The mid-nineties was the heyday of illegitimate sampling, where a young Jay-Z borrowed from Snoop and Nas among others. This time around, Jay brings in an impressive support group including Young Jeezy, Swizz Beats, Alicia Keys, Kanye, Rihanna and relative newcomer, Cleveland native, Kid Cudi.

Jay-Z employs distinguished producers such as Timberland, The Neptunes, Kanye West, and No I.D.  Chicago producer No I.D. puts in work on the “Death of Auto-Tune,” a track that was leaked earlier in the summer with a huge effect. On “D.O.A.” the Brooklyn boy hates hard on Auto-Tuning—an overused musical effect that is now pervasive in the industry—and its users. Inspired by hearing a Wendy’s commercial that was auto-tuned, Jay naturally addresses those commonplace rappers, “Pull your skirt back down, grow a set men.”

No one is quite sure how Jay-Z can blast off about how Auto-Tune is hurting music and then turn around and get produced by Kanye West, who joins Jay on a small folly track called “Hate.” However, the Kanye stain can’t do too much damage to the sick bars and new modern beats on the album.

Check out tracks “A Star is Born” and “Reminder” for the history of hip-hop according to Professor Carter.  The classic Jay-Z flow graces prime tracks like “Off That”, “Empire State of Mind”, and “On To the Next One.” Jay-Z sums up his album, attitude, and accomplishments in a sublime last track titled “Forever Young.”