Planet Ill Breakdown: Jay Electronica And Jay-Z-Shiny Suit Theory

Posted On: November 15, 2010
Posted By: odeisel
Comments: 3

By Odeisel

Karma is a funny thing. It exacts its pound of flesh when you least expect it and the highest of highs can become the lowest of lows; leaving its subject on the outside looking in after decades of dancing on top. Such is the case of Sean “Diddy” Combs today, following this weekend’s announcement that Jay Electronica, underground wunderkind, decided to extricate himself from Diddy’s wing and sign with rival mogul Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. After a back and forth barrage on Twitter( that really should be beneath two guys that old, but I digress) we got the inhumanly-timed “Shiny Suit Theory” a clear jab at the Sultan of Sean John.

The track features the same sample originally freaked by Pete Rock & CL Smooth from their second album The Main Ingredient’s “I Got A Love.” The sample on “Shiny” isn’t sped up like Pete’s and doesn’t use the foundation of Mel & Tim’s “Groovy Situation” as the base of the track and as such lacks the depth of soul that “I Got A Love” has. The sample is taken out longer but there is no heart to the song, fitting perhaps for such an undertaking.

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCZVMMh4S9U[/pro-player]

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUsTuJgA1gI[/pro-player]

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMZLW2Ps02w[/pro-player]

Electronica reminisces about Puff’s guidance, referring to a conversation the two had down in Miami, where Diddy supposedly told him to ditch the underground for a run at the Grammys. Such advice would is unseemly to a rapper who has the kind of underground following that Jay Electronica has, but if there’s anyone that can take that kind of underground power and fit it for mass consumption, it’s Mr. Combs. Diddy goes on to say Jay’s family deserves to eat from his spoils and that his talent would sound a wakeup call to the plastic rappers presently in that Grammy space. He speaks on Diddy’s penchant for shining and remixing and self-involvedness.

Jay-Z outshines Electronica with superior force of personality and multiple literary devices such as his usual double entendre, usage of homonyms “Warren” [Buffet] and “warring” and referring to himself as the “immaculate conception of rapper/hustling.” Jigga makes his case to Electronica by speaking to the long odds he has beaten in his life and forming that kindred bond that unites people of hunger. While Puffy won’t stop, his motivation is closer to greed in appearance than satisfying hunger.

In any event, the die is cast and Electronica has put his chips on the Jiggaman, while Diddy is left to lick his wounds. For the sake of the underground, let’s hope he made the right choice. Peep the “Shiny Suit Theory.” J = MC spared. Enjoy.

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