Of course Jay did not retire after releasing this maximalist masterpiece, so some of the boasting about how he was going to enter his Michael Jordan-playing-baseball phase rings hollow to modern ears. That said, this is an excellent rap album from an artist in full command of his craft, with access to the best beats money can buy, and has a celebratory, nostalgic energy that places it in the top tier of Jay-Z’s formidable catalog. Standout tracks include the autobiographical “December 4th,” the inventive “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” and the era-defining classic rap throwback “99 Problems.” This is Jay-Z, the man that many consider the best rapper to ever live, flexing his “unwritten” style (Jay is famously able to compose his intricate verses in his head, not needing to write them down to remember them) over career-best beats from The Neptunes, Timbaland and 9th Wonder. If you don’t like that, what more can I say?

– Nate LeBlanc