Let you tell it, man, I’m fallin’ / Well, somebody musta caught him/ Every fourth quarter / I like to Mike Jordan ‘em

According to several sources that I’ve spoken to at Def Jam, Jay-Z is definitely in the process of recording a comeback album. The album, which is still untitled, is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2006.

As the above quote from Jigga suggests, his upcoming un-retirement further solidifies his position as the “Mike Jordan of the mic recordin’s.” By deciding to append another chapter to his storybook career, Jay-Z will either expand his legacy or reduce his standing within the hip-hop pantheon.
Of course, almost no one will be surprised at this news. Like athletes, few MCs retire when they still have the skills and financial incentive to continue. This is why Deion Sanders, Jerry Rice, and Michael Jordan continued well beyond their primes. Given their extraordinary gifts, these men were able to hold their own with the new generation despite being watered-down versions of their former selves.

Still, many would argue that the inability to exit the stage at an appropriate time ultimately tarnishes one’s legacy. This is why it is so hard to separate the late 1980s/early 1990s versions of, say, Mike Tyson and Michael Jackson, from the caricatures that they’ve become in the 21st century.
My hunch is that Jay-Z will be alright in the short term. He is said to be enlisting the help of hot young producers like Cool and Dre, Kanye West, and the Neptunes, as well as veteran leaders like Dr. Dre to ensure that the project is a critical and commercial success. While many will be disappointed to hear that Nas won’t be on the album –Jay-Z will, however, be appearing on Nas’ September LP– there’s no doubt that the album will have its share of strong guest appearances to appeal to different fan bases.

Still a time will inevitably come when Jigga will no longer be hot. It may be a few months or it may be a few years, but when his time comes, I hope he recognizes it and retires.

For good.