4/17/2023 0 Comments Blueprint 3“History” worked well as a sincere celebration of President Obama’s win in the 2008 election. He spit some of his best double-speak over a Santigold vocal sample from “Shove It”, which Kanye West threw over a gritty beat. Then there was “Brooklyn Go Hard”, a cut full of what makes Jay a critical darling and so much fun to listen to. The first was nothing short of a disappointment, if for no other reason then it sounded better when Jay performed it with a hoarse voice. The street tracks – “Jockin’ Jay-Z”, “Brooklyn Go Hard”, and “History” – were an odd bunch. At that point, the world had heard only the street singles and a few actual tracks from the record. With that kind of instability, should it come as any surprise that The Blueprint 3 follows in suit? If it was a month or so ago, the answer would be yes. Jigga then came back with a vengeance on the cocaine-dreamin’ epic American Gangster, which stood as one of 2007’s best. Next, he graced us with the aforementioned hit-and-miss of The Black Album and Kingdom Come. After that seminal record, we heard its dreadful follow-up ( The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse). But it’s obvious to anyone following his career that he has been on a steady trend of stellar album followed by mediocre album since The Blueprint dropped in 2001. If you have heard even his most sincere and heartfelt song, you know this emcee from Marcy Houses is confident in whatever he is doing. That is, of course, not an effort to put words in his mouth. He has remained relevant and stayed true to what made him who he is for longer than most rappers in the game since the mid-1990s.Īnd yet, with The Blueprint 3, his eleventh album (not counting compilations), it has become increasingly clear that Jay-Z continues to struggle with finding a balance. His singles and albums during those years are telling of how the genre has evolved. But most importantly, for more than a decade, he has captivated audiences for his street tales and for his braggadocio-laced club raps. The list of his achievements (and missteps) is seemingly endless. He has the “hottest chick (Beyonce) in the game, wearin’ chain.” He “retired” with a spectacular record, The Black Album, only to follow it up exactly like “ Jordan wearin’ the 4-5” with the disappointingly dull Kingdom Come. He was one of the primary catalysts behind Kanye West’s emergence and ultimate success – and several other artists as well. He went from being an emcee to “a business, man.” He has rapped alongside nearly everyone on the planet, from Eminem to Lupe Fiasco to Notorious B.I.G. He beefed with fellow New York City rap heavyweight Nas for years before they buried the feud and appeared together on several tracks. His debut, Reasonable Doubt, was easily one of the 1990s’ best albums, hip-hop or otherwise, and it featured some of the best producers and rappers of our time.
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