The Black Album
Interlude. December 4th. What More Can I Say. Encore. Change Clothes (feat. Pharrell Williams). Dirt Off Your Shoulder. Threat. Moment of Clarity. 99 Problems. Public Service Announcement (Interlude). Justify My Thug. Lucifer. Allure. My 1st Song.
Jay-Z’s The Black Album
We know you couldn’t have predicted this one. After several mentions of retirement, the world thought Hov had hung it up for good. If he had, we couldn’t have been mad at what is arguably the most triumphant exit in music history. Keep in mind, he announced his departure after dropping arguably his worst album just over a year prior. Consequently, fans didn’t really know what shape Hov would be in for his big finale, and they were not disappointed with “Jay-Z’s The Black Album.”
Avengers Unite!
Initially, Jigga wanted to work with a different producer on every track. However, he settled with assembling one of the greatest collections of musical talent behind the boards we’ve ever heard on “Jay-Z’s The Black Album.” Three songs from Just Blaze here, two from Kanye there, and additional contributions from Timbaland, The Neptunes, Rick Rubin, & The Buchanans ensured that Shawn Carter spared no expense on the album’s sound.
The Hits and Haymakers
Containing a sole feature from Pharrell, Jay didn’t want to share his final curtain call with a plethora of other artists, and we certainly can’t blame him. Taking it all the way back to the beginning, his 8th studio album, “Jay-Z’s The Black Album,” starts its journey on “December 4th,” Hov’s birthday. Likening himself to a Gladiator, Hov reiterates that he’s done battling for sport on “What More Can I Say.”
We get the first of two Kanye beats with “Encore,” probably five songs too early, but still effective. Furthermore, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “99 Problems,” “Public Service Announcement,” and “Lucifer” show that Jay was going out with all haymakers. “Jay-Z’s The Black Album” thrives on finality, an aspect none of his other works share.
It’s Complicated
With his premature return from retirement, “Jay-Z’s The Black Album” impact on his legacy is unnecessarily complicated. Honestly, this one still had some wrinkles that should’ve been ironed out. “Moment Of Clarity” sounds like an Eminem-produced track, and it aged like one too. Thankfully, Hov’s bars came to the rescue. Additionally, “Justify My Thug” had no business being between “Public Service Announcement” and “Lucifer.” Jay hadn’t worked with Quik up to that point in his career, and we don’t know what made him want to start then. “Threat” really wasn’t a bad song, but its placement on his last big hurrah and its incorporation of the Cedric skits just don’t work for the overarching objective of “Jay-Z’s The Black Album.”
Exceeding Expectations
But let’s not get it confused, Jay overdelivered on every expectation placed on his shoulders with “Jay-Z’s The Black Album.” Despite our comparatively minor critiques of the album, Hov managed to exceed his own standards, drop classics with his most closely associated producers, and, at least at the time, retire at the absolute peak of his craft. This one narrowly edges out “The Blueprint” because of its versatility, refinement, and ability to get to the point.
Coming into making the list, we were torn on whether “The Blueprint” or “4:44” had a stronger argument at the top of his catalog. However, honestly, it’s hard to say anything packs the punch that “Jay-Z’s The Black Album” bottled up in just under an hour. Any of his top three albums could’ve held this spot and we wouldn’t be mad. It just so happens that this one had us chanting for an encore.
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