This album does have too much filler, and could easily be cut down from a double album to a single one. And there's "'03 Bonnie and Clyde" where Jay-Z and Beyonce take a Tupac classic [where his girlfriend is a metaphor for a gun] and make it a pop/rap record that, because of such a stretch, comes off as cheesy. However, I can't fault the album for its approach. Where the first Blueprint, sonically, focused on the past (i.e. where hip hop came from), this one wants to show where the genre can go. The remix to "U Don't Know" featuring M.O.P. and "Show You How" are prime examples of refreshing and outstanding sounds, both courtesy of Just Blaze. Jay-Z also demonstrates how hip hop can gel with other genres of music (i.e. rock- "Guns and Roses" featuring Lenny Kravitz and oldies pop which samples "My Way" by Paul Anka for the chorus). Lyrically, the album also has some very strong points too. Most notably, "Meet the Parents" where Jay-Z tells one of his most detailed stories ever and "A Dream" where he converses with the late, great Biggie Smalls. Considering that this album is widely considered one of Jay-Z's weaker efforts, it is also worth noting that it is superior to most emcees greatest material. Therefore, in addition to his best albums, Jay-Z is so good that even his "bad" ones can be used as evidence that he is one of the best emcees of all-time.
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