So, if you haven't heard, Jay-Z has a new album. He's been on Oprah, Bill Maher, all over national radio, and on the cover of my new XXL. It's been an air tight marketing campaign, and after a few weeks, The Blueprint 3 dropped Sept. 11, it's time to see whether it really is that "new classic" Jay claims it to be.
1. "What We Talkin' About" (featuring Luke Steele)
Produced by: Kanye West, No I.D.
4/5
Hov usually kills the intros. "The Prelude" is one of the better songs on his weakest album Kingdom Come.
He pretty much sets the tone from the start. He's not here to talk about the past, in a non-Mark Mcgwire kind of way. He doesn't kill any particular verse, but it's more a message with Hov. The message here: stop talking about The Man, here's what he's here to do, now sit down. If he had killed the opening, it would be rated higher, but he makes his dominance known and kicks the CD off right.
3.5/5
Hottest Line: "I don't run rap no more I run the map*"
*a line he'll go onto drop throughout the album.
2. "Thank You"
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D.
Big horns blow this appreciative song up. Jay's already been grateful in his openings, (Izzo). After a real hard and stern intro, track 2 is real laid back and breezy. The hook is catchy "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You..." Last verse of a reduced beat is the best and fully welcomes us into BP3, now for the singles..
4/5
Hottest Line: "I put 8 balls in corners without using pool sticks"
3. "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
Produced By: No I.D.
A good sign of a song - if you like it more and more as you hear it, this is what D.O.A. is for me. The damage with pre-released singles, is people pass over them on albums because they're already familiar. The difference is that the sax and guitar on this beat make it the year's best if not most inventive. (And Jay has always rapped over guitars unlike nay one else (think 99 Problems, Linkin Park, Unplugged, this). Plus remember, lyrics gotta count too, so Jay goes in on all rappers overusing Auto-tune. Some of the shootouts are corny (DJ Kahled, Flex) but still, a classic record without a doubt.
5/5
Hottest Line: "I’m a multi-millionaire, So how is it I’m still the hardest n—a here?
I don’t be in the project hallway, Talkin’ bout how I be in the project all day
4. "Run This Town"
Featuring: Rihanna & Kanye West
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D.
5. "Empire State of Mind"
Featuring: Alicia Keys
Produced By: Al Shux
6. "Real as It Gets"
Featuring: Young Jeezy
Produced By: The Inkredibles
7. "On to the Next One"
Featuring: Swizz Beatz
Produced By: Swizz Beatz
8. "Off That"
Featuring: Drake
Produced By: Timbaland, Jerome Harmon
9. "A Star Is Born"
Featuring: J. Cole
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D., Kenoe
10. "Venus vs. Mars"
Produced By: Timbaland, Jerome Harmon
11. "Already Home"
Featuring: Kid Cudi
Produced By: Kanye West
12. "Hate"
Featuring: Kanye West
Produced By: Kanye West
13. "Reminder"
Produced By: Timbaland, Jerome Harmon
14. "So Ambitious"
Featuring: Pharrell
Produced By: The Neptunes
15. "Young Forever"
Featuring Mr Hudson
Produced By: Kanye West
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