ALBUM SCAN: Blueprint 3

Jay-Z
Blueprint 3 (2009)
Album Scan
by Arik Cohen

I always remembered Jay-Z getting the best, groundbreaking beats on his albums. If it was Jay-Z, you were getting ear-shattering beats. But I think I was mistaken. With the exceptions of Kingdom Come and The Dynasty Roc la Familia* he was more likely to get the best of the current set. The soul-sampling of Blueprint wasn’t exactly groundbreaking in its production, nor was the hard-pop of Volume 3, they were just the best collections of the current style. It’s like he didn’t want to change rap, he just waited for rap to change so he can step up and say he’s the best of the new style.

*Kingdom Come’s “Beach Chair” and “Lost Ones” really were different for the time, and The Dynasty Roc la Familia used Neptunes before it was the industry standard.

In many ways, the downfall of Blueprint 3 is that it doesn’t try to change anything. Jigga seems content in living in that same techno-rap box Timbaland can’t seem to get out of. That’s not to say the entire album is this style, but it’s a noticeable lack of imagination. I mean, we’re talking Jay-Z, so of course he knows how to rock it (the intro track allows me to calm down and not worry about such things), but come on Jay, kick some ass, huh?

Although, it's nice to see a rap album that goes to track eight before you hit skip (and the Timbaland lover I am, I’m pretty pissed he’s on that mess that is “Off That”) but I just wished it wasn't so divided.


It starts well with “What We Talkin’ About” and “Thank You.” The latter of which really reminds me of Black Album era Jay at his finest. The much talked about, “Death of Auto-Tune” is even pretty good on a third for fourth listen, and Swizzy gives a pretty sweet beat for “On To The Next One” which sounds like he took it off a B-side of One Man Band Man.

A lot is being written about “Venus Vs. Mars” as if it’s the symbolic downfall of Jigga. Come on people, the song works. The only criticism I can think of is that the lyrics don’t live up to the epicness the beat promises. But how can you hate a love song that references two tracks from the mid-90s east coast / west coast rivalry? (Shortly like Pac / Me, Big Poppa / She screamin’ ‘Hit ‘em’ up / I’m screaming ‘Who Shot Ya?’).

The worst of the album award probably goes to “Reminder,” which only serves to remind us how big of a head Jay can have. You’re better than Elvis? I didn’t get this memo.

The Pharrell collabo is weak, too. Just boring, really. As is “Already Home” with Kid Cudi. In fact, it’s not hard to realize that all the mundane, barely satisfactory tracks are on the second half of the album. Did Jay-Z know these were weak? I can’t help but think he did.

At it’s best, BP3 is a return to form, at its worst it’s the laziness of Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls on a rap album. But luckily it’s already pre-separated. So just listen to “On To The Next One” then feel free to turn it off. Though you might want to give “Hate” a listen to hear what has to be Kanye’s sequel to Graduation’s “Drunk and Hot Girls.”  I'll give you a clue:  There's a reason why it's on the second half of the album.