Feel like this went under the radar after “Jay-Z Interview,” but it’s pretty good! His pen game’s not bad — he drops an origin story, a post-Drake conflicted narrative about women and fame, some worthy brags and a surprisingly affecting Biggie/Pac homage. I don’t know how many beats he produced, but the range is impressive — the Primo/Q-Tip jazz loops of “East Vs. West,” the straight-up post-rock heaviness of “She Belongs to the City,” the Kanye keys of “Brake Lights,” a nod to ‘Ye’s own “Flashing Lights.” His flow is clear and serious, the sound of an artist still finding his footing. It’s inviting. The champagne-and-fuck-you “Jay-Z Interview” is the best, but I really like “East vs. West” — hearing him rap about beats Biggie might’ve rhymed on should feel undeserved, but instead, it’s all heart.
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