The Blueprint 3

[Parkey]

So, I'm hearing The Blueprint 3 tomorrow and interviewing Jay-Z... Anything you want me to ask?

[cubsfirstplace]

will there be any guest appearances on the album? also ask him if he heard "i'm so wavy" (the game diss track against jay-z)

[b i o n i c]

any one of these? :

ask him if there will be a blueprint 4

actually if he talked to paul and what he thinks of the beatles music (see if he knows anything about it)

i guess ask something bboys related, like has he ever been approached to contribute to a track, if he heard nas's thing..

how he met the bboys? there was a photo of him at the oscope studio

and why he didnt shut the fuck up when paul mccartney was singing at the grammys

i dunno, im not a big fan, but cool that you'll be interviewing him - good luck(y)

[DJ_Skrilla]

how he met the bboys? there was a photo of him at the oscope studio


He met the boys through rick rubin who produced tracks off the black album (99 problems) If you watch the jay-z dvd about making the album Mike D is over at ricks house chilling while he watches Jay record that song.

[Parkey]

Heard the album - some proper good shit on there...

Interviewing tomorrow - ta for the questions, I'll let you know what he says.

[mickill]

You might want to ask him if he considered pushing T-Pain into the crowd when he invited himself on stage during his D.O.A. performance at Summer Jam. Talk about missed opportunities. Could have been epic.

Maybe ask him if he'd consider doing a Takeover 2.

[yeahwho]

You might want to ask him if he considered pushing T-Pain into the crowd when he invited himself on stage during his D.O.A. performance at Summer Jam. Talk about missed opportunities. Could have been epic.

u made me lol and my boss wants to know whats so funny

[cubsfirstplace]

so who were the guests on the album?

[Parkey]

so who were the guests on the album?

I heard Rhianna, Kanye and MGMT. But there was at least one more rapper I was too shit to hear...

[mickill]

Drake and Kid Cudi.

[adam_f]

I guess Def Jam is packaging Blueprint and Blueprint 2 together and releasing them on the same day as Blueprint 3...and that's all I have to say on the subject.

[Justin]

yo check it! first track..."A Billie"...

http://www.datpiff.com/Party_Team_Jay-Z_The_Blueprint_3.m58486.html

click play on any of the songs and it will bring up a media player.....

Pretty kick ass site! Some great shit on there!

[The Notorious LOL]

wow Dead Presidents 3 is weak.

[cubsfirstplace]

album art and track listing are on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueprint_3

i really like "run this town" its nice to hear kanye without the auto tuner.

[roosta]

i think Run This Town is boring.

[pshabi]

album art and track listing are on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueprint_3


Wow, I haven't really been "following" this album but didn't realize Kanye was doing most of the production. I'm ready for this now. Should bring heat. I love Jay on Ye beats.

[Guy Incognito]

i think Run This Town is boring.

i liked it , like the geetar but kanye's rhymes were shit - bee stings and the like

[mickill]

The official tracklist (http://2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/20090818-jayz2.jpg).

Not excited about this anymore.

Luke Steele? Mr Hudson? Swizz Beatz as a feature? And Pharrell's only ever done 1.5 solid songs with Jay.

J Cole is nice, but I can't stand Cudi or Drake at all. Even with better guests, this would still be way too many features.

[Miho]

Never been a big fan of Jay, but I like that Jockin Jay-Z track, at least the hook, at any rate.

[Lex Diamonds]

I will always check for Jay, to me he's the most consistent MC all times. Wish this would hurry up and leak already I'm getting bored of waiting.

[Tzar]

featuring luke steele?! biggest break of his career here!

fuck i hate that cunt. his sister isn't a minger though.

[nodanaonlyzuul]

to be honest I kind of hate Run This Town because of Rhianna. She just sounds bored. That or she doesn't have the right voice for the track. After hearing it I kind of lost interest.

Cut Rhianna out of it and place another, stronger singer in her place, pls. Who cut that track and said "yeah that sounds good!"

NO.

[mickill]

Cut Rhianna out of it and place another, stronger singer in her place, pls.

Could have been worse. Chris Martin, for example.

[cubsfirstplace]

looking at the track list it's going to be almost the exact apposite in terms of guest appearances of the original blueprint. i still have high hopes for it especially since american gangster was really good.

[mickill]

Run This Town video (http://luvdc.blogspot.com/2009/08/video-premiere-jay-z-feat-rihanna-kanye.html). Apart from the first outfit Rhianna has on, there's not much I'm really feeling here. I'm not into post-apocalyptic Mad Max-style videos in general, though.

[Gareth]

didnt swizz produce the new whitney houston song...and isnt he with alicia keys?
if so, things are good for him.
i have hope that he'd lace jay with something nice.

[Gareth]

replace mr hudson, cudi, drake etc with beanie sigel, fbleek, reeway etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FLjP1ayqIU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7--Pxtj25w&feature=fvst

[adam_f]

Nobody should ever be replaced by Bleek for anything.

[adam_f]

The song with Drake, "Off That" (http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.8551/title.jay-z-f-drake-off-that)

I take back what I said. I'll take Bleek over this fucking shit.

[mickill]

Reminder (http://usershare.net/o016l90bg78l) and a download for Off That (http://usershare.net/fqfsh542y5hu)

Kind of a fail for both. I'm sure it won't be that bad or anything, but he shouldn't have attached the Blueprint name to this album.

[roosta]

i like 'Off That'

[g-mile7]

not feeling either track....lack luster Timbo beats and nothing exciting coming from Jigga...his flow is pretty slick on "Off That" though and I'm sure some hatas will be glad Drak got regulated to a small role.

Though I feel Drake might have put some fresh air into this otherwise boring track....like I said I see 3.5 out of 5 but that might change if this album doesn't have more heaters. I like "Run This" except for Kanye's verse...but yep hopefuly will see something better from this album.

At the very least it will serve as a good "uplifter" for the brighter/better moments on Blueprint II which seem to be forgotten in the mass of confusion/bad tracks

[roosta]

Bill O'Reilly responds to "Off That" (http://www.rapradar.com/focus/bill-oreilly-responds-to-jay-z.html)

As a commentator points out, it just sounds like he's cumming.

[mickill]

Venus vs. Mars (http://usershare.net/sc44yxe6txua)

Looks like Timbaland just left the door open. His are the only tracks that have leaked.

[cubsfirstplace]

i just noticed just blaze is not producing any tracks on blueprint 3. i looked it up and this will be the first jay-z album with out any just blaze production on it since volume 3.

[Micodin]

i just noticed just blaze is not producing any tracks on blueprint 3. i looked it up and this will be the first jay-z album with out any just blaze production on it since volume 3.

The 2 tracks Blaze did on American Gangster were not up to par in my opinion.

But, they are nowhere as bad as Reminder, Off That, & Venus vs. Mars.

I kinda think Blueprint 3 is going to be a shit sandwich.

[checkyourprez]

The 2 tracks Blaze did on American Gangster were not up to par in my opinion.

But, they are nowhere as bad as Reminder, Off That, & Venus vs. Mars.

I kinda think Blueprint 3 is going to be a shit sandwich.

albums always get worse. :confused:

[mickill]

Hate (http://www.limelinx.com/files/e0269054d0a5c3bcf591a2943b339230)

Thank You (http://www.zshare.net/audio/64929578274a6527/)

A Star Is Born (http://usershare.net/ygftuuktrhwf)

[The Notorious LOL]

it leaked

[mickill]

Yeah, not really feeling it.

[mickill]

After careful deliberation I think I can confidently state that this is hands down the worst Jay-Z album.

[yeahwho]

After careful deliberation I think I can confidently state that this is hands down the worst Jay-Z album.


I concur

[roosta]

i quite like "Thank You"

"A Star Is Born" is kinda weak, mainly due to the chorus.

is it really that bad?

[adam_f]

No Jay album can be as bad as In My Lifetime Vol 1. Just can't be.

[pshabi]

After careful deliberation I think I can confidently state that this is hands down the worst Jay-Z album.

Shit. Can't wait to get off work so I can hurry home and be disappointed.:(

[mickill]

No Jay album can be as bad as In My Lifetime Vol 1. Just can't be.

That's actually a very good album if you dispense of Sunshine, Lucky Me and I Know What Girls Like.

i quite like "Thank You"

"A Star Is Born" is kinda weak, mainly due to the chorus.

is it really that bad?

Yes, it is. I posted the songs that I thought were decent. The rest is just not good at all. At least BP2 had some actual good songs sprinkled in between all the garbage. BP3 just has a couple of not horrible moments here and there.

My thoughts:

1. What We Talkin' About - Weakest opening track on any Jay album ever. Easily.
2. Thank You - Not bad. Hard to imagine while listening to it that this is going to be the second grimiest song on the album.
3. D.O.A. - Only truly exceptional song on this thing
4. Run This Town - I think we all agree that this shit is just ok, and possibly even not ok.
5. Empire State of Mind - When you go from anticipating a Nas collab, and something a lot grittier...this just doesn't suffice.
6. Real as It Gets - Too glossy and clean. I keep thinking Rick Ross is gonna pop up.
7. On to the Next One - An inferior A Milli-style beat with some decent lines here and there.
8. Off That - Still meh.
9. A Star Is Born - I appreciate the verses and the beat isn't bad, but yeah the hook really is trash
10. Venus vs. Mars - Garbage
11. Already Home - I like the subject matter and the it probably has the strongest verses on the album, but nothing special.
12. Hate - I don't mind this, but it's far from a GREAT song
13. Reminder - Trash
14. So Ambitious - Pharrell is consistently Jay's worst high profile collaborator (see Excuse Me Miss, Change Clothes, Allure, Anything, Ballad For A Fallen Soldier). Thanks for Blue Magic, but please stab yourself for everything else, P.
15.Young Forever - Sorry, but this is just gay

On a positive note, this shit is going to make me appreciate Kingdom Come a whole lot more.

[mickill]

Btw, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0CfnAPjCJw) is better than anything on the album.

[cubsfirstplace]

i just finished it and i'm massively disappointed. its not terrible but its pretty bad especially for the "most consistint rapper." After the album got delayed i thought jay would remove shit tracks but apparently he forgot the opening track and "so ambitious" pharrell always sucks on jay's tracks but yet jay always brings him back.

the production is a also a big step down. just blaze really should have produced some tracks rather than have timberland produce 3. or kanye could have just produced the whole album. "hate" is the only song on the album (besides D.O.A and run this town) that i really like

also why do people hate on kingdom come? it had 2 terrible tracks but the rest of the album was solid.

[pshabi]

Can't say I agree with mickill. Upon first listen, I think Jay has some great lyrics on this album. Some beats (on to the next one) are bangin'. Some are so so. I think there are a lot of semi-whack hooks. Lot of good tracks. No way is this a bad album. Beats BP2 easy.

[Kid Presentable]

I liked Sunshine. :(

[adam_f]

I don't completely hate Sunshine like I hate that song with Blackstreet, wasn't it The City Is Mine? TRASH.

[Tzar]

wow i'm scared to even download it.... when is clipse's new shit out?

[Kid Presentable]

I liked what I heard of this Blueprint 3 shit.

[pshabi]

"On to the Next One" just woke me the fuck up on the way to work. The beat on Empire State of Mind is my favorite kind of Kanye beat. Got that bounce to it. I like the Alicia Keys hook on that one too.

This album is right in the same vein as American Gangster and is a lot better than Kingdom Come, imo.

[nodanaonlyzuul]

14. So Ambitious - Pharrell is consistently Jay's worst high profile collaborator (see Excuse Me Miss, Change Clothes, Allure, Anything, Ballad For A Fallen Soldier). Thanks for Blue Magic, but please stab yourself for everything else, P.

I like the Neptunes work on La La La (Excuse Me Miss Again). But I suppose that wasn't ONLY Pharrell AND he wasn't singing on it.

[g-mile7]

Volume III had some pretty shitty songs too. Worst Jigga album? Not sure yet bout that. After all, all of Jigga's albums except for Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt have had hit or miss moments...its just the hits over shadowed the misses....which it seems that he didn't do with this LP

[Tzar]

wow i'm scared to even download it.... when is clipse's new shit out?
my brother downloaded it last night.......

ill have to give it the driving around treatment.

[pshabi]

my brother downloaded it last night.......

ill have to give it the driving around treatment.

Blaze one and get ready to rewind "on to the next one" back to the 3:00 minute mark about a gazillion times.

[Mr Films]

I don't get all the hate. This shit bangs.

I'd change a few things but it's pretty damn solid. Blows Kingdom Come away.

[mickill]

Kingdom Come was like adult contemporary rap, but this shit is like eurodance hipster rap, which is a lot worse.

That's not to say it doesn't have it's moments, but it was a severe disappointment. Also, it's only going to fuel the whole argument that he's already lost it. That being said, his response to that criticism is still the best lyrical moment on the album:

“THEY WANT ME TO DISAPPEAR LIKE IT’S GON' SHIFT FOR THEM/
THEY SAY THAT I’M IN THE WAY/ THEY WANT ME TO SIT FOR THEM/ BUT WHAT THEY ADMITTING IS/ THEY AIN’T GOT SHIT FOR HIM/ AND REALLY THE FACT IS/ WE NOT IN THE SAME BRACKET/ NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE/ DON’T SHOOT AT THE SAME BASKETS/ DON’T PAY THE SAME TAXES/ HANG WITH SAME BITCHES/ SO HOW AM I IN THE WAY/ WHAT IS IT I’M MISSING”……

“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/ MY SIGN IS A SASH/ THIS IS JUST WHAT I PLAN TO DO/ OH DON’T BE MAD”

[Kid Presentable]

This album is tits on a traffic cone compared to Cuban Linx 2.

[Monsieur Decuts]

L.O.L. @ Young Forever
and the Bill Maher interview

[pshabi]

I like Young Forever.

The intro is not good. I don't like the Jeezy song (never have liked a track of his). "Reminder" is lame.

The rest is good to great. Flows are immaculate. The Empire flow is illy. It's just all very good to me.

The best moment lyrically is: "Big Pimpin' in the house now. Bought the land tore the motherfuckin' house down. Bought the car tore the motherfuckin' doors off. I read clean, I don't never take the shoes off. Bought the Jeep tore the motherfuckin' doors off. Foot out that bitch ride the shit like a skateboard."

How you gonna say that ain't grimey mickill?

[pshabi]

This album is tits on a traffic cone compared to Cuban Linx 2.

And it shits on Relapse which everyone on this forum seemed to fap off too. :confused:

[checkyourprez]

This album is tits on a traffic cone compared to Cuban Linx 2.

(y) (n) :confused:

[Kid Presentable]

(y) (n) :confused:

Meaning now that I've heard Cuban Linx 2, it's hard for me to take this album seriously. It's cool though, different. Jay is pretty far removed from what makes him good, but a broader audience is going to love this shit.

Meanwhile, while somebody was picturing us masturbating, I was realising that Relapse will be the 2nd best hip-hop album of the year. I admit I was real skeptical from the outset, but Em raps his ass off on it.

[checkyourprez]

Meaning now that I've heard Cuban Linx 2, it's hard for me to take this album seriously. It's cool though, different. Jay is pretty far removed from what makes him good, but a broader audience is going to love this shit.

Meanwhile, while somebody was picturing us masturbating, I was realising that Relapse will be the 2nd best hip-hop album of the year. I admit I was real skeptical from the outset, but Em raps his ass off on it.

(y)

[roosta]

I just heard "Empire State of Mind" and I really like it...

[RobMoney$]

I DL'd this shit last night because of this thread.
I'm not as big a hip-hop head as most of you seem to be.
And I'm definitely not one of these guys who buy into the "Jay-Z, the greatest who ever lived" bullshit. I enjoy his shit as a moderate fan.
I find 90% of hip-hop today to be too juvinile for my taste.

With that being said, I thoght this was probably the best I've heard in a while. I enjoy when someone tries something different.
I enjoyed 808's & heartbreak because it was different, and this album sounded similar. Kanye's influence is clear.
That's why I enjoyed The Mix-Up too, because it was different.


Empire State of Mind was my fav. cut.
I fear that it's soo good that I'll be hearing it everywhere and I'm gonna grow to hate it.


Also, I Dl'd OB4CLII as well.
I'm just kind of bored with the Wu-Tang crack music thing. I mean the rhymes were tight as hell and the Kung-Fu movie quotes were great.
It's just not my taste anymore.

[mickill]

For me, it goes:

Reasonable Doubt
The Black Album
The Blueprint
Vol.1
American Gangster
The Dynasty
Vol.2
Vol.3
BP2
Kingdom Come
BP3

Usually, even with his worst albums, you can't deny his skills. This time around, he's kind of starting to show signs of mediocrity. This is hands down his weakest album lyrically. And his flow is nowhere near where it was 2 or 3 years ago. The fact that over half of the beats range from horrible to average at best doesn't help matters.

OB4CL 2, on the other hand is one of the top 5 rap albums of the last decade.

[Mr Films]

Had some time to digest this and...

1. What We Talkin' About - Doesn't exactly get me pumped about what's to come but I like how this sets up the overall theme of the album (ie, to push things forward in hip hop)
2. Thank You - Kind of a throw away. It's decent but shouldn't be what is essentially the lead off track.
3. D.O.A. - Yeah, this should be the lead off track. Agreed that this is the brightest moment.
4. Run This Town - Meh, I'd have replaced it with "Brooklyn, Go Hard" but this is a pretty good track.
5. Empire State of Mind - Great track. Should be a single. Probably will be.
6. Real as It Gets - This ain't bad either.
7. On to the Next One - This is a banger, imo, despite the fact that it's standard issue Swizz Beatz production right down to the "freeze!" etc.
8. Off That - Really grown to like this one. Again, I dig the whole "future rap" thing.
9. A Star Is Born - This beat/hook/song sucks. Shame too, cuz the verse are ok.
10. Venus vs. Mars - Downside to being Jay-Z: no one has the balls to stop you from putting this awkward crap on your albums.
11. Already Home - Great track.
12. Hate - Undecided. I kinda get annoyed with the vocal shit in the beat.
13. Reminder - Could benefit from a real person singing the hook, not a chipmunk and a synth line that doesn't sound like it was sampled from the Castlevania III soundtrack.
14. So Ambitious - I like this too, I think it's on the high end of Pharell collabs (which, yes, are normally not great). Though, listen to NERD's "Love Bomb" and tell me this ain't almost the same shit musically.
15.Young Forever - I feel only Jay-Z could pull this off and I believe he does. Only cuz the lyrical content makes it work.

I'd say this is pretty much on par with post-unretirement Jay-Z. The main thing is he sounds like he's having more fun on this album than usual and I like that.

[adam_f]

Honestly I like Jockin' Jay-Z and Swagga Like Us better than most of the tracks on the finished album.

[Kid Presentable]

Honestly I like Jockin' Jay-Z and Swagga Like Us better than most of the tracks on the finished album.

Jockin Jay Z was a great track.

[mickill]

Jockin Jay Z was a great track.

Could have been the best song on the album.

Hopefully they tack it on as a bonus track at the very least.

[Gareth]

I liked Sunshine. :(

hahah same
there is nothing memorable about this album.
i know he's a grown man now and probably won't be rapping with his old state prop cohorts, but damn...collabs with mr hudson?
ugh!
NEEDS MORE OKAY I"M RELOADED

[pshabi]

hahah same
there is nothing memorable about this album.
i know he's a grown man now and probably won't be rapping with his old state prop cohorts, but damn...collabs with mr hudson?
ugh!
NEEDS MORE OKAY I"M RELOADED

Ok, I'm a hit google in a hot minute, but I gotta say this... I have no fucking idea who Mr. Hudson is. AND I STILL LIKE THAT TRACK, but so does my 6 year old so I can see why some people don't.

[mickill]

He's moved the release date up to the 8th, which is the same day OB4CLII is dropping.

Sorry Rae. My numbers predictions:

Cuban Linx = 75,000
BP3 = 450,000

Meanwhile, I've listened to this BP3-Qual (http://www.brokencool.com/broken_cool/2009/08/brokencoolcom-presentsdj-noodles-x-jayz-bp3qual-mixtape.html) mixtape (old verses, other people's beats) more times than the actual album.

[Micodin]

I'm going on record by saying this record is a big shit sandwich.

I was hoping for more tracks in the vein of 'Brooklyn We Go Hard', 'Jockin Jay-Z', and the like.

I'm disappointed. I'm just happy that the OBFCL2 is here to take it's place.

[checkyourprez]

He's moved the release date up to the 8th, which is the same day OB4CLII is dropping.

Sorry Rae. My numbers predictions:

Cuban Linx = 75,000
BP3 = 450,000

Meanwhile, I've listened to this BP3-Qual (http://www.brokencool.com/broken_cool/2009/08/brokencoolcom-presentsdj-noodles-x-jayz-bp3qual-mixtape.html) mixtape (old verses, other people's beats) more times than the actual album.


your #s are probably pretty close to right.

but thats 75.000 people who know good music as opposed to a lot of sheep buying a sub par product.



im so glad rae came hard. and not surprised j didnt.

[mickill]

im so glad rae came hard. and not surprised j didnt.

I'm sure Jay will make it up to you. ;)

[checkyourprez]

I'm sure Jay will make it up to you. ;)


(no homo) ?

[Mr Films]

Jay's tour is coming through here on Nov. 22nd. I'm so fucking there.

If I can see 99 Problems live, life just might be temporarily complete.

In other events, dl'd Cuban Linx 2. Will report to that thread after absorption.

[roosta]

Got this this morning..

over all its not bad. I'd agree with Films...its on par with post-retirement Jay...it doesn't have the same high points as Kingdom Come...but over all it sits along side it. (The second half of Kingdom Come for me was pretty poor, this is over all consistently ok). I just wonder how much of this i'll still be listening to in a year? Some of the songs will make it into my long-term listening, but much of it mightn't. Time will tell.

Here's some hastily prepared first listen reactions.

01 What We Talkin' About
Tis OK…..its strongest element is the lyrics. And although I am dubious as to wether using 9/11 as a metaphor for beating other emcee's is wise, the lyrics on that bit are great. Beats ok…don't like the hook…but its not terrible.

02 Thank You
Good song. Nice beat, nice lyrics. Sounds like something from back in the day

03 D.O.A.
I love this….it improves with every listen. His best single in years

04 Run This Town
Bleugh. Boring. Dispite all the bombast and alll its pretty forgettable.
Rhianna's vocals are terrible…they sound flat and on my version anyway (iTunes) they sound like they are mixed wrong.

05 Empire State Of Mind
I really like this. Not much else to say.

06 Real As It Gets
This is the kind of song I would usually hate…but I like it.

07 On To The NExt One
I love this, beat is nice and mental. Possibly stays one verse too long, but one of my favorites on the album.

08 Off That
I like this too…loses appeal on second listen, but still nice enough. Similar subject matter to the previous song, however. Dunno if ill still be listening to it in a year.

09 A Star Is Born
I didn't like this at first, but its growing on me. Still hate the chorus, which will probably be the death of it long term.

10 Venus Vs. Mars
This is just terrible. THe albums first real misstep and its huge. Creepy shit. Would happily never listen to it again.

11 Already Home
Pretty good. I love the sample in the beat.

12 Hate
I can take or leave this. Its alright. Kind of forgettable

13 Reminder
This is ok...Beat sounds….cheapish. Hook is annoying. Not a terrible song, just not a very good one. I like the lyrics/flow tho.

14 So Ambitious
Poor beat by the neptunes. Very Blueprint 2. Forgettable.

15 Young Forever
I can't really take this seriously. It sounds like the kind of thing a German dance-rap band would do for teenage ringtone fans.

[Kid Presentable]

The more I listen to Death of Autotune (and I still love it) the more apparent it is that's he's really just rapping about the beat and how great it is.

[mickill]

Jay's tour is coming through here on Nov. 22nd. I'm so fucking there.

If I can see 99 Problems live, life just might be temporarily complete.

In other events, dl'd Cuban Linx 2. Will report to that thread after absorption.

Got tickets the other day during the presale. I want to see if I can better ones today during the regular sale, though, since I ended up with seats at the side of the stage.

Good review, roosta.

[adam_f]

First day off since Tuesday so I finally had time today to give it the listen to I wanted.

1. What We Talkin' About- The hook is weak like I expected, I don't even know what they're singing. Jay comes strong but as the opening track, I just expected something better even though I don't hate this song.

2. Thank You- Just a nice song, sorta reminds me of December 4th of the Black Album, Jay's having fun, nothing to complain about.

3. D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)- What can I say that hasn't been said? His best single since 99 Problems, even though as Kid says, doesn't really deal with the Auto-Tune issue too much...still, classic.

4. Run This Town- Is it me or is Kanye getting considerably worse as a rapper? I hit skip after Jay's two verses if I don't skip it completely thanks to Rihanna's horrible vocals. Jay's flow is crafty, but I guess as a radio single it's okay. Not the worst on the album.

5. Empire State of Mind- I wish Nas was on here too, but one of the strongest tracks on the album. Alicia Keys compliments Jay nicely, just a beautiful song, really. Encompasses all songs about N.Y. any rapper could record.

6. Real As It Gets- I should hate this song because I hate Young Jeezy, but he has Hello Brooklyn 2.0 Syndrome (where as much as you hate a rapper, such as Lil Wayne, you still like him on a Jay song). Nice beat, nice verses, I should hate it but I quite like it.

7. On to the Next One- "Hov on that new shit/niggas like how come/niggas want my old shit/buy my old album" may the be truest statement on the album, I'm really digging Hov's new adult contemporary rap, as mickill titled it. Good song.

8. Off That- The first major misstep and continues the trend of me not liking the majority of Jay-Timbo collaborations. Jay sounds awkward, although after this song and Forever with Em's verse, Drake really needs to re-consider that "Last name ever/first name greatest" bullshit he pulled on Forever.

9. A Star Is Born- The hook is terrible as everybody stated, and the beat sounds like a bad late 80's Michael Bolton song. Can't really say much good about it.

10. Venus vs Mars- Um...next song.

11. Already Home- Good beat, Cudi provides a decent hook, not much else to say

12. Hate- I hate Kanye West. Bottom line. This song confirmed it. Terrible beat, pretty awful vocals but Jesus Christ, Kanye's second verse makes me cringe.

13. Reminder- One of my least favorite beats, sounds like a BP2-era one. The hook is weak, but Jay's vocals are pretty good. It's fairly forgettable, so let me go ahead and do that. Next song.

14. So Ambitious- The one with Pharrell. The other one I hit skip.

15. Young Forever- I don't mind this one nearly as I thought I would. I guess it's BP3's Beach Chair (a song I never liked) but I do kinda like this one. Jay-z flow is pretty crazy, a nice way to end the album, weird techno beat, sort of reminds me of the Murs song "The Dance" feat. El-P if you want a comparison.

"Bye-byes are not for legends/I'm forever young, my name shall survive" Good way to put it.

Anyway, out of 15 tracks, I can say I truly like 7, like maybe three or four others. It's a decent album, not the best album, but the high spots are true high spots, songs like D.O.A. and Empire State of Mind. I would recommend it, but barely, the first half of the album is solid and the second half has the majority of the low spots...you could probably turn it off at Off That and not miss anything.

I didn't mind Kingdom Come. Loved American Gangster. Indifferent/Like this album. I guess I like Jay better talking about the streets although even on the bad songs on this album, Jay still managers to shine.

[pshabi]

The more I listen to Death of Autotune (and I still love it) the more apparent it is that's he's really just rapping about the beat and how great it is.

Yeah, dude...but it's still dope...as you said. I've begun digging "Run this Town" way more than when it dropped as a single. Jay's got mad charisma on them there flows.

[roosta]

After a few more listens...

Real As It Gets is the biggest grower....one of my favourites now.

Timbaland really dropped the ball on this album, although I like Off That

Young Forever lyrically/thematically i like, but its just a terrible song.

So Ambitious / Venus V Mars are some of the worst songs Jay has ever done.

Over all I like the subject matter / theme of the whole album.

[Parkey]

My interview;

http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/jay-z-interview

[mickill]

Sorry Rae. My numbers predictions:

Cuban Linx = 75,000
BP3 = 450,000


1. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 (465,448)
2. Miley Cyrus - Time of Our Lives -(109,899)
3. Beatles - Abbey Road (97,433)
4. Whitney Houston - I Look To You (82,241)
5. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt II (65,312)

:cool:

Yeah Rae, your album was outsold by one that half the world's population already owns, a hillbilly teen sensation's latest masterpiece, and a former crackhead's comeback joint, but you still had the hottest shit by far.

Must applaud the big homie on his 11th #1 album, though.

[mickill]

My interview;

http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/jay-z-interview

I read that a few days ago. I forgot that you interviewed him for it. Well done, man.

[hpdrifter]

I'm not the hip hop head you all are but I like Jay and I like (most of) the album.

[pshabi]

Must applaud the big homie on his 11th #1 album, though.

True on that. "I just got 10 #1 albums, maybe now 11!" Great work jigga.

[Parkey]

I read that a few days ago. I forgot that you interviewed him for it. Well done, man.

Cheers mista!

:)