Sure, it's still impressive that Jay-Z is "the only rapper to write history without a pen" (meaning he never writes his rhymes down), but that history seems to be stuck on repeat. In his third installation of "The Blueprint," Hova isn't treading any new ground. Fortunately, Jay-Z has brought along some strong backup. The two most impressive cuts feature hip hop's leading ladies. "Empire State," a tribute to Jay's hometown, is led by Alicia Keys' sexy alto and Rihanna is outstanding on "Run This Town." Though "The Blueprint 3" doesn't have the depth of the original, it's easy to see why Jay-Z is rap's king. His flow, if not always his content, is so instantly engaging that the songs pull you right in. He's still on top.