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Dollars & Sense ratings system | Complete list Best album of 2000 (tie) | The rest of the Best of 2000 JAY-Z, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, Roc-A-Fella A dynasty like no other? That's how Jay- Z has been describing his Roc-A-Fella Records crew for the last couple of years, but with mediocre (not meteoric) debuts by DJ Clue, Memphis Bleek, and Amil, Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel were really the only Roc-A-Fella artists holding it down for the label. Even Jay-Z, now with five albums in five years and one of hip-hop's most popular artists, has been receiving criticism for becoming too commercial and buying into the "bling-bling" materialistic type of hip-hop that all too many other artists played out. In fact, after Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter many fans Jay won over because of Reasonable Doubt were screaming for his head. Well, I'm here to let ALL Jay-Z fans know that La Familia may be his best effort yet. Jay-Z seamlessly meshes introspective songs like "This Can't Be Life" and "Where Have You Been" with party joints like "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)" and "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" while coming up with street anthems like "Holla" and "Change the Game." Jay even has a few songs with a West Coast feel to them. "Change the Game," "Parking Lot Pimpin'," and "Squeeze 1st" are all tracks that Mack 10 or Snoop would drool over. The best tracks, though, are the laid back "Stick 2 The Script," featuring DJ Clue, "1-900-Hustler," and "Soon You’ll Understand." What began as a showcase for Jay-Z's proteges thankfully turned into a full-fledged Jay-Z album with several contributions from the Roc-A-Fella crew. I'm not sure if this is Jay's best album, but La Familia is definitely the best-produced. A rarity in hip-hop, every song on the album is worth listening to. A rapper like no other? Definitely. The best MC ever? Arguably (sorry Biggie, R.I.P.) A dynasty like no other? Maybe. Click here to find out how to buy this album. -- Cvere More reviews... www.the411online.com All contents ©1994-2006 The 411 Online News | Reviews | Interviews | Discussion | Coming Up | Flashbacks In the Trunk | Radio | Best of... | Award Tour | Exhibit | Links | E-mail