03: what jay-z did

at the beginning of 03, the world was still reeling from jay's putting-out-a-double-album-of-really-good-songs attempt at career sabotage. thank god he bounced back from that one by releasing a single album of really good songs instead! before the comeback, he dropped the amazing s carter collection mixtape. that "bump bump bump" freestyle was so perfect i spat out my double latte (premium coffee being a popular fad at the time). it's probably the wittiest and greatest thing he put out all year, so great that lil missy quoted this line everyday for six months: "i came into this game wantin more paper than puff / now i realize puff paper ain't enough".

once she was done quoting that, "frontin" had been out for a while and suddenly everyone everywhere was saying to their loved one: "anytime your name was brought up i would act all nonchalant in front of a audience / like you was just another shorty i put the naughty on but / truth be told you do me for a loop". if you didn't do it then don't be surprised if your girlf/boyf breaks up with you on christmas eve, having built up a rap-related wall of discontent for half the year.

and there were at least five more great songs jay-z lit up, even though most of the black album was stiflingly heavyweight boringness:

1) put it in the air with mop (still awaiting a proper 12" release!)
2) encore (totally the best song off b.a. until um, kardinal offishall drops his remix version!)
3) crazy in love with beyonce (jay's verse strangely derided by people who are insane)
4) get by (remix) with talib kweli and others (first sign of his winky winky i'm too clever to be gangsta approach but i still love that shit! )
5) 99 problems (totally the second best song off b.a. until i drop my remix version!)

so yeah, the last thing jay did this year was to release an accapella version of the black album for everyone to ruin with their awful jazz-hop beats, a cynical move based on the strange popularity of that nas god's stepson shit. i'm gonna buy it but i'm allowed to be annoyed anyway!

we still love you, jay-hova.