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THE BLUEPRINT
Jay-Z
(Roc-A-Fella / Universal)
Too many rappers think boasting is the only skill they need. Thankfully, we have the charismatic Jay-Z to remind us (and them) that there are other strengths required - such as the ability to come up with a catchy chorus. The New York rapper formerly known as Shawn Carter presents a dozen or so on his solid fifth solo album The Blueprint. Ditching the Broadway samples for more slow-rolling soul and groove-oriented loops (with the exception of The Doors' Five to One snippet that anchors Takeover), Jay puts his passive-aggressive delivery and oddly free-form flow to good use on head-bobbing jams like Izzo (H.O.V.A.) and Jigga That N***a - and still makes time to dis rhyming rival Nas and laugh about his court cases. Yeah, Jay-Z can boast with the best of them. Only he has good reason to. (More on: Jay-Z).
Track Listing
1. The Ruler's Back
2. Takeover
3. 1220 (H.O.V.A.)
4. Girls, Girls, Girls
5. Jigga That N***a
6. U Don't Know
7. Hola' Hovito
8. Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)
9. Never Change
10. Song Cry
11. All I Need
12. Renagade
13. Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)