Jay-Z caps ‘Blueprint’ trilogy

In 2001, “The Blueprint” hit stores and soon became a timeless hip-hop album, further solidifying Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s legacy as a legend in the rap game.

Now, eight years later, Jay-Z is a married man whose name permeates the business world as well as the music industry.

He has become hip-hop’s elder statesmen but remains one of its strongest contributors. With “The Blueprint 3,” Jay brashly reminds us that when at the top of his game, he is at the top of hip-hop as well.

While the album definitely falls short of being an enduring work of art like the original “The Blueprint,” it is certainly a significant addition to the Blueprint series.

Like “The Blueprint 2,” there are several high-caliber guests on the album, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Rihanna.

The album’s leadoff track, “What We Talkin’ About,” serves as a guide to Jay’s lyrical content. While the background might be too psychedelic for some, it’s certainly an appropriate intro to the album.

Soon after that are the two popular singles, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and “Run This Town.” “D.O.A.” is quintessential Jay-Z. It makes a statement about the place of auto-tune in the rap genre; apparently there isn’t one. And when a respected artist like Jay holds a metaphorical funeral, peers would be wise to listen.

“Empire State Of Mind,” which features Keys, is quickly ascending the charts and could possibly be the best track on the album. Jay-Z’s flow is smooth and rhythmic, while Keys belts out a strong chorus about the wonders of New York City.

The rest of the album includes its worst tracks: Swizz Beatz’s “On To The Next One,” Kanye’s “Hate” and “Venus vs. Mars.” “On to the Next One” has Swizz’s usual bouncy, redundant rhythms that are more obnoxious than catchy. The other two songs have choppy flows and poor beats.

“Already Home” with Kid Cudi and “Off That” with Drake are both superior showings that represent the fusion of a veteran with two up-and-comers.

The finale effort, “Young Forever,” is a soft synthetic beat about Hova’s life, simply said. Featuring Mr. Hudson, it is a surprisingly faultless finish to the album.
Overall, “The Blueprint 3” is a solid conclusion to the “Blueprint” trilogy. Jay-Z proves he’s still got that lyrical flair, but he says it best:

“I’m in the hall already / on the wall already / I’m a work of art / I’m a Warhol already.”