Dear Jay-Z,
I can remember the first time I heard you the “Nutty Professor” soundtrack, my sister would play “Ain’t No Nigga” until the tape got messed up. Then “Reasonable Doubt” dropped and I from that day forward I was a fan. I would steal my sister’s tape so much she ended up buying another one just because I kept it in my room. As one of your biggest fans I am also one of your biggest critics. For the past couple of years, whenever there is talk about you dropping another album I get little nervous because I would hate for you to tarnish your legacy like other before you have done (or doing now).
But you are the best rapper alive so why should I worry, right? Well I worry because “Jockin’ Jay-Z” is not bad…however its not that typical Hov lead off track that I have grown accustom to. My biggest concern is…subject content. Lets face it, “Kingdom Come” was very lack luster…and although there are some stand out track on the album that album is nowhere near the level of quality music that you gave the world in the past. I myself defended you on this album but as I look back on it, I’m not sure why I did.
You even you said it yourself, “you make some thought provoking shit the question whether I fell off”. You can’t talk about your past life in the drug game because you are too far removed from that lifestyle at this point in your life. You can talk about money, the President gig and what not and your album could received in the same disappointing manner that “Kingdom Come” did. By no means am I questioning your relevancy, I just would hate for you to drop another that people are not ready for. “Blueprint” was by far your best album and for you title you next line of work Blueprint 3” is a big statement considering “Blueprint 2” was one of your worst albums by critics standards.
Honestly....I think this should be yo last album. Go out with a bang. Get Premiere on a joint...and get back to that raw shit that we all grown to love. You have already solidified your career. There is nothing left for you to accomplish on a musical level. So many of the greats don't understand when to put the mic down (Rakim, KRS-One, Too Short among others)and I would hate for that to happen to you.
I'm not saying that you are washed up, nor am I implying that your skills have diminished, you are by far still the best. I'm just saying go out the way you came in.
Please drop another classic and gracefully bow out.
Your Day One Fan,
Darrius.
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