Jay-Z, please refrain from continually emphasizing your wealth; I am already aware of it. Recently, listening to Jay-Z’s last two records has been a struggle as they tend to put me to sleep. It seems all Jay-Z wants to discuss is designer clothes and luxury cars.

 

Given that I’ve never indulged in high-end shopping, I find it challenging to relate to Jay and connect with his music. It appears he has exhausted this topic, contributing to the staleness of his music. Moreover, Jay-Z doesn’t aid matters when he labels himself as an inspiration.

 

Listening to a Jay-Z album becomes quite challenging when he consistently references high-end brands, especially those beyond the reach of regular people. He delves into the super-elite brands that the average hip-hop listener can’t afford. I, for one, can’t fathom spending five hundred dollars on a shirt. These exclusive brands aren’t recognizable to the typical hip-hop audience, making it difficult to connect. A song like “Tom Ford” is something I could have done without.

 

It seems Jay-Z has exhausted his subject matter, which is understandable given his commercial project debut in 1996. Having lived the life of the rich and famous for so long, Jay-Z hasn’t experienced the ordinary life that often inspires great music.

 

His extensive exploration of the drug dealer narrative in sixteen albums has left little room for fresh perspectives. Discussing life in the ‘one percent’ and flaunting wealth for an hour isn’t particularly exciting or compelling for me. I don’t seek validation through wealth, so this message holds little significance.