Make sure to download the newest episode of the pmaCAST: Looking Better, Shining Brighter Than You Do, featuring Four Tet, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The xx, Yeasayer, Department of Eagles, Hot Chip and more.
The earth stood still for a couple of minutes when word broke that Jay-Z’s insanely anticipated The Blueprint 3 had leaked. The consensus was that after all of these years, Jay-Z is still hitting hard and four steps ahead of everyone in the game. Most rappers lose steam after their second or third album — to release an eleventh album that doesn’t make you want to shoot yourself in the face, like this one, is unthinkable.
With that said, for me, the album was dry and slow. It had some highlights and “Empire State of Mind” was definitely one of them. My personal favorite cut from the album, the track features a Jay-Z full of hometown sentiment and soaring harmonies courtesy of the gosh-wow lovely Alicia Keys. Listen to it here:
Tags: Alicia Keys, Favorite New Songs, Jay-Z
What a great track…as I read somewhere, shades of Kanye West’s “Gone,” one of my all-time favorite rap songs.
cudi leaked by the way
I listened to both Blueprint 3 and Kid CuDi’s Man on the Moon: The End of Day today.
I was (to my surprise) impressed by both of them.
Young Forever (ft. Mr Hudson) is hands down my favorite off of Jay Z’s album.
You should check out Kid CuDi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” (with MGMT) from Man on the Moon… one of the best songs i’ve heard this year…
its in my blog
the cover looks gessoic
Blueprint can’t even begin to measure up to Man On The Moon.
Jay-Z is THE MAN!
+1 to CuDi winning between the two.
yes this and Young Forever are definitely my favorites. Never thought there would be an Alphaville sample on this but it sounds great.
Jay Z went in! he broke CuDi’s album in half!
Sad he chose to work with Beyoncé instead of Alicia. I usually love altos, but I can’t stand her because it sounds like it’s nothing but a head voice. She’s just yelling.
Sad he chose to work with Alicia instead of Beyoncé.*
this song with alicia keys is awesome cant stop 2 listen to it and dont 4get to watch out the live performance of those 2 on vma 2009 11 sep gna be a great moment!!!
jay-z is all hip hop the best ever 11th number one albums he is the best raper of time man lie women lie numbers don’t
jay-z is all hip hop the best ever 11th number one albums he is the best raper of all time man lie women lie numbers don’t
i love this song!!!!! it is my new fav i listen to this song at least 15 times a day
first it went i run this town
then it is EMPIRE STATE OF MIND and it is fantastic
What a great track …jay-z is all hip hop the best ever…this song with Alicia Keys is awesome…definitely my favorite….Amazing JAY-Z
amazing
<3
amazing
<3
this is the best song jay-z has ever made. to me jay-z is the best rapper out right now, lil wayne ain’t got nuthin on this song. new york, new york, new york.