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From harlanworldThis one is inspired by the big GQ interview Hov did this week. It's been a second since we've really heard his voice amidst all of his controversy of the last few years. In it, he said he couldn't even listen to this album today, which definitely speaks to putting the vulnerability and authenticity into this record. I loved it when it came out, it was critically acclaimed, somehow he even toured it and performed it night in, night out. At the time, and even now, it felt restrained for Jay-Z. One producer (No I.D.). A really tight and curated story. A shorter run-time. Less distraction in the ideas. He gave us more emotion but still had some aspirational mogul talk, ha. For lots of his previous albums that had been really far reaching in production, it was nice to have it this edited. I go back to it often in his catalog... it feels a little like spring renewal. Cathartic. Not one skipper. EDIT: I'm going to say it right here so it's visible. Marcy Me is a top 10 Jay-Z song across all albums.