Interlude (Just Blaze)
December 4th (Just Blaze)
What More Can I Say (who are The Buchanans?)
Encore (Kanye West)
Change Clothes (Neptunes)
Threat (9th Wonder)
Moment of Clarity (Eminem)
99 Problems (Rick Rubin)
PSA (Just Blaze)
Justify My Thug (DJ Quik)
Lucifer (Kanye West)
Allure (Neptunes)
My 1st Song (Aqua)


there's debate over Hov's best album, but I don't think there's debate over the quality of the album's highlights - namely 99 Problems, Lucifer, Encore, PSA...this late in his career Jay proved he was still more than capable of making ANTHEMS. It should come as no surprise that so much of this album's content still makes up your typical Jay-Z concert.

Ironically, what was intended to be a swan song exit proved to be his watershed crossover album. The buildup of it, the overwhelming critical acclaim, the documentary! Man this was a fun time.

I had just gotten my first car-a 97 Chevy Blazer. It was a terrible ride but it had a CD player man. This, Speakerbox, College Dropout. That was an entire 6 months practically, from Fall of 03 through Summer of 04. And it wasn't just me that was affected by this record in a major way. I'd been on Jay since Vol.2 like many, but suddenly the ecstasy loving hippies in my AP English class were quoting "99 Problems" casually. I know many whose first real introduction to rap was The Black Album. It served as a gateway for a lot of people.

Where do you have it ranked in his discog? How did you react to it? What's the album's legacy a decade removed from its release?

The highs were high as hell though. "Threat" was nothing special though it was good to see 9th get that mainstream paper. "Moment of Clarity" was produced by Em, nuff said and "Justify My Thug" was just boring. Some of the singles weren't great either but they worked. RD and The Blueprint are easily Hov's best albums.

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Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

What you said

Change Clothes sucked too.

That shit started Dangermouse carrer..Kno killed one..9th was okay. IT was so many I made a cd with each song from a different remix album.

What's yall favorite black album remix album?

http://twitter.com/Menphyel7


"F you Im better in tune with the Infinite"

I bought it from Dangermouse's site. I played the hell out of it and played his "Guitar Gently Weeps/What More..." remix more than I played the original.

def better than OG

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https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

________________________________________________________________
whenever you did these things to the least of my brothers you did them to me

didn't hear that many remix albums but I liked the 9th remix album.

was the GOAT

and yeah, Kno's version was great

Bandcamp/IG/FB/Twitter: @hecticzeniths

that Taxi sounding samp was perfect for that song
the 9th song is dope but mostly gets attention for the samp

__________________________________________
CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
------------------------------------
Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this

dj quik must be embarrassed for that garbage jay-z talked him into.

____________

Dallas Heatvricks BACK 2 BACK CHAMPS!!

“So back we go to these questions — friendship, character… ethics.”

yupp this is my favorite Jay-Z album.

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"F you Im better in tune with the Infinite"

Go Smack yourself and then apologize to your hand for looking stupid - Case_One

http://i54.tinypic.com/nxros2.jpg

black album still good though

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https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

I got it for Christmas when I was 14. I had been a semi JayZ fan up until then. For some reason, every time I almost bought Blueprint, I ended up getting something else (one notable memory, the time I chose Ja Rule's Pain is Love over the Blueprint, as a 12 year old,not a good look).

This was also the album that I got my classic-rock only friends into hip hop a little. It reminds me a lot of my 8th grade year. Most of it holds up today (I like Threat and Moment of Clarity, even though I fully acknowledge the wackness of their beats, but Justify My Thug was awful even back then).

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Though it's not as good as either Blueprint or American Gangster, it's still something that Jay can be proud.

The good:
Lucifer
PSA
99 Problems
Dirt Off Your Shoulder (one of the best "mainstream" Jay tracks ever)
What More Can I Say?
Dec. 4th
Allure
Encore

The okay:
Threat
My First Song
Moment of Clarity

The bad:
Justify My Thug (one of the worst Jay tracks ever)
Change Clothes

And even on the mediocre/bad songs, Jay is impeccable lyrically.

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www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/92570/10-years-later-what-if-jay-z-had-stayed-retired-after-releasing-the-black-album

I enjoyed both albums.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

or Willie Mays-ing in the outfield.

http://twitter.com/Menphyel7


"F you Im better in tune with the Infinite"

.

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50+ FREE Mixes on www.DJR-Tistic.com!

Twitter and Instagram - @DJ_RTistic

there was never any intent on him stopping rapping, but even if it were I still think he'd have married her anyhow

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CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
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Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this

Loved this album when it dropped, but I think it suffers in that it really isn't a "retirement" album any more. Had he stayed retired, I think this would be more heavily considered a "classic" among the hip hop circle. With the exception of Premier, all his best collaborators (production-wise) are present (Kanye, Just, Timbo, Pharrell) with the exception of Bink. I still enjoy this album as much as I did a decade ago.

"Dirt of Your Shoulder", "Public Service Announcement", "99 Problems", "What More Can I Say", "Encore" and "Lucifer" are some of my favorite Jay songs, period. People bitch about the Eminem beat, but I still love "What More Can I Say". "December 4th" and "Allure" are great in my books. "Threat" and "Change Clothes" are OK. The only song I really ever skip is "Justify My Thug"

I've never watched the documentary as a whole, I've only watched the "making of" segments, but those are all filthy. Especially love when he's skipping over Timbo beats we'd later here other rappers on.

In the end I'm glad he came back because it gave us American Gangster and WTT, and TBH I think Kingdom Come is a very underrated album, but other than that, I really could do without the rest (BP3, WTT). I would hold Jay's catalog in a higher regard if I took away all of his post-Black Album work.

Great album though. A personal classic. Can't believe it's been 10 years.

-------------------
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I didn't even fux with Justify My Thug until I heard 9th kill it

It became my favorite song on the album...I know it sounds stupid because I like lyrics but I was not fuxin with Quik's beat to the point where I wasn't even hearing the lyrics foreal until 9th smashed it like a goomba

**********
I should put that in a song

@nategoodness
www.nategoodness.com

The avatar is old. And, no, that hat was not a groovy style back then, either.

________________
@mpmakesmusic

12 tracks with 12 different producers I think? Was pretty happy Swizz didn't make the cut. From 98-03, Hov was BY FAR my favourite rapper, so even after the somewhat disappointing BP2, I was really anticipating this album.

Just Blaze & Kanye were my favourite producers at the time, and they did not disappoint here. I loved Intro/Dec 4th and Encore. I remember when PSA first leaked and The Lesson went nuts. My First Song was a great closer, too bad Aqua's career didn't take off, he had a great song on The B. Coming as well.

My least fav songs are pretty much the same as most people's (Moment of Clarity & Justify My Thug). Threat was a bit meh to me as well.

I might rank this #3 in his discog:

1. The Blueprint
2. Reasonable Doubt
3. The Black Album
4. American Gangster
5. Vol. 3

Might need to rewatch Fade To Black as well. Loved the behind the scenes footage with Pharrell & Kanye.

Also need to dig up this mixtape:

http://www.kevinnottingham.com/2009/09/03/jay-z-s-carter-the-re-mix/

-
Gang Starr / Nujabes blend - https://youtu.be/lsci1vu6ick
DOOM Tribute - https://youtu.be/qmBQ2BDefKM
Donut of the Heart cover in Javascript - https://youtu.be/afLc2CkC8lk

>1. Reasonable Doubt
>2. Blueprint
>3. Vol 1
>4. American Gangster
>5. The Black Album
>
>

The new third verse on there was dope too
>
>Also need to dig up this mixtape:
>
>http://www.kevinnottingham.com/2009/09/03/jay-z-s-carter-the-re-mix/

_______________________________________
Good people, good lovin
Good music in my life, it makes me happy

http://www.mixcloud.com/adotsizzle/

http://dannyswain.tumblr.com/post/10730572800/

http://www.startower.co.uk
http://www.dannyswain.com

Was so excited.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

from day one I was impressed with it. Top 3 Jay-Z for me along with Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint. The only skippable tracks are Change Clothes and Justify My Thug.

because every other song ends up being subpar almost, it takes me out of the experience because it's so jarring

__________________________________________
CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
------------------------------------
Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this

that was just as much an anthem as the other hits off that album

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youll hear 99 problems, dirt off and you def hear the first verse of PSA.

http://twitter.com/Menphyel7


"F you Im better in tune with the Infinite"

but ok.
when the album dropped that chorus BUNG
the lyrics on that aren't bad either
never mind the fact it had yall rocking button ups
"ha hiiiiiiiii"
http://youtu.be/j6G1uwe20wg

~~~~~~

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

the album..its PSA which get the best response..I aint heard Change clothes since it came out..Its not bad I think folks initally hated it so much cause this was supppused to be his underground street album but he came with this B4 the album and folks was mad

http://twitter.com/Menphyel7


"F you Im better in tune with the Infinite"

Shit is electric. I don't like attention, and would probably shit my pants if I had to perform in front of people, but I'd rock the shit outta that song.

I'd love for Hov/somebody to re-release FTB on blu-ray.

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Twitter & IG: @rulerofmyself
SC: rulerofmyself17

Yes! She's on the drugs. (c) BoHagon