Reacting to "The Black Album" by Jay Z
Pulling from the vault today, so that's why the posting is early. I'll be offline all weekend for a much needed break from work/house/everything
Enjoy that weekend!
Direct Play Link: https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/play/27377/34be735d-aa8e-448a-a7d6-58f6bf6f0a23
Comments (26)
Love your videos Bob but one comment stuck to me. ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) was a term first coined in Ireland. It doesn't mean that "All cops are bad" or that every individual cop is a bad person. Instead, it moreso means exactly what you said. That all cops are "bastardized" by the system, and regardless of their individuals actions, their contributions to the "system" result in a negative outcome.
Definitely hit up that missy elliot album you mentioned. It’s fun and super catchy. I don’t think it’s like a rap top 50 or anything but she’s got talent.
Great reaction. I was always a Nas stan when I was younger so I never sat down and listened to Black Album from beginning to end, but I am glad I finally got to do so through this reaction. Jay-Z is an amazing writer. I fully agree this album is banger after banger. And it has some really cool observations from Jay too.
Thank you for this. I love the black album. I have to agree with everyone else that American Gangster is so underrated. Now Kingdom Come was his return after he retired and it was just way to commercial. However, there are a couple really good songs on there. Might be worth a listen just to see how he came out of retirement.
I'd hate to dismiss the "unevenly aged" 97-00 albums between Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint in which Jay-Z first became JAY-Z in a post-Pac/Biggie world, but the two most essential Jay-Z albums you've got left Bob that I think you'd thoroughly enjoy is AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007) and THE BLUEPRINT III (2009)... First one is an introspective "relapse" deepdive into themes you picked up on in The Black Album (inspired by the Denzel gangster movie), second one is a triumphant close-out of the Blueprint trilogy (in which J. Cole was introduced to the world in one of the songs btw)
Let me be fair and add the next-best suggestions too.... 3) VOL 1: IN MY LIFETIME (1997), Jay's next album after Reasonable Doubt, a confident follow-up aiming slightly higher commercially (before the not-as-great Vol 2: Hard Knock Life took that aspiration way too far in retrospect), it's definitely got some gems 4) KINGDOM COME (2006), first album out of retirement and it's cool with a few peaks, it's got a Nas feature after Nas signed with Def Jam Records post-beef 5) MAGNA CARTA: HOLY GRAIL (2013) This one got VERY hated on by folks and I personally find myself somehow defensive of it :'D Possibly an arrogant over-reach from someone too comfortable on an old throne, and it's not sonically cohesive, but it's got a few bangers I'm glad to have in my life... This is what he redeemed himself from with 4:44 6) THE DYNASTY: ROC LA FAMILIA (2000) is more of a Rocafella Records showcase than purely a Jay-Z album, but it's one of their best from the era pre-Blueprint... It's got commercial appeal but more reigned in and it's got cool concept songs 7) THE BLUEPRINT 2 (THE GIFT AND THE CURSE), double album with a few great songs and some crazy sounds and a bit of filler and it's not as good as either The Blueprint or The Black album so it gets lost in the mix 8) VOL 3: IN THE LIFE AND TIMES OF S. CARTER (1999) which is my final suggestion, this is 1999 and a different time and Jay-Z on this early commercial spree pulls some crazy stops at this moment of time sound-wise which brings us one of Bob's favorite tracks "Big Pimpin" :'D
Hello there Mr Poppop, I was just wandering if anyone here as ever recommended an artist that goes by the name of Tech N9ne. One of his greatest albums would have to be 6’s and 7’s. It’s a long album but I feel like you might actually like it. Either way I’m really enjoying the reactions and I’m really glad I subscribed to the Patreon channel.
Two classic 90s hip hop albums that you still definitely still need to check are lifestyle ov da poor and dangerous by Big L and Ironman by Ghostface killah
Listen to Jay-Z, American Gangsta!!!! Which is a concept album as well as the soundtrack to the movie American Gangster
I think you would love no stylist by destroy lonely
You should listen to the Jay Z, Linkin Park mashup album Collision Course. That might be why some of the songs sounded familiar. Their mix of Numb/Encore was pretty popular.
BOBBBBB WE NEED THAT JANE REMOVER REACTION!!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED I PROMISE
Now, assuming you have heard The White Album from those The Beatles guys, ya gotta do Danger Mouse's The Grey Album.
This was a great one, Bob. Nice that you added the documentary in the end. The whole DVD that the documentary is a part of also includes his farewell concert in Madison Square Garden. You should watch it if you get the chance, its really good. Found a link here if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcWQcF0lu1U
I know Bob you are a fan of The Prodigy, fun fact, Luficier samples the same song as "Out of Space" just an earlier part.
WEEK 8 OF ASKING FOR A TAME IMPALA REACTION...
J Cole reaction!! Hopefully one before the Fall Off drops
This is what I love this channel for, laughing along with Bob and getting to watch him experience some of my favorite hip hop albums for the first time... Really enjoyed this one! More "vault albums" please :) (especially more Nas is long overdue)
At the time, 50 Cent was being looked at as the new hot thing. He was even being considered better than him because of the 'Get Rich or Die Trying' album, but Jay felt disrespected that one album was being compared to his discography. This entire album was conceived on the back of that.
Love this album, December 4th one of my favorite hov songs
Still praying for Haiti!!
This probably my favorite Jay Z album, great project
I don't know if you knew but the Big Pimpin beat was made by Timbaland, the producer you were watching when you brought it up. You'd love Missy's album i think.
BOB YOU'RE MY HERO. MY GOAT. MY GLORIOUS KING BOB 😭😭
What a pull from the vault. My personal favorite Jay Z album!
Big fan of Hov so glad you're reacting to this, but im still hopefull for more nas