Jay gets a B+

Jay - Z throws us another album called ‘The Blueprint 3’ that starts already as an interesting product when you first get a sight of it : an excellent cover – WOW! As an image fanatic that is exquisite! Then, on to the content. Let me digest and break: first song is like a list of the things he talks about in his songs in comparison with what other people talk about – smells to me of too much vanity, nevertheless the negative is a fine blend of techno and minimal touches. Then he thanks the audience, or so it seems; the song is nothing more than a playroom of funny toys, toys represented by various blowing instruments and rather strange mixed - feeling lyrics.

Jay - Z then throws ‘D.O.A.’, and awful attempt of presenting a self belief regarding musical actions with a chorus that makes me only bow my hat in front of him. Why? Well the dude makes millions of dollars from his music with no voice what so ever, he sucks even more than Shakira or Snoop Dog. The instrumental is completely and utterly brilliant. But, it only seems so because is such a copy of something that seems so obvious, yet I can’t seem to pin point it. Still, a theft!

’Run this town’ is my favorite song. I hate Rihanna and Kanye is utterly obnoxious, sometimes it makes me press the fast forward over his part because is so damn long and with the most stupid lyrics ever (I can’t believe the man wrote some time ago the lyrics for ‘Jesus walks’ ….Jesssusss!). The song is a foreplay against a battle for conquering a town, Jay delivers beautifully and powerfully and then Rihanna adds the so dismissed auto tune in the previous song – and an auto tune not at all bad. I admit the song is infectious; it has all the qualities for a constant abusing on your speakers.

Next track ‘Empire state of mind’ introduces another interesting guest on the album: Mrs. Alicia Keys. A song about and for New York. I adore New York, but I don’t the adore the song. Tricky attempt of an homage for this incredible city, but just a nice song that is all. ‘ Real as it gets’ is confusing, is completely mediocre, it is just a song and it made me move without hesitation to the next track ‘On to the next one’. Brash, bold and a modern track. The negative is a fascinating combination that delivers along the 2 voices, those of Jay-z and guest Swizz Beatz. The result is a hypnotic and quite sensual product.

I hardly passed to the next song ‘’Off that’ that featured Drake. A rather high tempo and provocative beat that succeeds in appearing like a rather good experiment in terms of mixing noises and decent lyrics. ‘A star is born’ is nothing more than a mid album track; it is there to fill, not at all to shine but still to complete the album. ‘Venus vs. Mars’ represents the sensual touch of the album, an all too well known metaphor for the battle between man versus woman and their sexual personalities.

‘Already home’ is the kind of violin star track in terms of instrumental composition. ‘Hate’ is another track with Kanye and like any other track featuring Kanye it features some imbecile lyrics delivered from that … creature with last name West, supported by some mouth sounds that blow literally and figurately. This should be it, right? No , Jay- Z adds 3 more tracks in the forms of ‘Reminder’ catchy cute tune, ‘So ambitious’, that stands as the track that had to feature Pharell, not just as a voice but also as his touch on the negative. It is a mellow track that could easily stand as a soundtrack for a lap dance as does ‘Off that’ And at last ‘Young Forever’, a song featuring a sample from A-ha. A-ha are part of the ‘vox dei’ category mentioned in previous reviews, and Jay - Z does not even come close, but the voice of that Mr. is rather beautiful and the slow tempo of the track is a nice try and good choice as last track. Still, leave masterpieces like this and Wonderwall alone!

After 15 tracks the verdict is good. A mature well powered album that brings a warm nod of head to such a courageous artist around for such long time.