By Chiagozem Onyekwena
JAY Z-BLUEPRINT 3 – Review
Jay Z is the closest thing Hip Hop has to a President. Having risen from the dark alleys of New York, the capital of the culture, Jay has survived bold lyrical attempts on his life by his adversaries (Jaz-O, Nas, Cam’ron), formed alliances with leaders of other powerful music nations (Rock – Linkin Park, R&B –R-Kelly, World Music – Panjabi MC) and in doing so, steadily ascended to the zenith of the culture, becoming its most dominant voice in recent times. Like every other president, Jay chooses to run for re-election every few months or so. The only difference being, Jay’s reign has no stipulated tenure, the man can go on and on, and on.
If Jay is Hip Hop Pres., then his albums must contain his manifesto and on BP 3, the leader’s sights are set on change: a break from the current Hip Hop norm. When Pres. Carter speaks, Hip Hop listens, as autotune over-enthusiasts Ron Browz and DJ Webstar learnt, albeit the hard way. The moment No ID’s ominous combination of menacing guitar strings and chilling woodwind samples usher the albums lead effort Death of Autotune, its obvious heads will roll when the entire album unravels. In line with his theme, Jay co-signs the leader of the Hip Hop New School Drake and together, they hammer nails into the coffin of all of rap’s transient trends, from Audemars Piguets to Cristal, on the Timbaland produced Off That. On Off That, Jay rather surprisingly restricts the budding lyricist to chorus duties. Thankfully however, he unleashes the other members of the New School, the prodigiously talented J. Cole (Jay’s newest protégé) and Kid Cudi on Star is Born and Already Home respectively. The young ones bring out the best in Jay lyrically, delivering two of the album’s more engaging listens.
However BP 3 isn’t flawless by any stretch of the imagination. Although Jay spends much of the album talking about leaving the past behind, ironically the bulk of the project rehashes the same producers and subject matter Jay’s been using since the very first Blueprint. Okay, so Hov uses his well honed lyrical ability to keep the listener engaged, that’s a given, but there are only so many ways BP3 can oscillate around a fixed topical centre without eventually waning in intensity. In addition, on Venus vs. Mars Timbo sends in some of the more mundane beats of his phenomenal career and Jay certainly didn’t help matters, delivering the type of chorus that would have been acceptable only if the rapper’s age were closer to 14 and not 40. However, for every underwhelming Real As It Gets on BP3, there are about 3 or 4 splendid Young Forever. It’s a testament to the man’s ability that when BP3 staggers, it picks itself up almost immediately.
BP3 isn’t a classic Hip Hop album by any means but if anything, it serves to tighten Jay Z’s vice on the genre’s leadership throne. I guess it’s safe to say the man can already start writing his inauguration song, sorry speech, for the eleventh time in a row.
ALBUM RATING 4/5
12 comments
Well as it stands Jay z is not even among the first fifty rap icons,
Jay z has never been a rapper, back in the days when most of his songs are mostly duplicate and now any way just trying.
So jay z you are any other thing but not a rapper.
Too soft like a sisi.
to me BP2, will always be his best album in the trilogy…
& surprisingly i seem to like venus vs mars more…too each his own…
Again Jay Z delivers.
Nice writeup by the way
jay z is a free stylist and not a hardcore raper, but that's why he has the fan base he does. he know what the young teener wants to hear and he delivers it to them. Hey, guys, give it to him , he's got the best swagger.
Jazent u r very stupid. have u even thought about what u said. 11 number one albums, killa collaborations with other music genres,the only rapper to ever sell out madison square garden and perform at the Glastonbury concert, 7 grammy awards, 9 VMAs, 5 BET awards, MTVs hottest no. 1 MC for 2009. Fuck, i hate u ignorant people. They disgust me!!! I say ignorant bcos u dont even know how to hate in d first place. And i got more where that came from!
Jay z isnt my favourite rapper..in fact i think he's done better stuff than BP3..i prefer BP1 or Reasonable Doubt…but hate him or love him he's the most successful in the game
Jay deserves what ever position he is giving, he will always be among the greatest and best rappers of our time because of his achievements. But lets not forget Eminem.
What more should this guy do to silence and get the love of you haters. Name one thing he ain't done yet. it hurts when you people say he ain't the one.Agreed, BP3 is not one of his best albums but it is a million times better than the best crap that other whack MCs like 50 cent,Eminem, Lupe Fiasco etc produced or will ever produce.
jay z is the best thing in the world of rap. i love him and he's so nice. jay! keep it up!!!!!!
First and foremost BP3 isnt jayz's best album true but he is undoubtedly the best "RAPPER" alive..The only person that can be compared lyrically to him is Nas (i still believe Nas is a better lyricist)…Jay has answered all critics and delivered better punchlines than any rapper in the industry..I believe if a so called "Top shot" rapper's name wasn't mentioned in "A star is born" then you are a nobody…. Jay is a mentor and will remain an icon in the industry….
jazent dosnt kno jack abt jay-z. jay's "reasonable doubt" and "blueprint" albums are undeniable classics. jay is d most consistent MC eva 2 wuk d turf of planet earth! mention an 09 rap album hotter than BP3! AMA proves it! he won both best rap act and rap album. u dont kno sh**, dont tuk!!! u said jay is a sisi… jay is grown. dats y u neva catch him spittin abt poppin a n****s head or killin any1 dat f***s wt him (in recent times). d only pple in jay's league r nas, 2pac, biggie and no more. and jay has dusted them achivment wise. tell me sumthin else??? wacko!
Jay is d best and i want everybody 2 learn from him …
this place shows off as you would expect lmao