Dear Jay-Z, Congrats on the birth of your daughter, Blue Ivy. The joy I felt when my son Jalen was born was indescribable. The birth of a child is a blessing from God. Welcome to fatherhood. I’m writing you this letter because I think your lyrics from H to the Izzo (H.O.V.A.) is truer today than it was back in 2001. “Can’t leave rap alone/The game needs me” is a simple but powerful line. I think the rap game needs you in 2012, but I also believe that you need the rap game. In fact, I think the true impact of your legacy is intrinsically tied to the state of the rap game.

Your song, Glory, dedicated to your daughter, has already made an impact and brought on discussion about fatherhood in the black community. We all know that fatherlessness among the black community is high. Your fame gives you a global stage that can be used to inspire black fathers all over the U.S. (and around the world) to “man up” and as Ed O.G. said back in the day, “be a father to your child”. Glory isn’t a social awareness record, it’s a personal one, but its sentiment speaks to the needs of boys and girls in our communities to have strong, smart, tough, hard working, cool but firm fathers in their lives.

With that said, I think the direction your career has gone in along with your love of culture and family puts you in a unique position to take Hip-Hop to the next level. But it all starts with your own continued evolution as an artist. No artist is perfect, I have watched you have some missteps, but clearly your career has reached levels unheard of for a Hip-Hop artist- and you’ve accomplish this with credibility and a sense of swagger that should make any hustler proud.

Though I’ve enjoyed the vast majority of your music catalogue, I consider your debut album Reasonable Doubt a masterpiece and I spent years waiting to hear Reasonable Doubt 2.0 (though Blueprint certainly came close). But you said it all in On to the Next One: “Niggas want my old shit/Buy my old album” The message is loud and clear: Instead of looking back, we must look (and move) forward.

Just like you’ve done with the song Glory, you have the ability to tackle, head-on, issues that affect our generation…if and when you want to. You bring a perspective to these issues that even the above average MC doesn’t have. You dealt with relationship issues from a ‘selfish’ male perspective in Song Cry. You’ve confronted government inaction and racism in Minority Report. You shared your mentality on the pursuit of personal ambition on countless number of songs. Real Jay-Z fans know that your music is much more than just “money, cash and hoes”.

As you move forward in your career, I would like to challenge you to challenge yourself….lyrically. Not in terms of skill (you’ve got that mastered) but in terms of substance and depth. And this is not to say that you don’t drop words of wisdom. I wrote a book, I Will Not Lose! The blueprint for greatness when good is not enough, which reveals just how profound some of your song lyrics are. But I truly believe that you haven’t even scratched the surface when it comes to giving fans a more detailed look into your intellect. The role your music can play in the “come up” of an entire generation can’t be understated. Your music has already inspired millions, but it has even more potential to take us much higher.

Let me show you where I’m going with all of this:

Remember Boogie Down Productions’ classic song, My Philosophy?? The song is the epitome of what Hip-Hop music and culture is all about. The record showcased KRS-One’s intellect and street cred, along with his love, appreciation, respect and protectiveness of Hip-Hop culture. When My Philosophy came out it was a different era in Hip-Hop. MCs like KRS-One (and Chuck D) were not just the most respected MCs, they were widely considered to be the hottest! KRS-One (who was one of many during that time) made music whose messages were bigger than his 16 bars and yet his reputation as the “real deal” in terms of street cred was (and still is) undeniable. KRS-One went on to embrace a triad role within Hip-Hop culture- as a teacher, an ambassador and a soldier.

Jay, you need to make your My Philosophy- the album. You need to make an album that takes Hip-Hop back to its roots and yet very much moves it forward. Yes, the game needs you. I see and hear great potential from the young cats, but I think the new generation of artists and fans needs to connect to the true essence of Hip-Hop exemplified in songs like My Philosophy.

I also believe that old school Hip-Hop artists and fans need to be rejuvenated and revitalized. But of course they must feel that their life stories are still relevant and that their maturation is respected. Whether old school or new school, the music you make in the future has to better connect with our realities and yet give us more of what we need and less of what we think we need. We need to hear less about the particulars of your lifestyle (one that more resembles the 1% than the 99%) and more details about the life lessons you’ve learned that have gotten you to where you are today.

I’m convinced that you’re the only MC on the planet that can recapture Hip-Hop’s Golden Age and yet do it in a way that is fresh and new.

You can say things lyrically that other MCs can’t say or don’t know how to say. Your song, Death of the Autotune addressed the lack of creativity and originality in Hip-Hop but I think the sorry state of the game is systemic in nature and is in great part due to the erosion of the MC, as well as the decline or even extinction of other elements within the culture.

Of course, you’ve made great records that tapped into your intellect, songs that truly elevated the awareness and understanding of the listener, such as Public Service Announcement (Interlude) and the Intro from the Dynasty album. I think you’ve made at least two classic albums. But can you make an album that will lead a revolution in Hip-Hop?

Our little brothers and sisters aren’t graduating from high school. Our little cousins aren’t going to college. Our nieces and nephews are struggling to find employment. Young brothers (and older ones that we grew up with) are caught up in the system, going in and out of jail as if the cells are revolving doors. The cycle of violence continues to destroy inner-cities (and even some suburbs) across the U.S. and all over the world. This is a generation in need of a revolution!

You and I both know the role music can play in fostering change. Some would argue that you’re a MC who is least likely to create a “new Blueprint” for Hip-Hop. But I know better. You’re the most capable of elevating the game. When you rhyme, people listen. Whether they love or hate, they listen. Every one of your releases is met with great anticipation from the celebrators and the haters. Give them your What’s Going On? or Songs in the Key of Life.

You’re one of very few MCs who can make the kind of album you want and still have the big promotional push and resources to maximize worldwide exposure. The greatest restraint would be the one that you give yourself. To make this album, you would have to give more of yourself and less of yourself at the same time. Follow me?

Jay, the rap game still needs you but it needs to be redefined even more. I’ve studied your career over the years and I’ve come to the conclusion that your greatest strength has also served as your greatest weakness. Because the art of emceeing has come easy for you, you’ve only given us a fraction of what’s in your head. You’re holding back on us, homie! And this is coming from a guy who penned a detailed scholarly like work about the intellectuality of your music.

It’s been one year to the day since the release of my book, I Will Not Lose!, which is inspired by your song lyrics. Though I’m an obviously a fan, I didn’t write the book or publish this blog for the sole purpose of advancing my career. I write about your lyrics because I want to play my part in elevating the game. I want to see Hip-Hop seen in the same light as Jazz from a cultural standpoint. I chose to make my contribution to the game an in-depth analysis of your song lyrics because I think your words best speak to the success and struggle of our generation, BUT, your music can and MUST do more.

I simply believe that there’s a greater purpose to your hustle (lyrically) that has yet to be realized through your music. There have been certain albums in the history of music that were transcendent and still were true to the artists’ core (Michael Jackson’s Thriller comes to mind).  You haven’t made this type of work yet (99.9 % of artists won’t) but I’m confident that you can. You just have to make sure you leave your ego at the door and keep it 100 for Hip-Hop.

The birth of your daughter could also mean the birth of a “new” Jay-Z, a great MC  that will lead a great renaissance in Hip-Hop culture.

Your greatest work is yet to come…if you’re able to face and overcome your biggest challenge.

What’s that? Well, here it is in your own words:

I’m losing myself. I’m stuck in the moment.
I look in the mirror…my only opponent

Yours truly,

Duane L. Lawton
Book of Hov