producers: k rob, dj premier, rockwilder, darrell "digga" branch, swizz beatz, timbaland, russ & saf, dj clue, sam sneed & p.skam

guests: beanie sigel, amil, mariah carey, juvenile, memphis bleek, ugk, twista, missy "misdemeanor" elliott

"Hello it's Hova. That's right, young'un the wait is over / the new millennium is upon us, the album is here / before we get into the shit, let's get a few things clear / rappers with no relation. There's 'Seven Degrees of Separation' and I'm Kevin Bacon / this is the murderer's version / Jigga the shit, even when he rhyme in third person / Hova the God, I should be rapping with a turban / haters can't disturb him, waiters can't serve him". What an introduction.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in times where every album claims it's the 'most anticipated' in all of humans life's, this actually did set new standards in anticipation. After the success and genius of "Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life", every body wanted more of that Jigga ish. So let's get a few things straight: just like with all Ja˙-Z albums, some tracks don't live up to his potential and are fast forward material. And another thing: while the European Version of the album has a track called "Anything" (hooked up by Sam Sneed and P.Skam), that samples a child singing, as sampled from the "Oliver!" movie, that is completely in the "Hard Knock Life" style, that's the only track one could consider trying to cash in on what blew up before. Actually Jigga keeps it remarkably creative, remarkably next level-ish. And if that still makes hater talk, we only got a fourth reason why to ignore them.

The Premo track "So Ghetto" kicks in decent. Full of dope one or two liner quotables like "we tote guns to the Grammy's, pop bottles on the White House lawn / guess I'm just the same old Shawn" or "magazine said I'm shallow, I never learned to swim / still they put me on they cover cause I earn for them". While this track does not disappoint, Premo is not the dopest producer on this here: this album belongs to one of the most bit beatsmith of our times: Timbaland. But let's talk about this later.

Now the track "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)", produced by Rockwilder is something to skip. The beat lacks, and Beanie Sigel and Amil can't keep this interesting enough. Not the next cut "Dope Man" though: a clever concept track, that has Ja˙-Z before court, defending himself, because he sells 'dope', not as in drugs, but as in 'dope music'. He kicks: "while they was using cut I was on some other shit / gave it to you raw and they just discovered it" but also "and do you deny you're responsible for the demise / of record execs" what sounds kinda awkward, considering his stabbing allegations.

Next up is the only Swizz Beats cut "Things That U Do", with Mariah Carey featured on it. A playful, melodic flute like synthy beat. Aight, but not blazing. And well, then the first Timbaland cut comes along. "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)". A brilliantly stripped down and bare track, almost existing on hand clapping only, Ja˙ answers some young cat coming up "gat buster, ass toucher, clit licker / go against Jigga yo' ass is dense / I'm about a dollar, what the fuck is 50 Cents? / hot shit, kick a nigga, turn these mics out / my jewelry so bright you can turn these lights out". And the next Timbaland cut is following this one and it's curiously called "Snoopy Track". The futuristic beat gives Jigga the backdrop for some loving ode to females. Well, sort of. It's more like "they never tell me 'no', the most they said is 'not here'". Amil is back with her annoying voice on "S. Carter", a track too much in that DJ Clue-Belly-Roc-A-Fella-jiggy-keyboard tradition to please after hearing that new ish. So let's skip that to hear, well another track in that vibe "Pop 4 Roc", where the Roc-A-Fella people team up: Beanie, Amil and Memph Bleek. Next.

The choir beat of the "Hova Song" return. Only in time to prepare us for the hardest hitting song on this here, the sure shot hit "Big Pimpin'" featuring the UGK aka Underground Kings. This enormously bouncy, Timbaland produced cut has to get everybody in every situation whistling, jiggling and hip wiggling along. And while the lyrics are plain ignorant, they sound kinda good rapping 'em. Well, high of this track, it can only go downhill after this. Not really. Timbaland hits us once more with a dramatic, detailed enhanced "Is That Yo Bitch". With Missy on the chorus, Jigga and Twista out to set new Guiness records in fast rapping, this too is a track that has to please. But not everything can stay dope in the Timbaland world. Hmmm, then again "Come And Get Me" is pretty nice. Well, the guitar thingy in part one. Part two is somewhat to common for Timba's creativeness. I guess you can't always be pioneering.

Well, after this track, it's about time to stop the album, cause the second Rockwilder track "NYMP" track is kinda empty feeling. While the lyrics are too flossin', too thuggin', too not getting to this reviewer.

Then add to all of this the "Hova Song (Outro)", if you copped the European Version "Anything", and two hidden cuts: Ruff Ryders "Jigga My Nigga" and the smash of the hit or miss producer Swizz Beats: "Girls Best Friends".