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The Black Album (Acappella)

Jay-Z

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Album Review

Could this be the record that launches a thousand production careers? Variations on The Black Album began multiplying like rabbits soon after its release in November 2003, with DJ Danger Mouse's masterful Gray Album — in which samples from the Beatles' White Album power the productions behind Jay-Z's raps — getting a large share of the publicity (and legal action). Within a few weeks, the novelty threatened to become a full-blown phenomenon, led by likely contenders The Black on Black Album (Metallica) and The Purple Album (Prince) as well as a few unlikely fusions such as The Slack Album (Pavement) and Jay-Zeezer: The Black and Blue Album (Weezer). (Undoubtedly nearing completion on some renegade's hard drive is The Crack Album featuring Rick James samples or The Back Catalog Album featuring previous Jay-Z productions.) No matter, Def Jam did a favor to budding producers who are still searching for the unaccompanied vocals by releasing this a cappella version of The Black Album. As necessary in any producer's collection as an Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilation, it obviously makes much less sense for any other music fan, though Def Jam deserves points for adding lyrics to the liner notes.

Customer Reviews

Ignore the silly comments

It's not for your average teeny bopper and casual Jay-Z fan, as other reviewers seem not to realize. This is really more for aspiring mixers and DJ's who want to use Jay's voice and put it on other beats and mixes. If it weren't for this, Dangermouse couldn't have made the Grey Album, nor could various other DJ's have made their own unique mixes. Great if you're looking for quotables to experiment with, but if you just want some songs you can listen to, buy the regular Black Album.

Missed the Point? Yea, you, the consumer.

Not only did all you little kids who listen to nothing but Cash Money and ghetto rap miss the point entirely but you looked foolish while doing it. This isnt for you to take to your parties with your stolen bottle of gin from your daddies liquor cabinets. This is a resource. Even if you arent a producer, this can still be appreciated as almost poetry, spoken word at least. So unless you actually use this or have even heard it all, dont comment or rate anything. It makes you a liar.

You are all idiots

For anyone who hasn't "reviewed" this album and is simply looking at this review, I will assure you this is a good album. I'm sure that if you are not dumb you will listen to the samples of this Album before buying, where you will find out that it is Acappella, which is clearly stated next to the title (If you dont know what acapella means let me dumb this down, NO MUSIC). If you are too dumb to sample the songs before buying, or you do so and dont know why there are no beats then guess what, no one eles cares so stop crying about it in reviews. You can buy some of these songs with beats on the non-Acappella Itunes album which is loacated by clicking "Jay-Z" at the top middle of your screen. If you cant buy the song you want with a beat, no one cares. Stop being little 7 year olds and walk/ride/drive your self to the nearest music store and buy the CD (which is a concept i dont think some of you idiots cant wrap your head around). This is a good Album beats or no beats, if you dont know why someone would release a Album with no beat, you have the interweb so look it up, there is clearly enough room in your brain to retain the information. so stop crying that there aren't beats and saying how stupid it is.

Biography

Born: December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, NY

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

Years Active: '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Embodying the rags-to-riches rap dream, Jay-Z pulled himself up by his bootstraps as a youth to eventually become the reigning rapper of New York City and, in turn, a major-label executive following his short-lived retirement from music-making. In the wake of his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z's albums sold millions upon millions with each release, and his endless parade of hits made him omnipresent on urban radio and video television. He retained a strongly devoted fan base and challenged whatever...
Full Bio

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