Track Listing

1. Interlude (Jay-Z/The Black Album)
2. December 4th
3. What More Can I Say
4. Encore
5. Change Clothes
6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
7. Threat
8. Moment Of Clarity
9. 99 Problems
10. Public Service Announcement (Interlude)
11. Justify My Thug
12. Lucifer
13. Allure
14. My 1st Song
15. Change Clothes (Enhanced video UK Bonus)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #974 in Music
• Released on: 2003-11-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Explicit Lyrics
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 60 minutes

CD Description
After announcing his retirement in September 2003, 'The Black Album' is the fourth and final release from hip hop entrepreneur Jay-Z. Produced by The Neptunes, Eminem, Timbaland, and Rick Rubin to name but a few, the album is a mix of tough hip hop and Jay-Z's distinctive East Side rhymes. The Neptunes produced single and video featuring Pharrell Williams are also included.

Customer Reviews

Jay-Z in top form
Hardcore hip-hop fans generally dis Jay-Z because he's too succesful and isn't 'underground' anymore. Sure he went a bit mainstream between Reasonable Doubt and Blueprint, which he admits on the song 'Moment of Clarity' (" I dumned down for my audience to double my dollas. They criticise me for it yet they all yell 'Holla'"), but those two albums alone deserve him to be remembered for ever. As you know The Black Album is Jay-Z's last proper solo album and it's good to see he ended his carreer with such quality. Highlights include 'December 4th', rapping about his childhood; '99 Problems', which is slightly strange at first hearing but grows on you and is something different with it's loud rocky beat; and 'Public Service Announcement', which is a tour de force of lyrical wordplay and is lyrically the strongest song on the album ("I check cheddar like a food inspector"... whenever there's a drought get your umbrellas out because that's when I brainstorm"). However, all the songs are good, from the un-relenting 'Threat', to the Timbaland produced 'Dirt of Your Shoulder' with the only slightly wek songs being 'Change Clothes' (it's this kind of song which gets Jay slagged by hardcore rap fans) and 'Lucifer'.

So basically, if you like hip-hop at all you need this album. This is the perfect memorial to the career of HOV. R.I.P.

Jay continues to reinvent himself...
The Black Album is classic Jay-Z but at the same time something refreshingly different. Like his previous efforts the Black Album exudes Shawn Carter's lyrical brilliance, as he raps with effortless skill and clarity. Jay-Z probably rhymes in his sleep so skillful is his way with fusing words, "Encore" being a prime example.

Tracks such as "99 Problems" and "What More Can I Say" are not typical hip-hop tracks in terms of the melody. On a first listen you may be forgiven for thinking some of the tracks are questionable, but this is just because Jay-Z has once again switched up his style. It does not take long to realise that The Black Album is truly great.

The driving beat of "Justify My Thug", thoughtful "Moment of Clarity" and R.Kelly sampled "Threat" cap off what is a well rounded effort that impresses in every sense.

Best rapper alive? Close...
I love this album. There, I've said it. I'm not the biggest fan of US hip hop, i'm much more a UK bloke, but this album is great. The beats are great, really nice variety to them, and Jigga's delivery is excellent, he's been blessed with a great voice to listen to. The lyrics are pretty decent, not brilliant, but not in any way average, and are very entertaining in places. The real thing i like about this album is there isn't a really bad track (i'm not a big fan of "Lucifer") and there is a great sequence of songs, "Dirt off your Shoulder" to "Justify my Thug", which are purely excellent. I'd definately recommend this to anyone who likes hip hop.