The deaths of Biggie and Tupac left hip-hop with a void. Who would be the next microphone bandit to rock the projects and the suburbs? Enter Jay-Z, the duly appointed heir...
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Coming on the heels of two strong records that revealed the extent of Jay-Z's talents, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (it may be titled Vol. 2, but it's his third album, arguably...
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Not much needs to be said about hip-hop's current victor. Jay-Z simply has an incredibly infectious nonchalant rhyme flow and his lyrics shine brighter than his two carat,...
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Coming on the heels of two strong records that revealed the extent of Jay-Z's talents, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (it may be titled Vol. 2, but it's his third album, arguably...
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With a number of solid but unspectacular songs serving as the best moments of Jay-Z's fifth album, the Brooklyn rapper has tarnished the luster on his nearly flawless...
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At the time of The Dynasty Roc la Familia's release, Jay-Z had already established himself as a towering figure in the rap world. His previous two albums -- Vol. 2: Hard...
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Reasonable Doubt stands out among Jay-Z's many albums and not entirely because it's his debut album. Unlike most of his subsequent albums, it's seamless. Every song belongs...
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After the crossover success of 1998's Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (complete with highly publicized samples from Annie), Jay-Z returned to the streets on his fourth proper album...
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After the crossover success of 1998's Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (complete with highly publicized samples from Annie), Jay-Z returned to the streets on his fourth proper album...
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With his second album, In My Lifetime, Jay-Z goes a long way to establishing himself as an indivdual talent and not simply a roaming guest artist. Jay-Z is still reluctant...
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At the time of The Dynasty Roc la Familia's release, Jay-Z had already established himself as a towering figure in the rap world. His previous two albums -- Vol. 2: Hard...
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When Jay-Z dropped "The City Is Mine" in 1997 and claimed New York's hip-hop throne upon the Notorious B.I.G.'s demise, many smirked and some even snickered. Four years...
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Whether moving the release date of this album ahead two weeks was a publicity stunt or not, you gotta hand it to Jigga. Just having his long-awaited new outing ready on time...
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When Jay-Z dropped "The City Is Mine" in 1997 and claimed New York's hip-hop throne upon the Notorious B.I.G.'s demise, many smirked and some even snickered. Four years...
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Music-biz logic dictates a superstar collaboration this massively hyped is doomed to disappoint, especially considering this is Jay-Z's third album in little more than half...
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Let's admit it: critics adore double albums. No matter the artist, genre, or circumstances, you simply lament the great single album diluted by the second disc of filler,...
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Jay-Z kept The Blueprint incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. The Blueprint˛: The Gift & the...
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Following the success of Blueprint, Jay-Z took a break from the studio productions of Timbaland and Just Blaze and stepped into acoustic surroundings for a taped edition of...
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The easiest way for an artist to get everyone to focus on his legacy is by threatening to pull the plug. And naturally, on his alleged final album, Jay-Z offers a few...
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If The Black Album is Jay-Z's last, as he publicly stated it will be, it illustrates an artist going out in top form. For years Shawn Carter has been the best rapper and the...
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Jay-Z Live: MTV Unplugged features Jay-Z performing many of his most well-known songs acoustically. The performances are often interesting but rarely anything more than...
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If The Black Album is Jay-Z's last, as he publicly stated it will be, it illustrates an artist going out in top form. For years Shawn Carter has been the best rapper and the...
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Could this be the record that launches a thousand production careers? Variations on The Black Album began multiplying like rabbits soon after its release in November 2003,...
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Unfinished Business is the sequel to 2002's The Best of Both Worlds, R. Kelly and Jay-Z's first collaborative record. The press materials made a point to refer to these 11...
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After the death of friend and compatriot the Notorious B.I.G. in early 1997, Jay-Z made his claim for the title of best rapper on the East Coast (or anywhere) with his...
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A greatest-hits compilation was inevitable, but possibly too soon. Taking things up to right before 1999's Life and Times of S. Carter, this compiles all of the earliest...
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Before Jay-Z fashioned himself into hip-hop's most notorious capitalist, he was a street hustler from the projects who rapped about what he knew -- and was very, very good...
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Jay-Z kept The Blueprint incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. The Blueprint˛: The Gift & the...
more >
Jay-Z kept The Blueprint incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. The Blueprint˛: The Gift & the...
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