Jay-Z has constantly struck while the iron has been hot, year after year and not once failed in having his words reach millions. No matter where you're from, be it Malibu or Brooklyn, you've heard the God MC, Jay Hova. Now he decides that he wants to enjoy his money (millions), his fiance (Beyonce Knowles) and his legend (the timeless MC). There is speculation as to wether or not Jay-Z is the best Rapper alive. On his final release, "The Black Album", he puts forth a convincing argument. The first track, titled after his birthday, "December 4th" is narrated by his mother and tells the tale of a young Shawn Carter growing up amongst divorce, poverty and drugs. "What More Can I Say" is basically Jigga throwing in the towel, because what more is he to do? Rap forever and convince us he's still the best year after year? "Encore" is the big farewell track, he beckons fans to chant his name once more as he comes out for a victory lap. "Change Clothes", the debut single, is the albums worst song but that's saying alot because it's still melodic and smooth. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" is a slick portrayal of dealing with rumors and beef as a young teen. "Threat" is a track telling people that Jay-Z is no joke, and he'll be there when you decide it's time to stab your boy in the back. "Moment of Clarity", the albums most honest song, Jay confesses to alot of his innermost feelings and emotions. "99 Problems" is the tale of a hustler without time for a woman to get into his business due to all the other tribulations in life. The album then ends with tracks about loyalty ("Justify My Thug"), temptations ("Lucifer") and the riches that turn good people bad ("Allure") - Then the last song ever, is ironically entitled "My 1st Song" and it shows that Hov never changed, always stayed the same. Verdict: A must have. He did his first like his last, and made his last like his first. Classic status. IT'S YER BOY!

While I wouldn't call The Black Album the greatest album ever, Jay-Z did make a pretty good comeback with it. But then, that's not really saying much after that lackluster and rushed Blueprint 2 album (and the lazy spin-off The Blueprint 2.1). This album has its standouts like "Dirt Off Your Shoulder", "Encore", and "99 Problems". There are also some good storytelling tracks, as usual, to be found, like "Allure" and the autobiographical "December 4th".

We all know that Jay wants this to be his last album, which probably explains why he enlisted a wide host of producers on here, from the Neptunes to Rick Rubin to Eminem, to the usual Roc producers Just Blaze and Kanye West. And that probably also explains why he's giving a lot of shout-outs at the end of the last track, "My 1st Song". (It seems like he was doing the opposite on "What More Can I Say", with all the name-dropping.)

This album is overall solid, yet it's not without its problems. Other than the shout-outs, I really wasn't feeling "My 1st Song", nor the cheesy "Justify My Thug". "Moment of Clarity" is pretty good, but I agree with the people that said it sounds too much like "Lose Yourself" (well, Em produced it). And "Change Clothes" is okay, but I think I liked it better when it was called "Excuse Me Miss".

Oh well, looking at the reviews, it appears that everyone has a different opinion of which song(s) should have been left behind. I'm not sure yet if I believe that he's really retiring, but at any rate, add The Black Album to your Jay-Z collection.

Anthony Rupert

Just copped this today..nice to have an "official" acappella album for blends and such. If you're not into mixing and blending, however, the only appeal of this album is hearing the power of the words, without any instrumentals.

"Reasonable Doubt"

"In My Lifetime: Volume 1"

"Volume 2: Hard Knock Life"

"Volume 3: The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter"

"The Dynasty: Roc La Familia"

"The Blueprint"

"MTV Unplugged"

"The Best Of Both Worlds"

"The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse"

"The Black Album"

If you honestly take a good listen and a hard look at all of these CDs by Jay Z, the only two that you can say that may have not been up to par were "In My Lifetime: Volume 1" and "The Best Of Both Worlds". On "In My Lifetime: Volume 1", The Notorious BIG was shot and killed and you could tell that Jay Z wasn't entirely himself on this CD. However, "Where I'm From", "Streets Is Watching" and "Imaginary Player" are well known Jay Z classics. "The Best Of Both Worlds" sounded like a whole CD of Fiesta Remixes and should not have been released in the winter, of all times to release a CD with so many summer cookout themes attached to them.

If I personally tried to tell you all of my favorite Jay Z songs and collaborations you would be bored by having to read 15 minutes worth of songs, so I'll let this review stick to "The Black Album". The intro doesn't make too much sense to me but nearly everyone puts an unnecessary intro on their CD. Just Blaze and Jay Z get things off to a good start with "December 4th". Gloria Carter gives us a narrative of the early events into the life and times of Shawn Carter. "The Black Album" should have started with this song instead of an intro. Jay Z blesses us with the best song on this CD by Track 3, in my opinion. "What More Can I Say" summarizes why Jay Z wants to put the microphone down at this time. ...And no he is not dissin' 50 Cent & Busta Rhymes. Jay Z is basically saying that the way he started rhyming was not the same rhyme style of those 2 particular artists. The 1st single "Change Clothes" took a little while to grow on me. This song is basically "Frontin' Part 2". However, once I heard the song a couple of times, I listen to the track in its entirety now instead of fast forwarding. The same can be said about his 2nd single, "Encore". Kanye West blesses the track something lovely but it seems that there is too much going on in the track. I kept listening to the song and now that no longer gets a fast forward either. The best beat on this CD goes to Timbaland's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder", in my opinion. Timbaland always blesses Jay Z with hot tracks such as "Big Pimpin'", "Hey Papi", "It's Hot" and "Hola Hovito". Jay Z brings the lyrics and you have what should be the 3rd single if Jay Z does release another single. "Threat" is produced by 9th Wonder and the song cleverly uses R Kelly's "A Woman's Threat" track. Eminem is back on the baords again as he produces "Moment Of Clarity". Eminem produced Blueprint 1's "Renagade" and also rapped on the track. Jay Z takes this opportunity to touch on issues such as things that went on between his father, his rhyme style, and his friends in the rap game. On "99 Problems", Jay Z employs Rick Rubin to produce the track and the song sounds just like something Rick would have produced on The Beastie Boys' "Licensed To Ill" album. Jay Z has a little something for the haters and the cops on this one. The track was unexpected but if you liked anything from the "Licensed To Ill" album then you will like this track. On the "Interlude", Just Blaze is back again with another fire track and Jay Z gives two nice verses. "Lucifer" has Kanye West on the boards and is also one of the better beats on "The Black Album". "Allure" is the Neptunes' 2nd contribution and reminds me of "N.E.R.D.'s" Bobby James from their CD. "My 1st Song" ends Jay Z's last CD off on the right note as The Notorious BIG is talking as the track begins and Jay Z reminisces to things that happened early in his rap career. The only track that gets a fast forward is "Justify My Thug" as Jay Z uses the old Madonna song as a sample to be the chorus. Although DJ Quik does justice to the track and Jay Z has nice lyrics on the track, I think that's something that Jay Z should have just left alone.

Overall, if you are a fan of Jay Z's library of CDs then you should definitely pick up "The Black Album". This CD is one of the better rap CDs that are out now. Personally, I don't think Jay Z will retire. He will take a break, chill with Beyonce, get his businesses in order and by the Summer of 2005, I will expect to hear another summer banger produced by the Neptunes, Timbaland, Just Blaze or Kanye West.

James' Top 5

1) What More Can I Say

I LIKE THIS CD I LIKE DECEMBER 4TH WITH HIS MOM AND MY FAVORITE IS MY FIRST SONG THERE ARE GREAT SONGS ON HERE AND RAP WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT JAY-Z AND AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY IT NAS WILL BE KNOWN AS THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE WITH JAY-Z RETIRED.I WILL MISS HIS EXCELLENT RAPPING.

I DO HAVE ONE PROBLEM MY FAVORITE REVIEWER RUNNRWOOD DOES NOT HAVE THE SPOTLIGHT REVIEW AND HIS REVIEW FOR THIS CD IS GOOD IF YOU SORRY PEOPLE HAVE ANY BRAINS PUT RUNNRWOOD AS SPOTLIGHT REVIEW