Now I realize this is quite early to make a comment about this, but it is beginning to frustrate me with the lack of enthusiasm behind Jay-Z's new album "Blueprint 3", even from long time fans. Let’s take a trip back in time shall we. You ask any Jay lover what the best album he ever made was, what is their response? Reasonable Doubt. But 87% of those people can't quote not one bar from that album, and some, don't even know tracks from the Album. So how can you conclude this is the best album he ever did and not know $#@T about it? Its because they are just rolling with what others would say. Reasonable Doubt was a great album lyrically, because he still had Big and Pac alive, so he HAD to come hard. How many of you actually listen to Reasonable Doubt before any other Jay-Z CD? Hmmm, I wonder...
Blueprint happens to my favorite Jay-Z album. Just had a different feel than any other Album before it and he did it in a little over a week. Holy $#@T !!! Now that's Talent with a capital T! Reasonable Doubt is a "classic" because at the time in which it was released, Hip Hop was in a state that Reasonable Doubt belongs in the Top 5 albums of all time. The Black Album is also another CD with the same situation. As i was telling Aaron, the anticipation, the swag, the producers, and the direction of Hip Hop, Black Album should be his best album ever. He gave the people exactly what they wanted and they loved him for it. But what determines an albums initiation into the Hall of Fame? Its substance or its sales? Lets face it, Jay-Z on his worse day, is better than 90% of rappers best day.
Classic is just defined by age. Period. It is not the measuring deivce of any album’s potential or potency. Now I will admit that I should not call Blueprint 3 a classic because it’s too new to even be considered one. But I guarantee I will be labeled one eventually. Jay Decided he was "off that" and wanted to be different with his new album in correlation to the times we are in with Hip Hop. Which once again, makes it great for its time. Jay is old and trying to rap about something parallel to his situation, while simultaneously paving the road for up and coming rookies like Drake and Kid Cudi. He wants to retire, he has been trying to retire since Reasonable Doubt!! But name an artist that can take over the game like Jay has that’s alive right now? Not Drake, Not Kanye, and certainly not Lil Wayne. Blueprint 3 is upbeat, swag infested, and lyrically playful but yet not too far away from his lyrical ability. “Me, I’m from the apple, which means I’m a mac. Shorty’s a PC, she lives in my lap.” With creative lines like this and production that rivals anything else on the market, tell me it’s not great.
Rather you like it or not, Hip Hop is no longer about shooting people, selling drugs, and having sex with women all day. It’s about fast music, creative bars, and a good video. Ludacris is one of the most creative lyricist alive but has never gotten his shot at serious fame because he was never talking about what other rappers were talking about. Jay is being the pioneer for this type of music to become a standard so artist like Drake can take over. People like Gucci Mane and Jeezy have mainstreamed gangsta rap into something fun to listen to, and no longer a story to tell about their past like Big and Pac did. Because when it comes to music, it’s not about what’s said, but truthfully, about what wants to be heard.
1 comment:
It funny because i recently asked if people want to make classic albums anymore. i think this album is certainly on par with what a classic should be. The music will live to document a dominant re-emergence on Jay's behalf, as many snuffed at a solid Kingdom Come album and American Gangster was more of concept (although really good). As Jay said "anybody puts 3 good songs on an album its a solid album, i have to go 14 for 14 or its wack" and with that, i agree
Post a Comment