Jay-Z should stay retired

Last time I checked, there were rumblings about Jay-Z coming out of "retirement" to go at some MCs - probably dudes who have been picking on his kept man Memphis Bleek.

Asked recently whether he was considering doing any more recording he said, "I'm still going in the studio, getting on remixes and things like that. But it's the people. When people want something bad enough, it happens. And they want it bad (laughs). I'm trying to hold out, but I don't know how long I can."

I guess first of all, how much longer do I have to go on pretending that he's anything more than a black front for whoever actually runs Def Jam? I mean, it's bad enough they're only making him show up at 1 in the afternoon and leave at 5 (as was revealed recently in The New York Times), but now he's putting out albums and going on tours?

Also, and I'll make this as clear as I possibly can: I hope I don't have to hear either, but I'd be much more interested in a new Counting Crows record at this point than a new Jay-Z record. Think about it: Mr. Jones > Anything Jay ever recorded. If you disagree, you're revealing certain things about yourself.

I know some will beg to differ, but The Dynasty was the last time a Jay-Z album even kinda did it for me. Reasonable Doubt is still his only great album. The Black Album, if anything, was proof that you can't buy a great album.