Opposing viewpoints: Jay-Z mixes up another hit
The final addition to his trilogy listens like a Who's Who of rap.
Published Sept. 11, 2009
It's official: Jay-Z is the present-day king of rap. At this point in his career, there's a solid chance even my grandma is bumpin' the latest H.O.V.A. album in her Lincoln Town Car. With 11 solo albums, four collaboration albums and a net worth of roughly $940 million, who can blame her for switchin' lanes to the sweet flow of a bona fide legend?
Jay-Z just never stops. Making his place in rap back in 1996 with the epic album Reasonable Doubt, he has since gone on to reach certified platinum with every solo album he has released. Mix that in with the fact that he has been the president of a major record label (Def Jam), the founder of another (Roc-A-Fella) and the brainchild behind superstar Kanye West. The result: perhaps the most influential rapper of all time. Did I mention he is a co-owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets? With a list of accomplishments this daunting, it's hard to believe Jay is able to maintain his success-filled and high energy stamina, but that is exactly what he has done with his latest album, The Blueprint 3.
With freshman Kid Cudi's album leaking around the same time, I was initially torn between listening to a proven winner in Jay or an up-and-comer in Cudi. I had been itching for Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon: End of Day for quite some time and was not at all ecstatic that it had to conflict with the drop of the final album in Jay-Z's Blueprint trilogy, but after listening to H.O.V.A.'s 11th studio album, it was soon clear to me that it was no longer Cudi's sweet, melodious droll I craved, but rather the polished and articulate precision of Jay.
I don't say this often, but The Blueprint 3 is about as close to flawless as an album can get. Jay-Z has so much pull within the rap game that he merely lifts a finger and literally gets any rapper on any track at anytime. Kanye West, the mix master himself, personally produced seven tracks, with heavy-hitting producers Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and the Neptunes on the boards for the other half. Come on, with production covered by this elite crew, how can the album not be utterly phenomenal? It's as if Jay-Z is the Pope and these producers are Cardinals; they are literally at his beck and call. A mute could go platinum on these tracks.
There are so many quality tracks on The Blueprint 3 that it's difficult to name the best song. My personal favorite at the moment is probably "Hate," featuring Kanye West. With Jay and Kanye sporadically swapping verses faster than the human mind can even handle, the song proves to be quite an entertaining track about doubters within the rap game.
I don't want to get too deep into the song descriptions; it's like spoiling the end of a good movie. But I can't stress enough how important it is for true rap fans to give The Blueprint 3 a listen. I know no one buys albums anymore (and it's not like Jay-Z needs your money) but I highly recommend you illegally download this album as fast as humanly possible. When the music hits your ears, you will be immediately aware you are listening to music history.