I just picked up the Black Album today, don't ask me how I got it, lets just say a cd shop had it in and I waited 1hr and a half for it, but was it worth my wait, that's a question you shouldn't even ask cause you know what my answer is gonna be. Hell Yeah! Jay-Z hate him or not, is at the top of the hip-hop game. He's one of the best lyrically and one of the best to me. The man don't even write lyrics down he gets it right at the top of his head and spits it out. That's why he's a genius, sure there are a lot of greats out there today such as, Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Little Brother, Eminem, 50 cent, yeah right, he's high school rappin material. I'm sure you get my point. Now does this album measure up to Reasonable Doubt? No, not at all, because there will never be another reasonable doubt, this is the black album, his last album? I think so, but I hope not, cause ladies and gentlemen after hearing this CD I wanted more. Not a lot of CD's can do that, but this one does it in a perfect way. In my opinion though this album deserves 5 records, XXL,5 mics, whatever, it deserves it, cause its that damn good. Now why do I give this a 5 out of 5 but not say that it doesn't measure up to reasonable doubt, because reasonable doubt is timeless classic, a lyrical masterpiece, wonderful music, and its hard to make another album that way, especialy because its 7 years old. The black album deserves 5 cause it defines Jay-Z career with a capial T. Like someone said it the best this is how MJ should of went out. So with that being said Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint,and Black Album all deserve 5 stars. So this is how my order of Jay-Z albums go 1.) Reasonable Doubt 2.) BLueprint and Black Album-tied 3.) Vol.3 4.) BP2 and Dynasty tied 5.) Vol. 1 and Vol.2-tied. Black Album Review: 1.) Intro 2.) December 4th (5 stars) 3.) What more can I say (5 stars) 4.) Encore (5 stars) 5.) Change Clothes (would give it 4.5, yeah i know everyone wants to shoot me for saying that, but I like it, but Igive it 4 reason being it will get played out hella much. (4 stars) 6.) Dirt Off Your Shoulder (5 stars) 7.) Threat (5 stars) 8.) Moment of Clarity (5 stars) 9.) 99 Problems (5 stars) 10.) Interlude (5 stars) 11.) Justify my Thug (5 stars) 12.) Lucifer (5 stars) 13.) Allure (5 stars) 14.) My 1st Song (5 stars) So there you have it, say i overrated it, hate my review, but this is my opinion, A classic album from a classic artist. Everyone like Jay would say lets raise your glasses of cristal and toast to one of the greatest of all time that did it before he died. Top 3 albums of 2003: 1.) Black Album 2.) Little Brother-The Listening 3.) Gangstarr-The Ownerz

Jay-z was one of my best artist, and the Black Album was one of my favourites. But now since he left his fans in the dust. I guess I have to choose somebody else. But you still my dawg. I think I'll get Kanye West's new album.