A hip-hop conversation starter has made its way into pop culture of late – who are the top rappers, past or present? – thanks to Chris Rock’s Top Five film and Billboard’s recent top 10 rappers list. Former Biggie protege Jadakiss enlists some of the best of both worlds on his fourth album.
The Yonkers rapper lives up to his aspiration of greatness on pairings with Nas (Rain) and Akon (Youthful Offenders), where the hip-hop icons are in prime form. Synergy sounds like a modern homage to Run-DMC, with Jadakiss and his former LOX member Styles P trading line for line. A trap-styled collaboration with Future (You Can See) and smooth flows with Wiz Khalifa (So High) prove Jadakiss can also hold his own against rap’s current poster children.
But an album with only a few feature-less tracks and average pair-ups with Puff Daddy and Lil Wayne feels like not enough Jadakiss. Hopefully it sets the stage for another shot at the title.
Top track: One More Mile To Go (featuring Chayse)
