The Not-So Dark Knight: Welcome to the Blueprint

In this day and age, fans are no longer loyal to the ones who paved the way. Whoever people are told to like, they like. We can blame this on the general age demographic on the average rap listener or the severe age gap between the Hip Hop Juggernauts of the mid 90s-early 2000s, but the fact remains, it is not about if Fan A grew up listening to artists directly influenced by Fan A's faorite artist, it's about do they have a hit single that 106 and Park is playing. And we've heard this argument before so I won't dwell on it too long. But this is where Hov steps in, this is where the Blueprint 3 is analyzed and I can see how important this album is. This CD is a step further into the genius that is Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z

So...What We Talking Bout

A great way to open the album. Hov is laying out a Blueprint to the Blueprint. Saying what he will address and what is not worth his time. It's a somewhat broad overview but then he gets into critics commenting on the fact he still speaks about the drug life despite the fact he is a multi-millionaire. He goes on to say "I aint talkin bout profit, I'm talkin bout pain. Talkin bout despair, I'm talking bout shame" And this is evident with his subtle references to the drug game in the past tense. Then in the third verse he gets down to the nitty gritty and smashes the immature mentality criticizing those "Posing with guns, shooting youtube up" and begs listeners to "Go with him to the White House." As I said, a great way to introduce the album, let's you know this will be an album for mature and seasoned ears only. And I wish I could continue with the quotables in this song but we'd be here all day

Thank You

A flashy song with an even flashier ambience. Jay raps in a pseudo British accent over jazzy horns essentially about the good life. This song too is filled with quotables especially the second verse from the "What size suit you is?" bar. But the stand out verse is the last one where he equates his opposers to the events of 9/11 (A sly testament to the original and third installment of the Blueprint's release date) saying his opponents destroyed themselves before they even had a chance essentially.

We all heard D.O.A. and I have a whole post dedicated to the song Here so just check that out. Run This Town I feel is a good song but Jay's first verse is lackluster. The second verse he stepped it up but Kanye came through and crushed it on all levels.

Then we got that Empire State of Mind

A Good anthem for NY. Besides the biting of the title from the GOAT, its a cool song. Alicia Keys honestly made the song what it is though. Other than that it was cool to hear Jay shoutin out some things that make NY what it is...just NY

Then we see that the Blueprint is Real as it Gets

With the help of Jeezy, Jay spits about doin real nigga things like making sure his man Emory Jones who is currently doing a bid is more than good when he comes home. My personal favorite part of the song is Jeezy spittin "That's gotta be disgusting it just make you wanna throw up/ This is big boy music shit just make you wanna grow up/Flow is like syrup it just make you wanna pour up"

Now it's time to grow up. On to the Next One ft Swizzy and Off That ft Drake are songs where Hov flexes his evolution muscle. He states "Niggas want my old shit, buy my old albums." As he said in interviews, his experiences are broader now so he cannot speak on the same things he was speaking on Reasonable Doubt or even Black Album. This sets the tone of the song and the message is Progression. On Off That he is doing what he is know to do well: Tell dudes to move on from whatever it is they think is popping at the moment. "Oversized clothes and chains we off that" "Chris we off that, Rims we off that, Timbs we off that" Just basically telling people to step it up, a sentiment I share with Young Hov

Then A Star is Born through The Blueprint

I didnt feel Jay like that on this song but I see what he was doing with it. Chronicling the rise of every major hip hop act. And lee-ways into J.Cole, the best new spitter out, symbolically telling the listener that one day J. Cole's name will be amongst those ranks

Let's take a trip to Venus and Mars

A story of a woman who Jay thought was the one but turned out to be a snake. The last verse is really stand out filled with ill word play. "We was sposed to Takeover, I caught her bumpin Ether" One of my favorite songs on the album but I admit it had to grow on me initially

But let's go back Home

Already Home is a cool track. From what I understand it's just Hov saying that he's comfortable where he is and with what he's doing in the game. And in his comfort he is saying people can't move him from there. The second verse is probably one of the illest on the album. Cudi should be honored to be on the track. He addresses the critics and nay-sayers saying "They call me a camel but I mastered the drought" among other jabs at the Haters

Speakin of Haters

A song with a weird beat that sounds circa 808s and Heartbreak. Has some cool lyrics but a borderline forgettable track. Just seems like a track Hov wanted to throw on but still doesnt fall into the filler category

A Friendly Reminder

"They think I'm outta shape so lemme jog they memory" Sums this song up perfectly. Dont get me wrong, I HATE the beat and hook. But this is what I'm referring to when I say people have no loyalty. Jay is saying how can you people forget who he is and how could he of all people, fall off. This song is more about what he's saying but the way he's saying it is above par also, not the best but good enough.

Hov is Ambitious though...

A song for all the youngsters out there. The overall story is of all the people that doubted Jay but how he used it as fuel to get to where he is. Also it's coupled by an actually good Neptunes beat and hook and I havent seen that since...like....04.

But at the end we all wanna be Young Forever

This song I kinda dont get but it sounds cool to just chill out to and a good way to end the album. Sounds like Jay is trying to drop knowledge and at the same time seal his name in the Hip Hop annals of history. That's all I can really say about the song.

A lot of onliners are givin this album negative play but I'm really feelin it and its been on repeat ever since I downloaded it. Once I get paid I'm buying the album. Your mind has to be mature and expanded to UNDERSTAND this album let alone appreciate it. Hopefully it sparks the change needed in Hip Hop.

And here are the videos from the concert last night. REAL ILL!