Artists' views on Jay-Z's "The Black Album"!

What's good Hip-Hop heads! So, I did a review on Jay-Z's the Black album for a site but they weren't feeling it.
I tried to do something new and get some artist's perspectives on the album but the site rejected the review so I'm going to put up what the artist's said about the album and I want to know what all of you think about the album. Post it in the comments and let's see what we come up with. The comments that you make can be as long or as short as you want them to be.

Peace.

HipHopInformant - HAPPY NEW YEAR HIP-HOP!

“Well the Black Album to me was not his best album, (I actually rate it behind Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint, Hard Knock Life, and BP3) but it was a great album. Songs like December 4th, What More Can I say, Encore, and Allure showed Hov's lyrical side, while Dirt Off your Shoulders was a club banger. I honestly believe it was, if anything, one of the best produced albums ever. With Kanye, Timberland, 9th Wonder and The Neptunes all supplying him heat, there was no way this album could lose. My favorite joint on the album was December 4th. Not only was it a great introspective track, it's title December 4th is one day before my birthday, December 5th. That’s dope to me!

His lyrical ability has always been flawless, but I think it was on full display on the Black Album. I was both introspective, but it was so much over your head. Jay is good at that balanced. I think its brilliant how he went from rapping from a drug dealer perspective to being a business man. No one else can do that and stay relevant. Jay-Z sold out and the public rides with him still. That’s why he is the greatest!”

Lottery-Chicago Hip-Hop Artist.

“For me, the black Album is his most complete and honest work to date. I want to say it was a gimmick his "retirement" but even if it was a thematic device to put himself in a frame of mind to be this open about how he feels..it worked. My favorite Jay Z album.”

Hired Gun-Hip-Hop Artist from New York.

“Although the Black album is not my favorite of Jay-Z's discography it is a album that from start to finish speaks to you . December 4th kicks the album off letting jigga tell his story from birth (December 4th) to his current state with even an excerpt from his mother. Songs like "What More Can I say" , " Allure" , and " Encore " makes you feel like you are listening to an event. These are the songs that bring the album to life. Listening to songs like " Lucifer"and "99 Problems" shows you jay z lyrical ability to just work a record and keeps him multifaceted in the rap genre. "Change Clothes" is a collab with Pharrell that we have come to get use to the dynamics and chemistry they have together. At the time this was marked as Jay-z's retirement album and after hearing it I believed it to be a poor exit. Something about it didn’t agree with me as an exit album. Today I look at it as a good album at about 8/10. It’s a very solid album that unfolds like a story. It’s all nicely wrapped at the end with the song "My 1st Song" which is the idea of making everything like the first thing you make. With the same energy and excitement as if I’m finally getting my chance. This is a very noteworthy lyrical conceptual album that will go down as a memorable project from one of the leading artist of our time Jay-Z.”

Natureboy Rowe- Dirty South Hip-Hop Artist.

“To me the Black album is one of Jay-z’s greatest projects. My fav is that threats song produced by 9th wonder.”

Mike Faceless-Hip-Hop Artist from California.

Mike Faceless: The Heir To The Throne of Hip-Hop!

Lyrically in the ranks of Jay Z, Nas, Eminem, Atmosphere, and Mos Def, Mike Faceless has made his mark in the underground. From Free styling on street corners in VA beach and Southern Cali to performing with the likes of Pharcyde and Dilated Peoples, Face is known to be a contender in the hip hop world. His Charisma is matched by few live or in the studio and his heart is indeed truly dedicated to music. Mike Faceless is also an accomplished producer, writing tracks for his group project Pocket Change and working on putting together his own production company.

He has just released his album, “Heir To The Throne”.

The album as a whole includes skilled precision, witty lyricism, nice production, nicely constructed beats and you can sense the work that went into this album.

The Track “The Coming” has a real nice beat and melody and the lyricism blew me away. It was fast, precise and witty.

The beat is not too complex but it works well and this is going to be a definite club banger and works as an Introduction to the album. Setting up the listener to expect more of this lyricism and tight production.

I’ve known Faceless for a while now and I know that all of his work is on point. Sometimes, the beat may be a little off-key but, the lyricism always makes up for it and he puts his all into every single project that he works on.

Track 3, “If You Don’t Know” is an explanation of who Faceless is. Faceless describes who he is and the way he rhymes.

The track isn’t aggressive it just emphasises the point that most Underground artists don’t get the recognition that they deserve, which is true with Faceless.

Some of the lyrics are a little juvenile I have to be honest but this was a very small part of the track when Faceless talks about being “Cuter than Jigglypuff.”

The beat is simple, which is good as some artists use a complex beat to cover-up the fact that they cannot rhyme well. So, by using this simple beat it allows the listener to actually take-in what Faceless is saying and helps to appreciate the “Swagger” of the artist.

Track 5, “Say My Name” has a really nice beat, has a catchy hook consisting of “Say My Name/ Say My Name/ Say My Name”.

The way Faceless rhymes shows that as an Underground rapper, he wants recognition; he’s been working hard and wants people to take notice of him. This theme is apparent throughout the whole album and it’s plausible.

Faceless rhymes with passion and I have to say this is one of my favourite tracks of the album just because of the sheer work that’s gone into it.

One line in particular that I like is, “Call me the David Beckham of rap” I’m not sure if you want to compare yourself to David Beckham as he’s not the greatest of footballers. (Just a little note for you Mike!) But, I understand the concept. The track is well produced and the beat is a little bit more complex than the beats used in previous tracks.

“Fire And Ice” is an amazing track and tries something buy using an electric guitar as the main focus of the beat, teamed with some fast-paced drums and a fast-paced rhyming style.

This track stands out for the sheer fact that it is something new which works extremely well. Faceless again sounds as though rhyming comes natural to him and as if no effort is needed and he sounds relaxed.

The title track “Heir To The Throne” is well-constructed, Faceless’s lyricism is nice and relaxed. But, I was expecting more with this track. I was expecting a more complex and sinister sounding beat, the beat was simple and I’m not too sure if it really pulled the track together. I feel like Faceless could have had a more complex beat which would have definitely made this trac

k a lot more enjoyable.

One track that stood out to me due to Faceless’s lyricism and the beat being complex and making this track very enjoyable was, track 12 “I Remember” the track is very well produced and put-together and stood out as one of the best tracks on the album.

“Heir To The Throne” is a very well produced album teamed with an extremely talented Hip-Hop artist.

The lyricism is relaxed and is clear, Faceless doesn’t sound like he’s trying and that emphasises the fact that Faceless has a raw talent and could well be one of those names you hear a lot in the future.

The HipHopInformant endorses Faceless

to the fullest and enjoyed the album A LOT!

GO COP IT NOW!

The album will be released on ITUNES and CDbaby. People can listen to a preview and order physical copies from www.mikefaceless.com or www.myspace.com/mikefaceless .

Check Out: http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/reviews/album_reviews/mike_faceless_-_heir_to_the_throne_lp_faceless_entertainment_/_gutterbomb_records.html