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We all know that Jay wants this to be his last album, which probably explains why he enlisted a wide host of producers on here, from the Neptunes to Rick Rubin to Eminem, to the usual Roc producers Just Blaze and Kanye West. And that probably also explains why he's giving a lot of shout-outs at the end of the last track, "My 1st Song". (It seems like he was doing the opposite on "What More Can I Say", with all the name-dropping.)

This album is overall solid, yet it's not without its problems. Other than the shout-outs, I really wasn't feeling "My 1st Song", nor the cheesy "Justify My Thug". "Moment of Clarity" is pretty good, but I agree with the people that said it sounds too much like "Lose Yourself" (well, Em produced it). And "Change Clothes" is okay, but I think I liked it better when it was called "Excuse Me Miss".

Oh well, looking at the reviews, it appears that everyone has a different opinion of which song(s) should have been left behind. I'm not sure yet if I believe that he's really retiring, but at any rate, add The Black Album to your Jay-Z collection.

Anthony Rupert


A legend hangs up his Mic...   November 15, 2003
 32 out of 42 found this review helpful

Jay-Z has constantly struck while the iron has been hot, year after year and not once failed in having his words reach millions. No matter where you're from, be it Malibu or Brooklyn, you've heard the God MC, Jay Hova. Now he decides that he wants to enjoy his money (millions), his fiance (Beyonce Knowles) and his legend (the timeless MC). There is speculation as to wether or not Jay-Z is the best Rapper alive. On his final release, "The Black Album", he puts forth a convincing argument. The first track, titled after his birthday, "December 4th" is narrated by his mother and tells the tale of a young Shawn Carter growing up amongst divorce, poverty and drugs. "What More Can I Say" is basically Jigga throwing in the towel, because what more is he to do? Rap forever and convince us he's still the best year after year? "Encore" is the big farewell track, he beckons fans to chant his name once more as he comes out for a victory lap. "Change Clothes", the debut single, is the albums worst song but that's saying alot because it's still melodic and smooth. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" is a slick portrayal of dealing with rumors and beef as a young teen. "Threat" is a track telling people that Jay-Z is no joke, and he'll be there when you decide it's time to stab your boy in the back. "Moment of Clarity", the albums most honest song, Jay confesses to alot of his innermost feelings and emotions. "99 Problems" is the tale of a hustler without time for a woman to get into his business due to all the other tribulations in life. The album then ends with tracks about loyalty ("Justify My Thug"), temptations ("Lucifer") and the riches that turn good people bad ("Allure") - Then the last song ever, is ironically entitled "My 1st Song" and it shows that Hov never changed, always stayed the same. Verdict: A must have. He did his first like his last, and made his last like his first. Classic status. IT'S YER BOY!


Hopefully, This won't be the last CD by Jay Z   January 13, 2004
 17 out of 23 found this review helpful

"Reasonable Doubt"
"In My Lifetime: Volume 1"
"Volume 2: Hard Knock Life"
"Volume 3: The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter"
"The Dynasty: Roc La Familia"
"The Blueprint"
"MTV Unplugged"
"The Best Of Both Worlds"
"The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse"
"The Black Album"

If you honestly take a good listen and a hard look at all of these CDs by Jay Z, the only two that you can say that may have not been up to par were "In My Lifetime: Volume 1" and "The Best Of Both Worlds". On "In My Lifetime: Volume 1", The Notorious BIG was shot and killed and you could tell that Jay Z wasn't entirely himself on this CD. However, "Where I'm From", "Streets Is Watching" and "Imaginary Player" are well known Jay Z classics. "The Best Of Both Worlds" sounded like a whole CD of Fiesta Remixes and should not have been released in the winter, of all times to release a CD with so many summer cookout themes attached to them.

If I personally tried to tell you all of my favorite Jay Z songs and collaborations you would be bored by having to read 15 minutes worth of songs, so I'll let this review stick to "The Black Album". The intro doesn't make too much sense to me but nearly everyone puts an unnecessary intro on their CD. Just Blaze and Jay Z get things off to a good start with "December 4th". Gloria Carter gives us a narrative of the early events into the life and times of Shawn Carter. "The Black Album" should have started with this song instead of an intro. Jay Z blesses us with the best song on this CD by Track 3, in my opinion. "What More Can I Say" summarizes why Jay Z wants to put the microphone down at this time. ...And no he is not dissin' 50 Cent & Busta Rhymes. Jay Z is basically saying that the way he started rhyming was not the same rhyme style of those 2 particular artists. The 1st single "Change Clothes" took a little while to grow on me. This song is basically "Frontin' Part 2". However, once I heard the song a couple of times, I listen to the track in its entirety now instead of fast forwarding. The same can be said about his 2nd single, "Encore". Kanye West blesses the track something lovely but it seems that there is too much going on in the track. I kept listening to the song and now that no longer gets a fast forward either. The best beat on this CD goes to Timbaland's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder", in my opinion. Timbaland always blesses Jay Z with hot tracks such as "Big Pimpin'", "Hey Papi", "It's Hot" and "Hola Hovito". Jay Z brings the lyrics and you have what should be the 3rd single if Jay Z does release another single. "Threat" is produced by 9th Wonder and the song cleverly uses R Kelly's "A Woman's Threat" track. Eminem is back on the baords again as he produces "Moment Of Clarity". Eminem produced Blueprint 1's "Renagade" and also rapped on the track. Jay Z takes this opportunity to touch on issues such as things that went on between his father, his rhyme style, and his friends in the rap game. On "99 Problems", Jay Z employs Rick Rubin to produce the track and the song sounds just like something Rick would have produced on The Beastie Boys' "Licensed To Ill" album. Jay Z has a little something for the haters and the cops on this one. The track was unexpected but if you liked anything from the "Licensed To Ill" album then you will like this track. On the "Interlude", Just Blaze is back again with another fire track and Jay Z gives two nice verses. "Lucifer" has Kanye West on the boards and is also one of the better beats on "The Black Album". "Allure" is the Neptunes' 2nd contribution and reminds me of "N.E.R.D.'s" Bobby James from their CD. "My 1st Song" ends Jay Z's last CD off on the right note as The Notorious BIG is talking as the track begins and Jay Z reminisces to things that happened early in his rap career. The only track that gets a fast forward is "Justify My Thug" as Jay Z uses the old Madonna song as a sample to be the chorus. Although DJ Quik does justice to the track and Jay Z has nice lyrics on the track, I think that's something that Jay Z should have just left alone.

Overall, if you are a fan of Jay Z's library of CDs then you should definitely pick up "The Black Album". This CD is one of the better rap CDs that are out now. Personally, I don't think Jay Z will retire. He will take a break, chill with Beyonce, get his businesses in order and by the Summer of 2005, I will expect to hear another summer banger produced by the Neptunes, Timbaland, Just Blaze or Kanye West.

James' Top 5

1) What More Can I Say
2) Dirt Off Your Shoulder
3) Allure
4) Lucifer
5) December 4th


His last album???   December 18, 2003
 16 out of 24 found this review helpful

Here's my review of jigga's "last album" & my ratings for each song in parentheses...

1. Intro: (B) Basically saying that everything must come to an end. It's a good beat by just blaze but it would've been fire if jay had rapped over it as he usually does on his intro tracks.
2. December 4th: (A+) Great just blaze beat & jay rips it.
3. What more can i say: (A) A good beat by the buchanans & probably the best track lyrically on the album.
4. Encore: (A-) I love this beat by kanye. The 3rd verse could've been better & the chanting of "Hova" should have been left out.
5. Change clothes (C+) Most people don't like this track. Although it's not one of the neptunes' best beats jay does ok on this party track.
6. Dirt off your shoulder (D) I really hate this song by the inconsistent timbaland. Considering this is supposed to be his last album, jay should've rejected this beat.
7. Threat (B+) Pretty good beat by the underground 9th wonder. Cedric the entertainer subtracts from this song by talking before & after each verse. It would've been a perfect song if jay told a story & avoided the 50 cent "I'll kill you" theme.
8. Moment of Clarity (A+) I don't know why most people don't like this eminem produced beat. I like the pounding beat & jay spits some introspective bars in this one.
9. 99 problems (B) I have to admit... at first i wasn't feeling this rick rubin produced track with the rock & roll feel. But the chorus is catchy & after a few listens it grew on me.
10. Public service announcement (B+) Good beat by just blaze (the organ gives it a church feel) with 2 good verses by jay (including the "shoot at you actors like movie directors" punchline). Similar to "22 Two's" from jay's debut cd, reasonable doubt, but not as good.
11. Justify my thug (F) The worst song on the album. This shouldn't have made the album. In this dj quik produced song, the chorus is horrible, & the beat is a combination of "takeover" & the old "batman & robin" theme song.
12. Lucifer (B-) I don't see why everyone says it's the best track on the album. Kanye delivers a reggae- influenced beat that, while not up to his usual standards, is good. Meanwhile, jay talks about a battle with the devil.
13. Allure (A+) One of my favorites on the album & the best beat from the neptunes in a while. It's a relaxing beat that you can chill to & jay mentions the pitfalls & allure of the game.
14. My 1st Song (C+) On this aqua produced track, he attempts to return to his triple cadence flow from 94-96, but isn't as smooth or as fast as he was back then. Aight song that could've been better.

I honestly thought that jay would have the illest beats & lyrics for his "last" album, which he sporadically displays, however i was somewhat slightly disappointed. It's not a "classic" as some claim, but overall i'd give the black album 4 stars & rate it as his 2nd best cd (obviously behind his classic debut album, reasonable doubt, & tied with the blueprint, which by the way is not a classic album).