Jay-Z - The Black Album

Jay-Z's eighth studio album, 'The Black Album', released in 2003, was initially billed as his farewell. It debuted atop the Billboard 200, selling 463,000 copies in its first week, and has since sold over 3.5 million copies in the U.S. The album spawned three Billboard-charting singles, including the Hot 100 top-ten hits 'Change Clothes' and 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder'. Critics lauded it upon release, and it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Rolling Stone ranked it #349 on their 500 greatest albums list. Despite his retirement announcement, Jay-Z returned to solo recording in 2006 with 'Kingdom Come'.