Hip-Hop Block reviews Blueprint 3 by Jay Z
Donald Vincent
Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: Arts & Society
Shawn Corey Carter is the best rapper to ever grace a microphone (non-debatable issue); and with his latest installment to his 11-album career, he is still schooling the younger cats in the rap game.
Jay-Z was born on Dec. 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Because of his being born and raised by the streets, listeners can paint vivid images of what life was like for him in the slums. But in a gang-banging and misogynistic genre of music, Jay-Z has had his fair share of the limelight to the point where we can finally see Jay retreating back to the luxury lifestyle and developing and maturing into not only an icon, but also a role model.
Jay-Z, also known as the Jigga Man, Hova, Jay, S. Dot, and so many other names, has a list of accomplishments that includes several Grammy awards, record-breaking sales, songs with the Notorious B.I.G., possibly the greatest rap album ever (Reasonable Doubt), and being owner of the New Jersey Nets. (And he also hints at owning a piece of the New York Yankees in the future as well.)
Jay has taken it beyond rap. He has opened doors for other rappers such as Kanye West, J. Cole, Beanie Sigel, and many more. You can believe it when he says it, but Jay doesn't run rap anymore - he runs the map. With the support of our first black president, Jay-Z not only converses with the mayor of the Big Apple, but he also has Obama on the text message, so it is highly likely that the two look to each other for advice.
Jay-Z isn't news anymore. He isn't history either, although he is making history. Here's a simple analogy to jump-start your brains if you've never heard of Jay-Z in your lifetime.
Jay-Z is to rap what Shakespeare is to literature.
As this album was supposed to drop on Sept. 11 this year, which fell on a Friday (most albums and new music debut on Tuesdays), it was pushed up a couple of days to Sept. 8 because of a leak on the Internet.
Why Friday, Sept. 11? The first Blueprint album came out on Sept. 11, 2001, a day our country will always remember. On that day I remember leaving school on the metro bus heading to the nearest music store, so I could get the CD that very day. Sad thing to say it was sold out; however, my mom had a copy of it awaiting my arrival home.
Jay-Z was born on Dec. 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Because of his being born and raised by the streets, listeners can paint vivid images of what life was like for him in the slums. But in a gang-banging and misogynistic genre of music, Jay-Z has had his fair share of the limelight to the point where we can finally see Jay retreating back to the luxury lifestyle and developing and maturing into not only an icon, but also a role model.
Jay-Z, also known as the Jigga Man, Hova, Jay, S. Dot, and so many other names, has a list of accomplishments that includes several Grammy awards, record-breaking sales, songs with the Notorious B.I.G., possibly the greatest rap album ever (Reasonable Doubt), and being owner of the New Jersey Nets. (And he also hints at owning a piece of the New York Yankees in the future as well.)
Jay has taken it beyond rap. He has opened doors for other rappers such as Kanye West, J. Cole, Beanie Sigel, and many more. You can believe it when he says it, but Jay doesn't run rap anymore - he runs the map. With the support of our first black president, Jay-Z not only converses with the mayor of the Big Apple, but he also has Obama on the text message, so it is highly likely that the two look to each other for advice.
Jay-Z isn't news anymore. He isn't history either, although he is making history. Here's a simple analogy to jump-start your brains if you've never heard of Jay-Z in your lifetime.
Jay-Z is to rap what Shakespeare is to literature.
As this album was supposed to drop on Sept. 11 this year, which fell on a Friday (most albums and new music debut on Tuesdays), it was pushed up a couple of days to Sept. 8 because of a leak on the Internet.
Why Friday, Sept. 11? The first Blueprint album came out on Sept. 11, 2001, a day our country will always remember. On that day I remember leaving school on the metro bus heading to the nearest music store, so I could get the CD that very day. Sad thing to say it was sold out; however, my mom had a copy of it awaiting my arrival home.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
elendoj
posted 9/15/09 @ 7:10 PM EST
Jay Z has mastered the game. He is a living legend ! .. No one does it better than the jigga man. Every song on the BluePrint 3 is a classic .... Venus vs Mars is out of this world . (Continued…)
Is this a joke?
posted 9/17/09 @ 5:39 PM EST
This is honestly the worst-written, most ill-informed review I've ever read. Did you listen to the record? Or, rather, were you born yesterday? BP3 is not only the worst Jay-Z album, but one of the worst hip-hop albums in years. (Continued…)
Marjorie Thousand
marjorie
posted 9/18/09 @ 9:39 PM EST
There is always one. One person will shoot down the newest Jay-Z album to stay in the safe zone of Reasonable Doubt and Blueprint so that there is no argument. (Continued…)
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