Reviews (page 3 of 9)
If this is the album that sparked jay-z's greatness, I dont wonder. I liked this!
I’ve never heard “Takeover” before it samples “Five to One” from Waiting for the Sun, my favorite Doors album. That was fun. This is a great album as a whole, and one that I had to look at my current ranking to decide if it’s a 4 or a 5. Ultimately, decided to score it a high 4/5.
Starts off perfect, loses some steam by the end.
Possibly the most 2001 rap album ever. I'm a pretty big fan of the early 2000s rap sound, though, so it's not an issue. Putting a song like Takeover right at the start of an album is a crazy decision and I'm all for it. I could only imagine hearing Jay-Z going after two of the most high-profile rappers of the time and then watching planes hit the most high-profile building in New York City on the same day. Anyways, the only feature on this whole album totally missed the Capitol. "oooo everyone thinks I'm so evil and stuff, please feel bad for me" or whatever. You'd think George Bush would've sent a drone to his house by now with how much he talks about being demonized. The rest of the album is good, though, doesn't sound like it came out too soon at all.
Crazy that Jay just released a roadmap for an entire decade + of rap. Everything after blueprint sounded like blueprint, inspired by blueprint, and had blueprint as the essence. Always an outstanding album. Some duds on here, but mostly iconic.
A prety good Hip-Hop album. I wouldnt personally recommend it over other classic Hip-Hop release but yk its still good. Hes not the best lyricist. "Renegade" is a banger.
Some damn fine rap music
Believe it or not, somehow this album was not part of my regular rotation...Jigga Man was pretty good though!
There's just no way to argue with that- Jay Z is an incredible rapper. His technique and flow are among the best around, and quit unique is well. He's style is very musical. Almost 'melodic'. And he's not singing at all, but something about his frasing helps the bars sound so effortless and memorable on the beat. It's great fun listening to his making his art. Now the production. The production is great. Of course the Kanye West track. Through this filter I got to listen to many late 90's and early 2000's hip-hop albums. The production was my main problem with most of them. I now can really appreciate the freshness of Wests beats in that era. But also most of the other tracks have great beats here. (Even the Timberland one, which I'm not a fan of usually). Now, I do have issues, but they mostly about my personal problems with the genre. For me, listening to the artist hiping himself is not the most interesting thing. But enough moments here are different so I don't really care. Not all tracks are on the highest level. But again, it was a very enjoyable listen. It deserves a 4.
Takeover is good His lyrics are smooth, but maybe not that interesting Easy enough to listen to Big Ego stuff as always with JZ Renagade was good It was all good for its genre but I would probably never listen again 3.5 so a 4
This was fun :) Happy beats, nice flow
Production 6/5 Flow 4/5 Lyrics 3/5
4 sterne
Joda, bra dette.
Other than the black Album, one of the best
Very nice.
It’s kinda crazy I had never listened to The Blueprint before. I knew it was a classic, but I’ve just never really been into Jay-Z as a solo artist. He’s fun when he features, but I always kinda found him boring as a person. But I’m listening to this and I’m going “damn, these beats and sample sound like prime Kanye.” ….How was I not aware that Kanye was one of the main producers of this album? What a huge blind spot I have somehow maintained for 20+ years!! Yeah the production and samples rule here and Jay-Z, while still not my favorite rapper, is especially good and fun here.
Really good really good. "Girls Girls Girls" and a few other non hits were bops. Jay Z really has insane flow. 4.5/5
I didn't expect to like this. I don't really care for his voice. But I can't deny the quality of the production. Which was produced in part by Kanye West another person I can't stand. But again, they made some enjoyable work here for sure.
:)
i mean, sicuro meglio di molti altri ma non mi ha preso particolarmente non regge il confronto con l’album di ieri lol
25 Grammies, married to Beyoncé and the first hip hop artist to become a billionaire. This album is where Kanye got noticed for being a producer. It’s probably the best snapshot of the early 2000’s hip hop scene.
Jay Z hey? I honestly haven't put much time into thinking of, or listening to the guy, and see him more as a record label owner, and husband to queen B than an artist himself lol. He has a very recognizable voice and lyrical style that I don't think is anything super special, but definitely still has some flow to it. I do think he repeats similar deliveries over and over throughout which leads to songs blending together. Especially those where there isn't anything too interesting happening with the beat or instrumentation. The songs where there are features, or backup vocals are definitely the more memorable ones, which doesn't vouch too hard for Jay Z himself. Those songs for me were Izzo, Heart of the City, and Renegade. I still think this was an enjoyable listen front to back, just nothing too crazy special compared to other rap/hip-hop albums on this list. 7.5/10?
Literally The Blueprint. As great as this one is, Jay-Z hadn't even hit his stride yet!
Great flow, and some terrific beats (especially Hola' Hovito, which is an absolute banger). Most of the lyrics are Jay celebrating himself - or denigrating others - so that starts to get a bit tiring after a while, but there's enough variety to lift it. Could have ended with Renegade and it would have been a nice tight 12 tracks; the last three aren't adding much in terms of content. I can still see why it's considered a classic.
Flows like butter. It's a super accessible entry point to the scene, maybe even the whole genre.
Fantastic album, with a range of samples that both homaged and modernised the East Coast hip-hop sound. 'I sampled your voice, you were using it wrong' is a mental diss.
Liked. Good job, Jay Z.
It wasn't that bad, pretty chill
Great album with some generation defining tracks on it. One or two bits of dated fluff stops it being a bonafide classic. Girls Girls Girls still makes me laugh out loud, whether it's meant to or not
Classic
4.4
one of the best Jay-Z records. Hip Hop classic
Juutilli
Tää on kovaa kamaa. Joskus tuli vastaan Jay Z:n Blueprint 2 missä sämplätään Morriconen Ecstasy of Goldia, ja se johdatti sitten myös tähän levyyn mutkan kautta. Jay Z on äänenkäyttäjänä ehkä oma suosikkini kaikista räbäyttäjistä, ja biitit tässä on ihan saatanan kovia!
JAY-Z is super-rich, and I had always assumed it was because of his music industry collaborations and shrewd business deals. Aside from Empire State of Mind, this was the first time I had listened to him, and I'm impressed at his rapping talent and how well-chosen and well-mixed his samples are. I listened to the explicit version, and while it's full of profanity, it actually gives the sense of his upbringing in the Marcy Heights section of Brooklyn. JAY-Z is the ultimate success story, rising from a troubled past to the top of his game, with all the ego one might expect.
The backing on these goes crazy!
An NYC guy dropped an album on what would become the hardest day in NYC history, 9/11/01. I know this was his 6th studio album but Jay-Z was still very much on the rise. It has a couple of songs that have become some of his biggest hits.
This is so well produced. I've never listened to a full album of his, and this is a good introduction to it. Each instrument in the beat really shines, and Jay Z puts on a great performance. I'm not a rap afficionado, but this it definitely well made, and I could see myself listening to a few of these songs again. A lot of people don't respect the lyrics on this album, and maybe for good reason, but the melodies, performance, and beats deserve a lot of props and I'm gonna give it to him. I do love how instrumentally diverse this record is. It flows nicely and every track has it's own identity - and that really resonates with me. 3.6/5
If I could give this negative stars I would
An infamous album released on an infamous date explodes with energy and wit.
I always have loved Jay-z's production style.
Extremely refreshing to hear hip hop amongst all this old rock shit. Goofy funny guy that takes himself seriously but also is pretty silly
> the Beatles
I'm far from a huge Jay-Z fan -- always felt like he is a little overhyped -- but this is among the three albums in his discography that I've listened to quite a bit (other two are American Gangster and 4:44). I enjoy the arc of this album and the back and forth between classic chest thumping bravado (Takeover, Hola Hovito, Renegade) and somber reflections (Never Change, Song Cry, Blueprint). Not something I want to listen to all the time, but a solid album no less featuring some of the best production from Kanye, and Just Blaze that I can think of. Also features one of the better diss tracks I've ever heard, Takeover, that is both venomous and catchy as hell. Hola' Hovito gets the most repeated play from me here -- love the hopping beat and how he rides it so effectively. Renegades is also a fine standalone collab with Eminem (only feature on here), but sort of stands out like a snaggletooth on this album. For me this is a middling 4.
Incredibly solid from start to finish. Couple of iconic hits on this one, too. Never gone down the Jay-Z hole, but maybe I should check out his hole after this is all said and done. Favorite chipmunk soul album of all time, surely. High high 4
I know this album is Kanye's coming out party, and you can certainly hear it on Takeover. The production is great with the Door/Bowie samples. Another one of his is Izzo and that's just a Jay Z classic. Heart of the City is another jam and the sample is also sick. Renegade another classic. Overall this was solid. Nothing super super special but I was pretty locked in for it.
Literal es el blueprint de lo que muchos artistas hacen hoy Bien entretenido el MC Se pasó rápida la escuchada del álbum, lo cual habla de lo bien que se pasa
Solid hip hop album
A little adventurous with some of the tracks. Some really classic sounds on this though. Definitely worth the listen for the identifiable backings.
That was really quite enjoyable which, if you knew me, would be a surprising thing to hear me say. I listened to the whole album and it was good.
The samples and lyrics are great. The whole album is a good listen.
Never thought Jay-Z is as good as he thinks he is, and the album's too long, but I have to admit, this one's quite good.
Chad-Z 4.5
Every time you think the production on one of these tracks sounds good, check the credits. It'll be Kanye West. This album wouldn't be half as good without him. Wonder what happened to him. Hope he's living a nice controversy-free life somewhere quiet. Jay's lyrics are OK but the song with Eminem was a mistake because Em makes him sound silly by contrast.
Classic Hov
- I wasn't a huge fan of tracks 3-5 (and 15, since it is just more of my least favorite track), but other than that, I enjoyed this a lot. - Some of my favorite tracks were "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" and "All I Need". I also really liked the instrumental of "Song Cry" - 4/5
Top tier hip hop truly
You know an album is good when it sells decently after being released on 9/11 I respect the really long intro thanking me for my purchase Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song- renegade Least fav - song cry
nice. production is top notch
Jay Z was at his peak here. One of my all time favorite rap albums!
Jay-Z's debut was awesome, and he just kept it going. There are better rappers now, I think, like Kendrick, but this is a great album for its time and still holds up.
- Tof! - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM
how is this my first jay-z album? sponge bahb square pahnts (https://youtu.be/8QPsajKWcOw?si=Gn-DHnNb6q3etCGS)
Classic rap album. Takes me right back to junior high and highschool.
Cool. Great samples and collabos.
Great samples and great rapping, have not heard this album in full and was pleasantly surprised, I feel again the biggest downside is the length of this album
For the album that lead to jay getting ethered, pretty dang good
I tend to tune of his style. The star of the show here are tracks produced by Kanye. Considering its an hour long, the album is very listenable, I think the 70s soul samples are a big part of that. Takeover is a banger but the track ether (nas' response in the beef) is also worth a listen. Questionable individuals and lyrics but a good album for this list
Kayne’s production on this is what really elevates this above most other hip hop albums, even makes Jay-z sound good. Tails off at the end but the rest is great.
This is a great record. The r&b/soul influence and sampling is fantastic and Jay-Z is on fire throughout. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop records of all-time. I'm not completely sold on that as I like old-school DJ production a lot more, but I definitely consider this a classic.
I was excited to see Jay-Z. I love 90s/early 2000’s Jay-Z and The Blueprint is one of his best. He has such an easy flow, so laid back, like he’s having a conversation with you with some catchy beats underneath. Everything just sounds effortless. Love the Doors sample on Takeover. Jay-Z doing collaborations with different styles of music are always a treat. I bought this CD when it came out and played it quite a bit back in early 2000’s but haven’t listened to it in forever. A couple of the songs sound dated these days, and the lyrics leave something to be desired, and it’s a bit too long, but I don’t care, this is a 4 for me.
Classic east coast rap
I do have a soft spot for this album and Jay Z, i don't think its his best but all the beats are so good and i think its very fun. It weirdly sounds so dated though. I enjoyed this listen a lot though don't think I've listened to this all the way through since i was about 14. Best Songs: Blueprint or Izzo
bragging: the album
You have no idea the vice grip that Izzo (H.O.V.A.) had on middle school Zach. 4/5
Solid
Jay Z's magnum opus, and I am here for it. For me, Jay's mastery is in production. The sampling is masterful; he uses the original songs in fresh ways that contribute to his lyrics. He's a good rapper, but not great. This is exemplified by Renegade, where Eminem flat shows him up. But this is still a top 10 MC at his peak. My only criticisms are Jay's grunting (I just can't - it's way too much) and overuse of no-r N. Listen, I'm a fan of NWA and Ice T, but Jay's use feels more like a crutch than a statement. Influence 4. Quality 4. Intangibles 4. Hits 5. I'm here for it 4.
das album isch ah 9/11 ussecho?😭 muss sege, han de jay-z nie ganz cheggt, aber ich kenn au sehrsehr wenig vo ihm (ussert natüürlich d lieder/remixes woner mit linkin park gmacht het) ok ruler's back isch na hard, es het halt das epische IZZO I MISS YOU han ständig denkt de chester chunnt na hahah girls girls girls findi jz naja aber chegg de reiz scho sehr, d atmosphäre isch echt cool bi u don't know findi ghörtmer megaaa de kanye spass bi dem ischer nöd debii gsi hahahaha iwie hanis gfühl, dass die beats datet "müsstet" töne aber sie funktionieret immerno? macht das sinn never change findi na süess (musikalisch) renegade isch halt en insane banger, au wenns nöd gaaanz ufs album passt? chli z wenig upbeat? find jz beidi girls girls nüt unglaublichs. isch aber es megaa guets album, v.a. ide zweite hälfti wos nomal chli villsiitiger wird? gueeets 4i
Def the best thing to come out on 9/11 (shout out to Zoolander too)
the second biggest fire that weekend
This was a really good album but I don’t like the sound as much as some of the similar albums by other artists. Had Biggie right before and the was a for sure 5. This is more of a solid 4.5 on the 4 side.
Really enjoyed this. Im no hip hop afficionado but the production is very fuckin good and i do like his voice. Feel like i could listen to this anywhere if you know what i mean. Like im doing housework to it but i would also chill out on the grass to it or drive fast to it. Does that make it entry level and broad appeal?? Probably like i said im not deep into hip hop but i dont think thats a bad thing. ....Shame about the Eminem jumpscare. Has he ever written a line that wasn't like ooooh middle America doesn't like what I have to say. And then all he has to say is that people dont like him. Fuckin edgelord. Piers Morgan ass.
Really liked listening to this. Great energy, great flow, some cool moments that break it up well. Found myself nodding along throughout.
H to the Izzo V to the Izzay
The production and the beats really elevate his rapping to a higher level, which I believe to be very good already because he's quite smooth and I like his voice Some of the songs weren't as good and it made the album drag on a little bit. But for the most part, pretty damn good.
Fantastic production and great rhymes. Went back and forth between 4 and 5, but since every track didn’t grip me 100% I have to say 4
Kanye has better flow. That being said, the production on this is pretty great. No more just scratching or simple beats. Set the stage for a lot of what was to come.
Hits were good. Remember from back in the day. I didn't realize it was released on 9/11 pretty crazy.
The Ruler's Back - 3/5 Takeover - 5/5 Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - 5/5 Girls, Girls, Girls - 3/5 Jigga That Nigga - 4/5 U Don't Know - 4/5 Hola' Hovito - 4/5 Heart of the City (Ain't No Love) - 5/5 Never Change - 5/5 Song Cry - 4/5 All I Need - 5/5 Renagade - 5/5 Blueprint (Momma Loves Me) - 4/5 Lyrical Exercise [bonus track] - 4/5 Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2) [bonus track] - 3/5 Average score: 4.1/5
Jay Z is een stereotype rapper. Om het kort te houden. Elk nummer van dit album krijgt weer de annotatie 'explicit lyrics'... Ik wil dit eigenlijk niet zo fijn vinden. Maar ik kan de manier van rappen heel goed aanhoren. Je kan het lui noemen, maar het luistert daardoor ook makkelijk. En daarnaast wordt eigenlijk altijd wel een fijne match gevonden. Veel rappers schermen met een soulbasis. Dat maken ze zelden echt waar. Maar Jay kan dit wel met een gerust hart zeggen. Niet dat ik het vervelend vind, maar die soul is vaak wel wat gemaakt. Goed, wiki meldt ook maar liefst 5 producers (neem ik die losstaande track van Eminem even niet mee). Twee van die producers zijn Timbaland en meneer West. Yep, dat hoor je. Het is de doorbraak van zowel West als Just Blaze als producer lees ik. Het is leuk ze op dit album naast elkaar te zetten. Voor het gemak hebben ze beide een versie van Girls, Girls, Girls erop staan. West is duidelijk wat meer helder en toegankelijk. Wellicht is hij gewoon wat slimmer. Een handig passend sampletje maakt al snel het verschil.
Nice
Takeover Izzo (H.O.V.A.) Girls, Girls, Girls Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Jay-Z має досить непогане резюме для заявки на кращу реп-дискографію, якщо зважати на кількість альбомів та тривалість карʼєри. Цей альбом досить часто позначають як його кращий. Я з цим твердженням не можу погодитись, бо тут як на мене забагато прохідних пісень для такого статусу. Водночас дуже важливий та впливовий альбом. Повернення соул бітів в великий хіп-хоп руками Каньє та Джаст Блейза. Дуже сильні хайлайти, один з найбільш відомих дісів, праймовий Ем на фіті.
I've never been big on Jay-Z but I can't lie this is mostly bangers. A few bloat that could have been cut but still pretty nice album. I like the beats
The Blueprint by JAY-Z is a solid record form start to finish. But since it is being held as one of the best hip hop records of all time, I was underwhelmed. The Blueprint is overall really tame, especially in terms of musical innovation.
It was a good album. Reminds me of my SAIT days. Yes, I’m old… haha I would have to say that my favourite song of the album would have to be, “renegade” feat. Eminem.
Another really good album. I've always liked Jay-Z more than most other rappers so I'm a little biased. No bad songs but the album felt a little long. 4 stars
3.8 2x one of the better rap albums. brought back good memories and made me seek out the Grey Album by Danger Mouse.. even better
I typically like this type of music, so I was excited to see this album pop up because I’ve heard a lot about it. I do think it’s important to note tho that I very rarely listen to the lyrics, I mostly just pay attention to the background stuff when listening to music like probably 98% of the time so I’m sure the language isn’t great in this album, but I genuinely appreciated the other parts
nice album jay z
Ahhh such a good album! Has so many classic hova songs! Bro has me back to high school too! Good times!
Great rapper right? But when he compares himself to Malcolm X and Rosa Parks it's disorienting. "Song Cry" is probably the most authentic song I've heard from Jay-Z so he's got that. Takeover is dope. The good songs carry the album but this has too many skips for me.
Hell yea
I've heard a few of these before but enjoyed the whole album. I haven't listened to Jay-Z if forever and this was aged well IMO.
This is a really good album. I'm not a hip hop head, but this is very engaging start to finish.
Great beats, easy and assured flow.
The Blueprint off to a strong (3-fer) start and clever sampling of that particular Doors song / Jim Morrison.) Got some very listenable rap-hop through the middle (especially Heart Of The City)and a strong finish from Renegade to the end. Good idea teaming up with Slim Shady, too. (4.0*s) Since this was just an audio experience for me, I did miss J-Z pointing’ at me.
This was a fun enough listen. I didn’t appreciate the misogynistic or homophobic lyrics, though. They were unnecessary and took me out of the song. The lyrics, otherwise, are very well thought out. Not perfect, but I can tell a lot of care went in to making them. Production is pretty solid, but there’s a little room for improvement. I do enjoy how he uses samples, his flow, cadence, and beats. 4/5
One of the staple classics of hip hop. Jay hasn't ever been my favorite emcee, but I've always respected what he's done for the scene and the music he's helped to produce. The production and style is uncanny, representing some of the best that hip hop has put on display. This record came out after the golden era, but helped keep hip hop as a mainstay in music into the 21st century. Overall, this record is a great listen and showcases some of the early pieces that have made hip hop what it is. Soulful vibes, easy cadences, and a simple, yet fantastic collaboration with Eminem on one track. Classic record.
Excelente álbum. QKZxHBB Hades
This album is loaded with bangers, at least the first 10-11 tracks are all great with a little back-end slippage. A very enjoyable listen.
When this was released I really knew Jay Z but more casually. This record was somewhat groundbreaking for him and really brought him to the forefront of hip-hop/rap music. Great production and excellent music combined to make this a record for the ages.
Great album, awesome use of samples. Just a bit long and it lost a bit of my attention towards the end. Anyway, 4 stars.
Solid album, renegade is the best tune on it. Would probably listen to it again as it was funky with very little down spots
Listened Jan 2021. One of Jay-Z's best albums. He's never been my favourite rapper, but it's easy to understand why he became such a star.
Miss old Kanye beats
Great production
Agradable descubrimiento también
Fresh soundscape with good selection of samples on the album. Favorite track: Song cry other picks: renegade, u don’t know, izzo, girls girls girls, heart of the city
Cool
7/10
I love Kanye’s early production. No wonder he went on to make great music. This album was surprisingly good, I may come back to it when I’m in the mood
This is a really smooth and really good hip hop record. It has a pretty smooth flow with some ok songs here and there. There’s really only like two songs that I thought were ok. It was really good though!
enjoyable
I type this knowing full well how ridiculous this statement is, but I think I may have slept on Jay-Z. I had written him off since he sampled Annie, and while I liked "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" fine when it was the biggest song in the world, I never listened to The Blueprint all the way through. Hearing it today, I didn’t stop bobbing my head for the entire hour it was on. I’m sure Kanye’s production played a big part of that but, honestly, everything except Eminem’s verses worked for me. This is embarrassing, but I am figuring out in 2025 that one of the best selling rap albums of all time is actually really good. I feel like someone saying “Man, did you guys know McDonalds makes good French fries?”
soprendentemente me ha gustado he disfrutado escuchandolo la vd
Liked it, alot of bangers
Badass album. Great beats and one of my faves from Jay-Z. The Eminem feature is goofy but peak Em. Faves are Song Cry, Girls x3 and Girls x3 pt. 2
One of the best to do it, and one of his best. Runs a bit long, but includes some all timers.
I like jays beats, flow, rhymes and voice. This is a most solid listen.
One of those records that always shows up in the top 10 in “best of rap” lists but always felt a tad short to me. Mostly just Jay Z rapping about how good he is about rapping. That said, there’s enough hits and enjoyable tunes to justify rounding up. 3.5/5
Can tell why it's a great album - so many hits
Dope
Great Album!
Only getting knocked down because he and Diddy should be in prison
8/10…hip hop / east coast
I thought I wouldn´t like this, but i was wrong. loved it to be honest. Some very good hits here. 4/5
There's some bangers here for sure like Heart of the City, but ultimately this album I feel is overrated. Minus a full star for just Girls, Girls, Girls and how it sucked when I first heard it and its only gotten worse since to be honest. Fun hearing all the moments that Nas later took to cook him on Ether, and the moment on album where Eminem cooks him on Renegade.
3.5
3.5
4.5
4.5
Crazy. Really good.
Seems like maybe not a great guy and I don't remember being a big Hova fan back in the day but this is pretty fire
Enjoyed this way more than I expected. I've never listened to his music before, but would give it another go.
Solid album in so many ways (flow, production, influence). Setting aside Jay-Z as a [horrible] person, this album still hits hard.
Incredible rhymes over mostly excellent beats
Some of these have aged better than others.
Solid JayZ album. Haven't listened to this one in forever.
This takes me back. Jay at the top of his game, classic Kanye beats, even a Timbaland track (nobody was doing drums better at the time). Flow wise, Jay Z is solid as a rock, but lyrically he’s always felt a bit weak to me. Still, this album is a classic for a reason and was among the handful of rap albums I first got into so I’ve got to rate this one. The production on this album is so fresh, it was a joy to revisit this one.
This album showcases the best of Jay-Z. He was in top form with great production from producers like Just Blaze and Kanye. Also Jay was in the mode of wanting to show he was the king of New York by taking direct shots at Nas, Mobb Deep, etc. Those disses didn’t work out for Jay in the end, but it gave us some great bars and had Jay rapping on another level.
Love the beats
4/5
I’m not gonna lie and be like I know all the jay z deep cuts (honestly the only song I knew from this album was heart of the city) but just hearing him in the early part of his career is such a treat. He just has such a great flow even if I don’t really understand all the beef that he is referring to.
I liked listening to it at the time but I don't really remember much of it the next morning. My favorite thing about it were the beats. Does that mean I like Kanye more than Jay Z? There were a few songs that I definitely recognized. Not sure if from pop culture or just Oakley playing them all the time. High 3 low 4 for me.
I wanted more hits. Otherwise…SOLID
Not my cup of tea, but it has some great moments.
This is great listening! Jay Z has superior skills in front of the mic, as well as in production. The rhymes and flow hit hard and the storytelling is masterful. My only complaint is that the range is limited to battle-rap & misogyny. I’m not offended, but I can tell Jay-Z can say & do more. It’s a four, but I wish it was a five.
Incredible album strong 4.5 if I could give it that
The anger is palpable. Some great flow and beats.
Amazing production. It started to drag at one point, I feel like he could've removed some of the songs in the middle. The lyrics also got.. questionable sometimes, to put it nicely. Overall though it was enjoyable.
I’ve never liked Jay-Z, but this album finally shows me why he’s so highly rated. The production is uneven - a complaint that I’ve always had with Jay-Z’s songs is that I don’t really love the beats - but there are definitely some bangers. It’s also wild to hear Kanye when he had more talent than crazy.
i was so used to Jay-Z being mid and kinda dull from pop parlance that i never considered the alternative prior to his later music: that he is a huge egotist with a bit of a grating personality. there are so many songs here that rely on you buying into Jay-Z as a personality, and i guess that works if you grew up with his harder stuff/this album in particular, but i didn't even know he went by "Hove" before this. what is Jay-Z supposed to be to a new audience now that he's just "Beyonce's Husband"? a lot of my enjoyment of the record is diminished by how self-obsessed Jay-Z is with his own mythology. he grew up poor, dealing drugs and killing motherfuckers before hitting it big and getting rich, but he's still the same person. he is this person on almost every single song. it's not bad; the production is great and he flows really well on a lot of these tracks, but its still that annoying hard ass personality that comes off as a little flat over the hour. literally the most emotional he gets over a break up, and the chorus is literally "well i'm too tough to get emotional, so i guess i'm gonna make the song cry". Jay-Z, i know it's a tall order, but can you stop being a baller for five minutes and emote? get a bit political or introspective? talk about the Five Percenters at least? it's a dull record in a perfect record's clothes. it's fine, and i don't blame you if you think it's a classic. i like it. hell, i went into the record wanting to love it. but i'd need to like Jay-Z a little more to do that. happy 200th review of the series, everyone.
honestly…this was really quite good. you can hear how foundational it was to y2k hip hop in terms of production style and vocal delivery. i see in laura’s review that kanye produced “takeover” which makes sense cos that one immediately jumped out at me in terms of being super catchy and cool but also frankly pretty weird and drawing from a matrix of disparate influences. he managed to make the doors sound enjoyable and vital…that’s how powerful kanye used to be… jay z has a lot of clever turns of phrase in addition to the very corny and straight up offensive lyrics. you win some you lose some i suppose. fav tracks: takeover
Despite lots of its lyrics not aging super well I really enjoyed this. I loved the samples and the way they were integrated into the song, and it was fun to recognize samples in the wild since so many people afterwards have sampled these. I feel like this album helped me understand why people like Jay Z so much and I can see why his lyricism and storytelling resonates with people. I obviously always like hearing about nyc/bk, but even without that bias it's still interesting to hear him process the juxtaposition between his upbringing and the lifestyle he's living at the time this was released. Wish I could've been in nyc the day this dropped so that i cou--oh wait--
Unfortunate release date aside, Jay-Z was kind of in some hot shit at this time. There were the criminal trials and of course, the rap beef versus Nas and others (Kendrick vs. Drake who?). As with any Jay-Z album, it's well produced, eventually establishing the likes of Kanye West and Just Blaze as big names in hip-hop (both in production and performer-wise). No better example than in "Heart of the City", with its brilliant sampling of Bobby Bland. Jay-Z has always been one to talk the talk, anyone can hear and attest to that. He backs it up in his work too and has always surrounded himself with the best of the best in the business. Now, I think Nas got the better of ol' "Hova" during their beef, but this album still stood above the rest from a production standpoint during the early 2000's.
jay z is a shithead and kanye is a shithead, but jay z was a good rapper at the time and kanye was a good producer at the time so. whoops
I enjoyed learning about the history of the album and the circumstances: 9/11 release, pendant charges, Kanye debut,.Just Blaze, Eminem solo feature, recorded in 2 days
Very glad i got to listen to an entire Jay Z album. Good beats, good lyrics, i am way too white to listen to this regularly.
The Blueprint to shaking your ass like a fool in the living room while your cat & dog look at you like you are crazy! AKA "Dad, I'm only dancing."
This was a very formative album for me when I was a young hip-hop fan. But it was also very formative for hip-hop in general, at a time when the genre was transitioning into its very glossy, blingy, 2000's form. I'm talking the high-pitched soul samples, a weird obsession with eastern samples, RnB-etched choruses, and, um Eminem...it's all here. The opening 'The Ruler's Back' feels almost like a starter's pistol for this new era of, not only hip-hop but popular culture in general. It's such a grand-sounding opener with this cinematic horn-backed instrumental. It's also, at its core, a Jay-Z comeback song after a very dry run in the '90s following his impeccable debut 'Reasonable Doubt'. I always preferred 'Ether' to 'Takeover' in the Nas/Jay-Z beef, but the 'The Doors' sample here, courtesy of Kanye, makes me prefer the production here generally. 'Girls Girls Girls' seems to get off on just how offensive it can be, but it admittedly gets at least a small chuckle out of me. It also has some of the best sample chopping here, and its sister Pt2 track is just as lush-sounding. Also, there's a dizzying amount of features on this song, like Q-tip and MJ are on here. It's "All of the Lights" before the fact. Other great production moments come in the form of the title track with those sweet organs, 'Heart Of The City' with its almost west-coast sounding flute and guitar-driven beat (and a very catchy chorus). And while 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.)' uses a very obvious 'Jackson 5' sample, it's still always been one of my favorite beats here...it speaks to Kanye's talents as a young producer at the time. Plus, Jay-Z was never one to avoid obvious samples. And yeah Jay-Z is a great rapper. He's sort of like Tupac in many ways - he's an MC who values his choppy flow, cadence, and timing over pummeling the listener with back-to-back punchlines and wordplay. And he's in prime form here, even if he does get out-rapped by Eminem on 'Renegade' - which, unironically has my favorite Eminem performance ever, his own music included. The standout is obviously 'Song Cry' on the lyrical front. It's a precursor to "4:44" in many ways with Jay-Z tearing his ego to shreds. But he does it very subtly which is what makes this song so powerful to me. Because it's really not until the last line "I got to live with the fact I did you wrong forever" that Jay-Z takes this tough-boy mask off and admits his wrongdoing within the relationship. It's only one line but it says more than the rest of this very blame-evasive track does. I always thought this was a really important song for hip-hop. This album feels like staring up at the Empire State Building. It's like '2000s hip-hop in its purest form. No gimmicks here (and surprisingly, for the time, no skits!!), just an enjoyable rap album. I remember loving this thing when I first heard it years ago, it opened my eyes to rap in a way I was previously oblivious to. Listening back to it now, it still sounds as great as ever.
Favourite songs: Takeover, Renegade, Izzo (H.O.V.A.), The Ruler's Back, Jigga That Nigga, Song Cry, Heart of the City (Ain't No Love) Least favourite songs: "Girls, Girls, Girls" (Parts 1 & 2), U Don't Know 4/5
Wow such a great album! I didn’t know what to expect. I know jay zs hits but none of them are here. Some songs like Renegade and Heart of the City are as good as any hip hop. Great vocal delivery, amazing dynamics, killer beats and varied and effective use of samples and instrumentation.
Toca hoy escuchar por primera vez un disco de Jay-Z, artista que conozco más por su trabajo de productor con Rihanna y, principalmente, con la mostra de Beyoncé. Buen disco para seguir indagando en en el género. Activador y bueno para una juntada o para cocinar de manera comunitaria: literal ayer lo hice y fue muy bien.
some decent 2000s rap. one of the best eminem features of all time. 3/5 but 4/5 after listening to renegade
Ah, another artist who might be having a downfall in 2025! I swear, by the time I'm done with this list, half the artists on it are going to be credibly accused of sexual assault or have shown their ass a Trump supporter or bootlicker. Or maybe even both! Now when it comes to the substance of The Blueprint, I'm 90% sure I've listened to all of this before. I like Jay-Z as a rapper; his voice just hits a certain sweet spot for me, kind of like Chuck D (Jay is no Chuck D though). Let's jump in! The Blueprint is a really good album. The production and beats are solid, the lyrics are sharp and clever, and Jay-Z's flow and voice are fantastic. While I liked listening to this, it's a bit short of five stars for me, mostly because thematically it's pretty one dimensional. Jay-Z can be deep and serious, but there really weren't many songs that showcased his ability to be emotional, and most of the album was a lot of self-fellation, which got tiresome to me. I don't mind Jay-Z being braggadocious, because he's earned the right to toot his own horn, but I just wanted more. There were some really clever lyrics and great pop culture references on The Blueprint, and here were some of my favorite lines: 'Your reign on the top was shorter than Leprechauns' 'What you eat don't make me shit' 'Got fiends throwin' up on themself like Willie Beaman' 'The ghetto's Billy Blanks' 'I'm like a dog, I never speak, but I understand' 'I ball for real, y'all niggaz is Sam Bowie' As far as the best musical moments on this album go, I really love "Izzo." The strings really great, and I love how the way they complement the bass-driven sound. I really loved the "Fame" interpolation that as used on "Takeover." I thought the way it was used was really brilliant and fit the song perfectly. "Heart of the City" is great too, and it's a Jay-Z song that I always forget about. It makes such great use of Bobby Bland's song, and the sample goes along perfectly with Jay-Z's rapping. The Blueprint is a great east coast hip-hop album. It has a fantastic sound, but it's lacking the emotional gravity that some of the best east coast hip hop albums have.
Has some good tracks but can't stand up to The Black Album at all. Really 3.5 stars but you don't gimme my granularities!
the self-assurance coming off of this record really is something else, what with the context and only having a single feature (a somehow actually kind of good appearance from eminem, who's actually forced to say something semi-interesting within the song's sharply targeted thematic framework), rly gives u a lot of time to think about like what even Is It about jay-z that gives his presence such gravity. my best stab at describing it right now is that he's kind of the opposite of talking faster than u can think...he tends to rap at slow or midtempo but theres still a pseudo(?)-improvisational feel to it, like u can hear him taking the time and breath to come up with the next few lines. the results are often incredibly clear and well-articulated thought processes that are easy to follow along with even with the occasional fancy or ambitious flourish...conversational, but definitely not casual. just in general im not sure any artist in any genre balances the I Dont Have Anything To Prove U Already Know Im A Legend confidence with not feeling resigned or taking a chance to ease up, he still feels like he's trying to conquer the world on here even tho he already basically did. great beats too ofc, often lavish but still a lot of character rather then overly smooth or blank. great job jay z, i dont know what uve been up to recently but im sure its cool. i think ill google Recent Jay Z News after i close this tab!
Innovative and well executed production, braggadocios lyrics that for the most part work
There are a couple of real classics on here (U Don't Know, Heart of the City, Izzo, Renegade) but a few of these fals flat. I cannot take "Girls Girls Girls" seriously just due to his voice and the way he says it. There are diss tracks that include that exact problem on them that I enjoy more, and thus associate that line with. Never Change and All I Need are largely forgettable, but not bad by any means. Lyrical Exercise could've been cool but Jay Z isn't good enough at rapping compared to some of his peers that it stands out. "Song Cry" is mostly a boast disguised as a love song which is a bit weird, but at least the beat is good. The production on this album is stellar and the beats are classic late 90's, early 2000's. Kanye's beats on here are very obviously him, as much as Hola Hovito is very Timbaland, likewise with Just Blaze, etc. I think the rapping is fine; Jay Z has never really been that great at rapping, just solidly fine, and the beats really make the album. Maybe that's the let down here. I think someone else might've made a better rap album with the same production. That said, this is a great "pop" rap album if there is such a thing anymore. It's accessible, nothing too scandalous, and you could hear it everywhere when it came out. I would even say I like everything except the two version of "Girls".
flow
Some great producers worked on this one. Classic album.
89/100. The beats are perfectly produced, and the lyricism is on such a high level, as expected from Jay-Z. One of the better hip-hop records out there.
Isn't it funny how, between Gorillaz yesterday and Jay-Z today, I got two artists in a row with names that end in Z? There can't be that many of those on this list, so it's pretty funny that I got two in a row. Anyways, The Blueprint is an absolute classic. This album's release is definitely one of the better things to happen on September 11, 2001. The production on this thing is absolutely phenomenal and timeless. The work here from people like Bink, Just Blaze, and a then-unknown Kanye West is incredibly polished, but not soulless. The pacing here is strong. I'm not exactly a fan of skits on albums for the most part, so the lack of them on this album appeals to me and aids in the pacing department for me. Jay-Z's rapping and lyricism is very solid. I don't know if I'd call him the GOAT, but I can see why people put him in that conversation. The writing is a bit repetitive at times, but that's really my only specific issue with the album. The one feature that the album has, Eminem on "Renegade" is really good. Other songs like "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love" are also highlights. This album's a classic. It's one of the most acclaimed hip-hop albums of the early 2000s and for good reason. It's not my favorite classic East Coast hip-hop album (I do prefer Illmatic), but The Blueprint is absolutely an album that's worth the praise it gets. High 4/5.
The Ruler’s Back // Izzo // Girls, Girls, Girls // U Don’t Know // Heart of the City // Never Change // Song Cry // 4.5/5
I've never listened to a Jay Z album before, only individual tracks. It was good, it flowed very nicely from track to track. I'll definitely listen again. I've got a feeling it will grow on me with each further listen.
Ends up overstaying its welcome by 3 or 4 songs but Heart of the City is a top 100 song on the 1001 album list.
JAY Z doesn't seem like that great of a person, but The Blueprint really is a masterclass in swaggy hip hop and stellar production. 'Girls, Girls, Girls' kinda sticks out as a sore thumb though.
Named The Blueprint because of all the music shaping Jay-Z up until this album. Turned out to be an actual blueprint for the direction of hip hop in the 00’s. There are a few near misses along the way; out of all the songs on this, why would you choose “Girls, Girls, Girls” to appear twice?
Overall, a consistently soulful feel, a relaxed flow, great use of samples, anthemic tunes. A few distractions with the like if Takeover and Renegade (which are good but feel a little out of place here). This gets a fourizzle.
3.5
I really liked this. I’ve never listened to much Jay-Z before and I liked this album.
Hmm, this record came about a year after allegedly raping a 13 year old with puff daddy. I don’t really want to listen to this. Even before the allegation came out I was never a fan. I’ll listen though. Hate to admit it. This is a 4. I liked it.
Lol the timing of this. Actually some bangers but a bit repetitive.
Jay-Z was always big but this is before everyone's grandparents knew who he was. H to the Izzo is a classic. Takeover is ruthless. Girls, Girls, Girls is funny as hell. I like the reminder that before Jay-Z hung out with Obama he stabbed a guy in a club a month after this album came out. Definitely gets a little repetitive (drugs, girls, etc) but I like that each song has a structure and arc and sticks to a subject unlike most rap today. The middle of the album is little weaker and I was excited for Renegade. Foundational album and I didn’t remember that it came out on 9/11/01! 4⭐️
It seems good to me. Will I listen to again: 60%
So good. It was a little long, but I understand why he gets the hype and unfortunately, another album where Kanye kinda stole the show too.
Best Song: Takeover Worst Song: Song Cry
I'm struggling with this one, and not just because of the timing of the recent allegations. I used to listen to this album a lot. I love it for the production, samples, and hooks. But, just as with the Snoop album I just had, I hate how women are treated by the lyrics. Girls, Girls, Girls is just a disgusting song. And, even ignoring the misogyny, there's nothing really deep here. Even so, I can't deny this album is full of bangers. I still like it and respect its place on this list.
One of the best hip hop albums ever
this screams classic all the way through. Beats and flows legendary, no skips
Listened Before? N Great stuff. He's a master. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Izzo
What an enjoyable album, Hip Hop probably isn't my top genre, but this album hit all the right notes anyway. The beats were great, the drum lines solid. I love the electronic drum feel throughout the album. The guest rappers are all great as well.
There's a lot to like about this record. It's easy to listen to, doesn't really challenge any musical norms, and doesn't really try to be "different" (maybe for 2001, I'm not sure). There really wasn't a section that I didn't like, everything was solid. I really like the production throughout the record, the drums are tight and they sound like they would fit really well with live musicians (makes me want to hear some live versions for some of these songs). Overall, very solid album. 4/5
Precursor to what would be perfected in Ye's college dropout debut
Great early Jay-Z
I was ready to hate on this 9/11 classic, but everything except his rapping was actually so good I just can't hate
I am loath to admit this is a good album. It’s hard to tell how much of this is him playing a character so I will refrain from endorsing any ideas herein
4+
for shizzle
Not the worst album, some songs a lot more listenable than I was expecting.
All around a solid album. A lot of the songs had solid instrumentals and I really liked his flow. Pretty impressive and I'll listen again in the future. 3.5/5 -> 4/5
Laadukas paketti. Jaylla siisti tyyli ja artikulointi selkeää. Biitit hyviä ja hauskasti oli Doorsiakin sämplätty.
Perhaps most notable for being a Kanye West album than a Jay Z album. Obviously Jay Z is the name on the cover and the guy rapping on all the tracks, but it was Kanye's production work on The Blueprint that effectively launched his career. It's weird to think he pioneered an entire subgenre of hiphop and yet he is best known for literally anything else. Regardless, Jay Z dropped what was effectively his comeback album on 9/11 and still did numbers. Rarely does he let up on any track, delivering signature bars throughout the whole album. The Blueprint manages a consistent level of quality that speaks to both Kanye's production work and Jay Z's ability to make each song his own. Brimming with confidence and appeal.
Alright
first listen the production is excellent and the lyrics are alright, so for me it averages out
I'm really not understanding all the hate for this album. Yes, it contains materialistic subject matter, though far less than his peers at the time. Hov understands this, it's literally what Renegade on this album is about. I do feel like there are better and more important Jay-Z albums that should be on the list: The Black Album, Reasonable Doubt, and probably 4:44 are all worthy of inclusion. That's more a critique of the list than of Jay-Z, however. This album was absolutely everywhere when it came out. Every song could've been a single. It's incredibly influential, full of hits, and is completely deserving of its place on the list.
It's bomb!
Solid big Jay songs.
This album is a megaton.
Very good - Jay-Z is great - Renegade is a sick track.
Pretty good
This is great - sound and production around it is perfect to enhance his rapping (which is good but not all-time) without overpowering it. At times loses its edge, but 90% of it draws you in to actually listen to it and the storytelling is worth listening to. Gets a bit bling, guns, and bitches in places, but in the main it's a bit more nuanced. 4/5.
Fun album I listened to for another list. I like this one. 3.5/5
I like how even though he gets the album’s only feature, Eminem blows Hov out with his guest spot. Anyway, still a landmark for rap. B+, bordering on the A’s
This is my first time listening to a full Jay-Z album front to back and I was pretty impressed. I've heard some of his hits but none from this album, and I can see why he's so highly regarded of his era. His rhythm and flow is top-tier and the backing beats had me constantly bobbing my head along. Not to mention the more melodic samples were masterfully utilized. Definitely considering digging into some more of Hova's work after hearing this record. Notable Tracks: - The Ruler's Back - Takeover - Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love) 8/10
Not much to say really
Packs a powerful punch 4.3
Some fun throwbacks and some new discoveries
I don’t think this quite deserves its reputation, which is roughly “rap album of the 00s,” but it is a lot of fun for about the first half of the album. (That is not an endorsement of the subject matter of “girls, girls, girls,” but it *is* an endorsement of the soundscape and rapping on “girls, girls, girls.”) “The ruler’s back” is a great opener. “Takeover” goes so hard (even if I think “ether” is better). “Izzo” is a fun pop song. “U don’t know” was a club banger. “Heart of the city” still sounds great. I’m not sure I like more than one song after “heart of the city,” and that’s “renegade,” about which I do agree with Nas that “Eminem murdered [Jay-Z] on [his] own shit.” So it’s tough to give this a 5. Probably a 4.
This is classic early 2000s rap, something jay is great at. This isn’t the self reflective Kendrick Lamar touching on deeper themes type of rap, instead the focus here is very much on endless bragging about jays own rightfully so lyrical ability. Never less the album holds up well the beats are silky, jay raps well, “song cry” almost achieves some sort of higher thinking. Overall it’s jay flexing his lyrical and musical ability and it’s a great reflection of his talent.
Really good album. Heard it before years ago but really appreciated it more than I expected. Great collab with Eminem. Great production and flow 8/10
8/10
Can’t give the is a 5 bc i just dont like jay z’s voice and flow that much but it is a banger
The renaissance of hip hop sampling - Kanye’s production ascendancy - the resurgence of East Coast hardcore. Yeah, this album belongs here. It might not have my favourite Jay-Z bits, but the sum of the parts needs recognition.
Good album
Not a huge fan of jay z but I like the vibe and production on this one.
Very good, fantastic production, some lyrics haven't aged great, but very enjoyable and mostly great songs
I have very fond memories of this album and it still, for the most part, holds up.
Honestly really good with some hip hop classics here, I always forget how good takeover is because ether was just perfect but an amazing top tier diss track right there
Hard as fuck. Didn’t know he beefed with nas
Jigga will never be my favourite rapper, but it's hard to argue with the pop brilliance of the first half of this album. Early soul Kanye production, a sense of fun, and Jay laying into Nas.
Jay is pretty unlikeable character, but dude can rap. And the production is excellent.
Easy classic
Pretty great
Technically a great album but me and a middle-aged white guy from Canada I couldn't connect with a lot of the content
Surprisingly good
Jay-Z (and Kanye) are complete dweebs in 2024, so it's fun to time travel to a moment in history where they both made great music and didn't seem like totally unlikeable human beings
two thumbs up
y’all manage to find things to say about rap (bad *and* good) which make my eyes bleed
Jay Z passed me by apart from the obvious but this is a top rank hip hop album. Great use of sounds and rhythm and a really solid piece of work.
Uh Uh Uh... Easy listen... Uh Uh Uh Fave songs 'Izzo (HOVA)', 'Girls, Girls, Girls', 'All I Need' 4/5
Another one of the black ones. Es increible que tots parlen de tiros, crimen, estar en la trena, pasar costo i dir soc el puto amo mira que pinga. Ta bien entenc, lo de que eixira el disco el 11-S es de locos. Disho esto, ta bien pa pumpearte. 4/5
4/5 - he used to be great/new and this was the beginning
Un grande classico, ora vado ad ascoltarmi un album di Beyoncé per capire tra marito e moglie chi è meglio
Okej ja fattar nu
This is a solid Jay-Z album. All the guest stars are fun, loved Eminem making an appearance. He is pronouncing himself king, and he wasn’t wrong. Crazy that it came out on 9/11.
Oh the nerve, Hova! Dissin' Nas on "Takeover", supposedly because he only released *one* "hot" album during the first ten years of his career, does take some guts, you know. Especially since said "hot" album is none other than *Illmatic*, and that the latter is on average ten times more relevant and mind-blowing (both lyrically and musically) than anything Jay-Z ever released himself (and yes, INCLUDING *The Blueprint*). Hova's commercial success be damned, I might even venture to add... Jay-Z being "attacked" first by Nas (as far as I know) does bring mitigating circumstances that may explain why Mr. Carter had no choice but to retaliate... But still, man... Surely there were less ridiculous, and less "bad-faith" ways to phrase said retaliation. Apart from that, *The Blueprint* still comes off as an excellent rap album more than 20 years later, all neat and glossy and enticing--thanks to its production values filled with marvelous soul samples (including ones crafted by a young up-and-coming wolf named Kanye), and also thanks to how self-assured and obviously talented Jay-Z comes off as a rapper. Amazing how every moment shines in this LP, from the effective lush samples of an old Jackson 5 hit to a few more "hardcore" moments here and there. There are still some cringeworthy lines that didn't age too well in this record (in "Girls, Girls, Girls" for instance). But *The Blueprint* is still an album that can be listened to from front to back without ever needing to skip any track. In the landfill that was commercial hip hop starting from the early naughts up to the mid 2010s (generally speaking), that's gotta count for something. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5+3.5). Number of albums left to review: 218 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 340 (including this one--even if, by my current count, this album almost missed its slot here. Which is certainly not the case with *Illmatic*, ha ha!) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 199 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 251
Not generally a fan if Jay-Z but this was banging
As everyone knows, rap/hip hop is not my favorite genre, but I did like this more than I expected too. I think the song featuring Eminem was my favorite.
Reminds me a lot of Kanye West music weirdly enough, dunno if that is controversial to say. It's very, VERY catchy throughout, "Girls, girls" being my personal favorite, could totally work as an edit song. To be honest might listen to more JAY Z in the future when I would have likely never would other wise, great music.
Okay yeah
It's just a good album. Lyrical. Melodical. Some of the language is a bit iffy, but overall, very listentoable.
I am not the biggest Jay-Z fan, but this is lyrically fascinating, has plenty of catching beats/rhymes, and captures a slice of the braggadocio rap life. Heart of the City and Renegade are stellar (Eminem shines as well). Great listen.
Hip hop elite. Essential listening, as per this list.
A juggernaut of airtight beats and lyrics with frequently clever wordplay but also frequently tiresome bragging and misogyny. A double-edged sword that has its time and place.
Great good
Classic, great album
one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, this one released on 9/11/2001 and features production done mostly by a young kanye west and just blaze. jay-z is one of the most underrated rappers ever and this is arguably his best work. i know schmidty and riot don't like rap so they won't like this one but it really doesn't get much better than this
A couple of good tracks but I'm not a massive fan of his style
This feels very appropriate with Beyoncé’s album dropping tomorrow, I haven’t listened to a lot of jay z so I’m excited to go through a full body of work. The rulers back - catchy opener Takeover - good beat! I’ve heard people complain about jay z’s earlier music being disrespectful of women and unfortunately I hear it here and don’t love it Izzy - I dig it, very Sesame Street esk. Oop very much that last note of lyrics tho. Higgs the nigga - not the early 2000s low rise pants call out lmao Heart of the city - makes me feel like I’m sitting on an nyc portch step in a blue sepia world, trains buzzing in the background, kids running around town while parents laugh and drink. Renegade - immediately the production on this is different and awesome. Good album, I like it. Very of its time.
In the upper mid-tier of Jay's discography for me. Some classics but not enough elevated consistency throughout to be his peak. Favorite tracks: IZZO, Heart of the City, U Don't Know
The Kanye influences here are absolutely carrying the album but it's still really good. Catchy and amusing in places and gives a strong sense of time and place, New York in the super early 2000s. It honestly could be a 5 but some of the lyrics and themes have aged incredibly poorly. 20/03/24
The Rulers Back-7/10 Takeover-9/10 Izzo (H.O.V.A)-10/10 Girls, Girls, Girls-7/10 Jigga that fella- 9/10 U Don’t Know- 7/10 Hola’ Hovita- 7/10 Heart Of The City (Ain’t No Love)- 8/10 Never Change- 8/10 Song Cry- 8/10 All I Need- 7/10 Renegade- 8/10 Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)- 8/10 Lyrical Exercise- 8/10 Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)- 8/10 Overall- 8/10
Great album, set the stage for hip hop in the 2000's. Great bars, clever lines, catchy hooks, robust production. I wish it were a song or two shorter but everything here is baseline very good.
Not bad. Nice layers and overall production.
Great album, I prefer some of his earlier work, but I can get down with this.
This is bop.
it's easily a classic, excellent style and production, but too self-absorbed for me to consider it a personal favorite
One or two duds but can see why it’s rated
Not my genre but an enjoyable listen, you can hear what he us saying
This has some huge songs of his on this album, however as a whole I’m very hit or miss on some of these other songs on here.
This is All I Need. Some might say it’s The Blueprint.
inebetween 3 and 4 on this one. the beats are so hard im just iffy on how much i like the bars. jay z one of the goats tho
super good throughout. jay-z and kanye really helped rap after the 90s which i haven’t enjoyed during this listening project
Everybody of a certain age remembers where they were on 9/11. I woke up to my roommate telling me about the towers, I took a bong toke, and then I went about my day. I rolled into tower records and bought Blueprint. It’s tough to point out how big Jay-Z was at this point. He was everywhere all of the time. Year after year of singles dominating radios and blasting out of cars was his standard. This was no exception, and was honestly his best album at this point (but not his best ever, imo, that’s The Black Album). Song after song was big, but The Takeover will forever stick out in my mind because I’m both a Nas and Mobb Deep superfan. I couldn’t believe he was taking a swing that big. It was shocking just four years after Big and Pac for a big star of this caliber to drop something this nasty on that climate. Anyway, all other things aside, the beats on this were nuts. Kanye got his big breakthrough. Just Blaze killed it. It was wild and holy shit Nas was right about Renegade “Eminem murdered you on your own shit” - phenomenal feature. It’s a really good album and this comes from a person who was a hater and a half after hearing the diss.
Great production with the soul samples. It’s cool hearing early Kanye production. Some of the lyrical content probably hasn’t aged that well but it’s hard to deny the energy and flows from Jay. Really enjoyed it
a lot better than i thought tbh
I actually really like this album!
why did this fuck 4/5
I vibed out a lot to this album, but I wasn’t really listening to the lyrics. I really liked the production, and it didn’t overstay its welcome, despite being over an hour long.
A landmark album in the hip-hop genre, The Blueprint still holds up against more modern entries from both coasts. Jay-Z's lyrics are brash, boastful, and effortless as he spits over some of the best production of the decade. The real highlight of this album for me are the beats. Each track stands out musically from the next, with deep cut samples, enhancing backing instrumentation, and iconic drums loops. The lyrics are hot, but change little in focus and theme; Jay-Z's constant bragging and dissing grow stale by the end of record. The Blueprint is more a collection of heavy-hitting singles rather than a cohesive album. Stand out tracks include "Takeover", "Izzo (H.O.V.A)", "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)", "Never Change", and "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)".
I don't have a critical ear for hip-hop, but I know I liked what I heard! Some tracks I could've skipped, but enough strong material to go back to. Will keep in my library. Favourite track "U Don't Know" 1st listen. 3.5/5
4.5/5
This album holds up incredibly strong from start to end and demonstrates when Jay-Z rose to the top. I love the soulful throwback beats and the quick-witted and often emotional lyrics. I think this album set Jay-Z apart as one of the greats. 4.5
First impression is that this is great. I need to sit and listen to it again with the lyrics in front of me to get the most out of it (I shall print them out in large font and read them through big reading specs on a chain while sitting in a comfortable chair). But even just going by the music it's such a rich, varied listen.
Swag jättebra beats o Jay Z låter bra on beat
Muy buen rap
Too many swear words.