This year’s 46th Annual Grammy Awards will have a very competitive arrangement of talent. Musicians of all genres will be represented, whether it is country, rap, alternative, pop or even classical. It is always difficult to decide who is the best from each category, and this year will be no different, especially for the rap nominees.
Shawn Carter, more commonly known as Jay-Z, is one rapper who has graced the rap world with his lyrics and beats for a long time now. He has already released several albums and his new two-disc set, “Blueprint 2,” hit the shelves in November 2002.
“Blueprint 2” was produced by Roc-A-Fella Records and nominated for Best Rap Album for the 2002-03 year. Its competitors include Missy Elliot’s “Under Construction,” 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” and The Root’s “Phrenology.”
The two discs in “Blueprint 2” are titled “The Gift” and “The Curse.” Both include a variety of beats and tones that strengthen the disc’s entertainment value. Jay-Z mixes his talent with several featured guests.
Notorious B.I.G. helps jump-start ‘The Gift’ with the song, “I Have a Dream.” Beyonce Knowles’ vocals in “’03 Bonnie and Clyde” and Sean Paul in “What They Gonna Do” also add to the repertoire. Jay-Z even leans a bit towards the rock genre with Lenny Kravitz in “Guns and Roses.”
The album contains the stereotypical rap contents of sex, drugs and name-calling but adds enough variety to make it more original than a mundane rap recording.
“Blueprint 2” is not one of Jay-Z’s stronger albums, but it still contains the charm and talent that got him where he is today.
Jay-Z is also included in several other Grammy categories. His appearance on Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” is nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. In the same category, he is also nominated for his collaboration with the Neptunes on “Frontin’,” featuring Pharrell Williams.
His song “Excuse Me Miss” is also in the running for Best Rap Song.Jay-Z has a way of combining the newer rap styles with some of the tried-and-true techniques and voices of past rappers that gives him a good chance of winning a couple of awards.