Criticism aside, it is a nostalgic piece of winter of 2003....but, Jay didn't have to do a song like THIS, as his lead in single for his supposed retirement album....As for 'The Black Album', being close to Jay's best...I don't see it, it's a solid piece of work, and good selection of songs....but, it's unfocused, and all over the place production and theme wise, it crosses back and forth between a legacy album and a 'Reasonable Doubt' type one...the production is too contrasting, it was a dope fukking album, but Jay has done much better. Truthfully, a lot of people feel that way, one of my boys from hs says thats his favorite Jay album. It's hard to say, cuz so many of the songs have become iconic and legendary, '99 Problems' 'PSA', but it's just not it to me....I prefer the toned down production and rawer feel of 'In My Lifetime Vol. 1'....