Jadakiss Album: “Kiss of Death [PA]”

Ever since The LOX dropped their "Money, Power, Respect" CD on Bad Boy Records, they have been known and well respected in the rap game. While Styles P and Sheek Louch are also in the group, Jadakiss has always been the LOX member that has stood out. You figured if any of them made a solo CD that Jadakiss would be the first one to release a solo CD. In 2001, he did just that with "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye". Anytime you hear Jadakiss on a mixtape or if you hear him on another CD he always has "fire" verses, but on "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye" there was a lot of "fire" and then there was alot of "smoke". While Jadakiss had bangers with "We Gonna Make It" w/Styles P, "Show Discipline" w/Nas, "None Of Y'all Betta" w/Styles P and Sheek Louch and "It's Time I See You" w/Ruff Ryders, there was too much mediocrity going on at the same time with tracks like "On My Way", "Cruisin'" w/Snoop Dogg and "... Or What". So while Jadakiss was still respected as a top MC he didn't have a solo CD that showed how consistent he could be.

On "Kiss Of Death", Jadakiss does his best to show why he is still the same MC. His first single, "Time's Up" featuring Nate Dogg definitely gets things off to a good start. Scott Storch, who is moving up the rankings as far as producers go, blesses Jada with a Dr. Dre sounding track and Jada just runs away with the track with the crooning of Nate Dogg. Scott Storch also produces The Roots' new single "Don't Say Nuthin'". There is a remix of this track entitled "The Champ Is Here", which is also another nice track. You'll probably have to find that track on a mixtape or CD. The next single features Anthony Hamilton and is entitled "Why". I am sure that you don't think of Jadakiss as the political type but the track makes sense as he touches on several topics such as George Bush, Kobe Bryant and MCs not telling the truth about what happens in their rhymes.

If you don't have Anthony Hamilton's CD, "Comin' From Where I'm From", you don't know what you're missing. Mariah Carey joins Jadakiss on the Scott Storch produced "U Make Me Wanna" and the track is actually pretty good although it sounds as the obligatory anthem to the females that appears on every MC's CD. The Neptunes hook back with Jadakiss with "Hot Sauce To Go" just as they did with "Knock Yourself Out" on "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye". The results are still the same as this track makes you want to get on the dance floor just as "Knock Yourself Out" did. Swizz Beatz' lone contribution is "Real Hip Hop" featuring Sheek Louch. The track has an old school feel to it as Jada and Sheek go back and forth as they are used to doing on a LOX track on the last verse. Swizz uses a simple beat and "Real Hip Hop" is one of the better songs on "Kiss Of Death". "Shoot Outs" featuring Styles P reminds me of "Thug In The Street" that was on Eve's 2nd CD, "Scorpion", as Jada and Styles rap over a beat with a rock and roll feel to it. "Air It Out" is the best song on this CD that has Jadakiss with no singer on the hook and no guest rappers. Jadakiss has to realize though that he needs to make more songs like these to get the respect that he wants or he'll just be known as an artist that needs 15 features on his CD everytime he drops a solo disc.

"Welcome To D-Block" is produced by and features Eminem along with Sheek Louch and Styles P. The track is "fire" as all of the rappers blend well together over the Eminem track. One question though? If J-Hood is supposed to be one of the key young members of D-Block then why isn't he on the track? That would have been a good opportunity to get him some exposure. The title track is produced by Red Spyda and this is what I expect from Jadakiss, not his signature snarl over every track, not his singing the hooks, just the beat coming on and Jada spittin' hot rhymes like I know he is capable of.

Overall, if you are a Jadakiss fan then "Kiss Of Death" should be in your collection. If you are expecting something different from "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye", you won't get that but you can tell that Jadakiss has stepped things up lyrically and on most of the tracks the production is right up there with "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye". I am not sure if Jadakiss is "Top 5, Dead Or Alive and that's just off one LP", but Jadakiss definitely will be a force to reckon with in the future of rap music.

James' Top 5

1) Time's Up w/Nate Dogg

Some may consider my review heavily biased, since I've been a huge Jada fan since the lox days, but i believe this album deserves more shine than its gotten. In my opinion a HUGE improvement over the first album, and cuts like "Why" and "Air it out" really shows Jada's improvement in his lyrical content. Like the first album, its still very much for the streets, but at the same time it now has the crossover commercial appeal as well, without being too corny like many other artists nowadays. Even more, some cuts actually address viable social issues unlike 90% of the gangsta rap nowadays. Jada at his finest.

I understand in this era of hiphop people don't know what is good and what isn't. So continue to allow people like Chingy and J-kwon to be signed, and keeping hating on the elite(Nas, Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Eminem, etc). I still know the truth.

Black Ginger www.blackgingeronline.com

All the songs are great but my top 5 are

1 Times up

go pick this cd up

Jadakiss is one of the sickest rappers out there. He is "street", but everytime he puts out an album it agrivates the S*it out of me. Where is the Jadakiss that made "Knockin Heads Off" and all those other tracks. Its like he makes an effort to be the best everywhere else but for himself. His beat choice is disgusting. His lyrics are awsome as usual, but the choice of peoples he's collaborating with and the songs he's collab-in wit em on suck. He's A genious and I think he can be doing so much better than this album. PLEASE JADA DROP A STREET ALBUM FOR YOUR SAKE AND OURS!