The Blueprint
The Blueprintmay be Jay Z's most captivating record sinceReasonable Doubt, but its predictably detached mood reflects the master hustler's superior ability to trick out lackluster subject matter with lyrical complexity and brief flashes of manufactured introspection.The Blueprint, a solid mix of preprogrammed radio hits ("Izzo," "Girls, Girls, Girls") and better-than-average mid-tempo compositions ("Never Change," "Song Cry"), confirms the Brooklyn rapper's legendary status. Blistering flames of the Queensbridge/Jay Z feud fan high with  "Takeover," a direct attack onNas, set over the Doors' rock & roll burner, "5 to 1."  "Renegade" provides the album's only full-on guest appearance. Jay andEminemtake this opportunity to address haters (within the industry and in the general population) who don't understand the mind of an artist.Jiggaspells it out on the title track: "Reasonable Doubt--classic, shoulda went triple."The Blueprintmight not be quite on par withReasonable Doubtbut it is reasonably good.--Rebecca Levine