<strong>Jay-Z</strong><br/><strong>Magna Carta... Holy Grail</strong><br/><strong>Roc Nation</strong><br/><strong>***</strong> It must be hard to remain humble when you sell a million copies "before the album even drops", as Jay-Z declares during <em>Somewhere in America</em>, the most boastful cut on his 12th long-player. Not that modesty has ever been part of the superstar rapper's musical ethos, but the wide-ranging hype preceding this release suggested that his new material might be aimed at a broader audience, revealing more of the brain behind the braggadocio. There are hints of new horizons but, as the title suggests, <em>Magna Carta… Holy Grail</em> is still outrageously self-aggrandising. The "million sold" lyric refers to a landmark deal with a smartphone manufacturer that pre-purchased those albums for its customers. It proved a fine publicity coup for the business-savvy MC, who made further headlines by launching the album artwork alongside the real Magna Carta at England's Salisbury Cathedral. That cultural theme appears early on the album in a suitably glitzy fashion on the funky <em>Picasso Baby</em>. "House like the Louvre," he crows, "or the Tate Modern, 'cause I be going ape at the auction." It's been five years since Jay-Z reached a huge new audience at the Glastonbury Festival, kicking off his headline set with an Oasis cover, and he again references indie-rock royalty such as Nirvana and REM here. If these are intended to appeal to rock fans, though, Jay-Z could have chosen less obvious examples. According to Jay-Z, the album is about how to negotiate life's pitfalls "and remain yourself", and there are enlightening moments. <em>FUTW</em> is an impassioned address to modern black America. The moody Jay-Z Blue tells a dark tale of fatherhood. And on <em>Part II (On the Run)</em>, he and Beyoncé dismiss the "perfect love story". The guest stars are slightly predictable but they do add spice, particularly Frank Ocean's glorious chorus over the dramatic horns on <em>Oceans</em>. The party jam <em>BBC</em> features numerous cameos, including Pharrell and Nas, while Timbaland and J-Roc provide some thrilling beats. The most interesting noises are the retro video-game bleeps of <em>Tom Ford</em>, although the lyrics again prove wearyingly consumerist, Z lauding the eponymous menswear designer. Picassos, clothes, a million copies sold: when you're married to Beyoncé, surely you shouldn't need to show off about anything else? Follow us <em>Follow us on </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenationalArtsandLife">Facebook</a> <em>for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news</em>