The Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse

11/21/2002 10:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Dan Leroy

Let's admit it: critics adore double albums. No matter the artist, genre, or circumstances, you simply lament the great single album diluted by the second disc of filler, and you're home free. Yet how else can you describe a collection so neatly divided between Jigga (sorry, it's "Hovi" now) at his best and worst--especially since his best is still the hip hop pinnacle?

Releasing two strong outings in the past year drained him of the juice necessary to make a compelling two-fer, but the paranoia of falling off that dominated The Blueprint, Vol. 1 and continues unabated here won't permit the needed hiatus. Thus, the same amazing MC who takes rock-rap into exciting new realms on "A Dream" and "Guns And Roses" and cuts to the cold heart of the city on the chilling "Meet The Parents" must also imitate his imitators with club generica like "Bounce" and some blustering, clumsy beefs. "My one-of-a-kind self gets stoned every day like Jesus did," he complains at one point. Metaphorical vulgarity aside, Hovi should remember that even the Lord once decided to take some time out of the public eye.