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Jay-Z kept The Blueprint incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse is a radically different record, with the most respected rapper in the business trying on a range of styles, collaborating with a lot of guests (from Rakim to Lenny Kravitz to Scarface to Beyoncé Knowles), and working with an army of producers (Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Heavy D, Kanye West). No one else in hip-hop possesses enough power of personality to carry a 110-minute double album, and if Jay-Z can't quite manage it either, he certainly delivers some solid material in the process. The discs are split into "The Gift" and "The Curse," though there's no concept in view, just a loose collection of tracks ranging from unapologetically sexed-up party joints to theatrical epics and even taking in a Dirty South feature for Outkast's Big Boi. It's clear Jay-Z's in control even here, and though his raps can't compete with the concentrated burst on The Blueprint, there's at least as many great tracks on tap, if only listeners have enough time to find them. Good choices for highlights include the Neptunes' bounce track "Excuse Me Miss," the horn-driven blast of "The Watcher 2" produced by Dr. Dre (featuring Truth Hurts), and "I Did It My Way," which balances the trad-pop singalong of "Hard Knock Life" with the digital drumrolls of "The Takeover."
© John Bush /TiVo
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Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Sean "Puffy" Combs, ComposerLyricist - The Notorious B.I.G., FeaturedArtist - Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Christopher Wallace, ComposerLyricist - FAITH EVANS, FeaturedArtist - Ken Lewis, Guitar, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Johnson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Just Blaze, Unknown, Other - James Mtume, ComposerLyricist - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Erv Pope, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - J. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Doug Wilson, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Just Blaze, Producer - Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, ComposerLyricist - Christy Love, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Marshall Mathers, ComposerLyricist - Mike Elizondo, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Shari Watson, ComposerLyricist - Andre R. Young, ComposerLyricist - Camara Kambon, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Storch, Unknown, Other - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Rounds, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ruben Rivera, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dr. Dre, Producer, Mixer, FeaturedArtist, StudioPersonnel - Truth Hurts, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rakim, FeaturedArtist - Terri, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Tyree, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Beyoncé Knowles, FeaturedArtist - Ricky Rouse, ComposerLyricist - Tyrone Wrice, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Prince, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Jason Goldstein, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Johnson, Unknown, Other - Tupac Shakur, ComposerLyricist - Darryl Haper, ComposerLyricist - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Chad Hugo, ComposerLyricist - The Neptunes, Producer - Pharrell Williams, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Andrew Coleman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rich Travali, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Sean Paul Henriques, ComposerLyricist - Steve Penny, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Timbaland, Producer - Jimmy Douglas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Paul, FeaturedArtist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Timothy Mosley, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - William Earl Collins, ComposerLyricist - J. Jefferson, ComposerLyricist - C. Simmons, ComposerLyricist - B. Hawes, ComposerLyricist - Edwin Hawkins, ComposerLyricist - Superfly, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay-Z, MainArtist - George Clinton, ComposerLyricist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - No I.D., Producer, ComposerLyricist - Latoiya Williams, Additional Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - J. Vitti, ComposerLyricist - J.S. Theracon, ComposerLyricist - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Antwan Patton, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - C. Mitchell, ComposerLyricist - Debra Killings, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - M. Render, ComposerLyricist - Big Boi, FeaturedArtist - Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Warren Bletcher, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Twista, FeaturedArtist - John Frye, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - SMOKEY ROBINSON, ComposerLyricist - Eric Johnson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Killer Mike, FeaturedArtist - Sleepy Brown, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Chad Hugo, ComposerLyricist - The Neptunes, Producer - Pharrell Williams, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Andrew Coleman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rich Travali, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, FeaturedArtist - Steve Penny, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Pettaway, ComposerLyricist - Timbaland, Producer - Jimmy Douglas, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Timothy Mosley, ComposerLyricist - Raje Shwari, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Paul Anka, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Claude François, ComposerLyricist - Big Chuck, Producer - Doug Wilson, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimi Kendrix, Producer - Kendred Smith, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Stanton, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
DISC 2
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Theron Feemster, ComposerLyricist - Big Chuck, Producer - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Theron "Neff-U" Feemster, Producer - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Stanton, ComposerLyricist - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - John McCrea, ComposerLyricist - Dwight Myers, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Lenny Kravitz, Mixer, FeaturedArtist, StudioPersonnel - Heavy D, Producer - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Ging, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - J. Smith, ComposerLyricist - J. Grinnage, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - M.O.P., FeaturedArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Byrd, ComposerLyricist - Just Blaze, Producer - Eric Murphy, ComposerLyricist - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - J. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Johnson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Just Blaze, Producer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Dwight Grant, ComposerLyricist - Brad Jordan, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Scarface, FeaturedArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Just Blaze, Producer - Beanie Sigel, FeaturedArtist - Michael Mc Gloiry, ComposerLyricist - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Brian Russell, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Doug Wilson, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BRENDA RUSSELL, ComposerLyricist - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Ennio Morricone, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Henri Charlemagne, ComposerLyricist - Charlamane, Producer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Chad Hugo, ComposerLyricist - The Neptunes, Producer - Pharrell Williams, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. Reis, ComposerLyricist - Young Chris, FeaturedArtist - Rich Travali, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Steve Penny, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Timbaland, Producer - Jimmy Douglas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Timothy Mosley, ComposerLyricist - Shane "Bermuda" Woodley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Dwight Grant, ComposerLyricist - J. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Del Barrio, ComposerLyricist - M. Cox, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Doug Wilson, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenneth Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, ComposerLyricist - VERDINE WHITE, ComposerLyricist - Sparks, FeaturedArtist - P. Zayas, ComposerLyricist - Freeway, FeaturedArtist - Just Blaze, Producer - L. Pridgen, ComposerLyricist - C. Reis, ComposerLyricist - Memphis Bleek, FeaturedArtist - Rell, FeaturedArtist - Young Gunz, FeaturedArtist - Peedi Crakk, FeaturedArtist - H. Muhammad, ComposerLyricist - Umar S. Alwan, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Chad Hugo, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clue, Spoken Word, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - The Neptunes, Producer - Pharrell Williams, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rich Travali, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Dorsey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Justin Smith, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Just Blaze, Producer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - D. PORTER, ComposerLyricist - Justin Smith, ComposerLyricist - Isaac Hayes, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Just Blaze, Producer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Shawn Carter, ComposerLyricist - Darrell Branch, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, MainArtist - Pat Viala, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Digga, Producer
℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
Album review
Jay-Z kept The Blueprint incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse is a radically different record, with the most respected rapper in the business trying on a range of styles, collaborating with a lot of guests (from Rakim to Lenny Kravitz to Scarface to Beyoncé Knowles), and working with an army of producers (Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Heavy D, Kanye West). No one else in hip-hop possesses enough power of personality to carry a 110-minute double album, and if Jay-Z can't quite manage it either, he certainly delivers some solid material in the process. The discs are split into "The Gift" and "The Curse," though there's no concept in view, just a loose collection of tracks ranging from unapologetically sexed-up party joints to theatrical epics and even taking in a Dirty South feature for Outkast's Big Boi. It's clear Jay-Z's in control even here, and though his raps can't compete with the concentrated burst on The Blueprint, there's at least as many great tracks on tap, if only listeners have enough time to find them. Good choices for highlights include the Neptunes' bounce track "Excuse Me Miss," the horn-driven blast of "The Watcher 2" produced by Dr. Dre (featuring Truth Hurts), and "I Did It My Way," which balances the trad-pop singalong of "Hard Knock Life" with the digital drumrolls of "The Takeover."
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 25 track(s)
- Total length: 01:48:06
- Main artists: Jay Z
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Roc Nation - Jay-Z
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC. ℗ 2002 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC.
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