Jay ZBest Jay Z Albums Ranked

“Nearly 15 years into his career, Jay-Z has decided it’s time to look back, releasing this hits collection right on the heels of his memoir, Decoded. But where Decoded attempts to dig deep, this album barely scratches the surface of Hova’s output — partly because most of his great songs aren’t hits. But Jay is […]”

Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter

rollingstone

8.0

“Ok, he’s reloaded. And on his fourth album, Vol. 3 . . . Life and Times of S. Carter, he’s a sweet contradiction. Lyrically, Jay is less introspective than he was on 1996’s Reasonable Doubt; he’s more misogynous and paranoid than ever. But even as he shies away from past vulnerable moments like "Regrets," "Lucky […]”

Watch the Throne

rollingstone

7.0

“Watching the throne may be harmful to your eyes. The long-awaited, wildly hyped joint effort by Jay-Z and Kanye West has arrived at last, and it gives off a gilded glare – both from the actual cover (the deluxe CD edition, designed by Givenchy Creative Director Riccardo Tisci, comes wrapped in embossed gold Mylar) and […]”

Magna Carta... Holy Grail

rollingstone

6.0

“If you know anything about Jay-Z‘s illustrious and groundbreaking career as a rapper, label owner, entrepreneur and “business, man,” it’s that the Brooklyn native rarely has had time for apologies. He’s kept reinventing himself in varying degrees of gangsta rapper, pop star and wise veteran: brushing off pretenders to his throne on 2001’s The Blueprint, canonizing himself on 2003’s The Black Album”

“Unfinished Business translates as, "Like, if we could just get this pesky little obligation out of the way, we could get around to more pressing engagements." That disinterest is in the air on the second joint album from the best (albeit sorta-retired) rapper in the game and the best (albeit steadily indicted) R&B singer-songwriter. Backed […]”