Much as folks could not seem to come to a consensus on whether or not BP3 was actually worth a damn, it was almost unanimously agreed upon that this track was completely out of place. That made most people on this side of the Atlantic uncomfortable. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, it seems to have had better reception as it wound up being a single.
Can’t front like I’m surprised. Not to stab y’all in the back, but Europeans generally tend to be more open-minded and eclectic in their tastes when contrasted with the static rigidity of expectations from already established artists in whatever genre on this side of the pond.
That said, as far as Jay’s “experimental” tracks go, “Beach Chair” >>> this joint.
And Chris Martin > Mr. Hudson. Everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
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Reminds me of the Levis commercial. I like the editing though. Love the subtle to no effects.
BP3 completely grew on me. I started out MAD @ it. I was pissed b/c he was just too far out of my tax bracket w/some of the content, flaunting it in my face lol. Some of the beats felt grating @ first.
But over the course of time, I have to say it’s been one of my MOST played albums of the year. What he’s talking about isn’t actually as “tired, same old themes” as it seems. He’s rapping “ahead” once again. The content is sort of cutting down a path and clearing the way. I like it. A lot.
Plus, he’s shown on stage all year long that he is the reigning king until he decides he doesn’t want to be anymore. Think of his closest competition…
Wayne – headed to jail.
TI — in jail
Kanye — foot in mouth syndrome
Even if you decide to mention some of the other commercially successive/buzz artists who could even touch what he’s created…
Gucci – jail
Cudi — see Kanye plus not nearly as developed
I could go on for days.
I like the video.
Jay-Z ruined this track. Mr Hudson’s parts were dope but Jay is just shit.
oddly enough one of my favorite tracks on the bp3…
as for the video not my speed but again needs to match the song…
Song is pretty bunk. He ruined a perfectly good 80′s cut. video is cool tho.
With all due respect to the big homie, Gotty, this shit wack.
And BP3 is a solid album. On some grown up ish..
This song is one of my favs from the cd. I’ll be playing this song at proms this spring. I’m not gonna front either BP3 is pretty damn tight to me.
Amp, just for a casual argument, how exactly it is “wack”?
People always throw out generalizations w/o explanations. “I hate/love it.” But why do you hate it? The beat? The chorus? The verses? No asses in the video?
Just curious.
BP3, to me, is def pretty solid. Like NDiamonds said, very grown up. I can see why folks were mad at it and went as far as hating it, but personally, I was a fan after a couple of listens.
The beat, the flow, the hook.
You name it.
This just isn’t listenable.
This shit wack.
Young Hov > The Black Bono
Aren’t you the MOP advocate too though?
No offense, but sometimes I get that abstract feeling that you root for the underdog so hard that you won’t praise the winner for putting forth a valiant effort as well lol.
It’s okay that the Patriots are (or at least were) as dominant as they were. they worked to reach the top. It’s cool if Kobe and the Lakers win the chip. they busted their asses in practice just like everybody else.
It’s okay for jay to be on top because he wasn’t always. he’s had his ass handed to him a few times in battles, taken a few public L’s, done stupid shit, etc. But in the end, where he stands now, he’s on top.
In the end, the only place this song could’ve fit on this album was just like how “Beach Chair” was the last song on KC. It couldn’t go anywhere else except the last slot. So it ain’t great, but…it works.
Aren’t you the MOP advocate too though?
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Not really.
And I’d applaud Hov if I felt like he won.
But I don’t cause he didn’t.
All that “King” shit is meaningless to me cause the music doesn’t back it up.
“So it ain’t great, but…it works.”
But works as what? Cause it fails as a Hip-Hop record and if anyone else had made this song, this wouldn’t even be an argument.
Is it the best song in his catalog? hell naw. BUT it works in the context of the album, his career, etc. I don’t think it’s bad. whereas somebody else loves Hudson on the song, he’s almost a distraction to me. I like the pace and variance of Jay’s flow, the almost fake patois he throws into it. I also like what he’s saying in his rhymes here. So, strictly for my own listening, it doesn’t fail.
If he’s not rap’s “king,” then who is? of course there isn’t one, but again, just debating the point.
I like the pace and variance of Jay’s flow, the almost fake patois he throws into it.
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And that’s exactly what I don’t like.
It seems like he’s fumbling around on the track, trying to play catch up but still falling off beat
I understand the concept & I can follow the lyrics, I’m just not impressed. More self aggrandizing BS.
Seems like he’s pandering to that other demo anyway, so me not liking this track shouldn’t be a shocker.
I think that Hov has some midlife crisis for putting this song in air…..
That only explains how wack joint like this could get on album….I dont want to even mention the video for it…..
Its also the last track on album….I bet he had a second thought all the time…..until the releasing…..
but he should thought about it once more……
To be fully honest:
1. Blueprint 3 is kinda like Kingdom Come for me: An album that upon the first listen you’re either skipping tracks or repeating songs you feel, then once you get into the album you play it through and realise it’s not as bad as you though.
Kingdom Come for me, was Blueprint 3 Part 1, a disc that showed a bit of maturity and kind of drifted from the mafioso/pop culture side of things and tried to bridge a gap… BP3 tried to do this but it created a whole different sound all together. I’m just thankful American Gangster came out, otherwise i’d think less of both albums.
2. This song is like Beach Chair for me, first listen I was kind of *Jay face* but it grew on me… this one less quickly than Beach Chair, which is actually still my favorite song off Kingdom Come (Other than Minority Report)
Both albums got 4/5′s for me, and both songs are good, experiemental, unique songs.
If he’s not rap’s “king,” then who is? of course there isn’t one, but again, just debating the point.
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I can’t call it. But if at this point, I’d rather listen to Rick Ross then Jay-Z. When & how the fuck that happened, i have no idea.
*But at this point
i can’t listen to Ross lol. sorry.
Kingdom Come produced “Do U Wanna Ride” or whatever the title of the song is w/John Legend. To me, that trumps a whoooole lot of other shit out of his catalog just for the first verse. Put that on momma.
Word to Gotty’s first comment, except I was never mad at the album initially. Good song, imo it kind of equals Beach Chair, it’s sad that all the rocks thrown at Kingdom Come scared Hov off from doing a video for that. Very good song, not my favorite off the album but still very fitting at this time and point in his career. Hudson does good but we all know why he’s on there and not Bono or at least Jay’s best white mate say whatup to Chris. This song does have US single potential tho, it charted in the top 50 when the album first came out. White people love it. You know Hov’s really back when he’s back to having an album with a vast choice of singles. Remember Black Album when damn near every song was on the radio? Young Forever is some last single shit, on to the next is already in the pipeline but Venus, Thank You, Already Home, or Off That vid/single should not be looked over either
i keep hearing how BP3 is a “grown up” album. What does that even mean? Im a grown ass man dog (shout to ced the entertainer), and that album is still pretty weak to me. Some excellent tracks laced with absolute crap. Grown folks album or not, its still isnt a very good album. Dont make excuses just because he is Jay.
Kingdom Come produced “Do U Wanna Ride” or whatever the title of the song is w/John Legend. To me, that trumps a whoooole lot of other shit out of his catalog just for the first verse.
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Great song, prolly my fave off of KC. BP3 is soulless in comparison. Alicia Keys brings more heart o the ESOM hook then Hov manages to muster over the course of the entire album.
The sanitized production doesn’t help the cause any either.
Something different but still very dope & Classic looking video to go with an also classic track! Glad Jay came with a video for it since it’s 1 of my favorites off the album!
Cats really think this song is a classic?
Really?
What has happened to Hip-Hop?
“but Europeans generally tend to be more open-minded and eclectic in their tastes”
read: gay
this song is asscheeks
All the TSS faithful know I’ve liked this album (and record) since day one, so I”ll avoid that topic lol. I thought it dope how he painted how he thought his legacy would be seen.
“Fear not when or fear not why/Fear not much when we’re alive/Life is for living, not living uptight…”
Grown folks album or not, its still isnt a very good album. Dont make excuses just because he is Jay
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Thank you, very succint my ninja. Bottom line, BP3 had a few bangers but overall it lacks in many areas. It’s as if people are forcing themselves to like BP3 just because it’s “Jay-Z”; quit being lemmings and be honest: It ain’t bangin’ my ninjaz.
Loso’s Way >>> BP3
Loso’s Way >>> BP3
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No
The beat, the flow, the hook.
You name it.
This just isn’t listenable.
This shit wack.
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I agree, Love the album but this and reminder are trash
“reminder” is pretty wack. I’d give you that one.
I can’t help but confuse this song with the prom song from Napoleon Dynamite, Time After Time.
@ Contra: I beg to differ, I found myself playing the Fab album more repeatedly and the “bonus tracks” (i.e. left off of the album because the label is stupid!) were fiyah. I ain’t feelin’ this “mid-life crisis-middle-age-meltdown” rap, Hova FTR!!! (For the Retirement)
To interject to the “King” argument, I have to say Ghost. His brand of Hip Hop continues to reflect his level of creativity as a man and an artist. Jigga only wants you to see his bank account and left his imagination at the Black Album. Guest House>>BP3. I wish I could restrict the phrase “i got” from Jays vocab and see what kind of album he’d make.
I fux with this song, however “Beach Chair” is superior. This might be the only song with Mr Hudson on it where I actually like his singing. Jay’s 3rd verse is weak, but the rest are fire. I guess you can call me “open-minded” or just a Jay stan.
@ Chuck You: Another good point, insightful. What did you think about the Ghost album??? I thought that it was waaaaaaay overlooked.
The quote that Tinsley used in his comment are the best bars on the album.. Yes. I said it.
I don’t think I need to express my thoughts on this album any more, though I’m glad to see others are coming to the same opinion.
This song however = buttcheeks.
The sample, man, the sample. Its just corny. And truthfully I’ve never been overly impressed with Mr. Hudson (tho to be fair I’ve never heard his solo work).
Beach Chair >>>>>> Young Forever.
this is a very nice song to close out an album. i wonder what the haters of this song would use to close their album…
oh wait? they dont have one? then they should shut the hell up complaining about something that isnt forced upon them. if you dont like it, skip past and move along.
and as a side note, its “nice” to see the ignorant and unintelligent cant find better ways to express themselves, so they call something “gay”or “wack”. who knew songs had sexual orientations? if you’re not feeling a song, say exactly which parts made you feel that it wasn’t up to your expectations. simply saying, “oh,that song is gay”, now THAT shit is wack.
G.I.N.A.S.F.S.(gay is not a synonym for shitty)- fall out boy
I dont think the lp was particularly weak or strong, just meh. I have to say that this track was immediately one of the standout failiures, i just think he came off corny. If not for the dopeness of American Gangster one could argue he’s fallen off. Worst track of bp3 goes to…off that.
The ones who are cursing the song ain’t giving out logical reasons (excluding Amp to an extent), so no need to get involved in this “debate”.
“Beach Chair” is one of my favorites in a long list of goodies from Jay by the way.
If he was so sprung on making this song, I think he should’ve gotten Sting for it. Spend the money homey. Puff did it. This should’ve not been on the album, but on some movie soundtrack. It doesn’t work.
this is actually my favorite track off of BP3. I don’t get why y’all are calling this song wack.
verses dope.
hook dope.
beat dope.
I’m form the “other side of the pond” (UK, UK!) and I thought this and “Run This Town” were both by far the weakest songs on the album. Awful selection for a single.
@ Chris Searl – good review. i agree
this song goes
lol at Loso’s Way
It`s just Not hip hop.
Loso’s Way >>> BP3
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Nah, not quite but when you consider artist potential and expectations, Fab was closer with his project than Jay.
Simply put, BP3 is Jay’s worst album and it’s still solid as hell. What does that say for the man?
BLUEPRINT 3 = KINGDOM COME 2
Like the whole thing, but my LEAST fav part is Mr. Hudson, why not just use the original from Napolean Dynamite!
And Paranoid is my shit! But just use the original instead of trying to sound JUST like it.
GOSH!!!
Europeans really like this: The Biggest german rapper, “Bushido”, allready covered this song and made a Video one year ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8QTLlwvOmg
I am not a Jay apologist be any means, but I don’t get it. The main criticism of Jay is that his lyrical content is monotonous and tiring (I kinda agree). When he tries to do something different (this, “Beach Chair”, Kingdom Come), he gets even more criticism?
“and as for the critics, tell me I don’t get it/ everybody can tell you how to do it, they never did it”