critizin bitches woow!! Success is blazin, g8 joint and all but Black Republican had that classic vibe whether it was rhymin or beats wise.

  • http://www.myspace.com/thespecialistbeatz PROUD NAS STAN

    Production wise: The organs are super nice and the drums are bangin and crisp it’s just that the snaredoesn’t hit too much, there’s too much space for the meody

    NaS: No problem with the Jacob verse since it’s well written and doesn’t include no YOUUAAaa lol no but seriously the jewelry lines weren’t in abundance so he smashed the mic

    Jay-Z verses: Catchy ”let that ho breathe” line, good lyrics but it’s def weaker than his ex-nemesis rhymes!

    Final Verdict : Success doesn’t dissapoint, FK it’s jy and NaS on a same joint you critizin bitches woow!! Success is blazin, g8 joint and all but Black Republican had that classic vibe whether it was rhymin or beats wise.

  • http://www.myspace.com/thespecialistbeatz PROUD NAS STAN

    “Google Earth Nas, I got flats on other continents”

    ^^
    shuts the whole song down with this!

    I rest my case…

  • http://www.myspace.com/thespecialistbeatz PROUD NAS STAN

    “Google Earth Nas, I got flats on other continents”

    ^^
    shuts the whole song down with this!

    I rest my case…

  • DJ Raida

    Nas has the best verse, but the beat has NOTHING on the black republicans beat, which is still monster to me, and probably will be for the rest of my life. The tracks nice though, i think itll grow on me

  • DJ Raida

    Nas has the best verse, but the beat has NOTHING on the black republicans beat, which is still monster to me, and probably will be for the rest of my life. The tracks nice though, i think itll grow on me

  • Darkpoet

    Jay sampled Em’s lyrics…. what’s so bad. It isn’t like he’s stealing and changing the words around a bit to make it sound original.

    If that’s the case, then Premo should be condemned to hell for sampling.

    Nas outshined hov.

  • Darkpoet

    Jay sampled Em’s lyrics…. what’s so bad. It isn’t like he’s stealing and changing the words around a bit to make it sound original.

    If that’s the case, then Premo should be condemned to hell for sampling.

    Nas outshined hov.

  • Magoo

    As soon as I heard it I knew Jay took a line from Em, and its not that I have a problem with it, I just think that Jay is better than that even if it does fit the concept of the song. I like the song I don’t think its great or anything but its decent and a I will bang.

  • Magoo

    As soon as I heard it I knew Jay took a line from Em, and its not that I have a problem with it, I just think that Jay is better than that even if it does fit the concept of the song. I like the song I don’t think its great or anything but its decent and a I will bang.

  • shine95

    Dog u is sleepin, got the Gotti sample in the beginning, of course this shit is hot.they both still got that crack come on now, better than 90% of these wack ass rappers. nowadays fans opinions don’t count no more if you don’t emcee your opinion shouldn’t even be acknowledged because this game is so fucked up right now. hip hop really is dying. saying nas and jay is old now. they built a track record that majority of the industry don’t come close to.

  • shine95

    Dog u is sleepin, got the Gotti sample in the beginning, of course this shit is hot.they both still got that crack come on now, better than 90% of these wack ass rappers. nowadays fans opinions don’t count no more if you don’t emcee your opinion shouldn’t even be acknowledged because this game is so fucked up right now. hip hop really is dying. saying nas and jay is old now. they built a track record that majority of the industry don’t come close to.

  • Greumstylesp

    Nasir Carter & Shawn Jones
    TWO GREAT TRACKS
    TWO STYLE SO
    NO COMPARAISON
    JUST THHE SAME SHHIT
    JUST LYRICISM
    HHIGHH

  • Greumstylesp

    Nasir Carter & Shawn Jones
    TWO GREAT TRACKS
    TWO STYLE SO
    NO COMPARAISON
    JUST THHE SAME SHHIT
    JUST LYRICISM
    HHIGHH

  • Isbjerg

    The Eminem stolen bar were supposed to be the chorus, but Jay chose another angle…. If you gonna accuse someone for stealin’, be sure about the story behind…

  • Isbjerg

    The Eminem stolen bar were supposed to be the chorus, but Jay chose another angle…. If you gonna accuse someone for stealin’, be sure about the story behind…

  • jweb

    Yeah……this is crack and I like the track better than “Black Republican”because the beat doesn’t dominate the lyrics. To bad Nas’s flow is more like a commercial, while Jay comes off as more of the main feature.Lol, jay ain’t never gonna let Nas do what Eminem did on Renegade….Jay a shine blocker.

  • http://rawkus Dee, Dee, Madfucking Dee

    Yo Let that bitch Breathe. Yo this shit is crazy cuz u know Bitches Be craZy. Think its better than Black Republican Yo cop the Jay Shit its better than anyone else’s album this year. Cuz if you didn’t know better ask someone Brooklyn keeps on taking it. Ya heard Hola

  • jweb

    Yeah……this is crack and I like the track better than “Black Republican”because the beat doesn’t dominate the lyrics. To bad Nas’s flow is more like a commercial, while Jay comes off as more of the main feature.Lol, jay ain’t never gonna let Nas do what Eminem did on Renegade….Jay a shine blocker.

  • Illmatic620

    btw the Black Rep beat is sick, but you know that is an nothing special direct sample of the orchestra that was in Godfather 2 thats a pretty famous piece, i couldve produced that track, i mean i have always loved LES he is one of the greats, but i cant big up him that much for that beat.

    Anyway that Jay-Z biting of Shady kinda kills his verse for me. He rode the beat better than Nas I think, but im getting a bit tired of his flow

    Nas > Jay-Z

    and the beat was a banger

  • Illmatic620

    btw the Black Rep beat is sick, but you know that is an nothing special direct sample of the orchestra that was in Godfather 2 thats a pretty famous piece, i couldve produced that track, i mean i have always loved LES he is one of the greats, but i cant big up him that much for that beat.

    Anyway that Jay-Z biting of Shady kinda kills his verse for me. He rode the beat better than Nas I think, but im getting a bit tired of his flow

    Nas > Jay-Z

    and the beat was a banger

  • http://www.myspace.com/understandingone Understanding

    Its good 2 hear the God Emcees on the mic 2gether again. Verses, production and all that was tight in my humble opinion.

    Hearin’ this makes me wanna pimp slap those fools on that MTV Special who had the unmitigated gall 2 declare Weezy the best rapper alive … GTFOH!!! Real hip-hop prevails with this one.

  • http://www.myspace.com/understandingone Understanding

    Its good 2 hear the God Emcees on the mic 2gether again. Verses, production and all that was tight in my humble opinion.

    Hearin’ this makes me wanna pimp slap those fools on that MTV Special who had the unmitigated gall 2 declare Weezy the best rapper alive … GTFOH!!! Real hip-hop prevails with this one.

  • Gmoney

    shit is crack…

    and

    JAY-Z > NAS

  • Gmoney

    shit is crack…

    and

    JAY-Z > NAS

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    Man, Jay stans will defend anything he does. Hov is obviously one of my favorite MCs, but I call it as it is. No bs. Biting is biting, period.

    And the Preemo comparison is null, because Preme samples. If Jay wanted to sample that line, he should’ve gone ahead and did it, a la Dead Presidents, D’Evils, Rap Game/Crack Gamer, etc.

    Some of you older heads may recall that cats used to get called ou (or even knocked out in some cases) just for biting rhymes. It’s even more inexcusable when it’s one of the illest MCs ever. Truth hurts.

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    Man, Jay stans will defend anything he does. Hov is obviously one of my favorite MCs, but I call it as it is. No bs. Biting is biting, period.

    And the Preemo comparison is null, because Preme samples. If Jay wanted to sample that line, he should’ve gone ahead and did it, a la Dead Presidents, D’Evils, Rap Game/Crack Gamer, etc.

    Some of you older heads may recall that cats used to get called ou (or even knocked out in some cases) just for biting rhymes. It’s even more inexcusable when it’s one of the illest MCs ever. Truth hurts.

  • YungJae

    great song…great beat…both rappers go in…i think it’s a little better than black republicans mainly because i like nas on this song more. only gripe is that both the songs these artist have done together focus on monetary achievement. I’d like to hear them get on a song and tackle a tougher subject.

    Just Blaze garbage?!…you’re buggin’. every producer samples. kanye does it more than n e one in history! dre, swizzy, heat makers, everybody samples

  • YungJae

    great song…great beat…both rappers go in…i think it’s a little better than black republicans mainly because i like nas on this song more. only gripe is that both the songs these artist have done together focus on monetary achievement. I’d like to hear them get on a song and tackle a tougher subject.

    Just Blaze garbage?!…you’re buggin’. every producer samples. kanye does it more than n e one in history! dre, swizzy, heat makers, everybody samples

  • lonnyloe

    why get a leaked version of AG its missing 2 songs so just wait another week and buy it. but by the way shit go hard!

  • lonnyloe

    why get a leaked version of AG its missing 2 songs so just wait another week and buy it. but by the way shit go hard!

  • YungJae

    Oh and why is Hov the only m.c. to take shots for “bitting” rhymes? I’ve heard fat joe say a ton of biggie lines, i’ve heard cam use prodigy lines, i’ve heard lil wayne (and a buncha other rappers) use jay-z lines, i’ve heard bow wow and snoop use rakim lines, i’ve heard eminem use kurupt and andre 3ooo lines, i’ve heard damn near every rapper use tupac lines, i’ve heard game use nas,jay-z, biggie,tupac and er’body in nwa’s lines, i’ve heard dmx use jay-z lines…how come no complaints when other rappers do it? why’s hov always under the microscope?

  • YungJae

    Oh and why is Hov the only m.c. to take shots for “bitting” rhymes? I’ve heard fat joe say a ton of biggie lines, i’ve heard cam use prodigy lines, i’ve heard lil wayne (and a buncha other rappers) use jay-z lines, i’ve heard bow wow and snoop use rakim lines, i’ve heard eminem use kurupt and andre 3ooo lines, i’ve heard damn near every rapper use tupac lines, i’ve heard game use nas,jay-z, biggie,tupac and er’body in nwa’s lines, i’ve heard dmx use jay-z lines…how come no complaints when other rappers do it? why’s hov always under the microscope?

  • KB

    YungJae

    You know how it is, Jay-Z & THE ROC was dominant for a long time and Jay is extremly confident. Then they ride with new kid on the block who was 50 & the G-Unit, Now its Lil Wayne but I tell you if the Carter III is TRASH, everyone is gonna jump off his jock!

  • KB

    YungJae

    You know how it is, Jay-Z & THE ROC was dominant for a long time and Jay is extremly confident. Then they ride with new kid on the block who was 50 & the G-Unit, Now its Lil Wayne but I tell you if the Carter III is TRASH, everyone is gonna jump off his jock!

  • roman

    Nas definitely brings the track up with a stronger, more enthusiastic delivery.

    I agree that they should trade more verses so it feels more like a collaboration than “Hey Nas, email me your verse and we’ll tack it on!”

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