On Twitter, a fan wrote, вЂњJadakiss went through two different #Verzuz and ran each one, solo and with a crew. It was satisfying to see an OG like Jadakiss take the stage with the same power he left it with, this week on VERZUZ. itвЂ™s proper time we rewrite the books on how gotdamn special he is at this rapping/performing/entertainment thing. Jadakiss went through two different #verzuz and ran each one, solo and with a crew. When rappers are in the latter half of their career, it becomes unsurprising when they stop giving a sh*t, yet the theme and rollout of JadakissвЂ™ latest project speaks the opposite. The album ended up being delayed for a few weeks out of respect to Pop Smoke, who had been killed in a home invasion days before the planned release date. The album is named for the Ruff Ryders Entertainment A&R and record producer Ignatius вЂњIcepick JayвЂќ Jackson, who died in 2017. He even released an album last year, Ignatius. Jadakiss is beloved by the people because he loves New York, and he loves hip hop. Despite that, you can always single out the artists that continue to represent what the Empire state is about. You could probably argue that with everyone who has listened to hip hop and get a different answer.

LetвЂ™s face it, you canвЂ™t put a face on New York rap. ItвЂ™s where it started at itвЂ™s where itвЂ™s going to end.вЂќ вЂњNew York will always be the Mecca of hip-hop. ItвЂ™s where it started at itвЂ™s where itвЂ™s going to end.вЂќ Of course, he followed that up by reminding us that вЂњDMX is still the big dog.вЂќ In fact, this past April, Jadakiss held a food giveaway at some locations around the hometown of him and the deceased X, at the Palisade Towers neighborhood. In an XXL interview, he reiterated that вЂњNew York will always be the Mecca of hip-hop. ItвЂ™s been 23 years since LoxвЂ™ platinum debut album Money, Power, & Respect, yet the spirit of East Coast hip hop is as alive as ever, and Jadakiss will be the last one to let it die. ItвЂ™s a good feeling to see the same group that made вЂњWeвЂ™ll Always Love Big Poppa,вЂќ a tribute to the late Biggie, appear on VERZUZ years and years later to rep their home state. West beef, it would be ingrained in the DNA of Lox songs until today.

While they gained prominence towards the end of the East vs. Not one to need the backup of such a commercial label, the rapper returned to his crew at Ruff Ryders. He showed up to a booming roster of heavyweights like Kanye West and Jay-Z himself, but even those two had left within a couple of years of JadakissвЂ™ signing. Despite this, Jadakiss would leave the label two years later. As far as NY music goes, this is pretty much a confirmation that youвЂ™ve made it if you hadnвЂ™t realized yet. This time, Jay-Z took his chance to rope Jadakiss into a deal with Roc-A-Fella. His second album, The Kiss of Death, garnered him even more attention. His own debut album, Kiss The Game Goodbye, landed 200,000 sales in its first week and was certified gold. In his solo career, the braggadocios rapper has seen plenty of success. The group went on to join a more apt record label for their rough-around-the-edges approach, Ruff Ryders. While the partnership wouldnвЂ™t last forever (see: вЂњFree the LoxвЂќ), the industry connections they made would set the stage for even more success. Blige herself, who landed them a Bad Boy record deal. Their appearances on mixtapes and singles for up-and-coming artists led to them being noticed by the Queen Mary J. Jadakiss crossed paths with the two in high school, and the rest was history. The trio of Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch made a name for themselves through collaborations with artists who could see the talent in their effortless Empire-state-of-mind raps. The reunion of The Lox was a sight to behold. It was a nostalgic night, to say the least, with plenty of mixtape classics being played, and Jadakiss hitting every syllable with an ease that reminded us heвЂ™s still got it.

The New York rapper who made his name with hip hop group The Lox stepped into the spotlight again with his group by his side on this weekвЂ™s VERZUZ battle against rival group Dipset. Tuesday this week was the night he got to remind us of all of that. If thereвЂ™s one thing that has defined Jadakiss throughout his career, itвЂ™s the skill and passion he brings whenever itвЂ™s time to put on a show.

Jadakiss new album 2017