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THE BLUEPRINT 2: THE GIFT & THE CURSE
Jay-Z
(Roc-A-Fella/Universal)
Say what you will about him -- but one thing you can't call Jay-Z is lazy.
The Brooklyn rap kingpin born Shawn Carter has dropped no less than six albums in the last four years, including last year's outstanding Blueprint. And now it seems they were all a warmup for his most ambitious project yet, The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse, a high-concept two-CD album on the pros and cons of fame 'n' the game. At least, that's the pointy-headed critic's view of it.
On the other hand, you could just enjoy it for what it also is: Nearly two solid hours of Jay-Z spinning tales of dough, hos, playas, hatas and his bling-bling world over slamming beats with hooks big enough to land Shamu. Plus there are cameos by Lenny Kravitz (on the rap-rocker Guns & Roses), Dr. Dre (on the bumptious Watcher 2), Beyonce Knowles (on 103 Bonnie & Clyde) and plenty more.
We should all be so cursed. (More on Jay-Z)
Track Listing
Disc 1:
1. A Dream (feat. Faith Evans & Notorious B.I.G.)
2. Hovi Baby
3. The Watcher 2 (feat. Dr. Dre, Rakim & Truth Hurts)
4. '03 Bonnie & Clyde (feat. Beyonce Knowles)
5. Excuse Me Miss
6. What They Gonna Do (feat. Sean Paul)
7. All Around The World (feat. LaToiya Williams)
8. Poppin Tags (feat. Big Boi, Killer Mike & Twista)
9. F**k All Nite
10. The Bounce (feat. Kanye West)
11. I Did It My Way
Disc 2:
1. Diamonds Is Forever
2. Guns & Roses (feat. Lenny Kravitz)
3. U Don't Know Remix (feat. M.O.P.)
4. Meet The Parents
5. Some How Some Way (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)
6. Some People Hate
7. Blueprint 2
8. N***a Please (feat. Young Chris)
9. 2 Many Hoes
10. As One (feat. Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Young Guns, Peedi Crakk,Sparks & Rell)
11. A Ballad For The Fallen Soldier
12. Show You How (Bonus Track)
13. Bitches & Sisters (Bonus Track)
14. What They Gonna Do Part II (Bonus Track)