End of an Era?

The ace is back, and this time, he’s saying goodbye. Jay-Z, the one who brought us songs like “Big Pimpin’” and countless others, is leaving us with his final album, The Black Album.5{ushes the envelope just as far as every other Jay-Z album, with clever lyrics and beats that do nothing but compliment his vocal style over and over again. Every song on here is a hit, from “December 4th” to “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” with so many tracks getting radio play that this album will almost definitely hit multi-platinum status.



Jay-Z knows the rap game, he knows what sells. He also understands the fact that he isn’t a kid, and that his music, while having a certain raw energy, uses beats and styles from many musical influences which give this album a chance to bridge generation gaps.



There are two songs on here that strike exceptionally. “December 4th” has his mom speaking about Jay-Z, from his birth to growing up, with thoughtful, caring, uplifting lyrics. Every other verse or two being Jay-Z, hitting home the gritty realism of his life, making us realize that there are two sides to him.



The other, “99 Problems”, is an ode to 80’s hip-hop, with old-school scratching, 80’s style metal sampling, and repetitive drum beats. This song sticks out like a sore thumb (due to the production of Rick Ruben), showing that Jay-Z can put together something totally insane.



It will be a shame if one of hip-hop’s most talented artists decides to leave. Knowing Jay-Z, this is just a clever ploy to sell more albums.