User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 130
  2. Negative: 19 out of 130

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  1. PhuongH
    Dec 4, 2006
    6
    Well-done just 'cause there are many stars on his album
  2. ImanL
    Nov 21, 2006
    6
    Jay Z has made some of the best CDs in the past ten years and this aint one of them. Always happy to hear him rap but still immensely disappointed...
  3. richardj
    Nov 21, 2006
    6
    The first single didn't set the world on fire for me,so for a Jay-Z album it's okay not that special and certainly it ain't The Blueprint or Reasonable Doubt. To be honest buy The Game Theory by the Roots far more interesting album ( boh production and lyrical), for start it ain;t bragadcious like Kingdom Come howeverThe Game Theory album not promoted well as Jay-Z made The first single didn't set the world on fire for me,so for a Jay-Z album it's okay not that special and certainly it ain't The Blueprint or Reasonable Doubt. To be honest buy The Game Theory by the Roots far more interesting album ( boh production and lyrical), for start it ain;t bragadcious like Kingdom Come howeverThe Game Theory album not promoted well as Jay-Z made sure he had all the def-jam marketing budget for this pile of average sh*T and Ludacris and the yet to be heard NAS album ( which i fear will be like this okay!) howevr ANs's album is out two weeks after this, so Mr Carter sure planned this out well to hurt his once venomous rival NAS? Expand
  4. TonyT
    Nov 23, 2006
    6
    hmm i must admit too i was left with a questionmark after i heard the first single, and now that i know Lost Ones is the second... im a bigger question mark! There is nothing really strong here, the dre tracks didnt inpress me. damn...
  5. MrK
    Dec 21, 2006
    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 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
  6. CGraham
    Jan 19, 2007
    5
    Ugh. I regret to say that Jay-Z (one of my personal favorite MC's) has released a forgettable album. We know Jay, you're more mature now. We know, you make a lot of money. If you want to be so mature, then why don't you write more rhymes like Minority Report? Get socially concious and involved in improving this terrible culture. Use your voice to stimulate change. Because Ugh. I regret to say that Jay-Z (one of my personal favorite MC's) has released a forgettable album. We know Jay, you're more mature now. We know, you make a lot of money. If you want to be so mature, then why don't you write more rhymes like Minority Report? Get socially concious and involved in improving this terrible culture. Use your voice to stimulate change. Because bragging rhymes just don't come off as relevant from older MC's. Expand
  7. Teejman
    Nov 24, 2006
    5
    The first single, "Show Me What You Got," was atrocious, possibly one of the worst songs Jay has ever made. Just Blaze, a producer often better than his more-hyped peers, should be ashamed of that song. But I figured the album would be better. It's not. It's exactly like the single: Jay-Z is obviously still sharp-minded and impressive, but the production is terrible and poorly The first single, "Show Me What You Got," was atrocious, possibly one of the worst songs Jay has ever made. Just Blaze, a producer often better than his more-hyped peers, should be ashamed of that song. But I figured the album would be better. It's not. It's exactly like the single: Jay-Z is obviously still sharp-minded and impressive, but the production is terrible and poorly thought out. I think it's safe to say this is his worst album. Expand
  8. TantoI
    Dec 22, 2006
    5
    You know how Chris Rock said he used debate who was better, Prince or Michael Jackson...well the same debate could be made as to who the best emcee is, Nas or Jay-z. Looks like Nas takes the "comeback" round.
  9. NelsonP
    Dec 23, 2006
    6
    Nas' Hip Hop is Dead got delayed for this??? Please.........
  10. Aug 15, 2013
    6
    Admittedly, to return after a short hiatus and having to follow-up one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time is not an easy task. And sadly, Jay-Z didn’t succeed in that with Kingdom Come. It’s not as bad as some insult it to be, but Carter only shows his ingenuity at few moments and also disappoints with almost everyone of his featured artists safe John Legend who additionallyAdmittedly, to return after a short hiatus and having to follow-up one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time is not an easy task. And sadly, Jay-Z didn’t succeed in that with Kingdom Come. It’s not as bad as some insult it to be, but Carter only shows his ingenuity at few moments and also disappoints with almost everyone of his featured artists safe John Legend who additionally spices up one of the album’s finest moments, an emotional message to an imprisoned friend of Jay-Z. The only bad moments of the record are Anything and Hollywood, two consecutive disappointments merely focused on creating a radio-friendly tune without substance. The rest of Kingdom Come is mostly a forgettably unspectacular assemblage of the same old topics and the New York hip hop old hand exercising himself in mediocrity. Double entendres and stunning rhyme schemes are present, yet only in a handful of outstanding songs, namely Lost One, Trouble, Minority Report, and Beach Chair. All in all, this makes for an album better than Jay-Z’s Vol. series as well as The Dynasty, but simply not enough for what he already proved to be capable of. Expand
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. 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. Jay proves that, yes, he really has nothing more to say except to state the fact that he's back.
  3. At 37, he's still at the top of his game.