Jay-Z's 2003 Black Album (The Black Album - Jay-Z)

Member Name: mcicp19

Product:	The Black Album - Jay-Z
Date:	01/10/08 (263 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Jay at his best, great production on most tracks

Disadvantages: Couple of weak tracks produced by Pharrell

The Black Album is the 2003 Jay-Z album that was promoted as the final studio album Jay-Z would ever make. The rap and general music world alike were a buzz at the time at the thought of such a musician quitting when he was at his peak of popularity. Fortunately like many other rappers who announce their retirement Jay was back releasing solo albums by 2006.

The album debuted at #1 on the American album charts, sold over 463,000 copies in its first week, has gone platinum and sold well over 4m since.

The a cappella version of this album was released for the world's DJ's to use with 2 famous examples - the 8 track 'Brown Album' by rapper Kev Brown, and 'the Grey Album' mixed by Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley band member and producer) which featured Jay's raps over The Beatles 'White Album'. It worked surprisingly well but caused a massive commotion due to the fact none of the Beatles samples were cleared so EMI sent a cease and desist order to Danger Mouse. As a protest at EMI hundreds of websites hosted the album for a day and distributed roughly 100,000 copies of the album for free download at a protest at large labels trying to control music and the use of sampling. The only official remix album is the 'Collision Course' album with Linkin Park.


The Album

(Sample information taken from wikipedia)

Track 1 - Interlude

Produced by Just Blaze, just some music with a voice over the top not really saying anything of note.

Track 2 - December 4th

Produced by Just Blaze again, this track has Jay-Z's mother talking over it at times about what Jay was like as a child, whilst Jay tells the story of him growing up. Nice beats with great story telling by Jay.

Samples

"That's How Long" written W. Boyd & E. Powell as performed by The Chi-Lites

8/10

Track 3 - What More Can I Say

Produced by The Buchannans, who I've never heard of but will have to check out at some point. The beats are excellent, mid paced and laid back with a great baseline and hook. Jay-Z raps some nice lines in here about all sorts of different things but himself mainly.

Samples

'Something For Nothing' as performed by MFSB
Contains sample from the film Gladiator

8/10

Track 4 - Encore additional vocals by Don Crawley, John Legend, Kanye West, LiL GEE, Dexter "Consequence" Mills, and Leonard "GLC" Harris

A favourite of Jay for live gigs, Encore is produced by Kanye West, sounds decent enough but doesn't really do anything to stand out except the use of the sample.

Sample

'I Will' as performed by John Holt

7/10

Track 5 - Change Clothes

I've never been a fan of Pharrell Williams and the Neptune's and their generic sounding production and this track is no exception, to me the music sounds similar to any of the 100's of tracks they have done in the past. This is just an attempt to cash in on Pharrell's popularity at the time as it was the first single. I've heard remixes which are much better taking Jay's raps onto different beats.

5/10

Track 6 - Dirt Off Your Shoulder

DOYS is produced by Timbaland and was the second single from the album. I do really like this track, unlike most of Jay's singles this isn't a track that's been made for the mainstream, this is for hardcore fans and casual ones alike. The production is some of the best Timbaland has done, I'm not even sure what all the instruments he uses in this track but its definitely a fusion of several. Jay-Z raps at his best on here.

9/10

Track 7 - Threat

A more aggressive sound beat than most of the album, which Jay counters with some laid back raps, a combination that works very well. The track was produced by 9th Wonder although Jay-Z gets a mention in the production for finding the R.Kelly sample.

Sample

'A Woman's Threat' as performed by R. Kelly

8/10

Track 8 - Moment of Clarity

The only track to be produced by Eminem on the album, the use of the violins in this one is inspired. Jay's reflects back on many things in his life - his fathers death and his feelings at the time and now, who inspired him, and his challenges and goals. Great track all round.

Choice lines

When pop died
Didn't cry
Didn't know him that well
Between him doin Heroine
And me doin Crack sales
With that in the egg shell
Standin at the tabernacle
Rather the church
Pretending to be hurt
Wouldn't work
So a smirk was all on my face
Like damn that mans face was just like my face
So pop I forgive you
For all the sh*t that I live through
It wasn't all your fault
Homie you got caught
And to the same game I fault
That Uncle Ray lost
My big brothers and so many others I saw
I'm just glad we got to see each other
Talk and re-meet each other
Save a place in Heaven til the next time we meet forever

9/10

Track 9 - 99 Problems

One of the singles from the Black Album and more well known Jay-Z songs, many people don't realise this is actually a cover of a old Ice-T song from the 1993 'Home Invasion' album, although the Ice-T track was quite different. The production is excellent with great use of guitars on here, while Jay-Z's story telling is again excellent.

Samples

'Long Red' as performed by Mountain
'The Big Beat' as performed by Billy Squier
'99 Problems' Written by T. Marrow & A. Henderson, performed by Ice-T

Choice lines

The year is '94 and in my trunk is raw
In my rear view mirror is the mother f*cking law
I got two choices yall pull over the car or
Bounce on the double put the pedal to the floor
Now I ain't trying to see no highway chase with jake
Plus I got a few dollars I can fight the case

9/10

Track 10 - Interlude (Public Service Announcement)

When I first got this album I nearly skipped this as it's listed as an interlude, turns out its one of the best tracks on here. Jay's raps aren't too complicated, but compared to someone like Nelly or Little Jon there still class. Just Blaze must have known they were on a winner once they finished the beats to this one, I love it.

Sample

'Seed Of Love' as performed by Little Boy Blues

10/10

Track 11 - Justify My Thug

A DJ Quik produced track, this one is decent but nothing special. The beats work well but don't really jump out until Sharlotte Gibson starts to sing the hook. Jay is excellent as ever.

Samples

'Rock Box" as performed by Run DMC
'Justify My Love' as performed by Madonna

7/10

Track 12 - Lucifer

My favourite track on here and in my top 5 Jay-Z tracks, Kanye West produced one of the best beats ever in rap in my opinion. The use of the Maz Romeo and the Upsetters 'Chase the Devil' sample is amazing, with the original track being one of the greatest reggae songs ever outside of Bob Marley. With a beat like this Jay couldn't help but sound good.

Samples

'Chase The Devil' as performed by Max Romeo and the Upsetters

Choice lines

Curse the day that birthed the b*stard
Who caused your Church mass
Reverse the crash
Reverse the blast
And reverse the car
Reverse the day, and there you are
Bob Allah
Lord forgive him we all have sinned
But Bobs a good dude please let him in
And if you feel in my heart that I long for revenge
Please blame it on the sun of the morning
Thanks Again

10/10

Track 13 - Allure

Pharrell and the Neptunes return to ruin another track here, this one sounds so similar to 'change clothes' its not even funny, almost like they didn't try when producing this track. Jay raps about how he cant get out of the game, almost like the rap Michael Corleone and his 'Everytime I try to get out, they keep pulling me back in!' iconic line.

6/10

Track 14 - My 1st Song

On this track Jay again looks back at how he came up in the rap game and tells us why it happened. Fantastic beats with some great effects thrown in for good measure. Jay is on top of his game on here and you'll struggle to find any living rappers able to match this. The perfect way to end and great album.

Samples

'Tu y Tu Mirar...Yo y Mi Canción' performed by The Los Angeles Negros
Contains a sample from a Notorious B.I.G. interview

Choice lines

Y'all wanna know, why he don't stop
Y'all wanna know, why he don't flop
Let me tell you pe-eople why
Came from the bottom of the block I
When I was born, it was sworn, I was never gon' be sh*t
Had to pull the opposite out this b*tch

Like I never rode in a limo
Like I just dropped flows to a demo
Like it's ninety-two again
And I got O's in the rental

10/10


Overall 9/10 for an amazing album in which Jay put more effort in than many of his later efforts since the Blueprint, this is a legend on top of his game, I'm glad this wasn't his real retirement album and look forward to many more albums from the man for years to come. If you like rap buy this, if you like good music buy this.


Further Reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Album_(Jay -Z_album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay-Z

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grey_Album

www.jay-z.com

But the album for £5.41 + £1.24 postage from amazon sellers -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00011FX GO
/ref=dp_olp_2/026-6504485-4704432

Listen for free at -

http://www.last.fm/music/Jay-Z/The+Black+Album

Summary: One of Jay-Z's top albums