Who else is enjoying Jay-Z Blueprint 3!
 

Still the best in the game no doubt.

I like how he evolved more with this one, more in the direction of Kingdom Come.

Thoughts folks?

I don't mean this to sound flip and I'm not trying to start an argument but what exactly is it about Jay-Z that makes people say things like he's "the best in the game no doubt"? I've listened to two of his albums in their entirety and of course have heard a bunch of his singles and he just seems very middle-of-the-road in all possible respects. Help me out here, what's so exciting about him?

My favourite Jay-Z albums are Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album, in that order (funny thing is I just noticed last week that Exclaim did a thing on him this month....and listed those albums as essential). No doubt I feel a few tracks here and there off his other albums...but I won't bump them front two back like the aforementioned 3.

BP3, TO ME, is one of his weakest albums. It does nothing for me.

the only tracks:
What We Talkin Bout
A Star Is Borne
Already Home

props to Drake for having a feature on this (I'm talking from a success point of view...I dont like his music either)

Very disappointing album in my opinion, was looking forward to this all year and I've only given it a few listens and I'm bored of it already. Same old topic from Jay, and some of the production (mainly Timberland) is below par and dated. There's a few bits of wheat amongst the chaff but all in all I think it's nowhere near the standard of some of his other albums. I actually don't mind the last track with Mr. Hudson, seems a lot of people hate it though. Sounds more like a 808&H's track, which is a good thing.

Oh well, I'll just listen to Reasonable Doubt and pretend it didn't happen.

Wow, I am on the other side of the fence with most of these comments, first of all, to answer. Jay is the best MC's because he is the most consistent in the most categories. The things that he has accomplished in the music industry, I’m not even talking business or any of that stuff, is phenomenal. He has the best flows, voice, and wittiness’, most of his lyrics have double or even triple meanings. There is really no one close in the MC world.

Secondly, this album sounds fresh to me; he made a new Blueprint for a new generation. The beats sound super nice, like an updated soul to them something new and fresh on BP3. No lyrics? He expands upon what is going on his life; don’t tell me your one of those fans that never wants an artist to grow? If anything this is one of Jay’s riskiest albums, if anything he shows a great deal of vulnerability on this album.

Thirdly with that other poster, tying in my last point, a great example of that vulnerability is “Forever Young”, great song.

I guess I just don't see it. His flow, his voice and lyrics all seem so... I don't know... ordinary I guess would be the right word. What are some songs of his that you think have particularly good lyrics?

other than all of Reasonable Doubt...if you want a good random song that showcases Jay at his best...listen to Dope Man.

or even tracks like "Where Have You Been"..

Reasonable Doubt is one of the two album I own of his. I've never found the lyrics particularly noteworthy. Any specific songs off of it?

D'evils, Dead Presidents, Can I Live?, Friend of Foe....maybe they're not mind-blowing or next level...but that's Jay at his finest imo.

I'm not a super huge Jay-Z fan... but overtime he's done a lot as far as popular rap music goes, I suppose. he as achieved a lot of commercial success. But I find the majority of his albums either decent or weak...especially the later ones like American Gangster, Kingdome Come, BP2, BP3.

Vol. 2 was good when I first heard it....back when it came out. Relistened to it not too long ago...definitely doesnt have the same effect....tracks like Reservoir Dogs is still killer.

but that song Dope Man, off Vol. 3....one of his best hands down.

I think his business achievements overshadow his actual music...but thats just me.

May I ask who you think is "Amazing MC" LOL you did list some of his great songs in your post, but I LOL when you said there not mind blowing, so who blows your mind?

"D'Evils" is definitely my favorite song on the album. The rest of them, meh.

I agree with you that he's a better businessman than artist.

LOL who are these better MC's?

What do you want, a list?

Sure whatever, i'm trying to get an idea of the tastes of this site, see if it's worth sticking around.

Alright, to me, "Amazing MC"/"Mind blowing", etc = MCs who I rewind their tunes all the time. of course this is subjective

Big Pun
Big L
Ghostface
GZA
9thUno (Canadian dude)
Outkast (pre-Stankonia)
Nas
Ras Kass
Killah Priest
Cormega
Kool G Rap
La Coka Nostra
Slick Rick
Scarface


I'll end there. sure they don't have the level of fame that Jay does, but when I hear these dudes, I relisten to their verses (not all obviously) numerous times.

this is just my opinion....if people feel most of Jay's albums the way I feel, say, Ghost's...then great. But in my opinion, Ghostface is the more "mindblowing" a.k.a rewindable a.k.a more memorable of the two.

not saying Jay'z forgettable

:afro:

al subjective I guess

Okay. Just from a quick scan through my iTunes:

Mr. Lif
Q-Tip
Chuck D
Big Daddy Kane
Busdriver
Andre 3000
Big Boi
Snoop
Ice Cube
Kool Keith
Del tha Funky Homosapien
Aesop Rock
MC Dalek
MF Doom
Madlib/Quasimoto
Jneiro Jarel
Dizzee Rascal
Slug
Black Thought
Murs
Nine
FatLip
KRS-One
Nas
Lupe Fiasco

LOOOOOOOOOL

You think I'm gonna be like "Gucci Mayne is a superior MC to Jay-Z...same with Hurricane Chris"


lol

and you filled in some other. I don't feel some of those but yeah, alot of these.


yeah I'd take Quas' The Unseen over any Jay album to be honest.

LOL, i was a tad worried.

Yah you guys seem to have good taste, I use to listen to allot of those MC's. I don't listen to Hip-Hop like I use to, I am pretty comercial for the most part. But these artists I really like, now the last two is mainly more for there tracks as whole not lyrical ability. Timbaland is my favorite producer.

Hip-Hop
01-Jay-z
02-T.I.
03-Ludacris
04-Outkast
05-Kanye West
06-Fabolous
07-Snoop Dogg
08-Diddy
09-Bubba Sparxxx
10-Wale
11-Timbaland
12-Black Eyed Peas

I am up for questioning, I am just glad I didn't see 2pack BS etc.

*s******s*

I stopped reading after this.

How is he not the most inventive producer of Hip-Hop? I am going take a stab, your favorite is Premo?

Try here.

Pretty sure you've posted answers to about 10 different threads in this one thread about Jay-Z.

Yah I get off topic, back to BP3.

Going to listen to it here in a minute again.

I'll give it another chance maybe in a month or so, but thoroughly not impressed on first impression.

Get posting in some of the other threads in Rap & Hip Hop. Some activity and opinions are always welcome, often quiet around this area.

On It. :D

Look....here are some ill producers that diarrhea all over Timbo.

Madlib
Dilla
9th Wonder
Premo
Pete Rock
DR Period
Hi-Tek
Da Beatminerz
RZA (for the most part)
Mathematics
Black Milk
Marley Marl
Marco Polo
Arkeologists
Afta-1
Jneiro Janel/Dr. Who Dat
Erick Sermon
Oh No
Easy Moe Bee
45 King
Alchemist
Havoc
Bink (dunno what he's saying these days tho)
Diamond D

Not trying to be Mr. Know it All - I'm just saying, Timbaland sounds like Fisher Price Keyboard after you hear these cats.

I think Timbaland has maybe gotten a little overexposed in the past few years but I'd still rank him as one of the great producers, not just of hip-hop but in general. I put him in the same class as the Phil Spectors and Martin Hannetts of the world easily.

I agree, you can't take away all the major things he's done, due to over exposure.

Using BP3 as the example, I think he took unnecessary hate for his contributions.

i'm not the biggest fan of his albums and this wasnt his best album at all, but still good. **** the complainers. let's see anyone who can do better.


agreed!

he's not over exposed to me -- i dont watch MTV, BET, VH1, or any tv at all. you should try doing that.

is this serious? Do you mean sell better, or actually put together a better album?

Raekwon instantly comes to mind

La Coka Nostra did as well.


maybe as far as a popular rappers go


but, again, to each their own.

I like it overall as a whole but while listening to it, I knew that it wouldn't go over so well with some die hard jay-z fans that wishes he had the same sound from his earlier albums

Already Home, A star is born and empire state of mind are my faves. He definitely should have let Nas get a verse on Empire state of mind though imo.

Jay-z is the best commercial rapper. He can put out mediocre work and people will still eat it up like it's the greatest.

Do better? Like, just any hip hop artist that can compile a better album?

BP3 wasn't anything great.
Nothing pops out at me like most of his older albums.
A few songs I enjoy are "Reminder" and "DOA". Other than that, the album will not be listened too.

Wow surprised by the distain for a great hip-hop album.....

The more spins, the more I like it.

Yeah, I pretty much agree with the consensus that BP3 is another average offering from Jay-Z. He should have gave up rapping after The Black Album. Definitely past his prime as an MC.

with the release of BP3... I am listening to more of Jays other stuff and its fantastic.
The black album especially.
He truly is great, IMO