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It looks like Jay-Z's new album, Blueprint³, will be coming out on Sony/Roc Nation this upcoming Fall. After buying out his contract with Def Jam, the label household that's been pumping out 10 albums for Mr. S. Carter, he's been shopping around for a label that works.

"Well, whatever it is, it'll be Roc Nation. It's gonna be a partnership with someone," Jay-Z said earlier this year about his next album's label. It's no surprise that Sony seems to be the ones he's going to choose - his wifey Beyonce is on Sony, as well as long-acquainted producer Rick Rubin heading the label.

After Blueprint³, all future releases will be coming out on Warner Music Group (Atlantic Records). This is due to the allies Jay's got over there - long-time friends Chairman Lyor Cohen and Executive Vice President Kevin Liles, who both used to be at Def Jam in the heyday.

Now, about his album specifically - the rumor that there will be NO auto-tune - is true. Kanye West has announced, from his latest publicity tour for his latest book "Thank You and You're Welcome", that Jay-Z has asked to remove all auto-tune from his album.

This book promises nothing but "Kanye-isms"... great more ego-boosting stuff for 'Ye.

"We actually removed all the songs with Auto-Tune off of his album," so Kanye said. "To make the point that this is an anti-Auto-Tune album."

"It doesn't matter to me." Kanye elaborated [on] his statement, "It's music; it's just sonics. I like Auto-Tune so I do it, but you want the other thing - like you'll wear a suit to a wedding and gym shoes to a basketball game. I think it's a perfect moment for Jay to provide some gym shoes to a basketball game right now."

Which is good news - in a world where everything is "digitalized", and seems like every artist is jumping on to the auto-tune bandwagon, including the Loius Vuttion Don himself (808s & Heartbreak, anyone?)

What's best to hear is, Jay's taking his time to make his latest one of his best

"He's just been working on it, and it's gonna be amazing when he drops it. I think it's good he's taking his time to give people the best product possible and not being rushed by this fast-food, media-outlet, Internet, everything-is-getting-leaked, people-stealing your-songs-before-you-can-mix-them-and-put-them-online world we're living in right now."

Hopefully what Kanye says is true!

On another note - Timbaland is apparently mad at Jay - all his tracks he had completed for Jay-Z, were scrapped due to the auto-tune features in them. Who knows if he's going to re-do them or scrap 'em all together...

EH

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