Oddly enough, when I first heard the album, I thought the only skippable tracks were the Neptunes produced songs Change Clothes and Allure, and 99 Problems. Change Clothes has grown on me a bit so I listen to that. I have to admit Threat is definitly the best track on the album. The face-off and Jet Li comments are great.

I was going to add that they were all biting Spinal Tap, but I see that the Damned's album came first.

Hmm, I guess I'm the only one who's getting tired of the whole Neptunes sound.

My favorite songs on the album are December 4th & My 1st Song

I like the album after the first spin.

Jay-Z has intrigued me for some time because he has shown flashes of being more interesting, he's certainly more intelligent, than the Nelly/No Limit-type clowns, but always returns to the same old nonsense.

Even his lyrics aren't that great a lot of the time, his production is usually there.

I like on "Moment of Clarity" where he addresses his consistant mainstream presence when he says "I dumbed down for my audience and doubled my dollars, Y'all criticize me for it, but you'll still yell Holla" and he shouts out Kweli and Common.

He has one of the most perfected flows out there but its just his lyrical content that needs to improve. He really doesn't represent himself well in the songs like he used to, you might have died for your block back in 96' but I doubt you will now so you really shouldn't rep that you will. Other than that I like alot of it particularly 99 problems because it has an old school run dmc feel to it. There are other very well done tracks in it just doesn't have that feel like a conclusion to his solo career though.

Very Solid, begginning (1-6) and end (12-14) is stronger than middle production wise but some of the best lyrics (8) are in the middle. Blueprint is the best rap album ever IMO, so this definitely not as good but I would put it at No. 2 (even over RD).