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A thread on the creation of one of my favorite album of all time: The Black Album by JAY-Z
Likes & Rts appreciated
Likes & Rts appreciated
The idea for The Black Album actually came to JAY-Z around 1998. He had contacted DJ Premier to produce the whole album but then changed his mind.
Here’s a clip of Preemo talking about it:
Here’s a clip of Preemo talking about it:
Then, around 2003, when he felt like he had done everything he wanted to do in the rap game, he decided to revisit the idea and make it his "retirement album" so he could focus on his record label & his other business endeavors.
Source: The Guardian
Source: The Guardian
For his "last album," JAY-Z wanted to not have any features & also planned to write down all of the lyrics for the album.
To this day, it’s his album with the most self-delivered lyrics.
To this day, it’s his album with the most self-delivered lyrics.
He also wanted to work with a lot of different producers, some of which he was familiar with, like Kanye & Just Blaze, & some of which he always wanted to work with, like Rick Rubin.
Original Black Album tracklist.
12 songs, 12 producers, no promotion.
Original Black Album tracklist.
12 songs, 12 producers, no promotion.
However, he ended up ditching those plans & simply went with his usual approach in order to maintain the integrity of the project. (1/2)
(2/2)
Although some of the collabs he wanted such as DJ Premier & Dr. Dre did not happen due to scheduling issues, he got some extra Kanye, Just Blaze & Neptunes beats + a beat from 9th Wonder.
The result was a masterpiece.
The result was a masterpiece.
Also, the cover for the album is actually from a test shot for The Blueprint. JAY-Z ended up using it for The Black Album because he felt it encampsulated the feeling he wanted for the album.
Here’s the original picture. Photographed by Jonathan Mannion.
Here’s the original picture. Photographed by Jonathan Mannion.
December 4th live at the Fade To Black concert. That was the last song he performed.
"They say they never really miss you til you dead or you’re gone, so on that note, I’m leaving after this song"
"They say they never really miss you til you dead or you’re gone, so on that note, I’m leaving after this song"
The Buchanans breaking down the beat to What More Can I Say & explaining how they got their spot on the album. They were just up and coming producers at the time. (1/2)
(2/2)
Some of Hov's best quotables are on that song
Madison Square Garden concert. He opened up with that song
Encore sample. Kanye went crazy with that beat. Definitely one of their best collabs.
JAY-Z says he wishes he put Encore out as the first single for the album.
From: The Hits Collection Vol. 1 booklet.
From: The Hits Collection Vol. 1 booklet.
Change Clothes video. It was the first single for the album.
Produced by The Neptunes & one of only two songs not to contain any samples.
Produced by The Neptunes & one of only two songs not to contain any samples.
The song is an ode to growing up & dressing better. Baggy clothes & jerseys were the trend at the time, but they were quickly abandoned after the song's release
Steve Stoute even asked Jay-Z to "change clothes back" after David Stern (NBA commissioner) asked him to do so.
Steve Stoute even asked Jay-Z to "change clothes back" after David Stern (NBA commissioner) asked him to do so.
JAY-Z on the recording process for the song:
JAY-Z's classic reaction to the Dirt Off Your Shoulder beat 
. Notice that Timbaland brushed off his shoulder in the clip. That might have inspired the hook.
. Notice that Timbaland brushed off his shoulder in the clip. That might have inspired the hook.
A lot of entendres in only these few lines
9th Wonder explaining the story behind "Threat" (1/2)
(2/2) He made the beat in 25 minutes 
Definitely one of, if not the most bar-heavy songs by Jay. All 3 verses are filled with clever punchlines & wordplay.
Some of my favorites:
Some of my favorites:
The next song, Moment of Clarity, is one of Jay's most personal songs. On the first verse, he talks about his father & how he was able to forgive him before he died.
He did an interview with Sway about that song:
He did an interview with Sway about that song:
On the second verse, he talks about how he dumbed down his lyrical content in order to appeal to larger audience. He does a Common Sense scheme for the whole verse & also name-drops Talib Kweli.
Kweli reciprocated on his song "Ghetto Show"
Kweli reciprocated on his song "Ghetto Show"
The song was produced by Eminem, who claimed he did it for free on the song "Freestyle" by DJ Kay Slay where he dissed Jermaine Dupri.
Luis Resto, a classically trained piano player, also contributed to the beat. He talked about it in an interview with The Fader.
Luis Resto, a classically trained piano player, also contributed to the beat. He talked about it in an interview with The Fader.
99 Problems video. It was the third single for the album.
Produced by Rick Rubin
Produced by Rick Rubin
JAY-Z talking about the making of the video:
At the time, the song was controversial due to its hook (which is an interpolation of Ice-T's song of the same name) not taking into account the story being told in the song.
Here’s a clip of JAY-Z talking about it (1/2):
Here’s a clip of JAY-Z talking about it (1/2):
(2/2)
JAY-Z & Rick Rubin in the studio recording 99 Problems
This joint needs to be released 
Just Blaze explaining the story behind PSA (1/2):
(2/2) Sorry about the video, I just noticed it’s sideways for some reason
To me, it’s one of Jay's best written song. A full thought executed to perfection.
On the first verse, Jay makes connections between his old job as a drug dealer to his new one as a rapper.
Some great wordplay to. Took me a while to get the flyer/flier double lol
On the first verse, Jay makes connections between his old job as a drug dealer to his new one as a rapper.
Some great wordplay to. Took me a while to get the flyer/flier double lol
It perfectly sets up the 2nd verse, on which he talks about how the hustler spirit has never left him.
I think it’s a very insightful song & I got to understand his thought process a bit better
I think it’s a very insightful song & I got to understand his thought process a bit better
I talked about this verse at greater length on this post 
. JAY-Z also broke it down on his book "Decoded" https://twitter.com/fr4nckjunior/status/1327582265006845953
. JAY-Z also broke it down on his book "Decoded" https://twitter.com/fr4nckjunior/status/1327582265006845953
The song was a last minute replacement to Lookin @ My S.Dots. Thank God he replaced it lol
DJ Quick telling the story of how he got to do Justify My Thug.
Idc what anybody says, that beat goes hard
(1/2)
Idc what anybody says, that beat goes hard
(1/2)
(2/2) Madonna was supposed to be on the hook but couldn’t make it
JAY-Z & Kanye in the studio making Lucifer 
x
x
The song is actually about Bobalob, the brother of Kareem "Biggs" Burke (co-founder of Roc-a-fella) who had gotten murdered & the frustration that Jay felt following that.
Biggs talked about it in an interview with Tidal magazine
Biggs talked about it in an interview with Tidal magazine
JAY-Z & Pharrell making Allure
3H & Aqua about producing My 1st Song
Some more links w/ more stuff about the album
https://centralsauce.com/black-album-samples-production
https://www.thefader.com/2013/11/14/moment-of-clarity-an-oral-history-of-jay-zs-the-black-album/
https://centralsauce.com/black-album-samples-production
https://www.thefader.com/2013/11/14/moment-of-clarity-an-oral-history-of-jay-zs-the-black-album/
Shout out to you if you made it all the way through this long ass thread
End of thread
@EnterDaDome thoughts?
