this shouldn’t need an introduction. hype this, hype that. the score isn’t too reflective of my love for jay-z and what he’s done for my personal tastes and hip-hop in general. the man is the true definition of an idol. i’m picking this up today.
hit the jump for the review.
-grizzly
Artist: Jay-Z
Album: The Blueprint 3
Record Label: Roc Nation
Release Date: September 8, 2009You’re Jay-Z. You not only have your name imprinted in hip-hop, but pop culture. You have a brand. You’re decades and 10 albums into your career, many of them have been lauded classics by millions of people across the world. And you are still looked up to in the community as one of the only remaining kings of hip-hop.
So where would you go from here? Most would consider bowing out and bidding adieu to the game, while others would beat their career a bit further into the ground with a poor release. Those who have followed him know that Jay’s track record has shown that he’s had familiar experiences with both in the past.
With The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z hoped to bring the trilogy to a close by naturally coming out strong with his 11th studio effort. [Ed note: Not to mention, he’s been known to have the one on, one off pattern as far as his good and bad albums go.] With “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)” reeking havoc on current trends and “Run This Town” boasting the pre-album comeback bravado that Jay-Z’s been renowned for, high hopes and expectations were inevitable.
It’s hard to talk about The Blueprint 3 without mention of the sophisticated production. Kanye West embraces the celebrity that was bred from the original installment of The Blueprint by providing half of the album’s beats, often in collaboration with veteran producer No I.D. Whether it’s the syrupy bass knocks of “Hate” or the hazy synths of “What We Talkin’ Bout,” it’s obvious that Mr. West and No I.D. delivered with the highest caliber of production. On the other hand, outside of “Off That,” Timbaland overstays his welcome on record with the usual excess of ad-libs, falling short with “Venus and Mars” and “Reminder,” two of the album’s most bland cuts.
On “Every Day a Star is Born,” Jay pays tribute to past, present and future emcees that he’s admired while involved with the game, which is definitely a huge change of pace from his typical catalog. The album’s closer, “Young Forever,” finds British up and comer Mr. Hudson flipping Alphaville’s 80s classic “Forever Young,” which is destined to be a fan favorite. But songs like the Alicia Keys assisted “Empire of State of Mind” are reasons why people fell in love with the Brooklyn emcee to begin with. Complete with introspective lyrics and a throwback drum and bass beat by Al Shux to boot, the only thing that would’ve made this song impact stronger would’ve been the rumored Nas feature.
Then again, it’s the features that really take a toll on this album. Young Jeezy’s spot on “Real As It Gets” distracts and clutters, while Swizz Beatz tests your patience and aggravates on “On To the Next One.” And in the case of both Kanye West features (“Run This Town,” “Hate”), the Jigga man is overshadowed by his own protégé. Et tu, Kanye? Regardless, the incorporation of onomatopoeia has never sounded so clever.
If there truly was an unscathed and unbiased assessment of this record, it’s hard to believe that someone could dislike this record. That’s strictly fantasy. The Blueprint 3 has more than a fair share of plunder. Jay’s stream of consciousness emceeing is a true testimony to his craft and not to mention, the production is top-notch. There are anthems; there are street songs and club songs. Now, as far as the trilogy is concerned, The Blueprint 3 is far less scatterbrained than Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse, but falls completely short of The Blueprint, which should have been predicted from the get-go. Let’s face it; people love their classics, and it’s damn near impossible to come in between that love.
Grade: B-
preview tracks from the blueprint 3:
jay-z – “what we talkin’ bout” f. luke steele
jay-z – “empire state of mind” f. alicia keys
-the grizzlyprint 3
WEWOREMASKS IS DEAD. 
i thought this was funny enough to share. sunbear and i on aim:
Blvd5tatus (3:25:57 AM): oh what are you giving bp3?
Blvd5tatus (3:26:07 AM): cause i know what i’d rate it right about now
Blvd5tatus (3:26:18 AM): B-
the lotterytouch (3:26:18 AM): b-
the lotterytouch (3:26:20 AM): DAMNIT AJ
note the timestamp, people.
-grizzly
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i lol’d. Wanna listen.
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Spot on review.
It’s tough to talk to someone about this album who is a mega Jay-Z fan and not have them be like “I think its an A+ just because it’s a Jay-Z record.”
You hit my feelings about the album on the head. If this record stopped after “Empire,” I wouldn’t be disappointed at all. There are some real weak tracks on this album, which sucks after Jay put everyone on blast with D.O.A. Cudi singing on a track, IMO, totally goes against the message Jay put forth with the lead single. “Rappers, please don’t sing…..except on my album.” What?
I’ll bang “Thank You” until my speakers blow tho.
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.. I respectfully disagree, your writing has improved quite a lot (i haven’t read a full review in a while, my bad). Yes I went into this album thinking it would be hype (as in good, not as in overhyped). However I was surprised by the level of musical artistry that this album provided.
The bad points first
– yes no doubt not the best emceeing by jigga.
-who the fuck is j. cole and why is he on the album?
-pharrel weaksauced it up.. neptunes/n.e.r.d. have been off point imo since britney spears with the exception of that snoop dogg cut
-i actually thought thank you could not stand up to relistening
BUT:
-this album is not about emceeing, it is pretty obvious jay-z went into this album to make an album that was amazing in terms of music (which in my opinion is the ability to lock a feeling through sound patterns with light help via lyrics if necessary). He does this wonderfully. Honestly, I get bored eventually with too much straight emceeing. Yes illmatic is incredible, each song is a classic.. however after 5 or 6 i really can’t pay attention to each line which is what is required to enjoy the song.
– My attention is captured through the entire length of the album (except for the cuts mentioned above, i replaced the pharrel feature with brooklyn (go hard))
– fuck that real as it gets is a tight track.. jeezy holds it down
-kwest does drop some hawt lines.. but i don’t think that detracts on jigga.. and let’s be real jay-z comes up with the concept and does the fine tuning (i think.. i mean i wasn’t there or anything but that’s what i’d expect) .. I don’t think we should judge the album based on lines alone
-drake and cudi are there just to get their name out.. jigga does them a favour
-venus vs. mars gets me hot .. that’s insane for a track .. even more so since its a dude
– EVEN SWIZZY COMES THROUGH.. THAT DUDE HASN’T DONE ANYTHING IN A LONG TIME… I MEAN GUCCI RAG REALLY?
– I wasn’t that big a fan of the original blueprint, i dunno i just didn’t really feel it
– I’m serious about this album is on my radar for album of the decade
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random thoughts:
personally, the more i listen to the album, the better his lyricism gets. i think it’s hard to see because there isn’t as much depth to his words as on the OG blueprint. but how could there be? he’s obviously in a completely different place. he’s pretty much exhausted a lot of the subjects he rapped about since the blueprint. and even still, he milks some of them on this album. but as far as actual skill, writing ability, and cleverness.. i think he’s as on point as he’s ever been and does a good job of proving why he’s the best. a lot of it has to do with delivery too. i think he hinted at exploring new ideas as he gets older, which keeps me excited for what he does next (which apparently he’s already working on).
from a production standpoint, i really don’t think it would have been that hard for jay and co. to make this a better album. seems like these were just the tracks jay chose at the time. but the more i listen to the weaker tracks, the more i enjoy them for what they are. i think that’s why it’s easier for me to say A- than B+. i still think a B+ is more than fair though, considering some of the shit reviews that’re out there.
/thoughts.
– panda
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toast:
-thanks for the writing compliment. i honestly think this is the best review i’ve written, but that’s pretty biased, haha.
-agree on j cole. while he had a good verse, i think it’s a moot point to have him on a song that finds his verse AFTER jay gives props to everyone, then himself.
-agree on pharrell. his voice is on point but i’ve grown far too tired of the neptunes. i think what did it to me was universal mind control. the entire album was way too subpar for the likes of both common and neptunes.
-thank you is worth it for “i was gonna kill these rappers but they did it to themselves…” – jesus.
-i definitely agree to the ‘straight emceeing’ bit. dudes like blu are talented but i can only take so much of it. i love that pop element to hip hop that dudes like jay and kanye have had for the past few years.
-i hate brooklyn (go hard)
-the lyricism on venus is good i just hate the execution. song is beyond annoying, and likewise with ‘on to the next one.’ and i personally thought ‘swing ya rag’ is >>>>> this song.
-the OG blueprint is my favorite jay album of all time, so i hate you for saying that
panda:
-agree on the subject matter. jay can only rap about so much now without the haters dropping their .02 whining about how he isn’t a voice of the streets anymore.
-production standpoint: seriously – if ye and no i.d. did this entire album i have not a single doubt that it would’ve been the AOTY and regarded a classic for generations. all the weak points or the shit that i find wrong with this album are on the tracks produced by EVERYONE else.
-i will stand by the B- on the sole basis that i wouldn’t mind 4 songs completely vanishing from the tracklist.
phew. by the way, toast – good on you for writing that epic comment. it makes me happy to see someone care so much.
-grizzly
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Hello, my name is Wazair and I’m an up and coming rapper with a newly released album called Opposite of Your Hero. I would like to have you review my album. How would I go about doing that?
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just submit it to weworemasks@gmail.com – if we like it, we’ll post about it!
-g
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