Jay-Z revealed «speaking» cover for the new album

Jay-Z unveiled cover artwork for his upcoming album The Blueprint 3. According to the rapper, it was designed to describe the album’s concept.

The image itself shows a huge number of white music instruments thrown together, which refers Jay-Z's recent use of live instruments on The Blueprint 3. It also features three red stripes, which refer to the album’s title.

According to Jay-Z, his new disk will hit the stores in September 2009 – right eight years after the release of the first The Blueprint album. The Blueprint 3 will be «the follow-up» for the rapper's 2007 soundtrack album to the film American Gangster.

Earlier, Kanye West spoke about The Blueprint 3, describing it as «the opposite» of his own recent record 808s And Heartbreak, although West is the producer of new record. «Jay Z is in control of everything in his domain. He's just been working on the album, and it's gonna be amazing when he drops it», explained West.

It was also announced that one song on The Blueprint 3 was produced be electronic music duo MGMT.