Ok so as soon as it became available i picked it up...the third installment of Jay-Z's blueprint trilogy. I have to say the I had a great first impression as soon as the album started. I downloaded it through itunes so I haven't looked at the credits yet and thats how I want to write this review. Being somewhat of a producer myself I have my favorite producers in the game and I don't want my review to be biased. But here it goes. ENJOY (note producer information was added after the review was written)
BLUEPRINT 3 REVIEW
BY: OMAR CURIEL
"What We Talkin' About" (ft. Luke Steele)
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D.
First track is perfect to set the mood for the rest of the album, What We Talkin had a real good groove track that perfectly set a blank canvas for Jay to speak on with out being drowned out. My second favorite record on the album. Good beat and great lyrics.
"Thank You"
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D.
Second track had a bad ass big band sound. Thank You is the name of the track. In this track Jay does a little stuntin' but at the same time stays humble. The whole premise of the record is basically conveying that he doesn't feel he should be held up on a pedestal that some people put him up on. "thank you thank you thank you...your far too kind"
" D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
Produced By: No I.D.
Track 3 Death of Auto-Tune. What can I say...in my opinion Jays version of Nas's Hip Hop is dead. Ya'll heard the track all over the radio. Shit is bangin!
"Run This Town" ft. Kanye West and Rihanna
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D
Track 4 goes right into Run This Town feat Kanye West and Rhianna. Banging beat...great hook and Jay killed his verse and Kanye comes in a very very very close second! This is one of those tracks that I can listen to on repeat all day. The bass line is so powerful and the guitar is what bring the whole song together.
"Empire State of Mind" ft. Alicia Keys
Produced By: Al Shux
Next after that is Empire State of Mind feat Alicia Keys. I made it a point to not to listen to any leaked tracks or any bootlegs off this album and this track makes me happy that I did. This track would make and New Yorker proud of their city. A powerful hook carried through by a wonderfully melodic piano. Jay of course talks with great pride about his city, who wouldn't right?
"Real As It Gets" ft Young Jeezy
Produced By: The Inkredibles
Then comes the first prominent feature other than Run this town. Real As It Gets Feat Young Jeezy, is my 3rd favorite record on the album. Great track with what sounds like a sample but then again who knows. Jay again comes hard with verses pull from true emotions. Talks about being real and taking care of his fam. Jeezy does his thing on this track im actually pretty surprised that he held his own as well as he did and yet stayed true to Jeezy.
"On To the Next One" ft. Swizz Beatz
Produced By: Swizz Beatz
On To The Next One...well what can I say about this track...ill start by saying that its one of my least favorite tracks even though it has some of my favorite quotables on the album. I think its a Swiss Beatz track although I haven't looked at the CD cover. The beat sounded to repetitious, I guess I just didn't like the track too much.
"Off That" ft. Drake
Produced By: Timbaland
Then comes Off That feat Drake one of the few joints on the album that actually gave me a real electronica type of feel to it. I think that Jay gambled on this track and im kinda on the fence about it...Also Drake really didn't bring much to the track.
"A Star is Born" ft. J. Cole
Produced By: Kanye West, No I.D
A star is born is the feel good track on the album. Giving a lot of props to many other artist and rappers that came out throughout Jay's career. I like the hook and I like the track not a great record but not the worst. Eh...
"Venus VS. Mars"
Produced By: Timbaland
Venus vs Mars was one of the tracks that really intrigued me when i read the track list before the album came out...I like the track...its different...very abstract. The hook is a little repetitive for my taste and I would have liked a little more substance in the hook. Overall a good record on the album but I think given the topic (Men vs Women) I think Jay could have done a lot more with the song.
"Already Home" ft. Kid Cudi
Produced By: Kanye West
Already Home feat Kid Cuddi...I love this song...I think that its great that Jay put Kid Cuddi on this track. It shows that Jay understands that there is a next generation in the game and embraces it. He talks to the next rappers that are coming up, and talks to the critics and haters in the game....Great song, Great composition throughout.
"Hate" ft. Kanye West
Produced By: Kanye West
Hate...LOL...What can I say about this track...Kanye is a freaking genius! Beat is crazy, verses are sick, and it made me mad that the record was so short...it was the classic 2 MC's going back and forth...another track that I can put on repeat and jam all day.
"Reminder"
Produced By: Timbaland
Reminder had a really dark ominous tone to it...to me a street banger, hard strings and hard drums and synths. And again I haven't read the CD cover so Im not sure who the chick is singing the hook but she did good on it.
"So Ambitious" ft. Pharrell
Produced By: The Neptunes
So Ambitious...as I was listening to the whole album I kept hoping that there was a Pharrell and Jay colabo. And much to my expectations they hit it out of the park. I could be bias about the whole thing because Pharrell is one of my favorite producers and song writers...Every time them get together they make musical magic and this track is a continuance of the excellent music they've made in the past.
"Young Forever" ft. Mr. Hudson
Produced By: Kanye West
Young Forever is the only track that I am listening to for the first time as I write this review. It reminds me of the track he did on Kingdom Come "Beach Chair". I like the track real mellow and the content is appropriate for it being the closing song on the album.
Well there you have it people...my take on my favorite musicians album. Leave me a comment and your thoughts about the album.
And as always STREETSTAR for Life
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