Jay-Z, Kingdom Come

His retirement, announced after 2003's The Black Album, was clearly never going to happen: without music as a platform, Jay-Z would lose the chance to put other rappers in their place, something he does with relish on his comeback. On the bleakly gothic Dig a Hole, he advises the competition to "dig a hole, bury yourself" - and they might as well do it, because he's in top form on Kingdom Come. John Legend, fiancee Beyoncé and unlikely new buddy Chris Martin are among the supporting cast: Legend adds autumnal poignance to Do U Wanna Ride, Beyoncé leaves her indelible voiceprint on Hollywood and Martin and Jay are surprisingly compatible on the dreamy Beach Chair. But it's Jay who carries the record's weight squarely on his shoulders. His boomy flow is supple and energised, whether he is waxing indignant about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on Minority Report, or promising Beyoncé all kinds of naughtiness on the fantastic, saxophone-based Show Me What You Got. At 37, he's still at the top of his game.