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One would think that Jadakiss's fleeing
Puff Daddy's record label to renew his membership in the reputable Ruff Ryder camp (alongside talents
DMX and
Eve) would guarantee greater things to come. However,
Kiss tha Game Goodbye exposes Jada's lyrical limitations rather than magnifying his talents. The album kicks off with the keyboard-heavy Swizz Beatz-produced "Jada's Got a Gun." The hook is sung to the tune of
Aerosmith's "Janie's Got a Gun," but it's not so much the unoriginal chorus that grates on the nerves as it is Jadakiss's narrow gun-centric lyrical focus as he brags: "I got a gun wit' 200 shots / I'm the reason you moved your family to a whole new other block." Students of the rap game will get a healthy sampling of Jada's unparalleled diction and punch lines that flow over great beats supplied by A-list producers (
Timbaland, Neptunes, and DJ Premier in this case). There's little diversity in his lyrics as he boasts in "I'm a Gangsta" "my bullets is bisexual cuz they hit niggas and bitches," while in the
Snoop Dogg-aided "Cruisin'" where he threatens to spread "bullets around like chicken pox." "We Gonna Make It" is an obvious chartbuster despite utilizing the same music as
Ras Kass did in the "Home Sweet Home" underground headbanger. Likewise, the album is worth purchasing to peep the
Beanie Sigel dis track "Un-Hunh!" However, some will tire of Jada's gun-talk and serial-philandering routine. Jadakiss has claimed to be the best rapper on the scene since the
Notorious B.I.G. passed away, but if he keeps this routine up it might be time to Kiss tha Fame goodbye.
--Dalton Higgins