Oops: your link goes right to the comments. Apparently U R A HATER AND U ARENT A REAL HIP HOP HEAD.

jeff (can i call you jeff?)
i find it humorous that many of the people who read your review:
a. think it’s faulty to have somebody who “isn’t a jay-z fan” to review his record, even tho reviews are supposed to be, at least reasonably, objective. you have to listen for content, not just ride hovas dick because dude is one of the best mcs of all time. I mean, everybody wanted it to be a fire album, but you can’t just make it so. Just like I (and I’m sure you) would love to say everything the wu has put out is amazing, we know it’s not true. apparently not only the printed form of journalism, but the art of journalism itself has been lost on the public due to the internets.
b. are selective readers and missed the multitude of references in your article to jay being one of the greatest mcs to ever grace a mic, and perhaps even more important: you were listening to brooklyn’s finest on a FUCKING CASSETTE in some 96 Ford that I’ve never heard of. I’ll bet most of these internet cats don’t even know what a cassette is… imagine if you made a reference to the purple tape.

anyways man, love the blog and the real talk.

one

I still can’t get over how horrible Empire State of Mind is. As a kid artists like Jay-Z, Biggie, M.O.P, Wu-Tang, DITC, Terror Squad and DMX had me thinking New York was the awesome place. This song makes me imagine New York as a pretentious cesspool filled the brim by pretentious fucks who kicked out anyone with half a shred of character.

It makes me want to bump nothing but southern rap in protest.

“As a kid artists like Jay-Z, Biggie, M.O.P, Wu-Tang, DITC, Terror Squad and DMX had me thinking New York was the awesome place. This song makes me imagine New York as a pretentious cesspool filled the brim by pretentious fucks who kicked out anyone with half a shred of character.”

I’m pretty sure it’s both, although the latter is much, much easier to find these days.

“Empire State of Mind” is easily the worst thing on the record. And there’s certainly lots of shit, but “Young Forever” is at least unintentionally funny, and a lot of the rest just sort of recedes from the ear as soon as you hear it.

” He mentions that he has 10 No. 1 albums — a factual inaccuracy. He has 10 official solo albums released prior to this one, and not all reached No. 1. You’d think that with all of his money, he could at least pay sidekick Memphis Bleek to fact-check for him. ”

.. ZING!

I too don’t understand why some commenters are saying “Empire” is the worst song. Do you listen to music or do you just skim through it..? Easily top 3 tracks on the album. Cohesive, descriptive and a great hook. A lot more than I can say for most of the LP.

I actually think its a solid effort. Personally, it seems that if things aren’t immediately “classic” quality then they are dismissed and people bump the newest leak.

Obviously its a Jigga album so its gonna be scrutinised more, however, describing empire state of mind as the worst track on the album is over-doing it. I like this blog and respect your opinion, but i also think opinions can be over-exaggerated. It is certainly better than Kingdom come (which i still dislike, but looking back there are a few career highlights on there).

Good review. I myself was really disappointed by the album, and actually felt embarrassed listening to a couple of the songs (notably, “What We Talking About”).

This hilarity almost makes up for your opinions on Nas’ recent work.

Jay gets 3.5 mics and a pack of Levitra.

“Jay Z is a Black man from the projects who has reached stratospheric success and has the unenviable task of trying to remain down to Earth and true to his street origins. This the ongoing internal battle of nearly all successful African American men. Loving the ‘hood you’re fighting to escape. Something you know absolutely nothing about. THAT is what you are hearing in his music.” - James H.

ha ha! you totally missed Jay-Z’s internal struggle!

Listen again.

Is it me? It must be me, right? I always like Jay Z. I even liked a few tracks on Kingdom Come, so disliking a Jay Z album, as a whole, is obviously anathema to me…

that said…

I’m not sure how to react to this album… hurt Jay Z stans (for I am/was one of you) I am perplexed. Are there any saving graces for this disc? I disagreed with the bile Bol spewed in his direction way back when Kingdom Come was released, however, I have now caught up. Jay’s confused and the list of offences can now not be ignored:

-The punishable by death middle section of Kingdom Come..
-The close but not quite nailed rhymes on AG.
-The Austin Powers - Oh Behave! - schtick since BP2.
-Laughing at his own rhymes (and us for buying the disc?).
-The Fonz like ehhh! from Run this Town.

Dame’s absence grows sharper with every couplet uttered in his absence. I would have thought leaning on Kanye et al would have been a good bet however these producers have used Jay to channel their own ideas totally. Jay just remained reclined on his chaise lounge, took their word that this track is dope and just “rapped”, probably still in a robe with sleep in his eyes.

Play this album to a young Jay and he would spit his Cristal into your face and possibly Lance Riviera you, on general principle, for assaulting his ears with this garbage. No one comes out of this well. People I admire (admired?) such as Timbaland, Kanye & The Neptunes’ (ok, it’s not 5 years ago, but still) all somehow combined to make the most underwhelming, lukewarm album they could muster. Thses are meant to be the “go to” guys. How is this possible?

He’s gone “out there” with this album as artists, who have long careers, are prone to at some point. I understand, just give me a nudge when he comes back.

*As soon as he didn’t enlist Black Milk for album duties, a few years ago, I knew something was up. *

So despite commenting here and there, I only got around to actually listening to this album.

I was fan of the first third or so… Tolerant of the almost the rest, but “Hate” pretty much sucks. Literally my first thought upon hearing the synth intro to “Young Forever” was “Fuck this shit.”

This would probably be an acceptable mid-level Jay-Z album if he hadn’t attached the Blueprint name to it, though. Makes me sigh and figure I’ll be busy with OB4CLII and those Beatles remasters by then.

” He mentions that he has 10 No. 1 albums — a factual inaccuracy. He has 10 official solo albums released prior to this one, and not all reached No. 1. You’d think that with all of his money, he could at least pay sidekick Memphis Bleek to fact-check for him. ”

Actually, Jay-Z is right. “Collision Course”, his collab album with Linkin’ Park was #1 and so was the second R. Kelly collab album was #1.

[…] Jeff Weiss pinpointed it: Blueprint 3’s problem is that Jay “relied on Kanye and Timbaland to tell him what THE FUTURE […]

I’m not sure what to think of Shawn Carter and the free mason stuff and even though he got ethered lol I’m still a fan of his work from reasonable doublt-black album and I still think he makes decent music just could be more artistic