The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse

iTunes Review

Released on the heels of The Blueprint, this double-disc sequel features Jay joining forces with an array of fellow platinum superstars and it flaunts plenty of the nuanced lyricism and party starting beats that have made Jigga one of the most revered MCs of all time. Several joints are bona fide hits, such as the Beyoncé collaboration "03’ Bonnie & Clyde" (an updated version of Tupac's "Me and My Girlfriend"), the aptly titled future funk of "The Bounce," and the ultra-smooth Pharrell-assisted single "Excuse Me Miss." Production is handled by the usual suspects: Neptunes, Kanye, Just Blaze, Timbaland, and even Dr. Dre contribute tracks that are alternately soul-drenched and ice-cold, and the ghost of Biggie appears alongside his former wife Faith Evans on "A Dream." Other guest verses come from the likes of Rakim, M.O.P. Scarface, and Beanie Sigel, to name a few. Some fans complained about the abundance of outsiders and meandering styles (particularly Lenny Kravitz on the rock-tinged "Guns and Roses" and the Sinatra-channeling "I Did It My Way"), but the unpredictable, against-the-grain selections are refreshing, and there are a lot of quality songs in the mix.