The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse

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To release seven strong albums in as many years is a phenomenal achievement. Just ask Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. The rapper's fans know he won't let them down, so Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse is as near to a no-risk investment as this notoriously variable genre can produce. In hip-hop, stars are born, rise, shine briefly, then fade and fall with alarming speed. Yet, seven years after his independently produced debut, Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z is still shining. This sprawling, contrary, brash and supremely competent double CD isn't without its faults, but they're easily overlooked. Whether resurrecting the career of a forgotten producer (Heavy D's "Guns & Roses" should do for his career what "Hard Knock Life" did for the 45 King's) or continuing to nurture new talent (Just Blaze and Kanye West, unknown before the first Blueprint, produce the majority of tracks here), Carter knows how to get the best from his collaborators. And, especially considering he works on his lyrics "live", committing them to both memory and tape instead of writing them down, Jay's wordsmithery is particularly impressive. Nobody in rap history can match his consistency; the only problem will be living up to his own standards. --Angus Batey