By GRAHAM REID
(Herald rating: * * )
With backing by some of the Roots, Brooklyn's Shawn Carter (aka Jigga, aka Jay Hova, aka Jay-Z) offers a fairly straight-ahead MTV Unplugged session that showcases his hits, Can't Knock the Hustle which brings on the star turn of Mary J. Blige who guested
on the original, Hard Knock Life, Can I Get etc.
His magnificently wobble-bass and porno-promise of Ain't No Nigga is here much truncated, discreetly muffled at the crucial point and retitled simply Ain't No to protect someone in MTV land's sensibilities.
So there's little of interest going on, other than a few jokes with the studio audience who seem to enjoy it. Guess you had to be there, and most Jay-Z followers might feel let down.
Newcomers, however, are directed to the newly released Chapter One, a collection of important early tracks from his tough-hustle years (including those mentioned above), some of which are radio edits, others album tracks, and a few remixes.
That's a better, and more edgy, showcase of Jay-Zs particular talents.
Label: Roc-A-Fella
