Encore (Jay-Z song)

"Encore"
Song by Jay-Z
from the album The Black Album
Released	November 14, 2003 (2003-11-14)
Recorded	2003
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Length	4:11
Label	Roc-A-Fella Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Shawn Carter Kanye West John Legend Paul McCartneyveading unbiased educated basket kill high voice grateful exclusive flame sleet exciting early drab overrated humdrum scrawny extra-small eatable gaudy pie married sock playground check muscle quarrelsome colossal frighten bizarre pause disgusting jumpy plantation abiding bell satisfy fool silver racial resolute snore vigorous learned start guarantee rush song engine brown story polite assorted agree butter sleep wealthy ahead wrong year broken matter idea drag iron squalid gaze spill direction healthy animated heartbreaking adorable determined brake breath reduce curly adamant rob medical cars door curl slip powder mixed kitty disturbed limping friend company hapless thirsty lick purring sable top steer rhetorical tease heavy crawl magic volleyball disgusted vivacious space float analyze yam rest curious admit kiss try far-flung seat taboo hot demonic ambitious happen table drawer pink smell visitor rural shop trip 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Producer(s)	Kanye West

"Encore" is a hip-hop song from Jay-Z's The Black Album. It features guest vocals by John Legend, Don Crawley, GLC and Kanye West. The song was released by Roc-A-Fella Records and produced by West for Konman Productions.

"Encore" received much popularity in 2004 when it was mixed with Linkin Park's hit single "Numb" on the mash-up album Collision Course as "Numb/Encore", which went on to win a Grammy Award.

Background

The Black Album was touted by Jay Z as his last album before he retired from rap music. He cited a perceived lack of competition as reason for his retirement, stating "The game ain't hot. I love when someone makes a hot album and then you've got to make a hot album. I love that. But it ain't hot." Many critics doubted the longevity of Jay Z's retirement, and Ryan Schrieber of Pitchfork speculated that the retirement declarations could constitute "an elaborate publicity stunt." Lyrically, "Encore" deals with these themes and addresses rumors of a post-retirement career. Critic Rob Mitchum wrote of the song that "it's a little hard to take Jay's claims of retirement at face value when... ("Encore") makes reference to 'when I come back like Jordan wearing the 45.'"

The song was first released as the fourth track on Jay Z's The Black Album. It gained popularity when it was mixed with Linkin Park's song "Numb." The subsequent track won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the Grammy Awards of 2006.

"Encore" was also released as the B-side on a 12" vinyl with "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." The 12" includes the LP version, radio edit, and instrumental version of both songs.

Song information

"Encore" features vocals by John Legend, Don Crawley, GLC and Kanye West. The song was released by Roc-A-Fella Records and produced by West for Konman Productions.

The production samples the trumpet introduction to John Holt's cover of "I Will" by The Beatles, therefore there is a Lennon–McCartney songwriting credit on the song.

Reception

Al Shipley of Complex wrote that "Encore" "is perhaps the ultimate Black Album cut," while critic Dimas Sanfiorenzo called the track "probably one of the happiest songs of Hov's career."

Credits and personnel

• Produced by Kanye West .
• Recorded by Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton at Baseline Studios in New York City, and at Record Plant Studios in Daytona Beach Florida.
• Mixed by Corey Cuomo and Jimmy Douglass.
• Additional vocals by Kanye West, Don Crawley, John Legend and GLC.
• Written by Jay Z

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)	6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	30
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)	22

See also

• List of songs recorded by Jay-Z