Jay-Z Black Album (A Capella) CD

In what he claims to be his final release as a musical performer, Jay-Z drops THE BLACK ALBUM, a sprawling, ambitious effort that rivals the best work of the rapper's already legendary career. Working with a who's who of hip-hop's most high-profile producers, the outrageously talented MC adjusts his flow and subject matter to the wildly varied tracks, proving once again just how gifted he is as a wordsmith.

From the epic "What More Can I Say" (a collaboration with the Buchannans) to the brutally honest, Eminem-produced "Moment of Clarity," THE BLACK ALBUM bleeds with inspiration. Other highlights include the fuel-injected "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" (featuring Timbaland behind the board), the club-ready "Change Clothes" (which sports the Neptunes' trademark beats), and the old-school stomp of "99 Problems" (with pioneering hip-hop producer Rick Rubin). It makes one wonder how an artist at the peak of his craft could willingly put the microphone down. Hopefully, time out of the spotlight will remind Shawn Carter why he became successful in the first place, and find him back in the studio.

Could this be the record that launches a thousand production careers? Variations on The Black Album began multiplying like rabbits soon after its release in November 2003, with DJ Danger Mouse's masterful Gray Album -- in which samples from the Beatles' White Album power the productions behind Jay-Z's raps -- getting a large share of the publicity (and legal action). Within a few weeks, the novelty threatened to become a full-blown phenomenon, led by likely contenders The Black on Black Album (Metallica) and The Purple Album (Prince) as well as a few unlikely fusions such as The Slack Album (Pavement) and Jay-Zeezer: The Black and Blue Album (Weezer). (Undoubtedly nearing completion on some renegade's hard drive is The Crack Album featuring Rick James samples or The Back Catalog Album featuring previous Jay-Z productions.) No matter, Def Jam did a favor to budding producers who are still searching for the unaccompanied vocals by releasing this a cappella version of The Black Album. As necessary in any producer's collection as an Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilation, it obviously makes much less sense for any other music fan, though Def Jam deserves points for adding lyrics to the liner notes. ~ John Bush

Cedric The Entertainer.

Producers include: The Neptunes, DJ Quik, Eminem, Rick Rubin, Just Blaze.

Personnel: Jay-Z; Sharlotte Gibson, Don Crawley, Leon Harris, John Legend (vocals); Steven King (guitar); Luis Resto (keyboards); Jason Lader (programming); Kanye West, Danee Doty, Vincent "Hum V" Bostic, Cedric The Entertainer (vocals).

Audio Mixers: Eminem; Rick Rubin; Supa Engineer "Dura"; DJ Quik; Gimel Keaton; Jimmy Douglas; Andrew Scheps; Richard Travali; Steven King; Darrell Thorp.

Recording information: 54 Sound, Detroit, MI; Akademie Mathematique Of Philosophical Sound; Baseline Studios, New York, NY; Record Plant Studios, LA; Research, Los Angeles, CA; The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL.

Photographers: Walik Goshorn; Lenny Santiago; Jonathan Mannion.

Personnel includes: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Sharlotte Gibson, Vincent "Hum V" Bostic, John Legend, Don Crawley, Leonard Harris, Kanye West, Danee Doty,

Rolling Stone (12/25/03, pp.106-7) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2003"
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.198) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...He's settling scores and letting us deeper into his life than ever....One of the better albums of his career..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/28/03, pp.121-2) - "...[Here] the quintessential hustler [seeks] a memorable exit..." - Rating: B+
Q (1/04, p.108) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[H]is real strength lies where it always has: in brags. He excels at flashy cadences and unexpected turns of phrase."