A cinematic record of the former's celebrated "farewell" show at Madison Square Garden last year -- his retirement was obviously short-lived -- the film doesn't manage to achieve for hip-hop what the great rock concert films of the past have done for their musical genre. Fortunately, he had a lot of help for the show on display, including such contemporaries as R. Kelly (in obviously friendlier times), Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, and such Def Jam co-stars as Memphis Bleek and Beanie Siegel. The momentum of the concert footage is undercut by poorly shot and mostly uninteresting backstage footage, as well as endless scenes depicting Jay-Z, along with such figures as legendary producer Rick Rubin, working on his "Black Album."

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