Even before Roc-A-Fella had a dynasty, Brooklyn’s Memphis Bleek was touted as the crown prince of Jay-Z’s label empire. Jay went so far as to open 1998’s Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life with a Carlito’s Way–inspired retirement announcement anointing Bleek the “new, improved Jay-Z.” But on his subsequent debut, Coming of Age, Bleek came off as, at best, a marionette on Hova’s gilded strings and, at worst, as a Bush-like recipient of nepotism.

On his third album, M.A.D.E. (an acronym for Money, Attitude, Direction and Education), Bleek does pretty much what he did on 2000’s admirable The Understanding. He strives to prove he’s worthy of being Jay’s successor and give his mentor a break from the mic. “Jay, put your feet up for real/Memphis Bleek is a new clique/I’m a one-man army,” he rhymes on “Can’t Stop It.”

While Bleek isn’t as gifted in flow or metaphor as others on the Roc team, he makes up for it with a napalm delivery that commands attention. On “Ass Up,” he spits Red Bull–strong mack lines to an object of his affection, telling her other women are jealous because “they wanted to be the one to stop me from playboyin’/Stickin’ and movin’, too much De la Hoya’n/They wanted more fighting/Bitin’ like Mike Tyson.”

Like many current rap discs, M.A.D.E. can be summed up in a few lines from the author: Bleek claims, “I chase bread, dog/I’m after the spread, dog/The least you could do is give a nigga a little head, dog.” Still, there’s a visceral pleasure in hearing an MC who can match the intensity of his tracks. Roc-A-Fella’s Just Blaze assaults with scores of chopped soul that are variously assaulting and hypnotic, whether Bleek assumes mature reflective tones (“My Life,” “Understand Me Still”) or more aggressive, irreverent stances (“War,” “Round Here”).

It’s not enough to allow Jay-Z to retire, but it’s the solid testament of an artist whose best work lies ahead of him.