Jay-Z Unplugged\nJay-Z\nUniversal/Def Jam\nIf you own all or most of Jay-Z's albums, Jay-Z Unplugged no doubt needs to be a part of your collection. Jay-Z, aka Jigga or Young H.O.V.A., whatever you want to call him, has done it again with a hit album less than four months after his previous release, The Blue Print. Few artists can release quality albums one right after the other, but Jay-Z has proved to his fans, as well as the general public that he is capable of things that most artists aren't.\nThe "Unplugged" series first aired on MTV in 1989, and has since showcased artists such as Nirvana, Eric Clapton, among many others. Jay-Z is one of the first rappers to be added to the list of performers in the series. Backing him up on the CD is the Grammy Award winning the Roots. While it may sound strange to hear a violin in the background of "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", true fans will appreciate Jay-Z's music no matter what instruments happen to accompany him.\nSongs from Jay-Z's first album to his most recent can be heard on the CD. From "Ain't No" to "Girls, Girls, Girls," Jay-Z takes his biggest hits and performs them without the electric guitars and keyboards. \nJay-Z Unplugged isn't a CD you'll want to pop in at your next party, much like his previous works. Although it has all his hit songs, the songs have a more mellow sound, and the language has been toned down from the original album versions. \nIf you think Jay-Z is an okay rapper and you only like a few of his songs, you won't find yourself enjoying the album. If you love Jay-Z and his previous efforts, there's no excuse for you to pass this one up. I never liked the "Unplugged" series preferring the original albums and songs, but Jay-Z has amazed me with his excellent foray into the format and will surely amaze fans everywhere.\n
