"Encore" is definitely the strongest track on the "Black Album". I must say the album as a whole is pretty damn tight! I know there are alot of Jigga haters here at the org, (Hi Stymie ) but as a former Jigga hater I must say this brother can flow! IMO this has to be one of the strongest hip-hop tracks in recent years.

I wasn't feeling Jay until the blueprint which was an incredible album despite "girls, girls, girls" it even gave me hope for the future of rap, production wise. Blueprint 2 had a couple of gems on it but overall I was disappointed, but this latest release is hard to deny.

I've back paddled and picked up most of his earlier releases, there's not much I was missing, a couple of killer tracks here and there, I will say "Reasonable Doubt" is a fucking masterpiece, lyrically he's coming with it.

I'll admit his lyrics are narcissistic, decadent, violent, misogynistic, and sometimes just plain immoral, but if you like that stuff you'll love his latest album Sure it's tiresome hearing him going on and on about himself and pretty much letting you know that he rocks and you it sucks being you, but some of his lyrics have redeeming qualities and sometimes are even insightful.

He says this is his last one and if he does retire he's definitely leaving while on top , but I highly doubt he's gone for good.

So is this guy gone for good? I heard this was his last album..

Ditto

Encore is my favorte track to love to hate. The beat is incredible, even more so seeing that it contained the better part of Jay's ego. Should have been a classic, too narcicistic to be taken serious. Only rapper I know of with three classics-Reasonable Doubt-Blueprint-In My lifetime Volume 1 (don't sleep on it)
My all time favorite line by Jay-Z

"I will not lose, for even in defeat , it's a valuable lesson learned so that evens it up for me." Blueprint 2

Sdldawn said:

Yeah, he's calling this his "victory lap"

the black album is the shittt

eldog98 said:

eldog98 said:

I bought it yesterday, but haven't had the chance to listen to it.
I will get back to you on this one.

I wonder where he got the idea to call it "The Black Album"

hmmm...??



no really the material is great!.. and I think it is a good move to go out on top! he is 32.. and for a rapper thats pretty old. Go out 1 album to early then 1 album to late

Advice for any Boxer also

It's my second favorite track after "December 4th" which I think is thee strongest cut.

Anyway, im glad u posted about this album, about time some1 did. Although not as hypnotic and catchy as "Blueprint" but still lies a step ahead of "Blueprint2" it holds down. Its about just as good as "Dynasty" or even "In My Lifetime"

I might as well start makin a "JayHova" collection.

My brother only liked "My 1st Song", which i was expecting more off of that title

paisleypark4 said:

I'm feeling 99 Problems and Lucifer