Album Review: Jay-Z's The Blueprint III

I had pretty low expectations for the Blueprint III. Jay's first single off the album (to be released on 9.8), DOA, was sonically alright. But as an underground rapper who loves auto-tune, I was quite frustrated by the most famous emcee alive's proclaimed rejection of the mainstream (something of which he is a large part). Who is he to say he doesn't make music for the radio? The next two releases, Run This Town and Reminder, both featuring Rihanna, were quite underwhelming. The next leak, Ghetto Techno (which actually didn't make the album), followed suit. Although I've never doubted Jay's earnesty, and think one of his strongest characteristics is his believability, it seemed, for the first time, that the ever-effortless Hova might be trying too hard.

The truth of the matter, however, is that the Blueprint III is good, maybe very good. If you look past four or five frustrating filler songs (most of which leaked), you find a vintage hip hop album; rap heavy yet melodic, organic yet blinged-out. The production credits are impressive to say the least, four beats are collaborative efforts between Kanye and NO ID (What We Talkin' About, Thank You, Run This Town, A Star), with the former producing three other songs by himself (ALready Home, Hate, Young Forever) and the latter adding one (DOA) more. Timbaland adds three more tracks (Off That, Venus vs. Mars, Reminder). Swizz Beatz did On to the Next One and the Neptunes did So Ambitious. The other two tracks are by Al Shux and The Inkredibles (Empire State of Mind and As Real as it Gets, repectively). But even the higher energy beats are never overwhelming. I don't mean that in a bad way, rather that they are subtle, depending mostly on jazz lines and earthy basslines, or ambiant synths and heavy yet sparing bass drums, catering to the smooth flow of Mr. Carter.

The list of collaborators (Rihanna, Kanye, Pharell, Drake, Jeezy, Cudi, Swizzy, Mr. Hudson, Alicia Keys, J Cole and the singer from Empire of the Sun) might be even more superb than the producers. But don't get it twisted, this album is about Jay. Most of the features stick to the choruses. And when Jeezy (Real as it Gets), Yeezy (Run this Town, Hate) and J Cole (A Star is Born) venture onto verses, they all deliver but still undershine Jay.

At times, Jay's deserved cockiness can get a little redundant. But Jay has never came soft on a sixteen, and he doesn't on this album. Here is a quick track by track.

1. "What We Talkin' About" (feat. Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun)- Prototypical long-versed intro song. If you couldn't guess what he was gonna talk about (him being the man, how he used to sell drugs, "grown-man" shit) he lays it out for you.
2. "Thank You"- This was the song that made me realize that this album was probably alright. Jay is consistent, and the beat is a great mix of No ID's Motown swing and Kanye's rhythmic sampling. The chorus might leave something to be desired.
3. "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"- Okay, this song is solid. The beat is hot, and Jay is up-to-par, but I explained my problems with the content. Maybe I'm missing the point, but I'm pretty sharp, so I doubt it.
4. "Run This Town" (feat. Rihanna and Kanye West)- Jay is good again, and so are Ye and No ID on the beat, and Ye on the verse too, but I really can't stand Rihanna's voice. It is comparable to Timbo or Cudi's, who have good voices because we listen to them in the context of being a producer and a rapper. As a non-songwriting singer, she is truly mediocre- something superstar's should not be.
5. "Empire State of Mind" (feat. Alicia Keys)- This is a great song. Two of NYC's finest represent our city as it should be represented.
6. "Real as It Gets" (feat. Young Jeezy)- Dope. Jeezy is the man.
7. "On to the Next One" (feat. Swizz Beatz)- If you don't feel Swizzy, you won't like On to the Next One, a run-of-the-mill Swizz Beatz anthem. That's fine with me. Good stuff.
8. "Off That" (feat. Drake)- This one leaked early too. Timbo gets a little too crazy with the beat for my taste, but it bumps. Jay is monstrous, and Drake adds a slick-ass chorus, of course. This song might bother you if you base your style off Ruff Ryders circa 98, otherwise it's a banger.
9. "A Star Is Born" (feat. J. Cole)- Although this ode to Jay's colleagues is a bit cheesy, particularly in the chorus. Nevertheless, all the verses, including that of the relatively-unknown J. Cole, are stellar.
10. "Venus vs. Mars"- I love this beat, and Jay is nasty. But the chorus is boring.
11. "Already Home" (feat. Kid Cudi)- This might be my favorite song on this album. A source close to Cudi told me that he has been working hard with a voice coach, and it's evident. Jay does his thing too. But, this beat is my shit. This is the Kanye that laced golden-era Rocafella, that made us believers on College Dropout. Pleasant, sample-driven, momentous and understated....

Already Home - Jay-Z ft Kid Cudi
12. "Hate" (feat. Kanye West)- This is the Kanye I don't really like. Hate is silly at best, but Kanye's second verse is pretty funny.
13. "Reminder"- This song sucks. It shouldn't have made the album in my opinion, and would have fit in better on Volume III or Roc la Familia.
14. "So Ambitious" (feat. Pharrell)- So Ambitious is the Blueprint III's Change Clothes. It's pretty cool.
15. "Young Forever" (feat. Mr Hudson)- I have always thought that the last song on any album should be one of the best. Jay-z is solid, but this beat is weak. Sampling Alphaville's campy eighties classic, and featuring J Hudson, this sound like something Lynas and I might have made in 2003. A dissapointing end to a surprisingly decent album.