Release dates- July 4, 2013 (for those first one million subscribers who
downloaded a new app via their Samsung phones, which I will not list
here, respectively, and along with it came a free download of this
album)
Featured Guests
Justin Timberlake
Rick Ross
Frank Ocean
Beyonce
Behind The Boards
The Dream
Timbaland
Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon
No I.D.
Boi-1-da
Vinylz
Pharrell Williams
Hit Boy
Darhyl "Hey DJ" Camper
Mike Dean
Travis Scott
WondaGurl
Mike Will Made It
Marz
Justin Timberlake
Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua
Swizz Beatz
Adrian Younge
THE ALBUM
1. Holy Grail
For starters, this was a very good opener. I like how Jay flows on
this beat (although he's not saying nothing new at all) and Mr.
Timberlake does a good job on the hook.
*4 out of 5*
2. Picasso Baby
You know I was on the verge of giving this one a 3.5 out of 5, but
once the beat switched up with a 1:30 left, I had to up it. Again, I
must say he's not saying nothing new, but you can't deny the flair
that's still there on the mic, just take a look at the title of this
song, lol.
*4 out of 5*
3. Tom Ford
This was decent, felt like I was listening to "Luxury Jay-Z" on this
one ("I don't pop Molly, I rock Tom Ford"). Nice beat also.
*3.5 out of 5*
4. FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt
Just look at that title. Again, that tells you all you need to know,
and when you've heard one "I got it" type song, you've heard them all
and this is NO different, especially Rick Ross' verse, which I could've done
without.
*2 out of 5*
5. Ocean
I really like Pharrell's beat, as it matches Jay's subject matter and a very good hook provided by Frank Ocean.
*4 out of 5*
6. F.U.T.W.
Allow me to refer back to "Encore" from Jay's "The Black Album". He
said "I came, I saw, I conquered/From record sales to sell out
concerts". That was a true statement. Listening to this one (in which
F.U.T.W. stands for "fuck up this world"), I don't take what he's saying
seriously in a literal sense, but I kinda see the point he's trying to
make (and feel free to tell me if I'm over-analyzing this).
3.5 out of 5
7. Somewhere In America
We have all heard about the adventures of Jay-Z all over this world,
and although he has done this before (and better), this apply titled
song is good for the most part.
*3.5 out of 5*
8. Crown
We get another apply titled song after "Somewhere In America",
and even though a song like this could've easily been on "The Blueprint
3" or the "Watch The Throne" album, it's still pretty
good.
*4 out of 5*
9. Heaven
"Have you ever been to heaven?" This question is asked during the hook, and it's one appropriately titled song if you ask me. New territory for Jay-Z perhaps?
*3.5 out of 5*
10. Versus
Although this is 51 seconds, I had to listen to it twice. Jay is
going at someone on this song and he called out no names (I think I may
have an idea who it is).
11. Part II (On The Run)
When you get Jay and his wife Beyonce on a song, you know what to
expect, and I feel this is somewhat of a reprise of "03 Bonnie &
Clyde". I have no issue with them collaborating, because in addition to
being husband and wife, they're also artists, and that's clear here just
like all the other songs they've done together.
*3 out of 5*
12. Beach Is Better
This is another BRIEF skit/song, much like "Versus".
13. BBC (featuring appearances by Nas, Pharrell, Timbaland, and Beyonce)
Just by listening to this song, it sounds like one big party, and
that's NO knock to any of the talent involved. With that being said,
even with the rating I'm about to give it, I could see it on the radio.
*3
out of 5*
14. Jay-Z Blue
I LOVE this one, as we get Shawn Carter, the father, on this song, a
dedication to his daughter, and I can't forget the "spiritual vocals" of
the late great Notorious BIG in the background. Best song on this
album.
*5 out of 5*
15. La Familia
Straight for the fam, yes indeed. This is another very good song (I
just wish he would've switched up his flow for it). Some may feel it's late, but Jay
does deliver, well, let's go ahead and call it what it is, a diss to one
Lil Wayne after a few jabs from him over the years (“Wanna kidnap wifey / Good luck with that bruh / You must gonna hide your whole family/ What you think we wearing black
for / Ready for that war / Ready for that war ready / You ain't ready,
yo, you radio"). I really don't expect Wayne to respond, and
if he does, I can only imagine what ignorant mess we're going to
receive.
*4 out of 5*
16. Nickles and Dimes
This was a very good closer, even if it's nothing we haven't heard before.
*4 out of 5*
Well, all bias aside (I'll try at least, lol),
this album is pretty good. Production wise it may be a bit "busy" for
some, but it fits him nicely at this point in his career. Although his
lyrics are NOT wack or phoned in, he's saying nothing new on most of the
songs, but the charisma and flair is still there as I mentioned before.
Is this better than his last studio/solo album, "The Blueprint 3"? In
my opinion, no. The ONLY thing I could've done without, of course, is
the song with Rick Ross, which is nothing we haven't heard before in
this day and age and easily could've been left off this album. Good overall.
3.5 stars
Success
*The album moved 528,000 copies in its first week, Jay's 13th consecutive album to hit #1 on the charts
*Certified double platinum
Wow, what more can I say about Jay Z? He has a stellar discography, made big moves (and history) over the years and is clearly one of the greatest of all time. Much props and respect.
My final rankings and ratings
1. Reasonable Doubt (5 stars)
2. The Blueprint (5 stars)
3. In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (5 stars)
4. The Black Album (5 stars)
5. American Gangster (5 stars)
6. Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (4.5 stars)
7. The Dynasty Roc La Familia (4.5 stars)
8. Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (4 stars)
9. The Blueprint 3 (4 stars)
10. Kingdom Come (4 stars)
11. The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (3.5 stars)
12. Magna Carta Holy Grail (3.5 stars)
No comments:
Post a Comment