Track Listing

1. Interlude
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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7545 in Music
• Released on: 2003-11-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.com
If The Black Album is truly Jay-Z's last statement before retirement, he at least goes out near the top of his game. While it probably won't be remembered as his best album, The Black Album is his most personal to date and features some of his most compelling writing. Jay-Z is defiant and defensive here--he's trying to make sure his legacy is properly acknowledged, although he can get a bit heavy-handed at times. Still, he's rarely been more incisive or insightful in his rhymes, exposing his own childhood struggles on songs like "December 4th" while slapping at his haters with "What More Can I Say" and the cutting "Threat." Longtime Jay-Z collaborators Just Blaze and Kanye West churn out outstanding production, especially Blaze, whose beats for "December 4th" and "Public Service Announcement" are among the album's best. Newcomers Aqua and the Buchanans represent well also but Eminem's minor-key drone for "Moment of Clarity" is mired in mediocrity. Jay might fade to black after this one but his last shot doesn't miss. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Welcome back! I mean, so long! I mean...
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

"Maybe you'll love me when i fade into black...."
In 1996, Jay-Z came into the rap game with his undoubted classic debut album Reasonable Doubt. Since RD, he has sold over 20 million albums in the U.S, not counting other countries sales of his 10-12 albums. In 2001, he came the closest he ever had come to matching the quality of RD with his classic The Blueprint, unfortunately, the album that follow The Blueprint was a very weak effort littered with way too many guest appearences, that album was The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. Now, in 2003, Jay-Z has claimed he is hanging up his mic after this last album to work on other projects including working with new artists on the Roc-A-Fella record label, such as Young Gunz, Freeway, Kanye West, etc.

My initial thought was that there was no way Jay-Z could retire so soon, but many rappers have claimed to hang up their mics and came straight back (Example: Ja Rule). I bought this record, The Black Album, on the day it was released on Friday, Nov. 14. Overall, the record cannot be called anything other than a masterpiece. Taking it back to the roots of RD and the first Blueprint, this is one of jigga's finest records. I feel like every track is amazing so they are all 5 stars in my perspective but here's a list of what things i would've liked better about The Black Album.

"December 4th" - A very dramatic track about Jay's childhood and growing up. Has commentary from his mother, Gloria Carter, during the song. Produced by Just Blaze, this is one of the more upbeat on the album. Features the line "maybe you'll love me when i fade into black".

"What More Can I Say" - A track mainly talking about Jay's haters, people who have slept on him, all of that. Has some really brilliant wording in it as well as a great beat.

"Encore" - Absolutely brilliant. This is a laid-back sort of track that is amazing, definitely give this one a try. Displays Hova's ability to make up some of the best lyrics in hip-hop.

"Change Clothes" - I'm not going to say i was at all disappointed in this track, but it seems its mediocre compared to the rest of the album. This was placed here mainly for the sake of a "pop" single to hype up the album but it doesn't work well. The Neptunes' do a sorry production job, making it sound consistant to their last Jay-Z effort "Excuse Me Miss". I would've left this out.

"Dirt Off Your Shoulder" - First off, AMAZING BEAT. This track has more lyrical gold with an incredible beat to back it up. Another track about Jay's life and what he's about, excellent.

"Threat" - Another great song, more of lyrical brilliance but with a more edgy sound to it. The annoying dude saying stuff throughout the song is its only weakness.

"Moment Of Clarity" - I have some major issues with this song. The beat sounds way too much like an Eminem/50 Cent type of beat and is very annoying to hear with Jay rapping on it. The lyrics are very well put together, espicially one lyric i think is true to all of jigga's fanbase "i dumb down for ya'll to double my dollars/you criticize me for it but ya'll still yell holla..."

"99 Problems" - This has to be my personal favorite on the disc. The rock beat from Rick Rubin is amazing! Everything about this track is completely brilliant. Jay raps about all his problems ("I got 99 problems and the b**ch ain't one") including trouble with the law, haters, etc.

"Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" - Not really a song but has a beat and stuff so its sorta like one. Very good beat, some hot lines to match it up as well.

"Justify My Thug" - Very personal track, but has a really hot beat on it so i like it anyway.

"Lucifer" - The production here is great, obviously Jay thinks so to ("You did it again, Kanye/you're a f****n' genius"). Lyrically brilliant, but i thought it was a little too short.

"Allure" - Not as hot as i would've liked it to be, but has some very good lyrical parts to it.

"My 1st Song" - The outro track, the one that defines the whole album, well, it defined it pretty damn good. Has a fitting beat with lyrical GOLD. Has a line from Notorious B.I.G at the beginning, which fits it very well. Basically, its short but to the point. The last minute or so is just Jay yelling out shout-outs like a typical outro-style track.

Overall, The Black Album suceeded my expectations. By using incredible producers and writing some of his best material, Jay-Z has formed an incredible ending to a story that will live on forever. There is no telling if Jay will stick with his plans, but all i know is that stepping out now will claim him as one of, if not the, hottest rappers to ever hit the mic.

A legend hangs up his Mic...
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!