1. Interlude - Interlude
2. December 4th
This track starts off with Jay-Z's mom talking about his birthday. The beat for this track is nice and Jay spits about how his life was growing up. Nice and simple track to start off the album. 7/10
3. What More Can I Say
The title says it all. What more can you say but that this is by far one of the sickest tracks on the album. The beginning of the song starts out with samples from the movie "Gladiator." Jay brings pure heat over this sick beat and the chorus is simple but real nice. 10/10
4. Encore
Another sick track on the album. Kanye West's production skills really show on this song. The beat sounds real strong and goes along with Jay's flow. The song is basically about Jay performing and the crowd wanting an encore. An easy 10. 10/10
5. Change Clothes
This is the first single from the album and when I first heard it I was so disappointed. The song was produced by The Neptunes and sounds way too much like "Frontin." Has to be one of the worst songs on the album, or even one of the worst by Jay-Z for that matter. 5/10
6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Well Jay recovers from the weak track above with this one. The beat is kinda strange but Timbaland killed it as usual. Jay's verses are real nice and go to the beat nice, even though you get that weird feel. The first few times I heard the chorus I didn’t like it but after awhile I got hooked on it. It sounds great and goes real nice with the beat. “If you feelin like a pimp nigga, go and brush your shoulders off, Ladies is pimps too, go and brush your shoulders off, Niggaz is crazy baby, don't forget that boy told you Get, that, dirt off your shoulder”. All around sick track! 10/10
7. Threat
Well basically the song is about how he is a threat to anyone who steps up to him. The beat is pretty simple but still nice. The verses are pretty good also. It also contains a sample from R. Kelly's song "A Woman's Threat." 7/10
8. Moment of Clarity
Even though this beat sounds just like most of the ones produced by Eminem, this one just stands out more. It is real deep and Jay's flow over it is amazing. Jay goes on talking about a lot of topics but in the end, Thanks God for his Moment of Clarity. The chorus is sick as hell and really grabbed my attention because it includes the names of 8 of Jay-Z’s albums with the exception of Streets Is Watching Soundtrack, Jay-Z Un-Plugged, The Best Of Both Worlds, and The Blueprint 2.1 (Not really an album, just remixes.) The chorus goes like this, “Thank God for grantin me this moment of clarity, This moment of honesty, the world'll feel my truths, All through my "Hard Knock Lifetime", "A Gift and a Curse", I gave you "Volume" after "Volume" of my work, So you can feel my truths I built the "Dynasty" by bein one of the realist niggaz out, Way beyond the "Reasonable Doubt,” y'all can't fill my shoes, From my "Blueprint" beginnin to that "Black Album" endin Listen close you'll hear what I'm about, Nigga, feel my truths!”. 10/10
9. 99 Problems
When I heard this track I felt lost because the hard rock sounding beat was a little to hard for me but after a while I started to really feel this song. The verses are really nice especially the 2nd verse as he talks about getting pulled over and about his rights. The chorus is pretty catchy also, "I got 99 Problems but a bitch ain't one, Hit Me!" 8/10
10. Public Service Announcement (Interlude)
“Allow me to re-introduce myself, My name is Hov”! Even though this is an Interlude, Jay still spits a few quick verses that are real sick. One line that I felt was real sick was “"I never claimed to have wings on, Nigga I get mine - by any means on whenever there's a drought, Get your umbrellas out because, that's when I brainstorm!" Another hot beat by Just Blaze also. Real easy 10. 10/10
11. Justify My Thug
When you hear this song, you feel like you’re in a club in the early 80's. DJ Quik produced the track and it also contains samples of "Justify My Love" by Madonna and "Rock Box." Even though the beat is pretty nice, I think Jay could of came a little harder with his verses. 6/10
12. Lucifer
Another sick beat by Kanye West. The track contains samples from "I Chase The Devil" by Max Romeo. Jay once again comes with nothing but heat. The first few times I heard the sample I thought that is was a little annoying but after a while I started to really like it. A real nice track. 10/10
13. Allure
Another track produced by The Neptunes, Another track to skip. Jay's verses are ok but the beat is just horrible and sounds too much like typical Neptune beats. Pharell also gets on your nerves with his singing. A real let down on production and could be even worst then "Change Clothes." 4/10
14. My First Song
Real nice way to once again recover from a bad Neptune track. The track starts off with a sample of Biggie talking about staying busy and staying on top of the game. This track kindda brings you back to the older Jay-Z when he use to spit a little faster. The beat for this track is beautiful and the guitar is real catchy. Jay flows on this track real nice and it is a great way to end the album. The track ends with Jay throwin shout outs to all his friends and things that went on in his career and life. Another easy 10. 10/10
Overall
Overall I think this is a great album, a future Classic, with the exception of the 2 Neptune tracks. Even though he says this is his last album, I can't believe that. If it is his last, it is a good way to go out. I say you go out as soon as you can and cop this while you still can.
Overall I give it a 9.5/10
