Rapper's final album hardly grade Z

Fans have witnessed Jay-Z giving them his "Life" and "Times," introducing them to the "Dynasty" and giving listeners the "Blueprint" for rap success. Now, he leaves the game with The Black Album.\nThe Black Album is reminiscent of his first album Reasonable Doubt. He no longer talks about the big cars and jewelry as in recent albums, but instead focuses on his life.\nThe album is supposed to be Jay-Z's last. It's difficult to believe, but he talks about his departure in multiple tracks to convince the listeners. With a team of all-star producers, including the Neptunes, Kanye West, Eminem and Just Blaze, he couldn't have gone wrong. However, his lyrics are what make everything work. His talent shines through in virtually every track.\nMany tracks include samples from various songs. Tracks like "December 4th" and "What More Can I Say" utilize music that sounds like it was prepared for a champion, appropriately. "December 4th" includes a personal touch, his mother providing dialogue in the background about his birth and childhood. \nAfter that sweet introduction, he begins to rhyme about his not-so-sweet childhood and explains his reason for rapping and how he grew up. Although his first release off the album was "Change Clothes," there are numerous other songs that probably would have made for a great first single. \nIn "What More Can I Say" he utilizes the same champion-style music that the listener can hear in "December 4th." Another standout track is "My First Song," in which he uses dialogue from Notorious B.I.G. and begins rapping about himself again, but this track is his goodbye because it is the last on the album. He talks about it being his breakup with fame. It is bittersweet, but listeners can't help but smile by the end. \nHe uses some of these tracks to boast about his talent, but he has a right. He reminds listeners of his success and how much he has sold, but it's not obnoxious. His words are easy to digest because of the delivery.\nAn interesting aspect is that he has no one else rapping on it. This is an uncommon feature in recent hip-hop albums, but Jay-Z has made it successful and enjoyable without anyone else rhyming with him or for him. Every track has its own special feel. \nAs a result, this album doesn't leave the listener disappointed. It is a complete album, if not the final one.