Jigga's man's back with what will be a definite candidate for album of the year. While I am a big Jay-Z fan, I really was not feeling his last album (Vol 3. The life and time of S. Carter). However,  whatever beefs  I had with his last album are not present on this album. The first single (I just wanna Love U) is some of the jiggiest stuff you will ever hear in your natural life. But that's okay, I understand that if you want to go platinum you have to have a couple of jiggy tracks on the album to appeal to the main stream. 

        In addition to the jiggy stuff Jay-Z stays true to the streets with tracks like: Change the game, This can't be life, Parking lot Pimpin', Squeeze first and others.  Squeeze first being the coldest of the above mentioned tracks containing a hidden diss to Will Smith. I'm not going to tell you what it is you'll have to listen and see if you can find it.

        In terms of guest appearance this album has: Scarface, R. Kelly, and Snoop Dogg, Which confirms my theory that it is illegal to drop an album without a guest appearance by one of Snoop Dogg, Method Man, or Redman. Also, Jay-Z's two protégé's Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Segal. 
They are all over this album and the exposure should help their already rising career. 

        All in all, pick up this album. It is going to go down as classic and some of Jay-Z's best work.

Rating
****1/2