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YART: Jay-Z's Black Album

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Jay is the GOAT!

"People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within." -Ramona L. Anderson

To simply explain what Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has contributed to Hiphop culture, both negatively and positively, is similar to explaining vibrant color to a blind individual. Whether conjuring soulful music from the heart of Brooklyn's slums, collaborating with Hiphop super-producers to create a club-influenced opus so powerful that it oozes the scent of Hpnotiq & Hennessey, or exemplifying his signature bowtie Braggadocio lyricism coupled with witty Hiphop quotables - Jay-Z's influence on Urban Culture is monumental. Birthed from concrete and deep-rooted beneath the streets, Shawn Carter's rise to International superstardom and eventual departure from Hiphop music appears to be the leitmotif to his most restrospective collection, "The Black Album".

Upon listening, the "Intro" pits the listener at the point of conception. As Shawn lays forming, entombed in his mother's womb, the sonic vibration of music dots the landscape. Capturing a faint voice colliding with Earth-shattering echos, a fetal Jay eavesdrops on his spoken destiny. Conceptually, the approach is absolutely flawless. From this position, Just Blaze accomplishes time travel musically as he provides the backdrop to "December 4th". With a proud, established tone, Jay-Z's mother narrates the ballad as Jay reveals his eyes to the Universe. Painting pictures, a verbal modern-day Picasso of poetry, Jay exclaims "I was conceived by Gloria Carter and Adinus Reeves who made love under the Sycamore tree/Which makes me a more sicker MC and my mama' would claim, at Ten pounds when I was born I didn't give her no pain", candidly touching on his captivating childhood. Brooklyn newcommers The Buchannons laced Jay-Z with the third song from this collection, "What More Can I Say", which samples MFSB's "Something For Nothing". Airing on New York City radio stations, Jay-Z labeled this track the 'warm-up single', in which it gives just a taste of Jay's Devil's pie.

Kanye West invites the listener to "come on down", as The Price Is Right influenced track "Encore" is blarring through their speakers. Jay makes peace as one with the beat as he bids his parting dues towards Hiphop's hopefuls. As the crowd chants his name, Jay enters the song delivering his reflection bouncing against the intriguing drum pattern layed out by Kanye. If performed live, Jay may have his audience in tears by closure, while the emotion leaks through his words. The Neptune produced "Change Clothes & Go" has been slated to be the first single for "The Black Album". Initially, I had turned away from hearing the wretched Neptune torture, however I now recognize how vital the song is, to what otherwise is a dark entity. Pharell Williams lends his charismatic vocals in hopes of creating another "Frontin" or "Excuse Me Miss". Continuing with the party vibe, Virgina beatmaker Timbaland extends his hand in friendship with Jay on "Dirt Off Your Shoulder", an anthem that mimmicks the Westcoast ritual of popping collars. This alliance has the usual vibe that Jay-Z and Timbaland bring to the table once connected. Both "Change Clothes & Go" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" show Jay-Z at his most lackadaisical stage musically.

"Threat", the highly anticipated cut from the Justus League's very own 9th Wonder, lives up to expectations. People touted this collaboration as the gateway to the underground Hiphop scene's crossover appeal. Sampling "A Woman's Threat" by R&B artist R. Kelly, Jay recites his oppressed anger in the direction of his opponents such as C. Delores Tucker and Bill O'Reilly. The Eminem produced, "Moment Of Clarity" showcases Jay-Z at his most humble, releasing such venom as "I dumb down for my audience, to double my dollars, they criticize me for it, yet they all yell "Holla"/If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Talib Kweli, truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense" and later preaching "And I can't help the poor if I'm one of them, so I got rich and gave back, to me that's the win-win".

Legendary Hiphop/Rock icon Rick Rubin makes an unusual entry on Shawn's album to deliver a fusion of Hiphop and Rock music, with "99 Problems". Operating the same drum kit used 20 years ago on the Run DMC classic, "Here We Go", Jay-Z ferociously vents anger towards his critics, while recanting tales of previous experiences with various types of opposition. In my humble opinion, this is the paramount of Jay-Z's career. "My Name Is Hov" serves as a public announcement that Sean Carter still has the dexterity to torch a cipher with his raw emcee abilities. The DJ Quik produced "Justify My Thug" provides a thumping bassline that samples Mario Brothers Level 1-2 on the Nintendo Entertainment System, while also incorporating a Madonna sample from "Justify My Love". Rivaling the true genius of the production, Jay-Z lyrically abuses the track with his clever self-jousting delivery.

Kanye West's additional contribution to "The Black Album" is a blistering, energetic morsel of musical paradise. On "Lucifer", Jay-Z recreates D'Evils without DJ Premiere as he faces demons that reside deep inside of him pouring over the track one-by-one. "Allure", the second Neptunes produced track on the album is the pinnacle of Neptunes Production. A melancholy Jay somberly gives back everything Hiphop has given him, departing from the music scene and riding into the sunset on Pharrell's back. "My First Song", produced by Aqua & Joe "3H" weinberger places Jay-Z using the tongue-twisting delivery that he began his tumultuous career with Original Flava. Ending the album on the perfect note, the last impression we have of Mr. Carter is the sound of a microphone crashing.

In Ten years, "The Black Album" will act as the next-generation's "Illmatic", "The Adventures Of Slick Rick, or "Raising Hell". Spending roughly Nine years attempting to succeed his previous success with "Reasonable Doubt", Jay-Z has finally toppled that plateau with his latest effort "The Black Album". Arguably the greatest emcee to touch a microphone, Jay-Z leaves his mark on Hiphop history.
 
It's ok, the tracks produced by Eminem(Moment of Clarity) and Timberland(Dirt of Your Shoulders)are hot. Vol. 2 is still my favorite although I haven't heard all of his stuff.
 
Originally posted by: tweakmm
Originally posted by: ndee
"Encore" is the best song 🙂
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Nope, definetly not. I think it's Moment of Clarity followed by Dirt off Your Shoulders.
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Definately yes 🙂 I'm talking about the melody, I'm not really listening to the lyrics. But the Blueprint Album(where Girls, girls, girls is on) is my favorite album from Jay-Z.
 
Originally posted by: stormbv
I could write a book about every song on this album, I, like, really love his poetry.
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Are you sure it is even written by him? A LOT of music now a days is not written by the artists, they are just given in by the producers to perform and make money.
 
Originally posted by: waylman
I was not a fan of Jay-Z until this album. It is definately one of the best hip hop releases of last year.
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You really should listen to Reasonable Doubt.
 
Originally posted by: MagicMan17
Arguably the greatest emcee to touch a microphone, Jay-Z leaves his mark on Hiphop history.
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Jay-Z is pretty good, but nobody can argue that he is the best rapper.

 
Originally posted by: fumbduck
Originally posted by: stormbv
I could write a book about every song on this album, I, like, really love his poetry.
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Are you sure it is even written by him? A LOT of music now a days is not written by the artists, they are just given in by the producers to perform and make money.
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true but on some occasions, artists have to write their own songs. You can't expect a writer to write a song about Eminem's relationship with Kim or his daughter just as you can't expect someone to write a better song about Jay-Z's career then Jay-Z himself.

I like a couple songs on the album. I've never been too much of a Jay-Z fan though. I still prefer the angry Tupac/Biggie/Kurupt/Nas style rather then the Nelly/Jay-Z/etc. style.
 
Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3
There's an original thought, I'll bet you came up with that all on your own too!
rolleye.gif
Not only that but you got the song title wrong. It's called "Renegade". Of course, if you had ever actually listened to the song you would probably know that...
Oh, and just to clarify: anxi, the fact that you mentioned your preference of Nas over Jigga in your previous post only proves my point (after all, it was Nas who said "Eminem murdered you on your own sh!t"). For fvck's sake you even used the same phrase as Nas (for all intents and purposes).
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heh, didnt even know i got attacked. i never said my thought was original. i was taught if you cant say something better than anyone else, then use the original. and then your going to nitpick a letter at the end of a song title? :sigh;
rolleye.gif
dont bring your jay-z fanboy whines to me, just because i attacked your hero. for 1 jay-z, i can name 3 rappers who can lyrically eat him up. they just arent marketed as well as him. i even stated earlier that i havent listened to much of his material since 'reasonable doubt' and 'in my lifetime vol. 1', because he just became a commercial success after that. now if you dont mind...

/me goes back to his mp3 player to listen to 'the roots - illadelph halflife'.
 
Hmm...hardcore religion zealot who listens to mainstream rap...
You can't say God, but you can polute your ears with the music of Satan?
(I'm not taking a shot at rap, just saying that most things discussed in mainstream rap goes against what the Bible teaches)
Sounds hypocritical to me...
 
Originally posted by: dtyn
Hmm...hardcore religion zealot who listens to mainstream rap...
You can't say God, but you can polute your ears with the music of Satan?
(I'm not taking a shot at rap, just saying that most things discussed in mainstream rap goes against what the Bible teaches)
Sounds hypocritical to me...
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ROFLES! As if the music I listen to determines my eternal fate. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like Jay-z's music is gospel music but to say it's Satanic is going a bit overboard... If one can't enjoy the music of his youth then why listen to anything at all? I happen to be a long-time Jigga fan and I like his style of music. I think he's an extremely talented artist who has a lot to say and says it in a manner that others simply can't match. I'll keep listening to Jigga until his music becomes old and stale.
 
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