This gets absolutely hated on in some circles, even by Jay-Z fans, but it isn't much worse than some of his other albums if you ask me. I have also read that the rapping is the issue. Maybe it's a small step down, but while lyrically he isn't as strong, Jay has often just talked over beats without sounding like he is putting that much effort into it. This isn't the first or the last album where he sounds like that. Anyway, this begins okay, both 'The Prelude' and 'Oh My God' aren't bad. Jay's lyrics aren't his strongest but 'Kingdom Come' then has a nice beat and is one of the best things featured on this album. 'Show Me What You Got' is okay, using the same sample as 'We Gon' Make It' from Diddy's "Press Play' released one month earlier, and the following 'Lost One' needed an extra something in the beat from Dre as it just feels monotonous before it's finished. Then again, is it Jay's or Dre's fault? Because while 'Do U Wanna Ride' steps it up a notch in the production, Jay struggles to hold my attention. Other songs like '30 Something' suffer from the same problem. Overall, this album feels like a missed opportunity. I feel like some of these beats have the potential to be part of better songs if a rapper I like more and who was in better form had the opportunity to spit over them. Instead there is some lush production with a rapper who for a lot of it who sounds uninspired. Best Tracks: Kingdom Come, Do U Wanna Ride, Trouble, Beach Chair