Whole album is just Hov and No I.D. flexing their chops- two masters of their craft 20 plus years into their career coming through on every single song, all the fat cut off, no skips, plus videos for every single song tying together all of the album's themes perfectly. Sound is timeless- nothing is out of place, no features are wasted, the maturity in the lyrics is unreal. Any one of the songs could be held up as an example as the best hip hop has to offer- extremely personal and conscious. It's been in my rotation basically from it's release to now.

True excellence and musicianship. It might not have hits or flashy presentation but it's a classic through and through.

it's pretty good

it’s ight

Marcy me and kill Jay Z are special

Damn almost 4 years since it dropped. The hype was unreal for a HOV stan with all those billboards going up, and didn't know what kind of album to expect.

The first time I listened to the 3rd verse on Smile, I had to play that s*** back 5 times

It's better than just about any other Hov album i've heard, idc.

Thank Solange!

the jay album i always wanted

it's crazy how he could still show so much growth after so many classics

it's up there with Reasonable Doubt for sure

yeah he gotta end on this album its the perfect career closer

I'm not the biggest Jay Z but I am a fan of his work

4:44 blew me away. It still blows me away to this day.

I know this s*** is opinion based but it's pretty clearly better than all of his classics that people love like Blueprint, RD, Black album, etc.

I truly think it's better shrugs I like Reasonable doubt but i didn't come close to f***ing with it like I did w/ 4:44.

Smile third verse super hard!

Respect Jimmy Iovine / But he gotta respect the Elohim as a whole new regime

He went crazy after that!

it’s a really great record considering that it was over 20 years into his career. still in rotation!

No I.D. Has more classics than Jay

Fantastic album

i said prehaps i freudian slipped in european whips

title track might be my favorite hip hop instrumental ever

better than anything kendrick dropped for sure

marcy me and legacy bring a tear to my eye it's so beautiful to hear him reflect on his childhood and what he's created

legit could say it's his best one

its the definition of overrated

Can you rank the classics for me right quick. Because

100%
listening to moonlight rn