Hip-hop legend misses the mark on ‘Blueprint 3’

In the first two tracks “What We Talkin About” and “Thank You,” Jay-Z lyrically explains what the main message of the album is, being a grown successful man in the rap game and not caring what others think.

The two following songs are the radio hits, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and “Run This Town.” D.O.A.  is produced by No I.D., who blesses Jay-Z with a creative, well-made beat which Jigga uses to dismantle every modern hip hop trend. “Run This Town” features Rihanna and Kanye West on another catchy beat. Kanye lyrically outshines Jay-Z on the track and his motivation is showcased when working with the man who made him famous on the first “Blueprint.”

The next song, “Empire State of Mind,” is a New York dedication in which guest Alicia Keys provides outstanding vocals, making New York seem like the most glamorous city in the world.

The next several tracks feature the likes of Young Jeezy and Swizz Beatz who don’t live up to the performances of the other guests. This is where Jay-Z loses his focus — he continues to rap about the same topics over and over. Another misstep is on “Off That,” where the popular Drake is featured on the hook, but not given an opportunity to have his own verse.

However, on “A Star is Born,” another newcomer named J. Cole gets his shot and shows that he will be a force to be reckoned with during the next couple of years, while Jay-Z gives props to his peers in hip-hop. Timbaland, a famous producer who has worked with Jay-Z over the years, provides a strangely addictive beat on “Venus vs. Mars,” where Jay-Z continues with his punchlines and metaphors.

The next track is called “Already Home,” and Kanye West shows that he was originally meant only to be a producer; he brings soulful production while Kid Cudi does the chorus justice. Jay-Z brings in Pharell of the Neptunes on “So Ambitious,” and their chemistry over the years still exists here.

“The Blueprint 3” is full of guest appearances who give Jay-Z quality contributions, but Jay-Z himself provides nothing groundbreaking, which is what should be expected of this rap legend. The album should not be called a failure, but Jay-Z could have made it more meaningful than it is.