the buzz log

Hip-hop megastar Jay-Z has set the Web on fire with his new album, Blueprint 3. That was the plan, but not quite this early.

A few songs from the upcoming record have leaked online, sending searches soaring for "blueprint 3 leak." Yahoo! lookups for "jay z blueprint 3" have also been bumping up all week. 

While some of the rapper's tracks got out early, fans can rest assured they will get the whole album online on September 1, for free. MTV's "The Leak" and Rhapsody, the digital entertainment site, have teamed up to stream the record a good ten days before the release date.

On Sept. 11, the day the album goes on sale in stores, the New York native will give a concert for charity at Madison Square Garden to support the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. The rapper appeared with a grateful Gov. Paterson, the fire commissioner, and the New York borough president to promote the show, which must have been a first.

One blogger who heard the unauthorized leaks called the tunes "dope." You can decide for yourself, soon enough.