The Streets Say: “Blueprint 3″ (Jay-Z)
In an ongoing effort to provide value to readers and the very lazy, YFWB presents the “The Streets Say”: a summary of reviews and views from around the raposphere on the hottest hip-hop LPs and mixtapes. If you want your review included, hit me up.
THE STREETS SAY: 3.5 OUT OF 5
Nappy Afro (4 out of 5)
Summary: “[T]he Blueprint 3 is unlike any other album he has released lyrically and production wise. That doesn’t mean the results are a total successful from it being different. With this album he showed more diversity sonically in terms of production value and provided a platform for the rap’s next generation to be ushered in. In working to present an album that’s diverse I think it succeeds in doing that while it might be a little too different for hardcore Jay-Z fans’ standards. Some songs on this album sound as if they were intended or would be better placed on other artists’ albums, which kind of shows Jay as reaching to appeal to other audiences and what’s deemed popular by Hip-Hop’s younger audience.”
Hip Hop Is Read (2.5 out of 5)
Summary: “Lemme make one thing perfectly clear: it’s impossible to compare The Blueprint 3 with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…II. Times have changed. As time goes by, however, what doesn’t change is whether an album is capable of standing up to the test of time or not. The Blueprint was released exactly eight years ago. That album is still a start-to-finish classic for me. Will we be saying the same thing about The Blueprint 3 in eight years’ time? No.”
Daily Mathematics (No Rating)
Summary: “ I like The Blueprint 3, especially since it sounds like one of Jay’s most honest records. Honest in that he embraces growing older, more away from the streets. Honest in how he doesn’t rap like how he used to. Honest in how rap as a whole kind of bores him, but in being the artist he is, he can’t give it all up just yet. This is the official 40 Year old Jay-Z album, no more speculating. I can see where some might throw him under the bus, especially since there’s minimal scrunch face moments, but like a veteran and pro that he is, Shawn Carter put together a good sounding album as a whole. Not his best, and definitely nowhere near his worse, I co-sign BP3 and gladly add it to my music collection. As should you.”
Inside Ubiquitous Mind (No Rating)
Summary: “Jay takes some great musical chances and pretty much they all work, the album is about 3 or 4 tracks from classic status, it’s better than Kingdom Come was, and Jay hasn’t lost it which I was scared of. He still has a great variety of flows and his lyricism isn’t great on every song but when it’s on, it’s definitely nice. I’d recommend it, glad I bought it and can’t wait for his next album.”
Brain On Funk (7.5 Out of 10)
Summary: “Maybe we’ve been spoiled. Jay’s last album, American Gangster, was one of the more focused efforts I’ve heard from him. The Blueprint 3 often lacks that focus in favor of a flurry of punchlines. The effort seems more ceremonious, as if he recorded it with a checklist in hand. Kanye rap? check. Lil Wayne delivery? check. Song for the ladies? check. Young Jeezy? double-check. With The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z is not shaping the future of hip-hop but is instead announcing he’s content with being arguably the best in this stagnant era. If you follow The Blueprint 3, you’ll build something fantastic. However, it looks a lot like everything else.”
Tags: Blueprint 3, Jay-Z
I Agree with brain on funk somewhat. its very true the blueprints have really shown where hip hop is going, this album is basically the best the only real innovative song i would say is haters. But there are some killer flows I think Ye’ kills it on Run this town its back to college drop out. the last part that ya trippin when you aint sippin have a refill feelin like you runnin huh? now you know how we feel. his delivery on that brought back the feelin of the energy he exibhit when he proforms. The thing im intrested in is was this a somewhat of a cop out? his last album that def jam gets paid for save the best stuff for a new album somewhat of a warm up lets not forget kingdom come…. it was good but was it jay-z? no. it was old man jay. This is jay rappin from the emotion of the hustle the argessive ness. id say honestly its a 8.5/10 there are songs that kill but theres songs that are week. This is no gift and the curse (fav Hov album)