One other producer helmed the beats for Hov: the legendary Rick Rubin.

'In two years, everyone's going to know his name.' Other producers on the album include Kanye West ('Encore,' 'Lucifer'), Timbaland, newcomers the Bucannons, and 9th Wonder from the North Carolina hip-hop group Little Brother. 'I'm really late with this already,' he said, 'I couldn't wait. Jay explained that Madonna herself was to do the vocals live in the studio, but that he needed to have the album finished by last Friday and she was only available the following Monday. Madonna's cooing pillow-talk on 'Justify My Love' is sampled on 'Justify My Thug' over a sultry, electro-funk track produced by DJ Quik. One high profile person who didn't make the album is Madonna. Em's hard-hitting, minor-key soundtrack frames a Jay-Z confessional - from his feelings on his father to an explanation of why he chose certain paths in his career. Slim Shady produced 'Moment of Clarity,' lending the faintest of vocals to the song's chorus.

While Jay didn't recruit any collaborators for the album, one big name lends his talents behind the boards: Eminem. The Neptunes make their mark with their signature rhythmic pop-and-synthesized keyboard swells. With a bubbly beat pushing Jay's voice, the track is an up-tempo celebration of hitting the town for the night. As reported earlier, the first single from The Black Album is 'Change Clothes,' produced by the Neptunes and featuring Pharrell singing the hook (see 'Jay-Z To Change His 'Clothes' For Black Album?'). Jay is keeping The Black Album efficient: 12 songs, a handful of producers, no guest rap cameos and, aside from an intro track, no skits to interrupt the rhythm of his rhymes. The album is to be released on the nontraditional date of November 28, the Friday after Thanksgiving, in conjunction with the black version of his signature Reebok shoe, the S. But that's as much because of the music as it is the hype. The early verdict is that The Black Album will be everything Jay-Z wants it to be - a defining moment in his career. He sat quietly with pen and paper, going over production credits, song titles and shout-outs while a room full of hungry media types listened intently. Jay unveiled The Black Album during a private listening session Wednesday at Baseline Studios. They've felt the passion coursing through Hova's rhymes since the days of Reasonable Doubt and they know that when he says he's tired of the game right now, he means it. NEW YORK - Even fans jaded by the precipitous talk of rapper retirements speak about Jay-Z's impending swan song with a touch of sentimentality.

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