one of my favorite albums of all time

when a rapper who's at their peak gets a superteam of producers also at their peaks, there's really nothing like it.

there's probably not even a proper comparison for an album that went for the same level of ambition as this one. for me perhaps TPAB because it had similarily collected of my favorite producers at the time, but the names on this in 2003- ye, neptunes, timbo, jb, 9th wonder, dj quik, rick rubin- how are you gonna match it? imagine if jay had also gotten a dilla beat for this it would have been untouchable

What would the production credits look like today if someone like Drake or Cole wanted to do this concept?

12 tracks. Metro, Conductor, the Alchemist, Hit-Boy, BNYX, Kaytranada, DJ Dahi, T-Minus, Kenny Beats, F1lthy, James Blake, and Tyler.

Probably my favourite Jay album! Unreal, been coincidentally listening to it a lot this fall

re-listened to this like a month or 2 ago and yeah it's slowly becoming my favorite jay album

40
No I.D.
Metro
Cardo
Dahi
Vinylz
T-Minus
Murda
Wheezy
Nineteen85
OZ
F1lthy

I’d put Mustard on there off the strength of his work in the mid tens, Tay Keith might have a case as well

Yea I was juggling those 2, you could switch Wheezy with Mustard and F1lthy with Tay Keith, everyone else gotta stay tho

Played this album recently, had been awhile since I listened to it all the way through. Was always a fan but that run from Dec 4th to PSA had me rethinking my album rankings for Hov lol

I remember being young when this dropped and every single that dropped was huge. Was just talking about blockbuster rap albums in another thread and I believe Black Album is one of them ones. Classic singles, classic introspective tracks, peak 2000s production

Performance wise this is one of my favorite Hov albums. Every song full of quotables. So many different flows too

“I’m not a biter I’m a writer for myself and others, I say a BIG verse I’m only bigging up my brother”

“Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense, but I did 5 mil and I ain’t been rhyme like Common since”

“Hottest chick in the game wearing my chain”

Love how he explored the subject matter, he sounded very focused. Makes more sense to me now. I have a better understanding of the fact he wanted to leave the game on a high note

Had production from Ye, P, Timbo, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, DJ Quik, and Rick Rubin smh crazy 🤦🏾‍♂️

It really felt like a moment. Everybody in the game was tuned in

Fade to Black had so classic moments

We got an official Hov mixtape to help promote the album

These had the Jay Z vocal samples

9th Wonder and Danger Mouse did Black Album remix albums

Wayne did a whole remix album too lol

Had freestyles on like half the beats from Black Album

I remember listening to this album and College Dropout around the same time. Just got heavy into Ye music so I was listening to whatever songs he produced. BET/MTV had vids running for both albums at the same time too so it was cool seeing Through the Wire, Slow Jamz then catching Encore video

Miss these days man

Was my GOAT Jay album when it dropped.

Played this album sooooooooo much

Dirt Off Your Shoulder is still goated

Justify My Thug and Moment of Clarity underrated

Came here to post this

I'm actually glad and he didn't go this route.

Would've made for an inconsistent album.

Don't be that guy

He still did tho no? Most of those producers are still on the album and each song was from a different producer

True

that eminem beat ruined the album really

black national anthem

album is a classic in every sense

Which thread were you talking about blockbuster rap albums on?

One of his best albums and best rap albums period

My 2nd favorite Jay album.

Yeah but he did end up doubling up on Ye and Just, which arguably gives some cohesion to it

Classic