Kingdom Come - Jay-Z
Kingdom Come Image
Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 80 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: Forget retirement. The legendary rapper and Def Jam head has resurfaced after a three-year hiatus, with an album that finds him joined by some of the biggest names in hip-hop (Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West) and alt-rock (Coldplay's Chris Martin).

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. Observer Music Monthly
    100
    While many will no doubt have set the bar of their expectations too high, Jay-Z has pulled out all of the stops on Kingdom Come.
  2. Playlouder
    80
    People who hate the venality and misogyny of modern mainstream rap will find this a particularly joyless experience, but this unwavering and energising disc at least has the courage of its convictions and makes the immediate competition look like the mealy mouthed twats they are.
  3. Uncut
    60
    Whilst a gift for converting arrogance into entertainment has always been one of Jay-Z’s strongest suits, Kingdom Come skirts perilously close to the showboating that marred 2002’s bloated double album, The Blueprint 2.
  4. NOW Magazine
    20
    Jay proves that, yes, he really has nothing more to say except to state the fact that he's back.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 48
  3. Negative: 10 out of 48
  1. MusicLover
    10
    Jay-Z definitely gets a little more experimental on this album. He's got those casino-type beats & a cool collaboration with Chris Martin. Lyrically, he ranges from topics like Hurricane Katrina & his nephew to Hollywood & getting older. This album really brings Jay-Z back into the game after his "retirement". I don't know if American Gangster will be this good, but I hope so.… Expand
  2. Mcritic19
    8
    When i first heard the album i was not impressed but going back to it years later makes this album good. jay Z was ahead of the pack with this album. Classic club songs like "hollywood" and lyrically great songs like "lost ones" and "beach chair" make this album.… Expand
  3. matthewl
    7
    not his best work, but atleast it's jay-z
  4. MrK
    4
    What is up with all these artist putting out two albums. Like one with the studio release then the double disc package? Most of them just seem to sit around in the record store, but Man, Jay Z fans bought in to that like no tomorrow! I sold out by mid day. Anyway, I found it lacking and the music seemed rushed, or the artist in the studio seemed bored. Nothing really stuck out for me. But after listen to it a few times I started to find things in the music to enjoy.… Expand

See all 48 User Reviews

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. The Complete Columbia Album Collection - Johnny Cash
    Metascore: 99
  2. Rumours [35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Fleetwood Mac
    Metascore: 99
  3. Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 - Miles Davis Quintet
    Metascore: 92
  4. Jama Ko - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
    Metascore: 91
  5. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
    Metascore: 89
  6. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
    Metascore: 89
  7. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
    Metascore: 88
  8. Your Turn - Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
    Metascore: 88
  9. Minute by Minute - The James Hunter Six
    Metascore: 88
  10. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 88
  11. Music For the Quiet Hour/The Drawbar Organ EPs - Shackleton
    Metascore: 87
  12. M B V - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 87
  13. Beautiful Africa - Rokia Traoré
    Metascore: 87
  14. LSXX [Last Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition] - The Breeders
    Metascore: 87
  15. Annie Up - Pistol Annies
    Metascore: 87
  16. Rage Against the Machine XX [20th Anniversary Edition] - Rage Against the Machine
    Metascore: 87
  17. Without a Net - Wayne Shorter
    Metascore: 86
  18. In Time - The Mavericks
    Metascore: 86
  19. MCII - Mikal Cronin
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »