.JPG)
Blueprint 3 in stores (09.11).
Jay-Z returns with his 11th studio album Blueprint 3 and the fans may agree that the album was worth the wait. Blueprint 3 is the third volume to a collection that got its start on September 11th, 2001. Though the day was traumatic, the album added a little musical relief to the hearts that were broken due to the tragedy.
Blueprint 3 will definitely stand out from the rest with its superior production and signature sound. While some may flock to the album to get an ear full of Jay-Z’s lyricism, the beats on the 15-track album will be the icing on the cake.
The album opens up with “What You Talkin’ About” that features Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun. The song, that Jay briefly debuted during a show in Vegas, has a strong presence of live instrumentation paired with minor synthetic sounds. In the track that vexed a couple of Hip-Hop artists, Jay-Z addresses Jim Jones, The Game, Dame Dash, and Jaz-O; those of whom have been very vocal about their thoughts regarding the rapper. On “Empire State of Mind” that features Alicia Keys, the beat stands as one of the most harmonic pieces. Alicia Keys adds just the right amount of polished class to the track and shows that the collaboration between her and Jay was a pair-up long overdue.
“Run This Town” that features Kanye West and Rihanna stands as one of the tracks on the album that needs no introduction; the beat and the artists commands attention on their own.
The production for “Real as it Gets” that features Young Jeezy is simply timeless showcasing its classic sound by way of the natural instrumentation. As always Jeezy is an ideal feature on any track because of his bigger than life and identifiable voice. “A Star Is Born” which features J. Cole is one of the celebratory tracks on the album. Like many Hip-Hop albums made by Hip-Hop artists who have defeated the odds to attain success, Jay boasts about his success while shouting out some of his peers who have reached the top of their games. With a catchy chorus in hand, Jay raps “Got so many different monikers but only one Jay/They come, they go/Some real, some foe/Some friends, some hoes/But no I goes nowhere this Hov.”
With all of the criticism that Jay has been under, a song about the “haters” was not a surprise to see Jay cover. Titled “Hate” that features Kanye West, the rappers dedicate a song to the haters with paced lyrics that are packed with punch lines. Kanye does his part with adding his signature animated verses and Jay does what he does best, brush his shoulders off.
Blueprint 3 shows Jay-Z’s ability to stand on the shoulders of a giant and walk a line that is unfamiliar to the vast majority. Though some of the songs may be seen as outcasts to what dominates the radio waves today, they bring diversity to the table and shows what happens when you combine an album that holds good lyricism and superb production.
Stand-Out Tracks: “Thank You”, “Empire State of Mind”, “Run This Town”, and “A Star is Born”.
Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 is due for release Friday, September 11th. You can listen to a stream of the album in its entirety before you purchase by visiting rhapsody.com/jay-z or mtvleaked.mtv.com starting September 1st.
Comments
album is wack
Album is Fire!!! Good review.
I humbly disagree. Best album...so far.
Not much to choose from with the majors this year. Go with the independents. Marco Polo & Torae's "Double Barrel", Sinis' "You're Welcome", Tone Benjaminz' "Same Game, No Pressure", Slaughterhouse.
I listened to the album and I think it is another hit for Jay. the songs are different from a lot of other albums and songs out right now. I will be supproting it on sept 11
Yeah, one of Jay's worst efforts so far from one of the best to ever do it. Rae's Cuban Linx II >>>>>>>>>> then Jay's Blueprint vol. 3
This album is incredible.Folks can hate but Jay aint going anywhere so get used to him,lol.
Why so many people hate so bad. Dont't skim through Jay Z music really listen, he really talks about real things, not no ignorant bang bang fake thug sh!t, but I forgot the ones that hate probably graduated wit a 5th grade reading level, so you won't understand anyway.
Girl u know this album is wack, hot beats dont make it hot
music is diverse which is why everyone is going to connect to it on a different level. some people are going to get it and others are going to be stuck on ignorance and say that it is wack. If you are going to say it is wack, give a reason as to why you feel that way if not it will be interpreted as hate, plain and simple. I listened to the album and liked it because I understood the direction he was trying to take it.
sorry ilove u
your music is not good
iwanna ops on u dicks
To you guys sayin the album is wack, you don't know anything and you don't know the genre. This album is one of the best to drop this year. The people sayin it's wack obviously don't listen to his music. You guys probably haven't even listened to the album. Anyway, this is one of Jay's best, better than Kingdom Come, and I'm thinking it's better than American Gangster, but I'm still undecided. This is the best out of the series and I'm glad to see that Jay has returned. (Ya'll haters just go listen to your auto-tune un-original stuff and everyone else that knows what real rap is supposed to sound like, pick this up on September 11).
Actually, I don't know what I was thinking. The album is good but Blueprint 1 was much better. Blueprint is what launched Jay's career and it was definitely a classic album. Also, The Black Album was better than this. This album was dope, but I praised it too much.
There are some banging tracks - Empire State of Mind - The true Jigga fan will say he sold out - it's a disappointment - he IS the best rapper alive - The fact is, he's a business man and the hype leading up to the album will have a lot of heads turning and will bring him a lot of new fans - a little too commercial/mainstream...
not hate involved! still the best rapper ever in my mind, but with all the hype that surrounded this, i was expecting much more. For one, too many features! There are a couple hot tracks on here but this doesnt compare to American Gangster or even come close,sorry to say im pretty disappointed but he's still better then anyone else doin it
Love Da Album! He talks about real stuff, lyrics r sick, beats tight! What else do you want? One of the best....
the album is fire bottom line classic perfect way to end the saga
that thank you song is fire jay rap to that joint perfectly this album is really nice ive been listening to it everyday and each time it get better
Real Hip Hop Heads know the truth. I am so tried of the teenie booper trying to define the game. This is a grown man, doing grown man things. Seriously, he made Oprah sit on a stoop and listen to him life story. Made such an impression, her and Gail argued over who loved him more. Time for society to step up and/or catch-up. Deuces
album not out as yet, where and how do you people get to hear
you can't judge the album from the first listen, so stop hating the album is good so far
Heard it, not a big fan. D.O.A. and Empire State of Mind are the most decent tracks on it. Everything else is over-hyped garbage. Too much bragging. He claims he's the new Frank Sinatra, he's better than Elvis and he's only second to the Beatles. Sorry Jay, but you ain't even a fraction of those guys. To say they wipe the floor with you is a massive understatement. Anyway, the songs aren't even good. He and Kanye DO NOT make a good pair on this record. Hate is lame. Reminder is laughable. Young Forever is basically a rehash of the song it samples, Forever Young by Alphaville. Now when kids hear that song on a classic radio station, they'll think Alphaville ripped off Jay-Z. Overall, the album is WHACK. And Run This Town would've been good if it wasn't for Rihanna's obvious inability to sing. I'll be looking forward to Lupe Fiasco's Lasers instead.
If you were one of the people to comment that this album is garbage then you are a total idiot and ignorant. Is this album the best of all time - no. Best of the year-maybe so thus far. The production is some of the very best as expected. Jay's lyrics are fire. Now for those of you that are comparing Rae to Jay, stop that. They both are rapping about different lifestyles. Rae is fire and both have over the top productions on their albums. If you must compare the two then I challenge you to listen to both albums again and listen to the lyrics. While Rae's lyrics are razor sharp as always his delivery is redundant and repetitive. This is where Jay outshines Rae. Jay's lyrics are razor sharp as well and he changes his delivery on almost every track which makes the flow unpredictable. Rae sounds the same on every track which after about 6-8 tracks bore me. Also too much talking at the beginning of almost every track on Rae's gets me like "on with the rap already". Jay > Rae
Furthermore, since I ran out of characters, almost every song on Rae's is talking about cooking, selling and distributing some type of drugs. Is he still doing that? Real hip-hop I thougt was talking about real stuff going on today. At 36 and married with kids I'm clearly "Off That". Jay talks about every thing real in his life today. While I can't totally relate to his lifestyle, it's still one that I could envision living. Let me see, own part of a NBA franchise, CEO in the music business, and married to Beyonce compaired to cooking and selling coke? You be the judge. Listen to "Off That". If Rae's album was an attempt to reach the youth and old hip-hop heads that used to bang the 1st Cuban Linx (I was one) then he succeeded. 14 Years later and talking about the same stuff for me personally... "Off That". I purchased both albums but enjoy Jay-Z's much better. "Already Home" is the best on the album to me and Kanye's production on that joint was mind blowing.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!