Often, the biggest problem with retirement is the lure to come back from it. I guess it’s the thought of hearing the crowd cheer one last time as you bask in the triumph of your return. Maybe it’s a person’s ego telling them they have one good one left. We’ve seen this play out many times. While MJ’s first comeback was as close as you can get to perfection, his stint as a Washington Wizard left a lot to be desired.

 Evander Holyfield, once a flawless champion, is on about his 41st comeback, if I’m not mistaken. As far as hip-hop goes, our most famous retirement was that of Jay-Z with his farewell opus, The Black Album. Any hip-hop fan with more than three brain cells knew the whole thing was a bunch of bullshit but it was exciting to watch. We knew we’d have a new album before we got to track ten on this one. Not to say it was a publicity stunt because it was the farthest thing from it. There was just no way in hell a mic fiend like Jigga could walk away in his prime. I could understand his logic, however, because to actually have retired on The Black Album truly would have been an accomplishment as it was damn near a classic album.

I’m not saying Kingdom Come and American Gangster were or weren’t good but The Black Albu m was unbelievable. It was the perfect swan song for Jay, the man who gave us everything from “Imaginary Players” to “Big Pimpin’”. I remember when “What More Can I Say”, the album’s first single, dropped. You heard Russell Crowe talking to that stadium packed with onlookers, “are you not entertained”? Spaniard! Spaniard! Then out of the blue we heard that familiar voice; “there’s never been a nigga this good for this long/this hood or this pop/ this hot or this strong”.

Most hip-hop fans sit around wondering if Jay was really a drug dealer, or how he used to roll before he blew up and Jay filled in a lot of those gaps on this album. He didn’t just tell us what he was driving when he was 18 but he explained himself. He explained why he did what he did and how he regrets most of those decisions. It was emotional and raw. It was basically a dude saying, yeah I messed up and I’m sorry if I hurt anybody along the way but how mad could I be? Look where it all took me. The lead single was just the beginning of a truly hot album.

“December 4th”, the epic track produced by Just Blaze and featuring Ms. Gloria Carter herself found Jay-Z reflecting on his childhood and describing in detail how profound of an effect his father leaving had on him. “Encore” produced by Jay’s golden boy, Kanye West,  was another banger although I gotta confess; I like the Linkin Park version better.

“Dirt Off Your shoulder” is a classic Timbaland and Jay-Z collabo. Musically, these two have done some amazing things together. “Threat” by 9th Wonder is just a ridiculous track. Jay does things with words on this track that boggle the mind. I mean seriously, listen to this song, the things he is saying are incredible. “Public Service Announcement”, now this is a banger if there ever was one. This hood classic is guaranteed to turn any dance floor into pandemonium in 2 seconds flat.

“Lucifer” is another insane track by Kanye and Jay once again fails to disappoint. “Moment of Clarity”, “Allure”, “Change Clothes”, and “Justify My Thug” round out the album. The Black Album is without a doubt the closest thing to a classic album we’ve had in recent memory. The great thing about this album is that even though the beats are crazy, it is an album carried by lyrics. Jay makes every single track better with his words. He tore through this album like a man possessed. If you don’t have this album, cop it because no matter how many times you listen it never gets old. With that said I leave you with a verse off of “What More Can I Say”.

Now you know yo' ass is Willie when they got you in the mag
For like half a billy, and yo' ass ain't lily
White that mean that shit you write must be illy
Either that or your flow is silly - it's both
I don't mean to boast, but damn if I don't brag
Them crackers gon' act like I ain't on they ass
The Martha Stewart, that's far from Jewish
Far from a Harvard student, just had the balls to do it
And no I'm not through with it
In fact, I'm just previewin' it
This ain't the show, I'm just EQ'n it
One-two and I won't stop abusin' it
To groupie girls, stop false accusin' it
Back to the music the Maybach roof is translucent
Niggaz got a problem Houston! 
What up B, they can't shut up me
Shut down I, not even P.E., I’m a ride
God forgive me for my brash delivery
But I remember vividly what these streets did to me
So picture me lettin’ these clowns nitpick at me
Paint me like a pickany
I will literally kiss T.T. in the forehead
Tell her please forgive me then squeeze until ya fore head
I'm not the one to score points off, in fact
I got a joint that'll knock yo' points off
Young, Hova the God, nigga blasphemy
I'm at the Trump International, ask for me
I ain't never scared, I'm everywhere you ain't never there
And nigga, why would I ever care?
Pound for pound I'm the best to ever come around here
Excludin' nobody, look what I embody
The soul of a hustler, I really ran the street
A CEO's mind, that marketing plan was me
And no I ain't get shot up a whole bunch of times
Or make up shit in a whole bunch of lines
And I ain't animated like say a Busta Rhymes
But the real shit you get when you bust down my lines
Add that to the fact I went plat' a bunch of times
Times that by my influence on pop culture
I'm supposed to be number one on everybody list
We'll see what happens when I no longer exist
Fuck this!