The Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation, 2009) by Jay-Z

Sonically, this album is very intriguing.  The beats are diverse and that gives Jay-Z the space to do whatever he wants.  Where the first Blueprint album addressed past sounds and the second one attempted to tap into sounds of the future, the third installment in the trilogy splits the difference.  There are hard beats ("D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune]"), experimental ("On to the Next One") and crossover records ("Empire State of Mind").  And in this case, they all work and the same can't be said for The Blueprint 2.  Lyrically, Jay-Z is incredible as always.  However, the album feels a little guest heavy.  But make no mistake, this is still Jay-Z's album and all the guests bring their A-game, especially Kanye West on "Run This Town".  And for as commercially successful as the album was, it was also very artistic.  And judging by the album cover, perhaps that may be a bit of what he was going for.  Mission accomplished.

Watch the Throne (Roc Nation, 2011) by Jay-Z and Kanye West

In addition to board work by Kanye, other producers such as Q-Tip, Swizz Beatz, and The Neptunes also contribute music to this amazing project.  “Murder to Excellence” is a standout for the way that the beat changes mid-song while both men discuss the serious issue of black-on-black violence. The highlight, however, is The RZA-produced “New Day”.  Atop haunting piano chords, each rapper drops a verse hypothetically addressing their unborn son.  For as much as Watch the Throne was predicted to be an opportunity to capitalize on the popularity of the album’s two stars, it does not.  They can’t leave rap alone.  The game needs them.  Make no mistake, before Jay-Z was a “business man” and President Obama called Kanye West a “jackass”, they were both artists at the top of their craft.  And this album is a reminder of that.  As well as illustrating how far that artistry has taken them, excesses and egos in all.