“J’adore Jay-Z,” intones a sultry female voice at the outset of another supreme tribute to the high life of Jay. Monsieur Zed loves the ladeez so much he doesn’t say it twice, but thrice. Staying true to his knack of making good and instantly accessible hip-hop, Jay-Z makes the clichés

sound fun rather than a formula. The Blueprint isn’t the renaissance record of the New York scene some may suggest, but this is further evidence that he is one of the funniest and freshest on

the block.