On this day 20 years ago, Jay Z releases The Black Album

[Izanami]

I know this is a celebration thread but I’d be remiss to let this go…Black album was not prime jay. And that’s fine. It doesn’t negatively affect the album. He has 3 near classics post-prime (black album, American gangster, 4:44).

But prime jay was reasonable doubt to blueprint.

He was better lyrically on here than he was 97-01 imo. Flow was peak Jay as well. Go back and listen to AG. His best rap performance was on a track recorded with in TBA studio sessions

 

[Formerly known as...]

Man I remember when 'What more can I say' dropped on the radio, this was the first taste of the album. Dirt of your shoulder I was surprised by how many liked this song, it was ok to me. Allure, encore, PSA, What more can I say, Lucifer, December 4th though

 

[Negro Caesar]

best jay z album

 

[semicko82]

I might be getting soft in my old age but Change Clothes is my favorite track off this album.

 

[semicko82]

He was better lyrically on here than he was 97-01 imo. Flow was peak Jay as well. Go back and listen to AG. His best rap performance was on a track recorded with in TBA studio sessions

 

[987654321]

my views have changed on this album
overall its a good album but the production is just ok considering the producer list and some songs are just eh. 8/10 and maybe a top 5 hov album

If there was any one thing I would ever knock Jay for, it would be his choosing production/beats that were “hot” in the moment instead of something timeless.

I guess that also comes with trying to be the biggest artist every year, with annual releases. I don’t listen to much from TBA outside of “What more can I say”, anymore. I played the fukk out of the album the year it came out though.

 

[Nighthawk]

Overrated. Sounded forced and cheesy at times. Jay is still my favorite rapper of all time but he fell off after the first blueprint in my opinion. Still made a lot of dope material after the “fall off.” His run from 96 to 2002 was crazy though.

 

[semicko82]

If there was any one thing I would ever knock Jay for, it would be his choosing production/beats that were “hot” in the moment instead of something timeless.

I guess that also comes with trying to be the biggest artist every year, with annual releases. I don’t listen to much from TBA outside of “What more can I say”, anymore. I played the fukk out of the album the year it came out though.

Yup you notice his best albums are the ones where he's not chasing after the popular of the moment production
Reasonable Doubt
Blueprint
American Gangster
To a certain extent 444

 

[JustCKing]

Yup you notice his best albums are the ones where he's not chasing after the popular of the moment production
Reasonable Doubt
Blueprint
American Gangster
To a certain extent 444

Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt are both products of popular "of the moment" production especially RD. Readonable Doubt is a product of that glossy, mafisos style of production that was hot in 1996 and 1997. Blueprint was that whole soul sampling style. It wasn't huge in 2001 as BP helped popularize it, but sped up soul was definitely "of the moment".

 

[semicko82]

Overrated. Sounded forced and cheesy at times. Jay is still my favorite rapper of all time but he fell off after the first blueprint in my opinion. Still made a lot of dope material after the “fall off.” His run from 96 to 2002 was crazy though.

That's how I feel about this album.
I think 444 was the album he wanted to do with the Black Album, but Jay wasn’t in the mind frame yet

 

[semicko82]

Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt are both products of popular "of the moment" production especially RD. Readonable Doubt is a product of that glossy, mafisos style of production that was hot in 1996 and 1997. Blueprint was that whole soul sampling style. It wasn't huge in 2001 as BP helped popularize it, but sped up soul was definitely "of the moment".

Yup didn't think about that. I still think those are two of his best works though

 

[RhymesWell]

Classic album imo but I was a kid at this time so in the moment it felt like 50 Cent ran Jay off the block.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

He was better lyrically on here than he was 97-01 imo. Flow was peak Jay as well. Go back and listen to AG. His best rap performance was on a track recorded with in TBA studio sessions

Ignorant shyt? If so you're dead right

 

[DillaTUDE]

 

[King Poetic]

My 3rd favorite album after

Reasonable Doubt and In My lifetime volume 1