I feel like in order to appreciate this album and this (accidentally insanely long) review, there are several things which you have to know coming into it:
-All these interpretations could be completely off..I wrote this while being bored and haven’t fully taken in the album yet.
-Jay-Z has matured as a person, which is reflected in his raps; he’s not the Reasonable Doubt Jay-Z anymore. He’s gotten more mainstream sounding (or refined, in his terms), and the OG Jay-Z fans may hate on this album because of that sound change.
-Reasonable Doubt was made for his friends and family. Blueprint 3 was made for the fans, and casual fans make up the majority of any fanbase, whether it’s for a sport, art, food, or person.
-Artists have to progress in order to stay relevant.
-Kanye West had a heavy influence on this album, and it’s very apparent in his production and Jay-Z’s overall style on this album.
Onto the massively lengthy review!
What We Talkin About (ft. Luke Steele) Produced by Kanye West & No.I.D.
Jay opens up the final chapter of his Blueprint Trilogy with heavy synthesizers in front of an airy, spacey sound, much like Pray on American Gangster. I like this style because the beat sounds much more open and less structured ie. 2 bars repeated 8x for verse 1, one bar repeating 8x for the hook, etc. It sounds more like a continuing song that’s progressing, usually. This track is all about what people talk about in their songs, and what they should be talking about, himself included. We are welcomed to the Blueprint III with Jay letting us know we truly are in a special time, and history was made when Obama took a seat in the White House. He addresses e-thugs, letting them know they can either 'shoot YouTube up' or progress with him. It’s goodbye to the gang/drug content/lifestyle and hello to the now, with the line, 'Peace out Medusa, welcome to tha, blue-ah, print-ah-, tre piece-Jay-Z.” The people yearning for the ‘old’ Jay-Z are in for a disappointment, as he raps, “’Hov take ‘em back,’ I’m doing better than before, why would I do that?” There’s a small shot at Jaz-O in here which is unnecessary on a track like this. He did the same thing in 'No Hook' on American Gangster, and it just feels out of place. As usual, he lets us know how baller status he is with the line, 'I don't run rap no more, I run the map.’ One re-occuring annoyance lately he’s recycle his lines, even in the same song. Overall the beat isn’t anything special, but it’s nothing bad. Content is good, but can go over some people’s heads if you’re not paying attention. 3.5/5
Thank You Produced by Kanye West & No.I.D.
This is a weird track, content-wise. He talks about the haters, and also talks about how nice his life is. Just as the title says, Hov says thank you to everyone-well, the haters anyways. “Who would’ve thought by making birds migrate for the winter I’d be fly all summer, might I say.” The beat is relaxed and has a lounge/jazz feel to it, much like an upbeat Party Life from American Gangster with a horn trio(?) throughout the song. Jay sounds happy while rapping, as weird as that sounds. He continues on by talking about how he could’ve ended a few careers, but they did it to themselves, so thanks for doing the work for him. I believe he’s also talking about how he doesn’t try to bring on all of the attention he gets, it just happens. This hook sounds like he’s telling us that this is your song, because you’ve helped him become the person he is, and get to the point he’s at in his life. Overall this is a decent track, but nothing mind-blowing…but confusing. Just like What We Talkin’ About, this track has residue on is from American Gangster, and something makes me think this track is an AG leftover. 3.5/5
I’m skipping DOA and Run This Town, because they’ve been out for so long and pretty much everyone knows what they’re about already.
Empire State of Mind ft. Alicia Keys Produced by Al Shux
I’m biased on this track because of my love for Alicia Keys, but I think this song is amazing. Just like the first several tracks, Jay jumps right into the song after a few instrumental bars. We get no hook to lead us in, and I like this. He gives props to New York throughout the whole track while on top of a great upbeat instrumental. The beat doesn’t even sound like a track someone would rap over, which makes it unique. I can hear Alicia on the keys all over this track, with a live drummer backing her and Jay. This is a must-see-live track, making me love it even more. I’m not from New York, but I can appreciate someone giving props to the place they came from, the place they live in and the place they love. New York has countless negatives about it, but Alicia and Jay let you know this is the home of Frank Sinatra, the Statue of Liberty, home of the WTC towers, the Yankees, a sea of taxi cabs in the streets, the City of Dreams, and endless possibilities. My only gripe about this track is that as usual, Jay must put his stamp on it, telling us he helped make NY more famous. From what I read, Nas was suppose to be on this track, but I’m glad he wasn’t. His aggressiveness wouldn’t have fit in with the melodic and positive sounding vibe this track gives off. Oh yea, Alicia on the bridge that leads us into the third verse gives this track even more bonus points. 5/5
Real As It Gets ft. Young Jeezy Produced by The Inkredibles
Jeezy jock’s Hov, coming in with, “Allow me to re-introduce myself-.” This track isn’t off to a good start. Jeezy’s verse is typical, talking about guns, money and girls, and nothing else. To me, not much goes on in this track and it isn’t needed on the album. Hov talks about being baller status, taking care of people close to him, and Jeezy talks about nothing. This track is 4:13 minutes too long. The only reason I’m giving it a 2/5 is because it’s semi-catchy. 2/5
On To The Next One ft. Swizz Beats Produced by Swizz Beatz
Whoever titled this song got it 100% correct. Go straight On to the Next One. I don’t like this song at all. Swizz put a half-assed beat together, sampling an already popular and already sampled Justice track. I could’ve made this beat, but I would’ve made it better. Content-wise this is typical post-retirement Jay-Z. We get to hear about how far he’s come along and how much money he has. I do like how he took a jab at Cristal though, which made me smile. Sadly, that’s just about the only thing that made me smile on this track. To anyone not –in-the-know and if memory serves me right, Jay used to rep Cristal, til they said they won’t let any rapper endorse them or use their drink (Including inside Jay’s 40/40 clubs). The track dies by someone hitting the stop button on the turntable. If only they had gotten to the one’s and two’s 4:17 sooner. The .5 comes from it just being a Jay-Z track and me being a Jay fan. 1.5/5
Off That ft. Drake Produced by Timbaland
Timbaland’s scent is doused all over this track, from his drums, claps and techno-influence sound, to his adlibs under Jay. Sadly, Drake is on this track as well. I don’t hate Drake, but I think he’s highly overrated and doesn’t deserve to be on The Blueprint III. You’re gonna put Drake on here, but not Eminem? Come on Jay. Don’t abandon your roots completely with this new Mainstream-Jay. Your homies for life Beans, Memphis Bleek and Freeway aren’t on here once, but overrated and overhyped Drake is? I didn’t know it was gonna be like this. Anyways, back to the song. This track is upbeat and pretty mainstream sounding, especially with Drake on the hook (and thankfully, only on the hook). It reminds me a bit of Throw It On Me from Timbaland’s Shock Value album. Any fan of Timbaland’s sound should enjoy this track. I might play this in the club to see how it goes. This track doesn’t seem to be about much, except that Drake and Jay-Z are ahead of everyone else, and by the time people catch up to what’s ‘in,’ he’s already ‘off that.’ In a more mainstream sounding way than in his opening song, he tells us he doesn’t care about the past, because it’s just that-the past. Timbaland’s adlibs and cowbell carry us out of this track, with the beat leaving more of an impression on me than the lyrics. Catchy song, but not much goes on inside. 3/5
A Star Is Born ft. J Cole Produced by Kanye West & No.I.D.
Finally! After several forgettable and wasted tracks on what’s supposed to be a classic album, we get something with content again. The entire song is comprised of Jay-Z giving props to everyone in the rap game, past, present and possible future. Jay’s sound has matured away from the grimey underground sound and into much more melodic and simple sound. He paints a mural over this entire song, comprising of all of the artists he respects. I don’t want to give away any lines because I think part of the enjoyment of this song is listening to who he’s going to name drop, and what he has to say about them. One line I do have to mention, however is where Hov informs Wayne that if he continues his hot streak, he’ll pass the torch onto him..Please don’t, Jay. This seems like it was a fun track for Jay to exercise his mind lyrically by seeing what comparisons he come up with and do it tastefully and not on every track *cough*Game*Cough* J. Cole, Jay’s newest signee, jumps into the song asking if he can be a star. Judging by this verse, he’s might be in contention. He sounds hungry and aggressive and manages to not get completely stepped on while standing to the powerhouse that is Jay-Z. I guessed before looking that Kanye did this beat, and yes, Kanye I hope you take this style over into your next album in terms of using more live horns and keys again. 4/5
Venus Vs. Mars Produced by Timbaland
Timbaland’s 2nd of three beats on the album. Sounds like a modern Ludacris – Potion. Jay slows his flow down, but still manages to keep it fairly creative with his word play. Beyonce is on the hook (I think)…and sounds hot as hell. I don’t know if he’s directly talking about Beyonce in this track, or if there’s a deeper reference here. At times it sounds like he can be talking about him vs. the music game or something like that.. If I knew exactly what he was talking about, it’d make the song a little better. This track is fairly short, and not bad, but again, nothing spectacular. 3/5
Already Home ft. Kid Cudi Produced by Kanye West
More new-school people on the album. I’m still not sure how I feel about this, even if they’re only on the chorus. Kanye truly has had a heavy influence on this album. Once again we get to hear Jay-Z address more haters, who call him a camel, but he’s mastered the drought-what the F$#@ he’s an animal! Beat is alright, verses are okay, but I’ve grown tired of entire songs dedicated to this topic about 2 albums ago. 3/5
Hate ft. Kanye West Produced by Kanye West
Didn’t we just talk about this subject in the last track? The main difference between this track and the last is this track is one is executed much better, partially cause Kanye steps to the mic next to his big brother. Kanye has two short verses and they’re nicely done in a clever manner. His second verse is pretty catchy and it sounds like Kanye had fun writing it. Jay-Z takes a page from Kanye’s rhyme book with the structure of some of his flow, and I like it. It’s a mainstream sound, but still manages to be aggressive and grimy sounding at the same time. This track is short and to the point, which makes it even more likable. Instead of having to suffer through four minutes of the same topic like in the last song, we get a nice and short 2 minute track. My only wish on this track is that they would go back and forth, D-Block style, trading lines back and forth like they were having a conversation about this topic. To me, this would’ve been an instant classic if that happened. For some reason I can also see Pharrell rapping on this track and it sounding good. If you wanna know how to make better tracks, get at me Jay & Ye. :) 4/5
Reminder Produced by Timbaland
Gah..Really Jay..? Three in a row? I’ll give it a chance. The track is what its title says, a reminder about what and who Jay-Z is, incase you forgot. This beat comes pretty grimy, and out of the tracks where he brags, it might be one of the better ones. It sounds like Jay’s trying to create a mix of oldschool-Jay-Z tracks and New-Baller-Status-Jay-Z tracks, and this is a hybrid track with Timbaland on the beat. The beat and flow style take us back, but the topics are definitely new. I consider myself a pretty big Jay-Z fan, but sadly, Hov: Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t. Ain’t nothing changed for me ‘cept the year it is, I think I have to send you a reminder-here it is: People grow tired of being re-gifted the same present over and over, even if it’s in a new package. (Is that Rihanna on the hook?) 3/5
So Ambitious ft. Pharrell Produced by The Neptunes
Pharrell, you always manage to get on a track, and it never seems to 100% fit in with the album. Jay comes out and says this song is dedicated to his teachers, who said he should either be dead or a reefer head. This track takes one of his overused concepts for a track, but flips it slightly, making it more appealing. He talks about his motivation and how the massive pool of haters he’s acquired over his years have only been fuel for his fire. The beat is alright, typical Jay-Z & Pharrell collaboration sounding beat. One thing I like is that Jay has a sense of humor, and only in this situation is it related, but has also mastered the adlib’s and little voice inserts on his tracks and in his performances..The motivation for me, is them telling me what I could not be..oh well..-F#@!* off. :) 2.75/5
Young Forever ft. Mr. Hudson Produced by Kanye West
Kanye’s camp is on the mic again with Mr. Hudson. This is Jay’s own version of Usher – Best Thing, even reusing part of his second verse on from that song…did you purposely jack the title from Usher too? :/ This track is a pop sounding track that disuses what the title says..staying young vs living forever. Hov lets us know we need to enjoy life, have fun with it, and reminisce on good times while still moving forward. He also talks about staying young, and making an imprint on the world, which will live on forever. This track definitely feels like a closer for the album, and although its not a typical Jay-Z track, it suits this specific album well. 3/5
Closing Thoughts
To me, if you’re going to continue the Blueprint saga, it has to be a classic album. I don’t think this album met that expectation. That title also comes with huge expectations from people, myself included. This can definitely result in being harsher when making first impressions. It wasn’t a horrible album, but not an instant classic. For the direction Jay chose to go in I think he did a pretty good job. Also, just like Kanye West’s Graduation, this album has definitely done a good job on capturing a wider audience. The only downside to this is the artist sacrifices some of the appeal to the hardcore fans in order to expand into other audiences.
Also..where's Em!? I think this album has way too many features, especially from the 'newschool' rappers, and it should've been almost completely Hov on the mic by himself, with the exception of Eminem and Kanye. Eminem on this album makes sense in so many ways..he was on the first one, he just recently put out Relapse, then the Mariah record, then Forever w/ Drake/Kanye/Wayne, then he coulda hopped on this album, then more promo with DJ Hero, then finally Relapse 2 on Nov 17th. Continual marketing done, and its basically all free.
Jay-Z said this is his version of 808’s & Heartbreak, minus the autotune, and in certain aspects, I agree. It definitely seems more melodic than other albums..from what I can remember anyways. It’s not a classic album (yet), though it does produce a new and different sound from Jay-Z. His flow is still decent, the beats aren’t too bad, but he needs to find more outlets and inspirations for his content in his tracks…
A dedication track to Beyonce would’ve been amazing for this album, and it could’ve continued on 03 Bonnie & Clyde, but just with Jay. I understand it’s hard to find new things to talk about when you stop pushing weight and stop having to worry about making it to see the sun rise, and instead push $206 mil cash into your wallet from selling a clothing company you built, and get to see the sun rise with one of the hottest female celebrities/singers out, but that doesn’t give you a free-pass forever.
I want to call you the G.O.A.T., but without you continuing to try to strive for that title like you should and not just talking like you’re already there, it’s a moot point. I don’t mind the bragging tracks every now and then, but when a single album is littered with them and they aren’t backed by an insane flow and beats, they grow tiresome.. Especially when I know you still have it in you. Maybe you need to go spend some quality time with Talib Kweli, Common, Lupe Fiasco and The Roots (While you're at it, bring Kanye too, please). I’m sure they’ll motivate you in ways you haven’t been in a long, long time. Overall this album is just average to me, for now. Theres a few good tracks, but they're also surrounded by forgettable ones. I’m sure it’ll grow on me, but I also wonder how soon it’ll end up on the shelf collecting dust. 3.5/5
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