This weekend has been gloomy. In my part of Texas, we just have cloudy skies and light rain, nothing worth a complaint, compared to the storms ravaging Houston at the time of this post. Prayers, well-wishes, and my tithes will go the victims of Hurricane, or Tropical Storm, Harvey. With the ominous feel surrounding me, I felt that a Jay-Z album would be an appropriate soundtrack. I remember reading Decoded and Mr. Carter explained why most of his music is dark. He spent over 10 years as a drug dealer outside in the winters of New York, New Jersey, and all throughout the East Coast. His environment influenced him when he entered the studio. He believes that maybe if he sold drugs somewhere warmer than his music would have a more hopeful outlook. Those cold days definitely played their part in one of my favorite Jay-Z songs of all time.
“Fallin'” featuring Bilal, produced by Jermaine Dupri and No I.D., always get the most repeat plays from me whenever I play Hov’s comeback album, American Gangster (“Hello Brooklyn 2.0” will always be SKIPPED!). The message of the downfall of a hustler on top that did too much, the regretful hook from Bilal, and the sample from the Detroit group, The Dramatics, whose backstory includes involvement in the Algiers Motel incident portrayed in the new film, Detroit, makes it a perfect song. From their second album, A Dramatic Experience, here’s “Fell For You.” Enjoy! Happy Sunday! #PrayForHouston