Chapter One [PA] - Jay-Z

Advantages: Top quality hip hop, full of flair and skill,
Disadvantages: Some weaker tracks, adult language

...Jay-Z is a Brooklyn rapper who released his first studio album, Reasonable Doubt in 1996. His real anme is Shawn Corey Carter. The Black Album is his eighth studio album and is easily one of his best. He is a legendary modern day artist having sold more than 50 million units worldwide and has presided over Def Jam and Roc-a-Fella record companies. He now co-owns the American NBA basketball team 'New Jersey Nets' and sits atop a multi-million dollar empire. Many people will have heard of Jay-Z through his global celebrity relationship with singer Beyonce Knowles. The two of them have recently married this year and he has appeared of many of her singles up to date. Jay-Z is a hip-hop artist but has proved his appeal to the masses. His appearance on Beyonce's track 'Crazy in Love' and Rihnna's song 'Umbrella' have helped the two divas... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Jay-Z at his best, fantastic prodcution throughout
Disadvantages: None for me, suppose some people may be offended by the language used at times

...again over his career. This album earned him the rare 5 mic award from the source and XXL magazines, came 5th in Rolling Stones Albums of 2001, and 4th in NME's albums of 2001. The Album (Sample information taken from wikipedia) Track 1 - The Ruler's Back A laid back track to start the album with. Jay-Z sounds ultra relaxed on this track, rapping effortlessly but still with rhythm and style. Good track. Samples 'If' by Jackie Moore 'The Ruler's Back' by Slick Rick 8/10 Track 2 - Takeover An mix of two of my favourite artists of all time - Jay-Z and Jim Morrison/The Doors., as the beats are mainly taken from '5 to 1' by the Doors. Kanye West produced this one (way before he was a platinum selling artist in his own right), I've always liked Kanye's production, he takes chances with his beats and I applaud him... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A worthy conceptual reprise; Potent and focused Jay-Z rhymes
Disadvantages: A half hearted and inconsistent attempt at a "concept" album

...I have been here before... I remember being the guy who was semi-ridiculed by my buddies when I said I felt Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt was a cinematic concept album about the mafioso lifestyle. Others thought I was over-doing it a bit, but I think they fail to actually sit there and intently listen to the album and understand that every chapter is a different phase or aspect of the mafioso kingpin lifestyle. Each song told a story. Flash forward to 2009. When I first heard that Jay-Z's American Gangster was a concept album based on the film, I contemplated the magnitude of impact that the Denzell Washington film really had on the man. Jay saw parallels between his pre-rap activities and those of the film's main protagonist Frank Lucas, a real life heroin smuggler and gangster from New York. It's quite ironic to me that the same rap... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful