Fifteen years ago, Jay-Z announced that he was leaving hip-hop: but only on his own terms and with his own voice. The Black Album was meant to be the climax of Jay's career, a raw and personal record with minimal features. For the first time ever, here are the numbers to cement the album's legacy forever. I just felt like, it being the last album, that I wanted to do it … [Read more...] about “The Black Album”: Lyrical Breakdown of Jay-Z’s Least Collaborative Record
jay z
Behind “The Black Album”: Production & Sampling Deep-Dive
November 14, 2003: with nothing left to prove, Jay Z releases The Black Album, a project billed as his last. Fifteen years on, we reflect on the production throughout the LP, breaking down the sampling, examining the sonic palette and looking at the collaborators Jay chose to score his classic curtain closer. Fifteen years ago, Jay-Z felt he’d said all he had to … [Read more...] about Behind “The Black Album”: Production & Sampling Deep-Dive
Dissecting No I.D.’s Production Masterclass on “4:44”
In a genre often preoccupied with youth culture, an album exploring the trials of adult relationships and responsibilities is like a breath of fresh air. That goes double when it’s the work of a veteran producer and a legendary emcee. We’re celebrating their excellence with this, an in-depth exploration of No I.D.’s incredible production work on Jay’s most mature record. … [Read more...] about Dissecting No I.D.’s Production Masterclass on “4:44”
Dissecting Jay-Z’s Forgotten Classic Album “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” [20th Anniversary]
![Dissecting Jay-Z’s Forgotten Classic Album “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” [20th Anniversary]](https://centralsauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/jay-150x150.jpg)
Today marks 20 years since the release of Jay-Z's third studio album, Vol 2... Hard Knock Life. While the album's legacy is often overlooked in favor of other Jay classics, Hard Knock Life still remains Jay's commercial peak to this day, and represents the beginning of hip hop's invasion of the mainstream. On Pusha T’s 2018 highlight, “Infrared,” he muses about the … [Read more...] about Dissecting Jay-Z’s Forgotten Classic Album “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” [20th Anniversary]
The Numbers Behind Nas and Jay-Z’s Iconic Beef: “Ether” vs “Takeover”
The “Nas vs. Jay-Z” beef is now a legendary entry into the lexicon of hip-hop history. The beef is so permanently iconic that when the two artists both drop new projects (EVERYTHINGISLOVE and Nasir) on the same weekend seventeen years later, the rap world explodes with speculation that their feud is still alive and well. The beef between two of New York's finest simmered … [Read more...] about The Numbers Behind Nas and Jay-Z’s Iconic Beef: “Ether” vs “Takeover”
Gangsta Rap is Dead – and Your Favorite Rapper Has Blood on Their Hands
Imagine if Drake released his record-breaking album Scorpion in 1988, the year Straight Outta Compton hit the airwaves. Not only would the music would seem totally out of place, but he’d be straight up laughed out of the room. Now let’s flip the picture: imagine a young group of artists releasing Straight Outta Compton in today’s music scene. Not only would the music seem … [Read more...] about Gangsta Rap is Dead – and Your Favorite Rapper Has Blood on Their Hands
Watch The Throne 2: Kanye Seeks Self-Awareness, Jay-Z Embraces Family
New statistical analysis from KSG and EIL gives insight into the rumblings of a potential reunion between Jay and Ye for Watch The Throne 2. Numbers don't lie: never before have Jay-Z and Kanye's music been further apart. The two artists have both grown and matured since their classic collab album, but the data shows that their evolution has followed very different … [Read more...] about Watch The Throne 2: Kanye Seeks Self-Awareness, Jay-Z Embraces Family
We Did the Math: Pusha T is Hip Hop’s “King Pusher”
Drugs have always been a prominent topic in hip hop, but few artists match the lyrical ‘dope density’ of Pusha T - particularly when it comes to crack/cocaine. Drugs references are dominant throughout Pusha T’s discography, so much so that he's earned the nickname 'King Push'. This begs the question: is Pusha T truly the ‘King Pusher’ of all hip hop? In an industry … [Read more...] about We Did the Math: Pusha T is Hip Hop’s “King Pusher”
