Today, you can listen to the entire album in crystal-clear, high-definition audio faster than it would take you to find a working ZIP link. More importantly, you can support the art. Jay-Z famously rapped on The Blueprint : "I’m not a businessman; I’m a business, man." By 2013, that business included innovative (if flawed) distribution.
A haunting look at the history of the African slave trade through the lens of a luxury yacht. Frank Ocean’s hook is heartbreaking: "A million sold / Not one who looked like me."
A rock-influenced opener sampling Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit." It critiques the toxic nature of fandom. "Soon as I read the paper / Makes me want to buy a plane and just fly away."
It is not as fun as The Black Album . It isn't as hungry as Reasonable Doubt . But it is the album of a man who has everything and is terrified of losing it. Tracks like "Jay-Z Blue" and "Oceans" are career highlights. Even the weaker tracks ("Somewhereinamerica") are sonically interesting.
Jay-Z redefines religion. He claims "The only Heaven I believe in is to succeed / And give my daughter a dream." It is a skeptical, street-level view of organized religion.
The quintessential "boss" track. Heavy 808s and absurdly wealthy boasts. It is the spiritual successor to "Otis."