When I come back wearing the 4-5

[bobbob1313]

So much for the big goodbye:

 

Call him the Michael Jordan of rap. Jay-Z, who declared that 2003's "The Black Album" would be his last, is coming out retirement and releasing a new CD.

 

"Kingdom Come" will hit stores this fall, Entertainment Weekly magazine reports in its new issue, due on newsstands Monday.

 

"It was the worst retirement in history," Jay told the magazine.

 

Actually, his post-retirement career looked pretty good. In 2004, the rap icon (real name: Shawn Carter) became president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings. He became part owner of the New Jersey Nets that same year. Also on his resume: Not-So-Secret Boyfriend of Beyonce.

 

Despite naysayers' doubts, the 36-year-old Jay-Z thought he was retired from music-making: "I believed it, yeah. I believed it for two years."

 

But since his "retirement," he's gone on a world tour, performed on hit records with Beyonce and other entertainers, and had a profile higher than most working rappers. There were rumblings that he was working on a new album. And in an interview with The Associated Press this summer, he said he was thinking about coming out of retirement.

 

He told Entertainment Weekly that he began tinkering in the studio over the summer.

 

"Something, when you love it, is always tugging at you and itching, and I was putting it off and putting it off. I started fumbling around to see if it felt good," he said.

 

The result: "Kingdom Come."

 

The disc is "more in the vein of `The Black Album' than `The Blueprint,'" he tells the magazine. "I've been experimenting with things, different types of music."

 

He's already recruited some A-list producer-collaborators: Timbaland, Kanye West and Dr. Dre. Even Coldplay frontman Chris Martin produced a track called "Beach Chair," he said.

 

So

[OOO]

Doesn't Chris Martin himself have a song called "Kingdon Come"? A Johnny Cash tribute song?

[mjpuczko]

gee, didn't see this coming when he announced his retirement.

[bobbob1313]

I wonder how many songs it will take him to say "Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is hove"? I think it'll be on the 3rd track.

[rwrkb]

I wonder how many songs it will take him to say "Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is hove"? I think it'll be on the 3rd track.

 

 

that's gonna be the real title... kingdom come is just to throw us off

[EL the Famous]

but it's hard to go wrong when you are working with Timbaland, Kanye West, and Dr. Dre.

 

I expect there a few folks w/ Bubba Sparxx albums that would disagree.

[bobbob1313]

I expect there a few folks w/ Bubba Sparxx albums that would disagree.

 

Well, Bubba Sparxx is no Jay Z.

 

Hell, he's barely Paul Wall.

[airtaco]

This is without a doubt my most anticipated record of 2006. The Black Album was/is a mastepiece. This one better be, too.

[EL the Famous]

Well, Bubba Sparxx is no Jay Z. Hell, he's barely Paul Wall.

 

 

I hope it's good, but i'm worried it's going to be a little too 'shiney' for me...not gritty enough.

[aricandover]

 

I hope it's good, but i'm worried it's going to be a little too 'shiney' for me...not gritty enough.

 

 

 

shiney? you can't polish a turd

[street spirit]

This is without a doubt my most anticipated record of 2006. The Black Album was/is a mastepiece. This one better be, too.

 

the Black Album is pretty classic... but I would argue that the Blueprint might be his masterpiece.

 

If anyone can save something Chris Martin got his hands on, it's Ron Sexsmith... and also Jay-Z.

[jhh4321]

This record is going to be absolutely amazing, even the coldplay song. HOV for life.

[rwrkb]

This is without a doubt my most anticipated record of 2006. The Black Grey Album was/is a mastepiece. This one better be, too.

[airtaco]

While this may be hyperbole, I would go so far as to say that The Black Album, The Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt are all masterpieces, and each genre and even decade defining in their own way.

 

That being said, at this point at least, I would say The Blueprint is my fav.