01. The Interlude (Produced by JustBlaze) 10/10 1:21
This track is basically saying that this is his last album in a cermin type effect with a familiar beat in the background
02. December 4th (Produced by JustBlaze) 8.6/10 4:33
This track starts out with his mothers voice saying that Jay was born on the 4th(and that she knew he was special by him not giving her any pain at birth) then starts out with some serious rhymes, the takes a break and his mother comes back in in the same way execpt she goes on to a different part of his life, then Jay comes in and raps about it. Basically what this whole track is about. Memorable Quote: "If you can't respect that, your whole perspective is whack"
03. What More Can I Say? (Produced by The Buchanans) 7.8/10 4:55
This track starts out with the voice track and background from the Gladiator movie "Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?!?"
then the beat completely changes up and goes into a very energetic type old school given new speed beat. In this Jay Z basically talks about how he has said enough but still people wanna hear more. Just another track telling us that this is his last album. Memorable Quote: "Im not a biter im a writer for myself and others"
04. Encore (Produced by Kanye West) 8.2/10 4:11
This track in true kanye west style comes out with a classic beat put with a bassline to give it new life. I mean kanye is just amazing with this... I absolutely love it.
Memorable Quote: "Look what you made me do, look what i made for you, knew if i payed my dues, i'd really pay you"
05. Change Clothes (Produced by The Neptunes) 7.7/10 4:18
The neptunes originality is what keeps them on top and is also why in 2001-02 they were the highest payed producers(for their beats) and is why they were able to bring to everyone their own lable under Def Jam records "StarTrack". This song is the current single for the album and has the video out on BET/MTV. It is a mediocre song but certainly shoes a diverse flow when you switch the track from encore.
Memorable Quote: " Yea ma, your dude is back... made back, hov is back... tell the whole world the truth is back"
06. Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Produced by Timberland) 9.2/10 4:05
When you hear a beat like this you really know who produced it. That south sound is what made timberland the highest payed and requested producer in 2000. When Timmy makes a beat like this, you just can't do it a disservice.
Memorable Quote: "Keep feelin like a pimp nigga go on brush ya shoulda off... Ladies is pimp's too go on brush ya shoulda off... Niggas is crazy baby dont forget that boy told ya... Get... That... Dirt... Off... Ya Shoulda's"
07. Threat (Produced by 9th wonder) 8.8/10 4:06
Wow, this track is clearly going back classic jay-z. 9th wonder did a wonderful job with the beat. Not much to say about this track but to listen. Memorable Quote: " Grown man i put hands on you, I'll dig a hole in the desert then build the sands on you, Lay out blueprint plans on you, we rat pack niggas... let sam tap dance on you... then Ossinatra shot ya... god damn you... a put the boy in the box like David blain let the audience watch"
08. Moment of Clarity (Produced by Eminem) 9.1/10 4:24
This track could seriously be one of the best tracks on the cd. He talks bad about pac and then apologizes and forgives. Then he talks about how he would like to lyrically be like Talib Kwalii or C.Since. He also talks about how he built his buisness and how he's been planning this album since the beginning. Memorable Quote: "My balls and my word is all i have, what you gonna do to me nigga scars or scabs... what you gonna box me homie I can dodge a jab, three shots couldn't touch me thank god for that"
09. 99 problems (Produced by Rick Rubin) 10/10 3:54 (Listen)
This is absolutely the best song on the album... he talks about a whole bunch of problems he has but he has yet to have a problem with a woman. Produced by Rick Rubin, which is a new name to me, but he seems to have great talent because the beat is just amazing with a bass guitar in the back and a drum line this beat is truly one of the best. This deserves 2 quotes Memorable Quote: "If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but a bitch aint one"
"Officer: Son do you know why im stoppin you for?
Jay: Cause im young and im black and my hats real low do i look like a mind reader sir... i dont know? Am under arrest or should i guess some mo?
Officer: Well you were doin 55 in the 54... License and registration please step out of the car... you carrying a weapon on you i know a lot of you are.
Jay: I aint steppin out of shit all my papers legit
Officer: Well do you mind if i look round the car lil bit
Jay: Well my glove compartment is locked so is the trunk in the back and i know my rights so you gon need a warrant fo' that"
10. Public Service Announcement (Interlude Produced by JustBlaze) 8.2/10 2:53
This is basically an announcement done in a unique style.
Memorable Quote: "Allow me to re-introduce myself, My name is HOV. H to the O - V . "
11. Justify My Thug (Produced by DJ Quik) 7.7/10 4:04
This track is done by DJ Quik to the the old "Just My Love" song and is basically taking a look at his darker past and some of his philosophy.
Memorable Quote: "They say an eye for an eye, we both lose are sight and two wrongs don't make a right"
12. Lucifer (Produced by Kanye West) 9.4/10
This song is basically about were we will probably all end up for what we have done. At the beginning of the song he is asking the lord for forgiveness and then goes into talking about his dead friends and people he made dead. Basically a song about two evils. Kanye West is truley a master at what he does.
Memorable Quote: "I'm from the murder capitol where we murder for capitols"
13. Allure (Produced by The Neptunes) 8.6/10
This song sounds basically just like the change clothes song but if you listen to it on a higher level then just the piano beat you can see a slight but noticable difference. He really ripped the rhymes on this song. It talks about settling down...
Memorable Quote: "I solemly swear, to change my approach, stop shadin the colt, stay away from hoes, put down the toast, cause i be doin the most... Oh... No..!"
14. My 1st song (Produced by Aqua & Joe "3H" Weinberger)
This song starts off with biggie saying "treat everything like its your first project like its your first day as an intern" and what a way to end his last album with a song named "My 1st song" in the most basic words i can find, he talks about his troubles with coming up in the rap industry. From Intern to CEO. Memorable Quote: "Treat my first like my last and my last like my first is the same as when i came."
