Unfinished Business
Unfinished Business translates as, “Like, if we could just get this pesky little obligation out of the way, we could get around to more pressing engagements.” That disinterest is in the air on the second joint album from the best (albeit sorta-retired) rapper in the game and the best (albeit steadily indicted) R&B singer-songwriter. Backed by top-shelf producers the Trackmasters, this album should be musically bulletproof. But mostly, Jay-Z can’t get through his verses quick enough — they’re among his least engaging in a while. R. Kelly is better, but it’s telling that two of the best tracks, “She’s Coming Home With Me” and “Mo’ Money,” are revisions of numbers from the first Jigga-Kelly collaboration, 2002’s swept-under-the-rug The Best of Both Worlds. Better to revisit the past, it seems, than dwell on the opportunistic and craven present.