The Watcher or The Watcher 2 : Which Dr Dre song is better?

The Watcher or The Watcher 2 : Which Dr Dre song is better? The Watcher or The Watcher 2 : Which Dr Dre song is better?

I like both versions. The original has Dr Dre; his verses were apparently written by Eminem; rapping way better than he could on his own. The same can be said for the sequel, on which his part is (apparently) penned by Rakim who follows with a brilliant verse of his own. Jay-Z, whose song it really is, also steps his skills up for what is easily one of his best.

The fact that Jay-Z’s verse is longer than his collaborators; Dre and Rakim stick to the standard sixteen bars as they all should’ve; stands as one of two notable flaws on the otherwise superior and more dynamic sequel. The other flaw has to do with Truth Hurts’ chorus, which is better than the original, being followed by the original instead of being left alone.

my vote : ?

audio review : The Blueprint 2 [ The Gift And The Curse ] ( album ) … Jay-Z

This isn’t only better than the original Blueprint, it’s also Jay-Z’s best album. That’s not really saying much. The rapper is vastly overrated. There are nonetheless a surprising amount of good songs here; enough to fill a single album, which is what this should’ve been. Instead it’s 2 in one; The Gift And The Curse.

I prefer The Gift. That’s where most of the best songs are, including a sequel to Dr Dre’s Watcher that’s even better than the original. It starts with perhaps Jay-Z’s best verse as he outshines even “the great Rakim himself”. Poppin Tags and Excuse Me Miss; a club serenade “for the grown and sexy”; also shine.

The other set is a bit more Cursed with mediocrity; Some People Hate, he says of critics like me; but there is a U Don’t Know Remix that, like the aforementioned Watcher, improves on the original. The Blueprint 2 title song, on which Jay-Z takes more shots at rival Nas, and Meet The Parents are also worth a listen.

my rating : 4 of 5

2002

audio review : Volume 2 [ Hard Knock Life ] … Jay-Z

audio review : Volume 2 [ Hard Knock Life ] ... Jay-Z

This is supposed to be the sequel to In My Lifetime. The reason for the missing title is anyone’s guess; perhaps to avoid the double Life; but that oddity is the album’s one major flaw. The songs themselves are mostly okay. 2 are actually quite good.

Those aforementioned highlights include A Week Ago, on which a surprisingly poignant Jay-Z plays the role of a drug dealer whose long-time friend turns snitch after getting locked up, and a group collaboration entitled Reservoir Dogs.

my rating : 3 of 5

1998

audio review : Poppin Tags ( song ) … Jay-Z + Twista + Killer Mike + Big Boi ( featuring Sleepy Brown )

This song would be better without Twista. That’s not a knock on his rap skills. All four verses are up to par. It’s just that, with Sleepy Brown, Killer Mike and Big Boi already being associated with each other, he seems out of place, especially considering the fact that Big Boi fails to mention him when name-dropping each rapper as if Jay-Z included him as an afterthought.

It’s a good song though, despite Brown emulating the beat on the chorus, which I normally detest. What saves it is the slight alteration in melody, though the song would be less repetitive if there were a new layer; not just Jay-Z ad-libs; added to each break. The title is a reference to buying expensive clothes, which makes this not only baller music but maller music.

my rating : 4 of 5

2002

audio review : The Blueprint 2 [ The Gift And The Curse ] ( album ) ... Jay-Z