Jay-Z - The Black Album (Roc-a-Fella Records)

-- Jay-Z fades to 'Black' with early, reflective exit -- At top of game, hip-hop's premier voice leaves game early, writes own epitaph on album with no guest appearances, esteemed production
By Banke Awopetu Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

Okay, y'all break out the Kleenex because Jigga AKA Hova AKA Sean Carter, or otherwise known as Jay-Z, is throwing in the towel.

That's right, the Brooklyn M.C. is retiring from the rap game, or at least that's what he claims. Whether you choose to deny, mourn or celebrate Jay's farewell, you can't deny the prowess of his final bow, "The Black Album," where Jigga showcases more flows than his many aliases.

Though both versatile and ecceletic, The Black Album primarily conveys Jay's character, his maturation as an artist, and more importantly his growth as a man. Take "99 problems" for instance. Jay flows so confidently over Rick Rubin's rudimentary electric guitar beat he makes it seems it easy. The song explores all the problems, aside from relationship woes, that Jay has, ranging from the difficulties of navigating the entertainment industry to racial profiling: "Half a mil for bail/Cause I'm African/ Or because the fool was harassing them," he raps, drawing to question whether this is the same Jay that on 2001's "Girls, Girls, Girls," dropped offensive and ignorant lyrics like, "I got this African chick with Eddie Murphy on her skull."

It appears, luckily, not to be.

On "Moment of Clarity" Jigga exemplifies why he will always be known as one the illest rappers to ever touch the mic, as he flows "If skills sold/truth be told/ I'd probably be/ Lyrically/ Talib Kweli/ Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/But I did five mil/ I aint been rhyming like Common since/ When your cents got that much in common/ And you been hustling since/ Your inception/ F*** perception/ Go with what makes sense/Since I know what I'm up against/We as rappers must decide what's most important/And I can't help the poor if I'm one of them/ So I got rich and gave back/ To me that's the win-win."

Discussing the real problem plaguing the hip-hop community that "conscious" rappers never get enough radio play or corporate support to sell with so much nonchalance, he instantly pulls in listeners. This is all even done in perfect harmony to the Eminem produced beat.

Yet, Jay is the guy everyone loves to hate, but if you have had any exposure to hip-hop at all, you have a favorite Jigga verse. He is just that flexible. He represents the different attributes we all have and our struggles to get rid of the not so admirable ones.

He articulates this sentiment perfectly on"Interlude:" "And I could blame my environment/ But there ain't no reason/ Why I be buyin expensive chains/Hope you don't think users are the only abusers/ [Brothers] gettin high within the game/ If you do then/ How would you explain?/ I'm ten years removed/ Still the vibe is in my veins/ I got a hustler spirit/ [Man] period."

But Jay hasn't traded in his platinum for a backpack just yet and he vents his frustration on "Threat" to anyone who doesn't wish him well ("I'm especially Joe Pesci with a grin/ I will kill you/commit suicide/and kill you again").

"Dirt Off Your Shoulder" features Jay recklessly flossing over a catchy and intricate Timbaland beat.

"Change Clothes," the lead single of the album and another Hov/Pharell collabo, falls flat with in its obvious club ambitions. The beat is so patently one from the Neptunes that you're left hoping that Jigga and Pharell will never collaborate again -- until you hear the stirring and heartfelt "Allure" where Jay rhymes about the difficulties of leaving a negative situation ("But every time I felt that was that/it called me right back"). Hopefully this applies to the rap game and Jay will not be able to hang up his mic. The soulful Kanye West-produced "Encore" will indeed leave you begging for an encore.

Hip-hop now more than ever needs Jay-Z. His latest but hopefully not last album chronicles his influence of not only the rap game but pop culture also. Still there is an ominous cloud hanging over "The Black Album" because in the past Jay set the standard too high for himself. "The Black Album" is neither "Reasonable Doubt" nor "The Blueprint" but it still overshadows every other release this year. And in Jigga's words: "If you can't respect that/Your whole perspective is wack/Maybe you'll love me/When I fade to Black."