Unplugged [Edited]

Performer: Jay-Z
Artist: Mary J. Blige
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Pharrell. Producers: Ahmir Thompson, The Roots, Alex Coletti. Recorded live at MTV Studios, New York, New York on November 18, 2001. Following the success of Blueprint, Jay-Z took a break from the studio productions of Timbaland and Just Blaze and stepped into acoustic surroundings for a taped edition of MTV's long-running Unplugged series. With the talents of the Roots as his backing band, Jay-Z fails to miss a step and feels just as comfortable in the unplugged arena as he does with drum machines and a mixing desk in front of him. The skills of Roots drummer Ahmir Thompson emulate even the slightest nuance from the originally programmed electronic beats, and Jay-Z fails to take this for granted, gently shifting from one song to the next in medley form with ease. With a strong track listing spanning his entire career of chart-topping hits, this album is the perfect introduction to Jay-Z's prolific catalog and a fun listen for the most dedicated of fans. ~ Rob Theakston

Rolling Stone (1/31/02, p.52) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...He expands his familair anthems with extemporaneous freestyle forays and smart instrumental interludes....Everything clicks [with] several points of pure delirium..." Entertainment Weekly (1/11/02, pp.68-9) - "...A beautiful thing....cut from a different, more vibrant cloth: It adheres to, and respects, the original arrangements of his studio recordings, also building on them and adding a new, unheard element to his music: celebration..." - Rating: A Q (2/02, p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Jay-Z is a complex beast..." NME (Magazine) (1/19/02, p.28) - 7 out of 10 - "...This is the sound of a man at the top of his game....underlining what an amazing back catalogue the man possesses..."

Considered one of the best lyricists to emerge in the wake of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac's deaths, Jay-Z has since carried the flag of hip-hop narrative skill. His Roc-A-Fella family had already created a solid reputation based on Jay-Z's 1997 debut. As his fame has grown, so has his tendency to bring more R&B production elements into his work, creating a club-friendly, danceable version of east coast gangsta hip-hop that hasn't diminished his reputation as a preeminent force in rap. Perhaps even more importantly, Jay-Z has become a powerful musica impresario. In his role as president/CEO of Def Jam in the early 2000s, he fostered the careers of popular R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo, and enjoyed a high profile as a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team. His long relationship and eventual marriage to superstar Beyonce has further endeared him to fans.

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