BLUEPRINT 3 ALBUM REVIEW

What's good ya'll, it's ya boy ATM and I'm back wit a new album review for that ass. The highly-anticipated third edition of the Blueprint series by Jay-Z doesn't hit stores 'till the 11th but you know the good people at Blue Vinyl Radio got your back when it comes to that EXCLUSIVE ish. Before we get into it, here's a look at the video for the second single off the album, "Run This Town (feat. Rihanna and Kanye West)."



With the way things have been goin' in the game, it seems as if everyone is either tryin' to turn Hip-Hop back into the direction that it came from (Slaughterhouse, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, etc.) or tryin' to just run on the course that it is currently on (Lil' Wayne, Diddy, Jim Jones, etc.). If anyone was goin' to give you his perceptions of the current state (and possible demise) of Rap music, it had to be none other than Jay-Z. Many doubters have already anticipated his next release, anxious to see what he still has to offer after coming out of retirement to drop two LP's (and now his third). The self-proclaimed "Best Rapper Ever" (and critically-acclaimed "Best Rapper Alive") may no longer have anything to prove, but the question still remains to be asked: What does Jay-Z stll have to offer?

The disk starts off proper as Jigga hits you with a good combination of flow, style, swag, and musical energy. But things eventually go south as guest appearances by Young Jeezy and Swizz Beatz just don't make the cut against Jay's artistry. Even as the middle tracks leave you wanting something better from the Marcy vet, he still manages to squeeze in standouts like "Already Home" and "Hate" (featuring Kid-Cudi and Kanye West respectively). The album ends with a somber collaboration from new-comer Mr. Hudson but as a whole doesn't make the remarkable impact some may expect.

While Jay's first post-retirement album "Kingdom Come" came off as a disappointment and the second ("American Gangster") as possibly one of his best, "Blueprint 3" fits right in the middle. Jigga's latest add to the resume doesn't seem to give you the best he can possibly give but does display brief points where Hov is clearly goin' hard and giving you a reason to place him as one of Rap's premiere MC's.

Individual Track Review:
1. What We Talkin’ About (Feat. Lake Steele of Empire of the Sun)- Jigga kicks things off in his highly anticipated addition to the “Blueprint” series with an unexpected mid-tempo Electronica selection many people may recognize (lyrically). If you kept up with Jay-Z news this past summer, you’ll recall a “beef” he possibly instigated with The Game by placing him in the same bar as the names Dame Dash and Jim Jones. While the aforementioned verse definitely sounds more sensible over the instrumental, the track isn’t something you’d expect to get too hyped over.

2. Thank You- Here’s the Jigga Man people have been waiting to hear from. On a laid back, horn-filled selection, Hova takes the time to express the state of Hip-Hop and his perception of it. Punchlines come aplenty and the beat is satisfactory as well. Why was this track not the intro?

3. D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)- The lead single of Blueprint 3 continues to give you a taste of Jay-Z’s perception of the current stance rappers are taking in Hip-Hop. The horns and electric guitar give a ruthless, rugged appeal to Jay-Z’s flow but the lyrics just aren’t heavy enough to get his point fully across. While Hip-Hop nation undoubtedly took notice of Hov’s message (T-Pain, the Auto-Tune King, joined him on stage to perform this at Summer Jam), the release of such a single seemed to come at a coincidental time rather than acting as the reason why the use of Auto-Tune has actually declined.

4. Run This Town (Feat. Rihanna and Kanye West)- Here, Young Hov enlists the stardom of Rihanna and ‘Ye to gain a little more commercial attention for the LP. I found “Run This Town” a track that took getting used to; but the appeal of the cinematic snare and guitar in addition to the swagger Jay-Z applies with his flow makes it exceptional. Oh yeah, it just so happens Kanye delivers a knockout blow with his verse as well. The sequence of this second single fits perfectly into the tracklist.

5. Empire State of Mind (Feat. Alicia Keys)- “Let’s hear it for New York!” It’s been a while since an artist has provided his or her city with an anthem to stand by. Look no further; just when you thought the features couldn’t get significant on Jigga’s latest LP, he had the nerve to enlist the R&B prowess of Ms. Alicia Keys. And to top that off, Alicia acted as if she hadn’t gone anywhere from the game by giving an above average performance. Giving you the nostalgic feeling of being in downtown Manhattan, this joint is an exceptional addition to Hovito’s resume.

6. Real As It Gets (Feat. Young Jeezy)- Don’t be surprised by the name listed next to “Feat.” Although Jay-Z has lent his vocals to a Jeezy cut before [“Go Crazy (Remix)”], the Snowman unfortunately can’t adequately return the favor. Crooning the hook and making appearances in the first and third verses, Jeezy’s lyrics are about as “dull as it gets.” Hov attempts to salvage the song in the first half of the third verse, but outshining Jeezy doesn’t help in the overall quality of the track.

7. On to the Next One (Feat. Swizz Beatz)- As I peep the title of this song and look at who’s featured, I recall the days of when a Swizz Beatz track used to entail either a Ruff Ryder banger or a joint you’d want to highlight at the next house party. Nowadays, it’ll probably display a rapper with a lackluster flow thinking swagger can overpower lyricism (if Swizzy isn’t rapping over the instrumental himself). And this is pretty much what you get from this Blueprint selection. While some can make the case that the beat is hot, Jay-Z’s laziness forces me to suggest that you move “on to the next one” upon entering Track #7.

8. Off That (Feat. Drake)- Knowing Jay-Z’s style, you wouldn’t expect him to enlist Timbaland to bring you a track that sounds as if it came off of Madonna or Lil’ Mama’s previous albums (“4 Minutes,” “Shawty Get Loose”). While this club joint comes off as unexpected, it surprisingly works with Jigga’s flow and delivery as of late. Unfortunately, the track is heavily crippled by the fact that Drake does not land a verse on this album cut (and possible next single). As this track was projected to be Jay-Z’s second release (after “D.O.A.”), I can now understand why it was pulled back and why fans will be highly disappointed by the absence of Drizzy’s presence.

9. A Star Is Born (Feat. J. Cole)- And the up-tempo selections don’t stop. Jigga takes the time to elaborate upon various Hip-Hop acts that have become stars over the years. J. Cole gives a satisfactory appearance on the final verse but his request to become a star shouldn’t be taken metaphorically. As a Roc Nation signee, it can only be questioned whether or not we will see a highly advertised debut LP from “Simba” on behalf of Jigga Man and company. In the meantime, enjoy hearing the stories of how some go from rags to riches.

10. Venus Vs. Mars- When Jay-Z took the risks of discussing romantic endeavors on previous cuts such as “I Know,” “Bonnie and Clyde ’02,” and “Excuse Me Miss,” Hov definitely reaped what he sowed and came out of the mushroom cloud with some of his biggest hits. This track just comes off as awkward and uncomfortable as Jigga’s newly-found swag displays why it shouldn’t be used to holla at the ladies. With detailed descriptions of a particular encounter with the opposite sex, one comes to realize the limits of the self-proclaimed (and critically acclaimed) “best rapper alive.”

11. Already Home (Feat. Kid Cudi)- After dismantling an exceptional start to a highly-anticipated LP, Jay finally turns things around with possibly my favorite track on the album. This string-heavy, Kid Cudi assisted selection leaves no room for questions and wonderment as Jigga gives answers to the doubters. No further search for the “go hard” mentality of the Jigga Man is needed with lines like, “Now these niggas is mad/Oh they call me a camel/But I mastered the drought/What the fuck? I’m an animal/Half man, half mammal…”

12. Hate (Feat. Kanye West)- While Jay and ‘Ye do a distinct job of trading punchlines and displaying raw chemistry, one can’t ignore the fact that this track comes off as a “808’s and Heartbreak” throwaway and is far too short in time length. With a hook and more vocals from Yeezy, this could have been a Blueprint standout. Unfortunately, it’s not.

13. Reminder- Before I even jump into a description of this track, I just want to point out the fact that this fool had the nerve to say the only musical act better than him was The Beatles… not excluding Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson (although he was wise enough to not mention the late King of Pop’s name). With that said, Jay apparently wants to remind ya’ll he’s the best in Hip-Hop… period. Well, if that’s the case Hov, don’t do it over a beat that sounds like someone handed you a track they put together last night on Garage Band in the comfort of their two-bedroom apartment. The strings come off as irritating and the hook is just as unpleasant. While I will give Jay the benefit of some punchlines, the track is unfortunately not so original as you may recall cuts from “The Black Album” such as “Justify My Thug” and “Lucifer” upon listening to this song.

14. So Ambitious (Feat. Pharrell)- The choice of synthesized strings continues on this Neptunes cut. While Pharrell has provided for Jay-Z countless times before (anybody recall the guy singing the hook on “I Just Wanna Love U” from Blueprint 1?), this addition to the collabo resume comes off as passable. With no distinct, memorable lines from Jay except his constant refrains of “Fuck ya’ll” behind the entrance of the hook, fans might be disappointed by this lackluster approach from the constant Jigga/Pha-real duo.

15. Forever Young (Feat. Mr. Hudson)- With so many falters and stumbles throughout such a highly-anticipated album, I was very curious as to how this LP would close. Unfortunately, Blueprint 3 closes as unflatteringly as it opened. Mr. Hudson is a knockout with somber vocals that belong in the genre and class of Soft Rock; Jay-Z seems to completely disregard that, stumbling over the beat at times and failing to support his message lyrically of attaining a legacy.

Overall Rating: 3/5

-A.T.M.