Zlatan and the law of Jante: Sweden’s dilemma or triumph?

Alex Dieker

11th June 2018 | 12:34 AM

No Zlatan, no party? The opposite seems to be true for Sweden, as the structured squad looks set on upsetting their opponents in Russia.
Sweden
Illustrator: Charbak Dipta

When Jay-Z joined long-time musical partner and pupil Kanye West for a collaborative album in 2011, many fans were left unsatisfied. Watch the Throne – adorned with a gold-etched cover – featured songs that will go down in hip-hop history, but the hype that preceded its release transcended the production itself. The collection was, in many opinions, a dirty speck in an otherwise gleaming assortment of Kanye West’s discography.

The Chicago south-sider had brought on his mentor…no. He brought on his hero and things simply didn’t quite mesh. What went so wrong? Kanye burst onto the scene by producing beats for Jay-Z and they’d been pals for years. The difference wasn’t “Ye” nor Jay-Z, but the duo’s dynamic together. West brings on dozens of producers and artists to work on his albums, so perhaps the intimate work with Jay threw off the whole scheme. Back then, Jay-Z was still somewhat of a hero to the problematic MC. Sometimes, having a star of such stature ruins the complex, vibrant build-up to an album.

Janne Andersson’s Rap Camp

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