Jay-Z Says Jay Electronica Album Is 'Really Close'

There's nothing typical about Jay Electronica. In fact, many wondered how the enigmatic MC would fit in with the major-label system at all. Luckily for Jay Elec, his Roc Nation boss Jay-Z is sympathetic to the sensibilities of his creative spirit.

"I love that, I want to support that sort of energy. I want people to be creative and not traditional, not just a single [at] this time, this time [and] this time," Jay-Z told on Monday, when he was in Philadelphia to announce his two-day Made in America music festival. "You know, he operates at his own time, but the album is really close."

Hov announced in November 2010 that he signed Elect to his budding Roc Nation label. Jigga insisted then that his goal was to "reintroduce magic to hip-hop," and a year and a half later, the God MC is still excited by the New Orleans rapping wizard.

Electronica has long hyped his official debut, Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn), with gleeful tweets, sending periodic updates on the LP's progress. In March he messaged fans, stating that the wait was finally over and the album was complete, though he made no reference to any release date. "Dear Believers and Patient Supporters. Thank you for your patience and support. The Album will be turned in Tomorrow evening. The wait ends," he tweeted.

Still, when it comes to the "Exhibit C" rapper's sporadic music-release patterns, there is no telling. In April he dropped "Dear Moleskine." Before that, in October 2011, it was the Prodigy-assisted "Call of Duty", and before that, back in November 2010, there was "Shiny Suit Theory." It's not a pace traditionally suited for today's rap race.

But Jay-Z assures us that there is an album and that it's pretty damn good, if he does say so himself. "It's exactly what it should be — it's amazing. Him as a lyricist is almost scary. He's scary good," Jigga gushed. "I'm doing something to it that's really untraditional, so we'll see how it works."

Are you eagerly anticipating Jay Electronica's debut album? Let us know in the comments!