NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Let’s say you can only go to one Jay Z concert that’s happening at Yankee Stadium in July. Which one would you attend, Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, or the mysterious 3rd one? As with most loyal Jay Z fans, the goal is to attend all 3. But what if you can only make one? That’s a hard one to choose, but let’s do our best to break it down for those who may be caught in that dilemma.
If I had to choose, it would be Reasonable Doubt simply because that’s my favorite Jay Z album. And also, that’s his baby. Now, in terms of what may sway people, it may come down to the special guest. Reasonable Doubt features artists such as Memphis Bleek, Sauce Money, Jaz-O, Foxy Brown, and Mary J. Blige. But the one guest that would have put it over the top would have been Biggie Smalls.
However, that does not mean that Hov won’t have some tricks up his sleeve. There could be a slew of artists he gets to perform with him, and with Nas’ voice being used on Dead Presidents, we could get another Jay and Nas pairing on stage.
Now, for The Blueprint. Hip Hop heads are torn when it comes to these two albums, which is the better one. Reasonable was more edgy, while Blueprint ushered in a new era for Jay Z. Blueprint was soulful, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t without any bangers.
The Blueprint can hold a candle next to Reasonable Doubt. Girls, Girls, Girls was a major hit. The Ruler’s Back is slept on. Izzo had the summer on smash, and when it’s all said and done, Renegede is etched in Hip Hop history. And how can any of us ever forget Takeover and the classic Song Cry?
While The Blueprint didn’t have as many features as Reasonable Doubt, many fans believe that Jay Z will put on a better performance, concert-wise, with this album. As far as features go, there were only 2 on the album, and that was M.O.P and Eminem. Maybe he can get Beyoncé to do the chorus for Song Cry.
This concert is not about record sales. This is about celebrating an artist who has withstood the test of time. 30 years for Reasonable Doubt and 25 years for The Blueprint. How many artists can hold a candle to that?
While many fans, especially those from Brooklyn, would love to see this concert at Barclays, having it at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx is just as good. What was originally two shows quickly turned into three. A Jay Z Weekend is what this should be called.
Now, what’s scary is what will happen with the 3rd concert. If we’re getting Reasonable Doubt on Friday and then The Blueprint on Day 2, what will happen on Day 3? That’s the show that should have fans running to Ticketmaster. There is a chance for Jay Z to do the unexpected here and do a B-Sides concert or just add a Jay Z and Friends where anyone can come out. This is NYC, Yankee Stadium, and a Jay-Z celebration. At this point, the gloves are off.
