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Album Review
by Luke Glicken
19-11-2003
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| Jay-Z goes big on the farewell album |
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Jay-Z: 'The Black Album'
(Roc-a-fella)
Jay-Z bows out on near sky-high
So, this is it? The last album by Jay-Z before he turns his creativity toward the business matters and, hopefully, to his rumoured liaison with the divine Beyonce. The verdict in short is that ‘The Black Album’ witnesses him going out on top! [By the way, does that mean he’s going to stop guest-spots on other Hip-hop albums as he appears to be attempting to be on all of them? He’s on Missy Elliott’s new one, as well.]
It is seven years since ‘Reasonable Doubt’ was dropped on the world by this former drug-hustler, to a huge impact. ‘The Black Album‘ adds to his canon by presenting credible beats, daft raps and an incredible array of name-dropping [not only does Christina Aguilera get a diss but Michael Schumacher, the Formula One champion gets a mention], producers [Eminem among others] to kill for and even ‘guests’ who include Madonna.
Man stops at no barriers, displaying some wacky and humorous rhymes, taking the Mickey [Mouse was 75 the day before] out of himself, the hood, everyone. “You already know what I’m about,” he raps on the new track ‘What More Can I Say’, then proceeds to recite a list of felonies and related vices that demands respect of any career criminal. The track starts with a clip of Russell Crowe in the ‘Gladiator’, roaring “Are you not entertained?” to a bloodthirsty crowd. It’s an apt analogy for today’s criminal-minded rap music - men from the bottom acting out a deadly spectacle.
‘The Black Album’ is full of complex, witty raps and soulful beats, it’s good as anything Jay-Z’s ever done, although some of it is quite repetitious. ‘December 4’ is the same story Jigga’s told throughout his career - the story of his life - but he refreshes it with his trademark verbal dexterity and by adding his mother’s voice to the chorus. It’s also another potent instalment in Jay-Z’s career-long justification of his old lifestyle, his explanation to the world of why he is who he is.
On ‘The Black Album,’ with song titles like ‘Justify My Thug’ [Madonna’s ‘Justify My Life’ gets sampled] and demands to “feel my truth”, the man wants you to understand, literally, where he comes from. Jay-Z also spends considerable time claiming to be the best rapper of all time [always debatable but if you consider consistency…] and talking about retirement - “They never really miss you ‘til you dead or you gone/ So on that note I’m leaving after this song”). But he diverts briefly to take aim at critics who’ve accused him of a variety of offences, hitting dead-on each time.
He addresses those who don’t like him quoting Biggie Smalls, those who don’t like his subject matters, the pretend-gangstas… It’s hard to believe that there isn’t going to be anymore of this… The greatest basketball player, Michael Jordan, came back twice but Jay-Z has clearly stated his intention to become a music executive. As ‘The Black Album’ ends with Jay-Z reminiscing over a bluesy track you feel that this could as well be the turning point for the rap game.
If all art-forms are meant to offer a holiday from the real world, rap’s always defied it by dropping one right in a middle of urban warfare. But, how much will it be the case in the future is questionable because Hip-hop flirts even more with R&B brethren and aims at ‘bling-blinging’ into Los Angeles’s wealthy suburbia and Hollywood set.
9/10
Luke Glicken
19-11-2003
Jay-Z’s ‘The Black Album’ is released 17 November 2003 on Roc-a-fella/UMG
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