Like, just stay hungry.” Starvation doesn’t drive The Black Album, but rather, the hunger to have the future listeners of hip-hop reminisce upon him as the best to ever do it. Like, that's how you try to treat things. There’s no triumph to be found in art made during periods of apathy.Īs the sample of Biggie Smalls’ 1996 MTV interview so profoundly states on the ironically titled outro, “My 1st Song,” “The key to staying on top of things is treat everything like it's your first project, nomsayin'? Like it's your first day, like, back when you were an intern.

My 1st Song - I think this is the perfect closer to the album.

While a lot of the album alternates between braggadocio and introspecting on Jay-Z’s early life, this track bridges the gap and shows the complex relationship between where he is vs. It’s threaded with the expected braggadociosee the knowing 'What More Can I Say'but even better are the moments when Jigga turns inward. Instead of Jay Z rhyming about playing in the key of life on my mental piano over a sped up ‘80s sample, the former in-house Roc-a-Fella producer gives an introspective. The Black Album was said to be JAY Z’s victory lap before retirement, and he would’ve bowed out with a bang, serenaded by thrilling, brass-heavy beats from the best producers of the day. The Black Album proves a worthwhile victory lap can find the middle ground between artistic comfortability and inspired proficiency. Allure - IMO this is one of the songs that makes this album special. Just like the classic intro to The Dynasty, the opening track to The Black Album is produced by Just Blaze, but that’s where similarities end. It’s difficult to pinpoint a better place in JAY-Z’s storied discography for verses that speak so well on the behalf of all he’s accomplished and overcome. The precision presented on “ Justify My Thug,” the flawlessness of “ Public Service Announcement (Interlude),” and the songwriting prowess of both “ Encore” and “ Dirt Off Your Shoulders” are all highlights fated to transcend 2003.

Jay z the black album album