Before we get into the album, let's start off with a basic definition: Biting (v.) -- to take another artist's flow, rhyme or beat, etc., and then call it your own. That said, there is so much biting on "Blueprint2: The Gift and the Curse," it'll make you wonder if Jay-Z wrote this album in a tank of piranhas.
The two-disc set starts off with "A Dream" where Hova discusses talking to Notorious B.I.G. It sounds like a decent concept for a song, except for two major facts. One, a verse from Biggies "Juicy" is played over the beat, and two, Biggie's widow Faith Evans actually sings the hook, proving that in this case, it's all about the benjamins.
Its best part, though, is the line, "And B.I. said 'Hov remind yourself / Nobody built like you, you designed yourself." Believing that Jay-Z designed himself is like believing Milli Vanilli really didn't lip sync.
Jay-Z has admitted to slowing down his flow after Nas' slower flow got hot reviews, and without rapper Jaz-O, would Shawn Carter ever have been "Jay-Z?"
After pretty much stealing Jaz's name, Mr. Z's going to say he designed himself? Christopher Wallace is rolling over in his grave right now.
Speaking of rolling over in graves, 2Pac is probably getting restless too, if he's not in Jamaica sippin' daiquiris. Pac put the song "Me and My Girlfriend" on "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory." If you liked that hook, then you'll be feeling Jay-Z's "'03 Bonnie and Clyde," featuring Beyonce Knowles straight out of Destiny's Child. A hot song, granted, but it's already been done.
Another song that would be bangin' if it hadn't already been recorded is "The Watcher 2." "The Watcher" appeared on Dr. Dre's classic "2001" album, and there's really no need to remix an average sound. Rakim, Dre and Truth Hurts come through on Jay-Z's track, but it's so hard to get over the dated sound that it can't really be appreciated.
As long as we're talking about remixes here, we might as well go into the remake of "U Don't Know," which first appeared on "The Blueprint" -- only this time, Brooklyn's Mash Out Posse, Lil' Fame and Billy Danz, take an average track and make it the hottest thing on this mixed up piece of hip hop.
While Carter doesn't rhyme about "selling water to a well" he does spit nicely on this track. But he's nothing compared to M.O.P., who are now signed to Roc-A-Fella and are supposed to drop a new album in early 2003.
"Poppin' Tags" is decent, the highlight being Big Boi and Killer Mike of the Dungeon Family spitting fire. And Lenny Kravitz comes through on "Guns and Roses," while the whole Roc family makes appearances throughout the 25 tracks.
There's yet another Scarface, Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z track, which makes three for them. Scarface has collaborated with the Roc so many times it's a wonder he's not signed with them. Jaz-O, just another rapper who's got beef with Jay (although his reason is legit) does not appear on this album, but Jay lets us know what he plans to do with the man who made him with the line, "I'm gonna let karma catch up to Jaz-O."
Biggie and 'Pac both dropped double albums, so one has to wonder if Jay did this to be mentioned in the same breath as them, or if he did it to give his fans their money's worth.
One thing Jay-Z needs to do is to stop referencing Big. How can Jay-Z give love to him half the time and then say stuff like, "If I ain't better than Big, then I'm the closest one?" It's easy to say crap like that when there's no chance for a reply.
There are 25 tracks to this latest Roc-A-Fella production, so there are no doubt some very weak tracks. For those of you who were feeling "The Blueprint," you'll probably be disappointed by this effort, or lack thereof, by Jay-Z. But we can criticize this only because S. Carter has dropped albums like "Reasonable Doubt" and "The Blueprint." Those two raised the bar, so while this album would be hot for someone like Freeway, it doesn't live up to what Jay can do.
There are still enough hot tracks here to get your money's worth, but if Nas (who gets a brief but fiery dis on "Blueprint2") comes out strong in December with his new LP "God's Son," there'll be no more of the "Nas or Jay-Z" question that has sparked countless debates.
The only debate among rap fans right now is whether or not this album is a gift or curse for the listener. If you could take the 10 best tracks and forget about the rest, the album would be considered incredible. But since that's not possible, all we can do is appreciate the fact that all Discmans come with a skip button.
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