JAY-Z | ||
| Allmusic Biography : From the projects to the throne, New York rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Jay-Z embodied the quintessential rags-to-riches dream, becoming one of the most successful MCs of his generation while creating an empire that made him one of the richest artists of the era. After debuting in the late 90s with Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime, Vol 1, he began a chart run that notched over a dozen number one albums spread over two decades, including the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life (1999), the Blueprint series (01, 02, 09), and The Black Album (2003). In addition to his solo work, Jay-Z also found mainstream crossover success with pop, R&B;, and rock artists, notably collaborating with protege Rihanna on their Grammy-winning "Umbrella" (2008); alternative metal outfit Linkin Park on 2004s genre mash-up Collision Course; Alicia Keys on New York Citys unofficial anthem, the chart-topping "Empire State of Mind" (2011); frequent foil Kanye West on Watch the Throne (2012); and wife Beyoncé on numerous hit singles, international tours, and the joint album Everything Is Love (2018). In addition to rapping, Jay-Z has also served as a label head (Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation/Def Jam), team owner (NBAs Brooklyn Nets), real-estate mogul, and fashion designer. Born in 1969 and raised in the rough Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Z was raised by his mother and turned to the streets, where he made a name for himself as a fledging rapper and drug dealer. Known as "Jazzy" in his neighborhood, he soon shortened his nickname to Jay-Z and did all he could to break into the rap game. As he vividly discusses in his lyrics, Jay-Z also became a street hustler around this time, doing what needed to be done to make money. For a while, he ran around with rapper Jaz-O, aka Big Jaz. From Jaz he learned how to navigate the rap industry and what moves to make. He also participated in the group Original Flavor for a short time. Jay-Z subsequently decided to make an untraditional decision and start his own label rather than sign with an established one as Jaz had done. Together with friends Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, he created Roc-a-Fella Records. Once he found a reputable distributor, Priority Records (and later Def Jam), Jay-Z finally had everything in place, including a debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996). Though Reasonable Doubt reached only number 23 on the Billboard 200 chart, Jay-Zs debut eventually became recognized as an undisputed classic among fans, many of whom consider it his crowning achievement. Led by the hit single "Aint No Nigga," a duet featuring Foxy Brown, Reasonable Doubt slowly spread through New York; some listeners were drawn in because of big names like DJ Premier and the Notorious B.I.G., others by the gangsta motifs very much in style at the time, still others by Jay-Z himself. By the end of its steady run, Reasonable Doubt generated three more charting singles -- "Cant Knock the Hustle," "Dead Presidents," and "Feelin It" -- and set the stage for the follow-up, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997). Peaking at number three on the Billboard 200, In My Lifetime sold much more strongly than its predecessor. The album boasted pop-crossover producers such as Puff Daddy and Teddy Riley, and singles such as "Sunshine" and "The City Is Mine" indeed showcased a newfound embrace of pop crossover. Yet there were still plenty of hard-hitting songs, such as "Streets Is Watching" and "Rap Game/Crack Game" to lace In My Lifetime with gangsta rap as well as pop crossover. Jay-Zs next album, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (1998), released a year after In My Lifetime, was laden with hit singles: "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" broke the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, while "Cash, Money, Hoes" and "Nigga What, Nigga Who" also charted. Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life ended up winning a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Like clockwork, Jay-Z returned a year later with another album, Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter (1999), which topped the Billboard 200 and spawned two hits: "Big Pimpin" and "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)." The album was Jay-Zs most collaborative to date, featuring ten guest vocalists and a roll call of in-demand producers such as Dr. Dre and Timbaland. Jay-Z then scaled back a bit for Dynasty Roc la Familia (2000), his fifth album in as many years. The album showcased Roc-a-Fellas in-house rappers, such as Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Freeway. On Dynasty Roc la Familia, Jay-Z also began working with a few new producers: the Neptunes, Kanye West, and Just Blaze. The Neptunes-produced "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" became a particularly huge hit single this go-round. Jay-Zs next album, The Blueprint (2001), solidified his position atop the New York rap scene. Prior to its release, the rapper had caused a stir in New York following his headlining performance at Hot 97s Summer Jam 2001, where he debuted the song "Takeover." The song features a harsh verse ridiculing Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Jay-Z accentuated his verbal assault by showcasing gigantic photos of an adolescent Prodigy in a dance outfit. The version of "Takeover" that later appeared on The Blueprint includes a third verse, this one dissing Nas, who, in response to the Summer Jam performance, had called out Jay-Z, "the fake king of New York," in a freestyle known as "Stillmatic." As expected, "Takeover" ignited a sparring match with Nas, who responded with "Ether." Jay-Z accordingly returned with a comeback, "Super Ugly," where he rapped over the beats to Nas "Get Ur Self A..." on the first verse and Dr. Dres "Bad Intentions" on the second. The back-and-forth bout created massive publicity for both Jay-Z and Nas. In addition to "Takeover," The Blueprint also featured "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," one of the years biggest hit songs, and the album topped many year-end best-of charts. Jay-Z capitalized on the runaway success of The Blueprint with a number of follow-up projects. He collaborated with the Roots for the Unplugged album (2001) and with R. Kelly for Best of Both Worlds (2002). He then went on to record, over the course of the year, 40 or so new tracks, 25 of which appeared on his next record, the double album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002). Though billed as a sequel, The Blueprint² was considerably different from its predecessor. Whereas the first volume had been personal, considered, and focused, the second instead offered an unapologetically sprawling double-disc extravaganza showcasing remarkable scope. As usual, it spawned a stream of singles, led by his 2Pac cover "03 Bonnie & Clyde," featuring his future wife Beyoncé. Furthermore, Jay-Z guested on a pair of summer 2003 hits: Beyoncés chart-topping "Crazy in Love" and Pharrell Williams Top Five hit "Frontin." It was then that Jay-Z announced his imminent retirement after the release of one more album. That LP, The Black Album (2003), was rush-released by Def Jam and soared to the top Billboard spot at the end of the year. It spawned a couple big hits -- "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems" -- and inspired a popular mash-up bootleg, The Grey Album, by Danger Mouse. The subsequent year (2004) was a whirlwind for the retiring Jay-Z. He embarked on a farewell tour that was topped off by an extravagant Madison Square Garden performance documented on the Fade to Black DVD, and he also embarked on an arena tour with the embattled R. Kelly. With his reputation bigger than ever, Jay-Z accepted an offer to assume the role of president at Def Jam. The seminal rap label was struggling and needed someone to guide it through a rocky transitional phase. Jay-Z accepted the challenge and took over the company begun by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin roughly 20 years earlier. (As part of its deal with Jay-Z, Def Jams parent company, Universal, bought Roc-a-Fella.) Considerable fanfare met the presidential inauguration, as Jay-Z became one of the few African-American major-label executives in the business. Numerous rappers owned or operated their own boutique labels, but none had ever risen to such major-label heights. The rapper-turned-president didnt take his job lightly, either, at least judging by his initial year at the helm. Within months of assuming his position, he fostered a string of newfound talents, including Young Jeezy and Rihanna. In 2005, Jay-Z came out of retirement for the I Declare War concert in New York City. The ambitious show featured a parade of high-profile guest stars, including Diddy and Kanye West, and in a peacemaking move, Nas. With this longstanding beef squashed, Jay-Z announced he was coming out of retirement for good. He made it official when Kingdom Come (2006) hit shelves. Jay-Z kept firing with American Gangster (2007), inspired by the concurrent film of the same name. After he left Def Jam and established Roc Nation -- a label, music publisher, and talent agency through Live Nation -- he released a third installment in the Blueprint series, The Blueprint 3 (2009). Announced with the single "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," the album featured productions from Kanye West and Timbaland, plus guest features for West, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys, the latter of whom appeared on "Empire State of Mind," one of the biggest hits of Jay-Zs career. At various points during the next two years, Jay-Z and West, joined by numerous associates, worked on Watch the Throne (2011). The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, supported by the smash hits "Otis" and "Niggas in Paris." On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to Blue Ivy Carter. Jay-Z quickly released "Glory," featuring his daughter as B.I.C.; she became the youngest person to appear on a Billboard-charting single. High-profile television a few months later announced Jay-Zs 12th solo album, Magna Carta...Holy Grail (2012). Released that July 4, it featured production from Timbaland and partner Jerome "J. Roc" Harmon, while the lead song involved Justin Timberlake, with whom Jay-Z toured that summer. During the next few years, Jay-Z was involved primarily with assorted business and philanthropic ventures, as well as the production of the documentary Time: The Kalief Browder Story. He appeared on a handful of tracks headlined by other artists, including Drakes "Pop Style" and DJ Khaleds "I Got the Keys." Further collaborations, such as his and Beyoncés appearances on Khaleds "Shining," along with an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (as the first rap artist), and the addition of newborn twins to the Carter family, all preceded the album 4:44 (2017). His 13th full-length, the critically acclaimed, platinum-certified set debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for single "The Story of O.J.") at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. Later that year, he embarked on an international stadium tour with Beyonce dubbed On the Run II. To coincide with the trek, the pair released the surprise album Everything Is Love as the Carters. Including the Migos-assisted lead single "Apeshit" -- which was promoted with a music video shot at the Louvre -- Everything Is Love debuted at number two and featured production by Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Cool & Dre, Boi-1da, and more. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 25 Title: Reasonable Doubt Released: 1996-06-25 Tracks: 15 Duration: 59:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cant Knock the Hustle (05:17) 2 Politics as Usual (03:41) 3 Brooklyns Finest (04:36) 4 Dead Presidents II (04:26) 5 Feelin It (03:47) 6 DEvils (03:32) 7 22 Twos (03:29) 8 Can I Live (04:10) 9 Aint No Nigga (04:02) 10 Friend or Foe (01:49) 11 Coming of Age (03:59) 12 Cashmere Thoughts (02:56) 13 Bring It On (05:01) 14 Regrets (04:32) 15 Can I Live II (03:57) |
| Reasonable Doubt : Allmusic album Review : Before Jay-Z fashioned himself into hip-hops most notorious capitalist, he was a street hustler from the projects who rapped about what he knew -- and was very, very good at it. Skeptics whove never cared for Jiggas crossover efforts should turn to his debut, Reasonable Doubt, as the deserving source of his legend. Reasonable Doubt is often compared to another New York landmark, Nas Illmatic: A hungry young MC with a substantial underground buzz drops an instant classic of a debut, detailing his experiences on the streets with disarming honesty, and writing some of the most acrobatic rhymes heard in quite some time. (Plus, neither artist has since approached the street cred of his debut, The Blueprint notwithstanding.) Parts of the persona that Jay-Z would ride to superstardom are already in place: Hes cocky bordering on arrogant, but playful and witty, and exudes an effortless, unaffected cool throughout. And even if hes rapping about rising to the top instead of being there, his material obsessions are already apparent. Jay-Z the hustler isnt too different from Jay-Z the rapper: Hustling is about living the high life and getting everything you can, not violence or tortured glamour or cheap thrills. In that sense, the albums defining cut might not be one of the better-known singles -- "Cant Knock the Hustle," "Dead Presidents II," "Feelin It," or the Foxy Brown duet, "Aint No Nigga." It just might be the brief "22 Twos," which not only demonstrates Jay-Zs extraordinary talent as a pure freestyle rapper, but also preaches a subtle message through its club hostess: Bad behavior gets in the way of making money. Perhaps thats why Jay-Z waxes reflective, not enthusiastic, about the darker side of the streets; songs like "DEvils" and "Regrets" are some of the most personal and philosophical hes ever recorded. Its that depth that helps Reasonable Doubt rank as one of the finest albums of New Yorks hip-hop renaissance of the 90s. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 25 Title: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Released: 1997-11-04 Tracks: 14 Duration: 58:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intro / A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More (03:21) 2 The City Is Mine (04:02) 3 I Know What Girls Like (04:50) 4 Imaginary Player (03:57) 5 Streets Is Watching (03:58) 6 Friend or Foe ’98 (02:09) 7 Lucky Me (05:00) 8 (Always Be My) Sunshine (04:43) 9 Who You Wit II (04:29) 10 Face Off (03:31) 11 Real Niggaz (05:07) 12 Rap Game / Crack Game (02:40) 13 Where I’m From (04:26) 14 You Must Love Me (05:47) |
| In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 : Allmusic album Review : After the death of friend and compatriot the Notorious B.I.G. in early 1997, Jay-Z made his claim for the title of best rapper on the East Coast (or anywhere) with his sophomore shot, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. Though the productions are just a bit flashier and more commercial than on his debut, Jay-Z remained the tough street rapper, and even improved a bit on his flow, already one of the best in the world of hip-hop. Still showing his roots in the Marcy projects (hes surrounded by a group of kids in a picture on the back cover), Jay-Z struts the line between project poet and up-and-coming player, and manages to have it both ways. He slings some of the most cutting rhymes heard in hip-hop, brushing off a legion of rappers riding his coattails on "Imaginary Player." For "Streets Is Watching," high-tension background strings and vocal samples from the gangster film Sleeper emphasize the pitfalls of a rapper everyones gunning for ("If I shoot you, Im brainless/But if you shoot me, then you famous"). The song leads right into "Friend or Foe 98," the sequel to a track from Reasonable Doubt that only increases the sense of paranoia. But Jay-Z plays the ghetto celebrity equally well, and continues his slick, Cristal-sipping image with "I Know What Girls Like" (featuring Puff Daddy and Lil Kim), "(Always Be My) Sunshine" (featuring Babyface and Foxy Brown), and "Lucky Me." Puff Daddys Bad Boy stable is responsible for almost half the productions, and though they often verge far into pop territory, Jay-Z usually rescues them from a complete crossover. (Ironically, the most commercial production is actually from Teddy Riley on "The City Is Mine," with an unfortunate interpolation of Glenn Freys "You Belong to the City.") Having one of the toughest producers around (Premier) as well as one of the slickest (Puff Daddy) sometimes creates a disconnect between who Jay-Z really is and who he wants to become, but he balances both personas with the best rapping heard in the rap game since the deaths of 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 25 Title: Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life Released: 1998-09-29 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:01:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro - Hand It Down (02:56) 2 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (04:00) 3 If I Should Die (04:55) 4 Ride or Die (04:48) 5 Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) (03:53) 6 Money, Cash, Hoes (04:46) 7 A Week Ago (05:00) 8 Coming of Age (Da Sequel) (04:21) 9 Can I Get A… (05:11) 10 Paper Chase (04:34) 11 Reservoir Dogs (05:19) 12 Its Like That (03:45) 13 Its Alright (04:01) 14 Money Aint a Thang (04:14) |
| Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life : Allmusic album Review : Coming on the heels of two strong records that revealed the extent of Jay-Zs talents, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (it may be titled Vol. 2, but its his third album, arguably his fourth if you count the Streets Is Watching soundtrack) is a little bit of a relative disappointment. Jay-Z had established himself as a savvy, street-smart rapper on those two records, but with Hard Knock Life he decides to shoot for crossover territory, for better and for worse. At his best, he shows no fear -- witness how the title track shamelessly works a Broadway showstopper from Annie into a raging ghetto cry, yet keeps it smooth enough for radio. Its a stunning single, but unfortunately, it promises more than the rest of the album can deliver. Jay-Z remains a first-rate lyricist and MC, but too often his subjects are tired, especially since he winds up with no new revelations. Unfortunately, the same could be said for his music. For every "Hard Knock Life," there are a couple of standard post-gangsta jams that dont catch hold -- and thats really too bad, because the best moments (including several tracks produced by such stars as Timbaland, Kid Capri, and Jermaine Dupri) are state-of-the-art, R&B-inflected mainstream hip-hop. And thats the problem -- before, Jay-Z wasnt trying to play by the rules of the mainstream, but here hes trying to co-opt them. At times he does, but the times that fall flat have less strength or integrity than their predecessors, and thats what makes the entire record not quite as effective, despite its numerous high points. [Shortly after its initial release, Hard Knock Life was reissued with a pair of bonus tracks: "Its Alright," pulled from the Streets Is Watching soundtrack, and "Money Aint a Thang," a catchy collabo single from Jermaine Dupris Life in 1472 album.] | ||
 | Album: 4 of 25 Title: Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter Released: 1999-12-13 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:23:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hova Song (intro) (02:20) 2 So Ghetto (04:05) 3 Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up) (04:38) 4 Dope Man (04:02) 5 Things That U Do (04:52) 6 It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot) (04:15) 7 Snoopy Track (04:01) 8 S. Carter (04:14) 9 Pop 4 Roc (04:35) 10 Hova Interlude (01:33) 11 Big Pimpin (04:47) 12 Is That Yo Bitch (04:34) 13 Come and Get Me (06:08) 14 NYMP (04:02) 15 Hova Song (outro) / Jigga My Nigga / Girls Best Friend (11:01) 16 Anything (04:45) 1 Anything (Mr. Drunk mix) (04:45) 2 Anything (Mr.Drunk mix) (instrumental) (04:39) |
 | Album: 5 of 25 Title: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia Released: 2000-10-31 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:06:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intro (03:10) 2 Change the Game (03:07) 3 I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) (03:47) 4 Streets Is Talking (04:44) 5 This Cant Be Life (04:48) 6 Get Your Mind Right Mami (04:22) 7 Stick 2 the Script (04:08) 8 You, Me, Him and Her (03:44) 9 Guilty Until Proven Innocent (04:55) 10 Parking Lot Pimpin (04:15) 11 Holla (03:32) 12 1-900-Hustler (03:50) 13 The R.O.C. (04:06) 14 Soon Youll Understand (04:35) 15 Squeeze 1st (03:49) 16 Where Have You Been (05:33) |
| The Dynasty: Roc La Familia : Allmusic album Review : At the time of The Dynasty Roc la Familias release, Jay-Z had already established himself as a towering figure in the rap world. His previous two albums -- Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life and Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter -- spawned numerous gigantic hits and were filled the brim with the biggest hitmakers in rap: producers like Timbaland and Swizz Beatz; rappers like Juvenile and DMX. So rather than try to one-up these albums with yet more super-producers and big-name rappers, Jay-Z took a different approach on The Dynasty. He brought in a stable of up-and-coming producers (the Neptunes, Just Blaze, Kanye West) and handed the mic to his in-house roster of Roc-a-Fella rappers (Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Freeway) with the intention of bolstering his rap "dynasty" (i.e., Roc-a-Fella). The approach works well. The Dynasty Roc la Familia still sounds like a Jay-Z album, but its different enough from his past work to make it exciting and unique. In particular, the productions set Jigga apart from his peers in 2000, especially "I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me)" by the Neptunes, a fun, playful song a world apart from the rugged Ruff Ryder beats Swizz Beatz had been offering Jay-Z a year earlier. In terms of rapping, the omnipresence of Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek spices up "Parking Lot Pimpin," another album highlight, but is a drag on other songs, where Jay-Z seems like a guest on his own album. Guest appearances by Snoop Dogg and Scarface are much more welcome, two of only three non-Roc-a-Fella guest features here. The Dynasty plays overall like a Roc-a-Fella mixtape rather than a Jay-Z album, which means youll have to endure a lot of promotional posse tracks, particularly toward the end of the album. Still, the few standout tracks here are career highlights for Jay-Z and well worth wading through the occasional filler to find. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 25 Title: The Blueprint Released: 2001-09-11 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:04:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Ruler’s Back (03:51) 2 Takeover (05:16) 3 Izzo (H.O.V.A.) (04:02) 4 Girls, Girls, Girls (04:37) 5 Jigga That Nigga (03:26) 6 U Don’t Know (03:19) 7 Hola’ Hovito (04:35) 8 Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) (03:47) 9 Never Change (04:00) 10 Song Cry (05:06) 11 All I Need (04:30) 12 Renegade (05:38) 13 Blueprint (Momma Loves Me) (12:10) |
| The Blueprint : Allmusic album Review : When Jay-Z dropped "The City Is Mine" in 1997 and claimed New Yorks hip-hop throne upon the Notorious B.I.G.s demise, many smirked and some even snickered. Four years later in 2001, when he released The Blueprint, no one was smirking and no one dared snicker. At this point in time, nobody in New York could match Jay-Z rhyme for rhyme and nobody in New York had fresher beats -- and many would argue that Jiggas reign was not just confined to New York but was, in fact, national. Yes, Jay-Z had risen to the top of the rap game in the late 90s and solidified his position with gigantic hits like "Big Pimpin" and "I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me)." Furthermore, The Blueprints leadoff single, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," dominated urban radio numerous weeks before the album hit the streets, generating so much demand that Def Jam had to push up the albums street date because it was being so heavily bootlegged. So when Jay-Z opens The Blueprint dropping rhymes about "runnin this rap sh*t," its not so much arrogance as it is a matter of fact. And by the time he brutally dismisses two of his most formidable opponents, Mobb Deep and Nas, less than ten minutes into the album, theres little doubt that Jay-Zs status as the top MC in the game is justified. But thats just one song. There are 12 other songs on The Blueprint -- and theyre all stunning, to the point where the album seems almost flawless. Besides rhymes that challenge those on Reasonable Doubt as the most crafted of Jay-Zs career to date in terms of not only lyrics but also flow and delivery, The Blueprint also boasts some of his most extravagant beats, courtesy of impressive newcomers Kanye West and Just Blaze. Moreover, if the rhymes and beats alone dont make The Blueprint a career highlight for Jay-Z, the minimal guest appearances surely do. For once, listeners get exactly what they want: Jay-Z and nothing but Jay-Z, over beats so loaded with marvelously flipped samples the songs dont even need big vocal hooks. Besides, when youre already the top MC in the game, theres no need for crossover attempts. Uneven albums like Hard Knock Life were the crossover attempts, and now that Jay-Z is "runnin this rap sh*t," a fully realized masterpiece like The Blueprint is the glorious result. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 25 Title: Unplugged Released: 2001-12-18 Tracks: 13 Duration: 58:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Izzo (H.O.V.A) (05:08) 2 Takeover (04:56) 3 Girls, Girls, Girls (04:40) 4 Jigga What, Jigga Who (02:34) 5 Big Pimpin’ (04:10) 6 Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) (04:05) 7 Can I Get A… (01:42) 8 Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem) (01:31) 9 Ain’t No (01:01) 10 Cant Knock the Hustle / Family Affair (06:06) 11 Song Cry (07:03) 12 I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me) (06:57) 13 Jigga That Nigga (08:22) |
| Unplugged : Allmusic album Review : Following the success of Blueprint, Jay-Z took a break from the studio productions of Timbaland and Just Blaze and stepped into acoustic surroundings for a taped edition of MTVs long-running Unplugged series. With the talents of the Roots as his backing band, Jay-Z fails to miss a step and feels just as comfortable in the unplugged arena as he does with drum machines and a mixing desk in front of him. The skills of Roots drummer Ahmir Thompson emulate even the slightest nuance from the originally programmed electronic beats, and Jay-Z fails to take this for granted, gently shifting from one song to the next in medley form with ease. With a strong track listing spanning his entire career of chart-topping hits, this album is the perfect introduction to Jay-Zs prolific catalog and a fun listen for the most dedicated of fans. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 25 Title: Chapter One Released: 2002-03-18 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:12:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (radio edit) (04:02) 2 Wishing on a Star (radio edit) (03:55) 3 Sunshine (radio edit) (03:16) 4 The City Is Mine (album version) (04:00) 5 Cant Knock the Hustle (radio edit) (03:36) 6 Aint No Nigga (original radio edit) (03:24) 7 Imaginary Prayer (03:58) 8 Money Aint a Thang (04:14) 9 Can I Get A… (05:11) 10 Streets Is Watching (04:02) 11 Money, Cash, Hoes (04:12) 12 I Know What Girls Like (Fly Girly dub) (04:51) 13 Feelin It (03:47) 14 Dead Presidents II (04:26) 15 Wishing on a Star (D. Influence remix) (05:54) 16 Cant Knock the Hustle (Fools Paradise remix) (04:43) 17 Aint No Nigga (Rae & Christian mix) (04:33) |
 | Album: 9 of 25 Title: The Best of Both Worlds Released: 2002-03-26 Tracks: 13 Duration: 48:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Best of Both Worlds (03:12) 2 Take You Home With Me a.k.a. Body (03:35) 3 Break Up to Make Up (04:08) 4 It Aint Personal (04:24) 5 The Streets (04:34) 6 Green Light (02:48) 7 Naked (03:08) 8 Shake Ya Body (03:19) 9 Somebodys Girl (03:41) 10 Get This Money (03:04) 11 Shorty (04:10) 12 Honey (04:02) 13 Pussy (04:50) |
| The Best of Both Worlds : Allmusic album Review : Both R. Kelly and Jay-Z were flying high around the time of The Best of Both Worlds, so the idea of a collaborative album was a reasonable one, following up the success of The Blueprint (2001) and TP-2.com (2000). The Best of Both Worlds falls terribly short of both artists high standards, unfortunately, sounding as if the vocals were phoned in, which in the case of Jay-Z they probably were, for his contributions (interjections and verses, mainly) sound like filler here. Kelly fares better throughout The Best of Both Worlds, supplying some potent hooks and co-producing the tracks with the Trackmasters (i.e., Poke and Tone), but not even he can carry an album this uninspired. Still, there are some moments where the collaborations click, particularly on the albums singles, "Get This Money" and "Take You Home with Me." Overall, though, The Best of Both Worlds rates among the poorest efforts -- arguably the poorest -- in either Kellys or Jay-Zs catalog to date. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 25 Title: The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse Released: 2002-11-12 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:48:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 A Dream (04:12) 2 Hovi Baby (04:21) 3 The Watcher 2 (05:57) 4 ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (03:25) 5 Excuse Me Miss (04:41) 6 What They Gonna Do (04:53) 7 All Around the World (03:52) 8 Poppin Tags (06:00) 9 Fuck All Nite (04:19) 10 The Bounce (04:18) 11 I Did It My Way (03:42) 1 Diamond Is Forever (03:55) 2 Guns & Roses (04:25) 3 U Dont Know (remix) (04:27) 4 Meet the Parents (04:58) 5 Some How Some Way (05:37) 6 Some People Hate (04:31) 7 Blueprint² (04:49) 8 Nigga Please (04:37) 9 2 Many Hoes (03:34) 10 As One (03:48) 11 A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier (04:41) 12 Show You How (02:58) 13 Bitches & Sisters (02:38) 14 What They Gonna Do, Part II (03:46) |
 | Album: 11 of 25 Title: Blueprint 2.1 Released: 2003-04-07 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:01:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 A Dream (03:46) 2 Hovi Baby (04:21) 3 The Watcher 2 (05:57) 4 ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (03:25) 5 Excuse Me Miss (04:41) 6 All Around the World (03:52) 7 Guns & Roses (04:25) 8 U Dont Know (remix) (04:27) 9 Meet the Parents (04:58) 10 Some How Some Way (05:37) 11 The Bounce (04:18) 12 What They Gonna Do, Part II / La La La (Excuse Me Miss Again) / Stop (11:24) |
 | Album: 12 of 25 Title: The Black Album Released: 2003-11-17 Tracks: 14 Duration: 56:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Interlude (01:23) 2 December 4th (04:35) 3 What More Can I Say (04:57) 4 Encore (04:13) 5 Change Clothes (04:18) 6 Dirt Off Your Shoulder (04:07) 7 Threat (04:08) 8 Moment of Clarity (04:26) 9 99 Problems (03:56) 10 Public Service Announcement (interlude) (02:55) 11 Justify My Thug (04:06) 12 Lucifer (03:14) 13 Allure (04:54) 14 My 1st Song (04:44) |
| The Black Album : Allmusic album Review : If The Black Album is Jay-Zs last, as he publicly stated it will be, it illustrates an artist going out in top form. For years Shawn Carter has been the best rapper and the most popular, a man who can strut the player lifestyle with one track and become the eloquent hip-hop everyman with the next, an artist for whom modesty is often a sin, and yet, one who still sounds sincere when hes discussing his humble origins or his recurring doubts. After the immediate classic The Blueprint found him at the peak of his powers, and The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse came as the most deflating sequel since Star Wars: Episode I, his follow-up (and possible siren song) impresses on the same level as the best of his career. As he has in the past, Jay-Z balances the boasting with extensive meditations on his life and his career. The back history begins with the first song, "December 4" (his birthday), on which Carter traces his life from birth day to present day, riding a mock fanfare and the heart-tugging strings of producer Just Blaze, along with frequent remembrances from his mother in This Is Your Life fashion. The other top track, "What More Can I Say," opens with Russell Crowes defiant "Are you not entertained!?" speech from Gladiator, then finds Jay-Z capping his career with another proof that hes one of the best of all time, and a look into what made him that way: "God forgive me for my brash delivery, but I remember vividly what these streets did to me." He also goes out with a few words for underground fans who think hes sold too many records for his own good. On "Moment of Clarity," he lays it out with an excellent rhyme: "If skills sold, truth be told, Id probably be lyrically Talib Kweli/Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense/But I did five mil, I aint been rhyming like Common since." The first single, "Change Clothes," is much more interesting than the lightweight club hit it sounds like, a keyboard-heavy pop sequel to the Neptunes "Frontin" (the anthem that rocked the summer of 2003, and his last collaboration with professional beat-maker and amateurish falsetto Pharrell Williams). And he can rock with the best as well, working with Rick Rubin on a cowbell-heavy stormer named "99 Problems" that samples Billy Squier and outrocks Kid Rock. The only issue thats puzzling about The Black Album is why one of the best rappers needs to say goodbye -- unless, of course, hes simply afraid of being taken for granted and wants listeners to imagine a rap world without him. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 25 Title: Unfinished Business Released: 2004-10-26 Tracks: 11 Duration: 44:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Return (03:52) 2 Big Chips (04:43) 3 We Got Em Goin (04:00) 4 Shes Coming Home With Me (03:49) 5 Feelin You in Stereo (03:43) 6 Stop (04:22) 7 Mo Money (04:09) 8 Pretty Girls (03:34) 9 Break Up (Thats All We Do) (04:26) 10 Dont Let Me Die (04:51) 11 The Return (remix) (02:57) |
| Unfinished Business : Allmusic album Review : Roughly as valuable as a half-price poster or mug, Unfinished Business is a glorified tour souvenir. 2002s The Best of Both Worlds, R. Kelly and Jay-Zs first collaborative record, was poor enough. The numbers tell you all you need to know: though that release had no trouble hitting gold status, Kellys Happy People/U Saved Me outstripped its two and a half years of sales three times over in a matter of two months. So why did these two giants release a sequel to an obvious career lowlight? Unfinished Business existence, in fact, is suspect in many ways. The press materials made a point to refer to these 11 songs as "previously unreleased," as opposed to "new," suggesting that they are leftovers from the same sessions that yielded The Best of Both Worlds. Further support for this speculation: the two records share much of the same personnel and recording locations, and the later release has even fewer bright spots than the initial one. More damning, perhaps, is that the release of Unfinished Business coincided with a tour that shouldve happened in 2002, had it not been for R. Kellys belly splash into hot water, via an indictment on sex crimes. Two years after the indictment, Kellys problems hadnt cooled down, but neither had his popularity. Touring with Jay-Z, the MC who carefully kept his distance from the situation, obviously became a possibility again at some point -- possibly after the supposed-to-be-retired Jigga witnessed the overwhelming support Kelly received from the fans. Touring in support of a record thats two years old -- and long forgotten -- is a silly proposition, so Jive and Roc-a-Fella (the two artists labels) likely figured that they ought to capitalize on the development and patch this release together. Greed wins, fans lose. Can you really fault anyone for being paid millions to sleepwalk? Of course not, but youd be less at fault for ignoring this slight release. Once you put it on, its instantly evident that its inconsequential in relation to everything else the artists have released before. Opener "The Return" wastes no time in deteriorating into a drone of background music, and the lack of positive features keeps flowing until the end of the final track. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 25 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2006-08-21 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:17:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Can I Get A… (05:11) 2 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (04:00) 3 Wishing on a Star (D. Influence remix) (05:54) 4 Cant Knock the Hustle (05:17) 5 Aint No Nigga (04:02) 6 Ride or Die (04:48) 7 Brooklyns Finest (04:36) 8 Imaginary Player (03:57) 9 Friend or Foe (01:49) 10 Friend or Foe ’98 (02:09) 11 More Money, More Cash, More Hoes (04:47) 12 The City Is Mine (04:02) 13 Reservoir Dogs (05:19) 14 I Know What Girls Like (04:50) 15 22 Twos (03:29) 16 Money Aint a Thang (04:14) 17 Dead Presidents II (04:26) 18 Regrets (04:32) |
 | Album: 15 of 25 Title: Kingdom Come Released: 2006-11-21 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:03:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Prelude (02:44) 2 Oh My God (04:17) 3 Kingdom Come (04:23) 4 Show Me What You Got (03:43) 5 Lost One (03:44) 6 Do U Wanna Ride (05:29) 7 30 Something (04:13) 8 I Made It (03:25) 9 Anything (04:21) 10 Hollywood (04:17) 11 Trouble (04:53) 12 Dig a Hole (04:11) 13 Minority Report (04:33) 14 Beach Chair (05:08) 15 44 Fours (live) (03:36) |
| Kingdom Come : Allmusic album Review : Jay-Zs retirement from making albums was more like a working holiday. After he announced his retirement, released The Black Album, and threw the Fade to Black party, he collaborated with Linkin Park on Collision Course, teamed with R. Kelly for the abysmal Unfinished Business, and appeared on tracks by Beanie Sigel, Bun B, Memphis Bleek, Kanye West, Pharrell, Lupe Fiasco, and Beyoncé. He kept busy behind the scenes as Def Jams CEO and president, and he also stepped up as a major philanthropist, donating a million dollars to the Katrina cause and actively addressing the global water crisis in Turkey and South Africa. In the midst of these and other well-publicized activities, Jay-Z recorded Kingdom Come, his eighth and weakest studio album. When placed in the context of his prolific discography, the greater part of the album wilts, and its not a good indicator that Jay-Z continues to lean on a familiar cast of producers rather than actively seek up-and-comers. (The fresh talent here is limited to Syience and Gwyneth Paltrows Chris Martin; they contribute one track each.) Theres only a small handful of highlights. On the title track, Just Blazes masterful contortion job on Rick James "Superfreak" backs Jays nearly top-form, Black Album/Blueprint-worthy boasts: "I been up in the office, you might know him as Clark/Just when you thought the whole world fell apart/I take off the blazer, loosen up the tie/Step inside the booth, Superman is alive." Two of the four Dr. Dre productions feature assistance from Mark Batson (Anthony Hamilton), and they both strike a fine balance between maturity and ferocity -- much more so than the clumsy "30 Something," where Jay proclaims that "30 is the new 20," which would actually make him 27 and a fourth-grader a zygote. (He might as well say, "You wear Huggies, I wear Depends/You drink from a sippy cup/I sip my solids.") Apart from the above-mentioned bright spots and a poignant, somber track about the Katrina disaster ("Minority Report"), the album is a display of complacency and retreads -- a gratuitous, easily resistible victory lap -- that slightly upgrades the relative worth of The Blueprint². | ||
 | Album: 16 of 25 Title: American Gangster Released: 2007-11-06 Tracks: 15 Duration: 53:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intro (01:55) 2 Pray (03:47) 3 American Dreamin’ (04:33) 4 Hello Brooklyn 2.0 (03:56) 5 No Hook (02:35) 6 Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)… (04:13) 7 Sweet (02:51) 8 I Know (03:36) 9 Party Life (04:07) 10 Ignorant Shit (03:45) 11 Say Hello (05:17) 12 Success (03:01) 13 Fallin’ (03:10) 14 Blue Magic (03:55) 15 American Gangster (02:30) |
| American Gangster : Allmusic album Review : "Yall n*ggas got me really confused out there. I make Big Pimpin or Give It to Me, one of those -- that had me as the greatest writer of the 21st century. I make some thought-provoking sh*t -- yall question whether he fallin off." When youve built up a back catalog of eight studio albums and walk the earth as one of the biggest, most high-profile artists of the 90s and 2000s, youre bound to get some mixed signals from those who pay attention to you. However, the jury did not take long to reach a verdict on 2006s Kingdom Come: the consensus on it (as a major fall-off) was as swift and strong as the consensus on Reasonable Doubt (as a classic). Once used copies of Kingdom Come became easily attainable for less than two dollars, it was apparent the next Jay-Z album might not be so anticipated. Hed need to get some fresh inspiration and make some corrective maneuvers. Fortunately, both came unexpectedly -- rather than by desperate force -- after he saw an advance screening of the early-70s period piece American Gangster, which played a direct role in nine of the songs on this album of the same name. While several tracks connected to specific scenes are also rooted in productions trading in the regal grit that made up so much 70s soul, the album is not a straight narrative, broken up by tracks like the boom-clap of "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" (produced by Bigg D) and the glitzed-out pair of "I Know" (a half-icing Neptunes layer cake) and "Ignorant Shit" (where Just Blaze transforms the Isleys quiet storm staple "Between the Sheets" into a high-gloss anthem). Combined with the tracks laced with 70s soul -- including six produced by Diddy & LV & Sean C, one by Toomp, and two by a newly forged partnership between Jermaine Dupri and No I.D. -- it all adds up to an album that seems nearly out of time, at least when it comes to the years spanning Jay-Zs career, without resembling a true regression. "Success," for instance, takes its lead from The Black Albums "Public Service Announcement," with blaring organ over heavily weighted drum knocks, yet despite the likeness, its one of the albums highlights. And while Jay mentions American Gangster and protagonist Frank Lucas directly, and intersperses some tracks with dialogue, the connection does not overshadow the album. Its not like hes yelling "Shafts Big Score 2K7!" or "Leonard Part Six, Part Two!" Its all as natural as Scarface riffing off Scarface. And that might be the most common complaint about the album -- its really just another case of Jay-Z being Jay-Z, albeit with different presentation. Unless you know each verse from Reasonable Doubt through Kingdom Come, it might sound like hes dealing with no variation on well-worn themes, the exact same thoughts and emotions that make up older tracks about his past as a drug dealer -- the rise, the arrogance, the conflictedness, the fall, and all stages in between. When hes in the right frame of mind, though, as he is throughout much of the albums duration (it is a bit sluggish in spots), hes as affective with his subject as Isaac Hayes and Marvin Gaye were with romance. Just as key, the level of insolence and spite on display here is as high as it has ever been. "I got watches I aint seen in months/Apartment at the Trump, I only slept in it once/N*ggas said Hova was over, such dummies/Even if I fell I land on a bunch of money" has more of those qualities than all of Kingdom Come. One could say thats not really saying much, but regardless of context, this is a very good Jay-Z album. He is, for the most part, doing what he has done before: what he does best. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 25 Title: Brooklyn Soul Released: 2007-12 Tracks: 15 Duration: 56:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Intro (01:45) 2 Pray (03:53) 3 American Dreamin (04:09) 4 Hello Brooklyn 2.0 (04:19) 5 No Hook (02:43) 6 Roc Boys (04:22) 7 Sweet (03:13) 8 I Know (03:55) 9 Partylife (04:44) 10 Ignorant Shit (03:39) 11 Say Hello (05:21) 12 Success (03:08) 13 Fallin (03:29) 14 Blue Magic (03:56) 15 American Gangster (03:16) |
 | Album: 18 of 25 Title: The Blueprint 3 Released: 2009-09-08 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:00:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 What We Talkin’ About (04:03) 2 Thank You (04:10) 3 D.O.A. (Death of Auto‐Tune) (04:16) 4 Run This Town (04:27) 5 Empire State of Mind (04:36) 6 Real as It Gets (04:12) 7 On to the Next One (04:17) 1 Off That (04:06) 2 A Star Is Born (03:48) 3 Venus vs. Mars (03:10) 4 Already Home (04:29) 5 Hate (02:31) 6 Reminder (04:18) 7 So Ambitious (04:12) 8 Young Forever (04:13) |
| The Blueprint 3 : Allmusic album Review : When Jay-Z first made a series out of his best album, 2001s The Blueprint, it became a game of high expectations. The Blueprint of the first volume was Jay-Z as vital as hed ever been, storming back to the hardcore after a few years of commercial success. The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse was a complete turn, a set of half-cocked crossovers, bloated to bursting with guest features that obscured his talents. The Blueprint 3 is somewhere between the two, closer to the vitality and energy of the original but not without the crossover bids and guest features of the latter (albeit much better this time). Kanye West is in the producers chair for seven tracks, and its clear he was reaching for the same energy level as the original Blueprint (which he produced). "What We Talkin About" begins the album with a wave of surging, oppressive synth, while Jay-Z enumerates (with an intriguing lack of detail) what hes said and whats been said about him, ending with a nod not to the past but the future (and Barack Obama). West also produced the second, "Thank You," and while it starts with typical Jay-Hova brio, the last verse piles on the unrelenting criticism of unnamed rappers doomed to weak sales. Theres plenty more lyrical violence to come, but most of the targets are much safer than they were eight years earlier. (Jay doesnt sound very convincing when he claims in "D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune]" that its not "politically correct" to rail against one of the most reviled trends in pop music during the 2000s.) From there, he branches out with a calculating type of finesse, drawing in certain demographics via a roster of guests, from Young Jeezy (hardcore) to Drake (teens) to Kid Cudi (the backpacker crowd). The king of the crossovers here is "Empire State of Mind," a New York flag-waver with plenty of landmark name-dropping that turns into a great anthem with help on the chorus from Alicia Keys. The Blueprint 3 isnt a one-man tour de force like the first. Jay is upstaged once or twice by his guests, and while the productions are stellar throughout -- Timbaland appears three times, and No I.D. gets multiple credits also -- its clear theres less on Jays mind this time. Not tuned out like on Kingdom Come, but more content with his dominance as a rap godfather in 2009. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 25 Title: The Blueprint Collectors Edition Released: 2009-09-08 Tracks: 40 Duration: 2:52:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Ruler’s Back (03:51) 2 Takeover (05:16) 3 Izzo (H.O.V.A.) (04:02) 4 Girls, Girls, Girls (04:37) 5 Jigga That Nigga (03:26) 6 U Don’t Know (03:19) 7 Hola’ Hovito (04:35) 8 Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) (03:47) 9 Never Change (04:00) 10 Song Cry (05:06) 11 All I Need (04:30) 12 Renegade (05:38) 13 Blueprint (Momma Loves Me) (03:41) 14 Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise) (03:45) 15 Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2) (04:14) 1 A Dream (04:12) 2 Hovi Baby (04:21) 3 The Watcher 2 (05:57) 4 ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (03:25) 5 Excuse Me Miss (04:41) 6 What They Gonna Do (04:53) 7 All Around the World (03:52) 8 Poppin Tags (06:00) 9 Fuck All Nite (04:19) 10 The Bounce (04:18) 11 I Did It My Way (03:42) 1 Diamond Is Forever (03:55) 2 Guns & Roses (04:25) 3 U Dont Know (remix) (04:27) 4 Meet the Parents (04:58) 5 Some How Some Way (05:37) 6 Some People Hate (04:31) 7 Blueprint² (04:49) 8 Nigga Please (04:37) 9 2 Many Hoes (03:34) 10 As One (03:48) 11 A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier (04:41) 12 Show You How (02:58) 13 Bitches & Sisters (02:38) 14 What They Gonna Do, Part II (03:46) |
| The Blueprint Collector's Edition : Allmusic album Review : This box set from Def Jam landed after Jay-Z had split from the label, and as smooth marketing would have it, the same day as the rappers debut for Live Nation was released. With his first post-Def Jam release being titled The Blueprint 3, this box -- featuring just the first two volumes on three CDs along with "a space to complete your collection" -- seems entirely necessary, but the trilogy barely hangs in hindsight as it goes from a fully realized hip-hop masterpiece to a radically different, two-CD release with more pop, and then finally to a record somewhere between the two. It also covers a pivotal time in the rappers career, with releases in 2001, 2002, and 2009 and, with albums like The Black Album and American Gangster showing up between volumes one and two, it seems The Blueprint could be the name of choice for Jay-Zs less conceptual pieces. Plus there is the 2.1 problem -- 2003s one-disc shortening of The Bluepint 2 -- but you cant deny that the empty space for that other labels Blueprint is clever, and that the two volumes found here have more than their fair share of highlights. This is also an easy way for newcomers to catch up on the Blueprint saga, and with an attractive design, plus a poster added as a bonus, the tag of "Collector Edition" is validated. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 25 Title: The Hits Collection Volume One Released: 2010-11-08 Tracks: 14 Duration: 56:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Public Service Announcement (interlude) (02:46) 2 Run This Town (04:27) 3 ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (03:25) 4 Encore (04:10) 5 I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) (03:49) 6 Izzo (H.O.V.A.) (04:00) 7 D.O.A. (Death of Auto‐Tune) (04:16) 8 99 Problems (03:55) 9 Empire State of Mind (04:36) 10 Dirt Off Your Shoulder (04:02) 11 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (04:00) 12 Show Me What You Got (03:43) 13 Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)... (04:12) 14 Big Pimpin’ (04:44) |
 | Album: 21 of 25 Title: Original Album Classics Released: 2011 Tracks: 45 Duration: 3:05:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Cant Knock the Hustle (05:17) 2 Politics as Usual (03:41) 3 Brooklyns Finest (04:36) 4 Dead Presidents II (04:26) 5 Feelin It (03:47) 6 DEvils (03:32) 7 22 Twos (03:29) 8 Can I Live (04:10) 9 Aint No Nigga (04:02) 10 Friend or Foe (01:49) 11 Coming of Age (03:59) 12 Cashmere Thoughts (02:56) 13 Bring It On (05:01) 14 Regrets (04:32) 15 Cant Knock the Hustle (Fools Paradise remix) (?) 1 Intro / A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More (03:21) 2 The City Is Mine (04:02) 3 I Know What Girls Like (04:50) 4 Imaginary Player (03:57) 5 Streets Is Watching (03:58) 6 Friend or Foe ’98 (02:09) 7 Lucky Me (05:00) 8 (Always Be My) Sunshine (04:43) 9 Who You Wit II (04:29) 10 Face Off (03:31) 11 Real Niggaz (05:07) 12 Rap Game / Crack Game (02:40) 13 Where I’m From (04:26) 14 You Must Love Me (05:47) 15 Wishing on a Star (D. Influence remix) (05:54) 16 Wishing on a Star (Track Masters remix) (03:55) 1 Intro - Hand It Down (02:56) 2 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (04:00) 3 If I Should Die (04:55) 4 Ride or Die (04:48) 5 Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) (03:53) 6 Money, Cash, Hoes (04:46) 7 A Week Ago (05:00) 8 Coming of Age (Da Sequel) (04:21) 9 Can I Get A… (05:11) 10 Paper Chase (04:34) 11 Reservoir Dogs (05:19) 12 Its Like That (03:45) 13 Its Alright (04:01) 14 Money Aint a Thang (04:14) |
 | Album: 22 of 25 Title: Watch the Throne Released: 2011-08-08 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 No Church in the Wild (04:32) 2 Lift Off (04:26) 3 Niggas in Paris (03:39) 4 Otis (02:58) 5 Gotta Have It (02:20) 6 New Day (04:32) 7 That’s My Bitch (03:22) 8 Welcome to the Jungle (02:54) 9 Who Gon Stop Me (04:16) 10 Murder to Excellence (05:00) 11 Made in America (04:52) 12 Why I Love You (03:21) |
| Watch the Throne : Allmusic album Review : An audacious spectacle of vacuous pomposity as well as one of tremendous lyrical depth, Watch the Throne is a densely packed amalgamation of what Jay-Z has termed “ignorant shit” and “thought-provoking shit,” with creative productions that are both top of the line and supremely baffling. Its best moments are among the most vital rap music released in 2011. Its worst moments sound like resuscitated discards from Kanye Wests My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The lowest point is “Lift Off,” a bombastic mess; West’s stillborn, sung vocal clashes against a triumphant hook from Beyoncé, while the behind-the-scenes cast, including West, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Q-Tip, Pharrell, Don Jazzy, and the duo LMFAO, overcook a regal and rugged, yet ultimately muddled, production -- one that also features the voices of Seal and Mr. Hudson. All of the highlight tracks come with caveats. On “New Day,” West and Jay-Z address their unborn sons in equally somber and pointed ways, yet there’s a distracting vocal flutter throughout -- to be specific, Nina Simones version of “Feeling Good” chucked through Auto-Tune. (So much for "D.O.A.") The anthemic “That’s My Bitch” rides on rampaging drums, using two of the most common breaks to fresh effect, and effectively incorporates the wildly dissimilar voices of La Rouxs Elly Jackson and Bon Iver/Justin Vernon (the latter of which is made to sound like that of the Gap Bands Charlie Wilson), but the b-word from the mouth of a 41 year-old is as awkward as a throwback on someone of the same age. Kanye’s autobiographical, rise-to-fame verses in the solemn “Made in America” are among his most riveting to date, yet the effect is nearly squashed when he stoops to reference a cartoon that mocked him in 2009. The album contains piles of quotables and some of the fieriest pro-black content in decades. The latter, particularly concentrated during the album’s back half -- where the word “black” is used almost as often as it is in Euripides Smalls’ “I’m Black, Y’all” -- should not be lost amid the album’s ruthless flaunting of material wealth and carte blanche industry resources. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 25 Title: Magna Carta… Holy Grail Released: 2013-07-08 Tracks: 16 Duration: 59:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Holy Grail (05:38) 2 Picasso Baby (04:05) 3 Tom Ford (03:09) 4 FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt (04:03) 5 Oceans (03:58) 6 F.U.T.W. (04:02) 7 SomewhereInAmerica (02:28) 8 Crown (04:33) 9 Heaven (04:03) 10 Versus (00:51) 11 Part II (On the Run) (05:33) 12 Beach Is Better (00:55) 13 BBC (03:12) 14 Jay Z Blue (03:50) 15 La Familia (03:33) 16 Nickels & Dimes (05:03) |
| Magna Carta… Holy Grail : Allmusic album Review : Like few other album openers, "Holy Grail" encapsulates what follows it and reflects a particular point in an artists career. Its a vigorous if not particularly moving track, principally produced by Timbaland and J-Roc, which expresses bewilderment and conflicting emotions about rising from poverty to opulence. The first of a few early-90s references is made -- the chorus of Nirvanas "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is quoted -- and Jay-Z is as triumphant and as troubled as ever. He doesnt enter until the 80-second mark, preceded by a theatrical verse and hook from summer 2013 tour partner Justin Timberlake. As with a significant portion of Magna Carta...Holy Grail, it has a dashed-off, created between business engagements quality -- maybe there wasnt enough time to ask Timberlake who translated his version of the Hebrew Bible ("Sippin from your cup til it runneth over"). Likewise, the albums remainder is sporadically energized and frequently hasty-sounding, played safe with just enough timely pop-culture references and sonic curveballs to demonstrate that Jay-Z still has his finger on the pulse. He has Timbaland and J-Roc -- also co-producers of Timberlakes 20/20 Experience -- involved with most of the tracks, highlighted by a pair that sample Adrian Younges 2011 psych-soul masterpiece Something About April, as well as some brilliantly bleary and prickly work on "F.U.T.W." Significantly lighter lifting is done by a cast that includes the likes of Pharrell and Swizz Beatz, as well as Kyambo Joshua and Mike Dean, who shine on the scuffed-up Gonjasufi-sampling finale "Nickels and Dimes." For all the lyrical flaunting of material wealth -- revolutionary art, designer fashion, yachting, globe-trotting -- the greatest ostentatious display here is in the enlistment of 2012/2013s hottest producer, Mike Will, for a single minute-length track. Unsurprisingly, its the wildest, most advanced moment on the album. Jay-Z is armed with and weighed down by an immense back catalog. Any given track is bound to be compared to a past highlight. The MC indeed cant help sounding more mechanical than novel and, as a 43-year-old referencing Internet memes, hes possibly a little desperate to relate to younger listeners. He still drops some casually brilliant reminders that he remains one of the best, as on "Oceans" ("Only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace/I dont even like Washingtons in my pocket") and on "Nickels and Dimes" ("Pardon my hubris, Stanley Kubrick/With eyes wide shut, I could cook up two bricks"). The album is an adequate addition to one of the most impressive artist discographies within any genre, not great enough to overshadow the heavily scrutinized corporate alliance that assisted with its ascent. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 25 Title: 4:44 Released: 2017-06-30 Tracks: 13 Duration: 46:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Kill Jay Z (02:58) 2 The Story of O.J. (03:52) 3 Smile (04:50) 4 Caught Their Eyes (03:26) 5 4:44 (04:44) 6 Family Feud (04:11) 7 Bam (03:55) 8 Moonlight (02:24) 9 Marcy Me (02:54) 10 Legacy (02:57) 11 Adnis (02:26) 12 Blue’s Freestyle / We Family (04:23) 13 ManyFacedGod (03:18) |
| 4:44 : Allmusic album Review : Jay-Zs June 2017 was momentous. The 44th president of the United States inducted him as the first rap lyricist into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Beyoncé Knowles-Shawn Carter family added fourth and fifth members. Going by a jocular shot at specific Al Sharpton social media activity within, there was also the completion of 4:44, delivered on the last of the month. Approach-wise, the 13th Jay-Z studio album is a change of course for its employment of only one beatmaker, No I.D., whose previous Jay-Z credits across a decade plus -- a comparatively flashy crop that includes a major portion of The Blueprint 3 -- amount to an albums worth of tracks, primarily as co-producer. Even more noteworthy is its chronological distinction as a follow-up to Beyoncés Lemonade, a cathartic album prompted in part by Jay-Zs extramarital behavior. This somehow makes album 13 seem older than its true age. From any other artist, 36 minutes of repentance, self-satisfaction, and wisdom regarding issues such as faithfulness, vast wealth, ethical consumption, and the deficiencies of a younger rap generation would likely fall flat, but Jay-Z continues to write at a Hall of Fame level and raps with high levels of conviction, contrition, and wit. He and No I.D. are consistently attuned. The whole album has a fine matte-like finish with nuanced rhythms and soul, funk, reggae, and prog samples that frequently enhance the tracks on an emotional level, not just a sonic one. Even the Frank Ocean and Beyoncé appearances sound sourced from a crate. Filled with references to profit and forms of pride granted by birth and earned by hustling, 4:44 nonetheless is an unglamorous set well suited for solitary and reflective late-night listening. There are no radio play bids. Jay-Z has been in this mode at various points, but never in such concentrated, enlightened form, whether the subject is his mistakes as a husband, the struggles of his long-closeted lesbian mother, the effects of enduring systemic racism, or the assertion of his supremacy. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 25 Title: The Black Album Revisited Released: 2018-11-13 Tracks: 14 Duration: 49:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Interlude (00:48) 2 December 4th (03:42) 3 What More Can I Say (04:27) 4 Encore (03:00) 5 Change Clothes (04:11) 6 Dirt Off Your Shoulder (03:52) 7 Threat (04:04) 8 Moment of Clarity (03:44) 9 99 Problems (03:55) 10 Public Service Announcement (02:42) 11 Justify My Thug (04:13) 12 Lucifer (03:17) 13 Allure (04:48) 14 My 1st Song (02:47) |