Reviews (page 3 of 10)
If this is the album that sparked jay-z's greatness, I dont wonder. I liked this!
All I need is the love of my crew
I guess I've only ever listened to Jay-Z before as a featured rapper with Beyoncé and Alicia Keys. This album has some nice beats and feels like a throwback to earlier rap and R&B -- though the album felt a bit overly long at times, with some tracks stronger than others.
(4/7) liked it more than I thought I would
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.
Not my thing
Mi sa che il genere non fa per me.
This is an album that opens my world to rap and hip hop. I can feel the flow and the urgency and passion. If you don’t “get it” try this.
Bombastic beats and big braggadocios raps - he is such a boring one dimensional man, a pure money mind. But the feel of the is great: propulsive energy, stylish sounds, a giant party.
Starts off perfect, loses some steam by the end.
Hip hop isn't music. I don't care what Jay-Z and his comrades have to say. In this case, I prefer Sheldon Cooper's cultivated ignorance: I didn't even know if it was a person or a thing. 1/5
Overall good, with highs and lows, some tracks greatly outshining others
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.
This album was released on September 11th 2001 and it’s only an accident of history that it was the second worst thing that happened on that day. Even if he wasn’t a massively wealthy billionaire wrong ‘un, this album would still be problematic on many levels. Let’s look at the use of sampling here. I like sampling. A well chosen snippet of another song, used in an interesting or unusual way with proper credit to the original artist is a valid form of musical expression. Swearing over pretty much an entire Doors track is not big or clever. Then we come to the lyrical content. As well as all of the mother effin n-words I got as far as the track Girls, Girls, Girls where he starts out by objectifying and demeaning women from all around the world before we get to a verse about a ‘young, immature chick’. Yikes. Huge nope from me.
Ei kyllä edelleenkään putoa mulle tän lajin musa. Oon kyllä yrittänyt, mutta kun ei resonoi, niin ei resonoi.
Из той эпохи, когда рэп стал мэйнстримом и окончательно испоганился. Музыка (то, что называют "продакшн") убогая, с этими фанфарами да писклявыми автотюнами.
medio pelo
The beats are great but the lyrics are less so
I love it but who decided that girls girls girls needed a part 2?
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.
I think we all know the same kind of bloke, they’ve done everything better than you and they own the best of everything. And this album is essentially that person over and over again. He’s a good rapper but not as charismatic as he thinks he is. The production is sharp and the beats are interesting but essentially it’s a pub bite with access to a studio
As much as I’m not a rap guy, I did like some back in the day. Jay-Z was one of the MCs I messed with, but not enough to have listened to this album. I also don’t really know how to review hip-hop and rap because most of the music is either bad or just takes from songs that are already great and turns them into something lesser most of the time. I don't even know if it's hip-hop or rap, or if both are interchangeable. Like Diddy using Led Zeppelin's Kashmir for his BIG tribute or dumbarse Kid Rock using Sweet Home Alabama and Werewolves of London for his pandering trashy All Summer Long. Oh, a ton of people liked that jam? It’s no wonder, people loved the songs the first time they heard them. Kid Rock only damaged the songs. He didn’t enhance them. But, I digress. I do appreciate hip-hop producers who steal from grooves that aren’t super well-known. These producers then lead me to the original source, which is almost always the best version of the song. What I’m saying is, don’t expect much out of me on this one. I’m going to listen to it, but as I’ve pointed out several times, I’m a groove guy, not a lyrics guy, and hip-hop, besides maybe folk music, is the art form where the lyrics matter the most. Track 2, The Takeover, samples the Doors’s Five To One, which is weird, but they make it work. I always wondered how Jay-Z got away with calling himself J-Hova, as in Jehovah. Not that I care all that much, but these days everyone is offended by the least little thing. Jay-Z calling himself God has seemed to pass with little to no outcry. Perhaps it's hard to argue he isn’t? I wonder if he had just started calling himself that today, if it would pass. This song is very repetitive. , Speaking of J-Hova, track 3 is Izzo (H.O.V.A.) and this one I’ve heard. Huge hit in 2001. In fact, it was the first single off the album. Fo shizzle, my nizzle. Hip-hop came up with so many ways for white suburban kids to say the n-word. This was a hit just about everywhere. It can’t be denied, this is a great pop song. Track 4 is Girls, Girls, Girls, and it seems it’s about Jay-Z’s many conquests in the bedroom. This was the second single off the album and was a pretty big hit. I have no memory of it. Wait a minute, I just heard a line from the song that shook my brainpan loose, and I do remember hearing this jam a few times in 2001. I don’t really dig it all that much. I kept thinking I’d rather hear the song that the sampled string music comes from. It’s a good thing Jay-Z decided to go into the rap game because his singing stinks. Oh, track 5 is called Jigga the N****, and it was a single. I don’t remember this one at all. It wasn’t as big a hit as the first two singles, but it did hit the Hot 100. The groove sounds like Timbaland would have been the producer, but I don’t see his name. Timbaland is a musical genius, though his almost immediate surrender to AI was disappointing. This song is fine, I guess. I have a feeling the greatness of most hip-hop will be lost on me. Oh, another song that gets the white suburban teens excited to sing along in their cars with the windows rolled up tight. Track 6 is U Don’t Know and it reminds me of the time when hip-hop producers began using sped-up singing samples in songs. These guys must have been huge fans of Alvin & the Chipmunks because this dumb trend still goes on today. I think maybe Kanye West, or Ye, or Ye Fuhrer, started this trend. I’m not sure he shouldn’t be ostracized more for introducing this Alvin & the Chipmunks trend in hip-hop. Track 7 is Hola’ Hovito, and I love this jam. It’s got a great groove. I’m not sure if it’s a sample or not. Damn, this may be original music on the album. WHAT?!?! It’s a Timbaland-produced track. Of course it is. Why wouldn’t the best-sounding song be a Timbaland joint? Why was this not a single? It’s better than the other singles, except maybe Izzo, which is a good song. Track 8 is Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love), and it’s great. Not because of Jay-Z, but the song they sample is one of my favorite songs ever. Drop everything and find Bobby Blue Bland’s Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City. It makes anything Jay-Z created sound like it was made by a hobo. This time, not only did they sample a complete song, but they sampled the title by just rearranging the words. I’m starting to get angry as Jay-Z has Kid Rocked himself by taking a GREAT song and making it a decent hip-hop song. Track 10 is called Song Cry and it was the last single off the album. I have no memory of this song. It stinks. It’s Jay-Z’s Heaven, or Home Sweet Home, or whatever other popular ballad by a hair metal band from the late 80s you love. I guess he screwed over his main b****, and feels bad (But not about referring to her as his b****), but because he’s a sociopath, he can’t cry, so he has to make the song cry. Huh? As I suspected, it wasn’t a monster hit for Jay-Z, but it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Rap Performance. Ugh, as if we didn’t know the Grammys were old and out of touch already. Track 11, All I Need, has to be one of the worst Jay-Z songs ever. It’s mostly percussion with Alvin or at least a lady chipmunk singing the hook from a sampled song. Ugh. Maybe the Blueprint should have been just 10 tracks and not 13 and two bonus tracks. Track 12 is Renegade and it features Eminem. Eminem would have had nuclear heat at this time. I bet they weren’t even in the studio at the same time for this song. That’s one thing about hip-hop, you can have the producer make the song by himself in his bedroom, the rapper can do his verse is his bedroom closet and no one has to ever see anyone else involved with the track. Now that’s music making at its finest! Track 13 is Blueprint (Momma Loves Me), and it’s a slow jam where Jay-Z kind of lays out his origin story, his blueprint, so to speak. Most of the music sounds original, though there appears to be a sample from an Al Green song. Reverend Al, good gravy, I love that man. This song is a nice way to close out the album, except there are two hidden tracks. I bet they aren’t as good as this closing track. Ugh, we’re bringing back Girls, Girls, Girls with Jay-Z’s horrible singing for the last hidden track. It should have stayed hidden forever. More chipmunk singing. I can’t get over the fact that that was like a huge thing in hip-hop that multiple producers used. It’s just annoying. So, this album was fine. It may be the greatest hip-hop album ever, though I think Outkast might have something to say about that. If you’re a hip-hop fan, this is for you, but if you’re a big hip-hop fan, I assume you’ve heard this about a dozen times. It’s not a must-listen for me, but I will put Hola’ Hova on a playlist. That was easily the best song on the album for me, with Izzo being the next. Otherwise, it was just alright for me, dawg.
I only knew one song on this which was Izzo (H.O.V.A.). I liked this. He had a song with Eminem on it which was good. I always think hip hop albums are just a little too long though. This was a little over an hour.
Ugh, do I have to? Can’t stand Beyoncé’s husband, and I can’t say I particularly enjoyed this or want to listen to it again. But weirdly, I’m glad I listened to it once.
Not a huge Jay Z fan. As a bit of a hip-hop head I can't help but get excited to hear some on this list. A couple crackers - the opener has a fantastic beat, Izzo, heart of the city and renegade. Wouldn't call it a classic album at all but maybe a couple classic songs that embody the 2000s sound - The Nas callouts are embarrassing too
Good production and samples. But damn, Jay Z loves to say "gay" with a capital F. Shut the fuck up dude.
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.
nothing stood out to me, really didn’t fuck with this much. maybe girls girls girls was fun but eh not my fave
Nie rozumiem fenomenu tego rapera. Dla mnie brakuje mu polotu. Nie wiem… kiedy słucham takiego Kendricka a potem tego to trochę nie wiem, o co tyle hałasu. Już nawet Kanye bardziej daje radę. Przeciętne rymy, przeciętny swag. 6/10
Ugh. If this is "art" I'm Leonardo da Vinci.
Definitely a central early 00's album that I used to enjoy quite a lot. Revisiting it now, I find parts of it haven't aged all that great (and Jay-Z does get outshadowed by Eminem when he makes his appearance), but the nostalgia still bumps it up a bit for me.
I liked listening to this one, Jay-Z has a good and consistent flow. I almost gave this 4 stars because it is a solid production, but decided to bump it back down to 3 because I don't see myself wanting to relisten. Favorite Track - Izzo (H.O.V.A.) Least Favorite Track - Hola'Hovito ⭐️⭐️⭐️
First time listening to a Jay-Z album, and I enjoyed the beats. The lyrics didn't grab me.
This is the first time I've feel sorry for the lead singer. What a terrible life he must live. Music 3/5, lyrics drag this down to a 1.
Some damn fine rap music
Production, samples, beats are all good, don't really care for the lyrics, good listen though
I need the ability to make this review a rolled eyes emoji.
You can totally hear the influence this had on College Dropout
There aren't too many rap albums on this list and so far all I have listened to have been really good. This one unfortunately falls a bit short of that. Maybe it is just the voice that is putting me off slightly or the fact it isn't as lyrically sharp as others I have listened to, but it will be an average rating for this one. 3/5
Believe it or not, somehow this album was not part of my regular rotation...Jigga Man was pretty good though!
Agree with another review of this I read, beats are great but the lyrics are bad and lacking in substance.
Yeah. I know this album well. I know it's one of Jay Z's favorites. Honestly, it's never been my go-to though. If we're talking Jay Z's "must hear before you die" albums, it's Reasonable Doubt, all the way. Which better be on this list! The Black Album too. For this one, it's good. But not my fav. Little too glitzy and glamorous side of hip hop for me. 3.5 stars.
Can’t fucking believe this was released on 9/11… coincidence?
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.
🤨 These plans are not to code
Released on Tuesday, September 11, 2001; imagine being excited for the new Hov album dropping and heading to Sam Goody depressed as fuck on Tuesday afternoon. Anyway, I love hip hop, but I have never been a fan of Jay-Z. I always thought he was a ton of hype for just OK flow. There’s a couple good tracks on here, and the beats are good on most (mostly off the backs of producers Timbaland, Kanye, and Blaze). He also had the audacity to insinuate he is better than Notorious B.I.G. on one of the songs, which tracks with his high opinion of himself. This was just north of average, 3/5
"Takeover" is great... the rest, eh. Never a big fan of Jay-Z. Same flow on every single song.
Some amazing beats, let down by some mid-level bars.
So- I liked first 5 seconds of Takeover (it sounds like The Doors).
This would be higher if Jay-Z wouldn't interfere with me enjoying music.
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
Crap
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
Wasn't really a fan of his when this came out, and it turns out I'm even less of a fan 25 years later.
Overall it is high quality HIP-HOP record which definitely was a big step forward for 2001. Cool samples and beats. There are plenty of typical “rubbish” sound effects in between, which clearly indicate 2000s for me. However it is one more album about a guy flexing about how great man he is. Don’t like such an agenda.
The Blueprint arrived during what many consider a weak era for rap, the late 90s and early 2000s, when the genre had largely traded energy and invention for repetition and posturing. Given that, it wasn't hard to be "groundbreaking". The bar was low. So yes, this broke new ground, and for people that listened mostly to rap, that was exciting. For the rest of us, not so much. The production is excellent. Kanye and Just Blaze were doing something fresh with soul samples. But production is icing. If the cake isn't there, great icing only goes so far. And for me, the cake isn't there. Jay-Z's delivery is boring. I love the rhythmic precision of Run DMC and Eminem, the energy of Outkast. That stuff has percussive force. Jay-Z by comparison is just talking, and there's nothing interesting in the delivery. Blueprint is a well-constructed rap album that arrived at the right time. For people already invested in the genre, that's probably enough. For everyone else, the reputation may be doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Very long but highly enjoyable
rap no es para me :(
2.5/5. Round it to three. It's way too long. Several songs are too long. "Renegade" could've been cut in half and would've walked away better without losing anything. Same thing with "Take Over." There's lots of great production. The production value in general, even on overly long songs, is excellent. Jay-Z has a reputation for being one of the best rappers and having the best flow of his era, but this album is so dull in that respect. Both lyrically and in delivery, Jay-Z rarely shines in this album. If it weren't for the producers that brought some seriously stellar work (Kanye and Just Blaze in particular),I think this would be a 2 at best.
This album delivered exactly what I’d expect from a Jay-Z album. I haven’t listened to this artist a lot, but I’m aware of his influence and iconic rapping voice/sound. I’d had previous exposure to Renegade (feat. Eminem) and also recognized Izzo. While I appreciated the listen I think there are other Jay Z albums out there I’d probably appreciate more, and don’t think I’ll revisit this one again.
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.
Most overrated rapper of all time, this rating is out of principle.
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 was gonna rate it 4 stars, then i heard girls girls girls part 2
so unexpectedly good
This was a chore to get through, being that I don’t care for Jay-Z or his corny ass lyrics. The beats and sampling were fine, though.
Shite
bon jay z ça y est quoi
Well I’ve not listened to much JZ, but I have to say I liked this outing, played in the car coming back from the beach with Fred.
No. 132 Not my thing, especially the lyrics and vocals, but the beat and samples were neat.
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.
A very solid hip hop album, but I honestly think I would like it way more considering Jay-Z reputation. For starters, my only experience with Jay-Z until now was through the collaboration EP with Linkin Park "Collision Course", with the addition of some features, and when it comes to his real discography, I can only recall listening to "99 Problems" and "Empire State of Mind", and the first one I think I've only listened to it once. So yes, I am not really familiar with his sound, and yet, I was somehow expecting this to sound more serious, and not have such a heavy pop rap approach. Not that I'm disappointed, just surprised. What I liked the most about this album is how consistent it is. There are no interludes and all the songs are solidly written and feature some great, eccentric and kind of poppy beats that add a great amount of personality and charm or even melancholy, depending on the feelings the songs go for. For instance, the first half of this album sound more uplifting and the second one features more sentimental songs. However, as decent this experience is, I am not really digging Jay-Z performances. I must clarify that I think his flow and attitude are really good, but I don't find him to be the greatest of all time. If I'm true to myself, I think I liked a lot more the beats than Jay-Z himself. Either way, this is a great listen, just not something that blew my mind.
Never got into JayZ and i still cant. 1 star.
Album No. 0176 on my list. I don’t know much about hip hop, but I had listened JAY-Z’s “Blueprint” before in an effort to broaden my horizon in this regard and since this is considered to be a seminal hip hop record by a very, very famous artist. At the time, I did like the album. And I still do, actually. This is probably still the best hip hop record I’ve ever listened to. I have to say though, I find it hard to explain why that even is. There is nothing really distinct about it, even compared to the other hip hop albums I’ve encountered on the 1001 album list so far. But maybe this is exactly what makes me appreciate this album though in light of my limited knowledge about the whole genre. Maybe this something like a least common denominator for hip hop for me. I can say though that I find the lyrics on this pretty good and that I do like JAY-Z’s voice. I can’t name anything specific (something like good flow or high speed or anything), but he just gets it right, I think (for a lack of better words). I’ll add “The Ruler’s Back”, “Takeover”, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”, “Heart Of The City”, and “Never Change” to my playlist. The Eminem collaboration (“Renegade”) did not appeal to me that much, but mostly because I’m not much into Eminem tbh. In addition, the first half of this is certainly stronger than the latter one. But still, my favorite hip hop album, so I think the highest rating is warranted: 5/5 stars!
normally not my vibe but why do i kinda like it
Some good songs, but not so sure about the entire álbum. Nice feat with eminem
:)
I've never understood the hype for this album, I don't have any problems with it but its kinda boring
Not my favorite
i mean, sicuro meglio di molti altri ma non mi ha preso particolarmente non regge il confronto con l’album di ieri lol
I liked it on listen one, less on two, just bored on three. Most of the songs are fine, but the sum is less than the parts. For me it's one at a time, probably from the couple more interesting cuts in the second half.
I enjoyed a lot of the sampling on this album – it felt pretty modern for being released in 2001. Despite that, The Blueprint made me realize I don't really like Jay-Z as a rapper or lyricist. It's not that he's bad at all, his style just doesn't really engage me and encourage me to listen more deeply.
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.
nah man
Flows like butter. It's a super accessible entry point to the scene, maybe even the whole genre.
Rlly good rap album
Not a fan of his music, (yet), but I gotta admit that this album really has very great songs. 2000s hip hop was really something
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.
I'm not a fan of strict braggadocious hip hop, but I have to admit this album has its points.
Decent sampling, hard hitting beats and good flow. Enjoyed it
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
Honestly, I really liked the production — it’s super interesting, and the beats are smooth and full of energy. The lyrics, though, weren’t really my thing — felt kinda dated at times. But “Renegade” definitely stood out for me. I know this album gets a lot of hype. It's considered a classic — the production, especially with Kanye’s influence. I’ll admit, I might not be fully in the loop on all the album’s context, but for me, some of the bragging and certain themes didn’t really connect today. Still, I can see why a lot of people like this album.
Likes: smooth flow, easy to vibe to, good samples Dislikes: doesn’t necessarily stand out or speak to me Overall, I can see why the album was such a big deal, especially with some of the older rap albums I’ve reviewed - it’s a big step forward. But it doesn’t do much for me
meh
Thanks Jigga Man!
Fairly strong start but overstayed its welcome.
Classic
pure ass
4.4
2 - not for me
Generic rap/hip hop with cliched, corny lyrics. There are 1001 better albums than this in the genre. Forgettable, trying too hard and very pleased with itself. I won’t be listening again.
one of the best Jay-Z records. Hip Hop classic
My rating 3.0. Not bad. Liked the mix of rap and music
Not my tempo.
Tää nousee sinne vähän ylempään keskikastiin näissä klassikko räbäytyksissä. Oikein hyviä biittejä ja menoa
Aika geneeristä nigatalkkia
Junnaavaa settiä taas, ei auta Eminemitkään, 2/5.
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!
Familiar with the artist but not the album. Good listen. Some of the lyrics are questionable but overall enjoyable.
Always interesting to see where someone starts, especially when they’ve transcended the industry the way Jay-Z has. Overall kind of monotone though, I prefer the genre mixing he would get into later into his career, such as Magna Carta/Holy grail.
It's no my bag, baby
Solid 3.5. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would.
Not my bag whatsoever
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.
Like most rap albums, this one is too long. Not my favorite Jay Z album (The Black Album), but decent.
"I'm leading the league in at least six statistical categories right now: Best flow, most consistent, realest stories, most charisma." Yes, mr. Z, a common and efficient way to identify people with true charisma is that they will often boast about being the best at charisma.
Not his best imo
That was not very special, coming from a hip hop fan. I know the hiphop and rap albums are underrated on this site but this one feels accurately rated for a change. 3/5
This is dreadful.
2/5 Músicas e produção excelentes. O problema é quando o Jay Z abre a boca, não só pela lírica - que é ruim -, mas também pelo flow quadrado.
Honestly? Not particularly impressed by this. This is the Jay-Z everybody's been talking about my whole life? Sorry but I guess I just don't hear it. There is just a lot of more interesting hip hop out there
The music is OK but the lyrics leave me cold. Pure arrogance
Mediocre
Not my thing, especially the lyrics and vocals (not a rap guy), but the beat and samples were neat (especially the doors track).
Decent rap album, not my favourite but it was ok
By no means bad, just not my kind of thing
I for one think Jason Zed would do well to display a little more humility
Boring
Eh
Estuvo bien, pero me faltó algún hit de verdad
Dont care
I have never really had the chance to dive super deep into Jay-Z's discography but I feel that today is a better day than ever to finally give The Blueprint a proper shot. Despite being released on such a important day like September 11th 2001, this album helped define a country rebuilding into a whole new mold and also provided quite a bit of uplifting and extremely New York songs to help bring a sense of culture back to a city absolutely shaken by tragedy. This album is also very notable for having some of the breakthrough production work of a young and inspired producer by the name of Kanye West. Before Jay-Z and Kanye both became more controversial people within the musical industry, this was truly their perfect moment to shine. The Blueprint isn't anything I'd call super groundbreaking or genre defining unalike what the critics want you to think, but I do still believe it is a solid album at the end of the day. I just don't see a lot of the "wow" factor that a lot of people praise this project for, the only place I think it really excels is with the production which of course makes sense with the added context of Kanye being behind it all. Jay-Z knows how to be consistent and not much more or less than that, and while that alone is admirable, I do wish there was some more variety here to make it pop more in my eyes. The Blueprint doesn't really set the groundwork for anything musically regarding Jay-Z, but for the folks behind the scenes this album was truly their everything and the perfect piece they needed to take off into stardom.
Ik houdt er echt niet van dit genre
10/10
SNORE!
So 2000s, and not a compliment. Awful use of Doors song. So braggadocious. I really don't enjoy his voice either. So dated with the homophobic f** usage.
Really hated this x
The backing on these goes crazy!
This album came out a year before I met Marisol. So for me it held that nostalgia of a special time. I really liked the album all in all and I especially liked the Eminem song! 5 stars
Low key racist and sexist. Tracks are sometimes boppy sometimes hold up what the fuck is that? And yeah I do agree that music sounds kinda 90s and 80s mainstream pop or whatever, but like the lyrics, singing and rapping, eh not really. Listenable though, so not a bad hour of my life.
I got through about half of it before I simply couldn’t stomach it anymore. Misogynistic, foul, and disgusting. As long as the world has words that can only be spelled with asterisks in print while being said 50 times in an album I simply will not take you seriously.
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.
Some good production but I really couldn't get myself to finish this one
enjoyable beats
Just not for me. Not my kind of hip hop
Not a fan of the "sexy women dance around while someone brags about how much cash they have" genre. Music was ok I guess?
2.5 - Meh
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
Я навіть не змогла дослухати
Nice hip-hop album with great flows, good beats and some really soulful samples. I too would choose dinner with Jay-Z. 5.5/10, Favorite Song: Song Cry
If I could give this negative stars I would
An infamous album released on an infamous date explodes with energy and wit.
Good but not my favorite Jay-Z record
Hip hop’s not my thing but this mostly had my toes tapping whilst not taking in the lyrics too much. But it’s just one of the generic, I’m better than every other artist, I’ve got loads of money and women are second class citizens. It’s sort of divided as in there’s a constant elevator music backing track with Jay Z doing his own thing over the top . Completely separate
Garbage
its ok i guess but i just dont vibe with this sorta stuff
Never been a fan.
You know… this 9/11 record was apparently huge. I don’t follow hip hop at all but there are songs on here like Izzo and Girls, Girls, Girls that I could not escape when this record dropped. Those songs do not stand the test of time. This record hits every rap cliche and hip hop trope. I’m convinced Jay-Z gave himself 1000 nicknames just to make his rhymes work. I’ve seen the videos of him free styling and it’s pretty impressive. Or his one take recordings. That’s pretty impressive. But this record is nothing of that. The music is great in early parts of this record. I was sitting at a 3 for the first two songs. And then it went down hill. The topics of his lyrics are just self-boasting. Rapping about his record accomplishments, his many nicknames, and they he loves girls. Girls that he adores. but then calls one an “Indian Squaw” A lot of adoration there. I could pic out a lot of shitty lyrics here. But this would go on and on. I know people love Jay-Z…. I find this man from the projects quite funny. He acts gangster but sounds white.
I enjoyed the album more than I thought I would, especially since I’m not particularly fond of JAY Z lol. Renegade was my favorite song and I liked the Eminem feature
Mostly standard formula. Self obsession, ego stroking, dis tracks.
- jay sedän varhaistuotanto tuli kuunneltua läpi nuoruuden räppivaiheessa, ja silloin diggasin kyllä - on nää edellee kyllä kovia biisejä, jonkinlaista nostalgia arvoa varmasti myös - vaikka nää aiva hyviä stygejä onki ni tuskinpa palaan kauhiasti tähän levyyn
I always have loved Jay-z's production style.
ummm guys? FAVS (top 3): izzo (H.O.V.A.); girls, girls, girls; hola' hovito mençoes hornosas: heart of the city (aint no love) fala pa carai e all i need é uma das piores musicas q ja ouvi nota final: 2/5
Okay.
Long album, full of collaborations and iconic samples.
Listened while making and eating lunch. The best thing about this album is the beats, production, and Jay-Z mastery on the mic. The lyrics really have not aged well and the overall message I got from this album was "I'm the best, I get all the women, I'm the best" which didn't exactly resonate. Still a great record to listen to.
I actually enjoyed this album, and I don’t really listen to rap/hip-hop…or JAY-Z. But this album has some bangers. Very catchy and upbeat
I don’t know. I’m just not crazy about this stuff.
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
A masterclass in hip-hop; flow, production, beats, rhymes, you name it. He was hated at this time and he came out swinging - his dis tracks are next level. One of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. Best Tracks: The Ruler's Back; The Takeover; Renegade (feat. Eminem)
This is not music that works at 8am
Just awful. Boasting lyrics delivered with that monotonous voice over pompous pop beats - no thank you.
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
Really intense listen on some of these songs. But this album definitely has some of the most iconic instrumentals in rap. Those voices that kept coming up in Takeover saying SHAME and LAME that sounded ghostly absolutely made me crack up every time. Wish I liked this album more but it was a bit rough for my liking
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.
Very generic hiphop about “I’m so good at rapping and I get bitches”. Nothing exciting, and I already don’t like hiphop to begin with.
Not for me
The production is extremely 2001 for better or worse. The lyrics are about ego, girls and drugs so nothing new but I found less disgusting sexism than other records. Not bad but unlikely to listen again
There’s a fair amount of bloat here: A good editor might’ve reduced, oh, 15 minutes? The lyrics are often juvenile and uninteresting. Worst of all, there’s too little musicality on The Blueprint. I’d take the background track of “Girls, Girls, Girls” (i.e., actual contributions from backup voices) over Jay-Z’s contributions just about any day. 2.5?
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.
I was not previously familiar with this album. I typically am not a fan of hip-hop albums, but this album has more to offer than rap vocals alone. I appreciated the vast use of samples, and I recognized quite a few of them. I did not care much about the lyrics or message, but at least the music kept things interesting enough for me to keep listening. I doubt I would listen again, but I appreciated hearing this once.
I think Froggy Fresh may have right about Jay Z. But that production though.
Kanye’s beats make half the album
Terrible. Surely one of the worst album I've had until now (and this was number 665).
Just not for me at all, I don't care for these minimalistic repeating beats and Jay's voice doesn't engage me at all. Also a lot of lyrics throughout the project made me raise an eyebrow
Easy listening, I understand why people enjoy this type of music. I enjoyed it at the start and then I realised every song followed the same formula of "find a funky beat and then do nothing with it for 4 minutes" and it became a drag from there. Making an entire album bragging about how much money you have is a gross concept.
Eminem song was good, not a fan of j
The samples and lyrics are great. The whole album is a good listen.
Listened to most of it, but it's just not me genre, unfortunately.
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.
Easily Jay-Z's best album. It's four stars until the song Renegade, which is a hip hop masterpiece
Didn’t care for it but wasn’t bad
Album #20 Jay Z: The Blueprint This album is specifically made for New Yorkers, contains lots of regional references and slang, disses Illmatic, and came out on 9/11. If you are the average bodega-visiting, chopped cheese-eating New Yorker, then this is your Abbey Road. Most of the beats and melodies were pleasant, but Jay-Z’s lyricism was often lost on me. It feels like he really believes that his story is so inspirational and unique that everyone must hear it and acknowledge his brilliance. Yet at the same time, he comes across as insecure, feeling the need to respond to every bad review and detractor, rather than just let his greatness speak for itself. Some of the songs were pretty obnoxious as well; specifically, Girls, Girls, Girls, which, for some reason, received a second part. I also thought phrases like “For shizzle my nizzle” were just something people said to mock rap, but there is a whole song dedicated to speaking like that. It is also pretty long, which I find to be an issue for most rap albums. That being said, it isn’t too hard a listen, and I can see its appeal pretty clearly. There wasn’t really a time when I was actively hating it, so I can’t say that it is bad. Best Tracks: Heart of the City, The Ruler’s Back, Song Cry Worst Track: Girls, Girls, Girls, Part 2 Score out of 10: 5.5
Great album
Some great tunes
Chad-Z 4.5
Otro disco que no es para blancos que no dominan el inglés. Sin nada espeialmente atractivo.
Sadly, I can't really vibe with Jay-Z's flow all that much. Which makes it even more frustrating that he's going on and on about how he has the best flow. There's some interesting musical ideas in here, and Heart of the City works especially well. But it's obvious when you put him next to Eminem (who I can't say is my favorite rapper either) that his flow just isn't there. Also can't really vibe with him claiming that jealousy is a female trait.
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
Album that I’ve heard about a lot! Liked it, production was sick and found a lot more in it than I expected but also wasn’t like mind blown or anything. Why does Eminem have a feature on every 90s/00s rap and how the fuck does he rap so good like that Fav Track: I can’t say the name but look at the tracks and you’ll know which one it is
- 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
80/100
Ah, some beautiful hip hop work. Is this Jay's best work ever? Damn, it might be. It's smooth and soulful with incredible bars. Probably my favorite track is Heart of the City. Fitting that the best produced track came from a young and hungry Kanye West. But even with production from some of the best in the industry (including Timbaland and Bink), Jay still owns the spotlight here.
Not really my thing. I found the music quite nice actually, I liked the soul influences and samples. I just didn’t enjoy the vocals, both the style of the vocals and the lyrics. Fav song: The Ruler’s Back Least fav: Girls, Girls, Girls
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
Good beats and the occasional satisfying turn of phrase but mostly the lyrics made me cringe, think at some point he called himself (or the song?) the eighth wonder of the world. Also not a fan of how much Kanye is all over the production. I do enjoy the lyric "so much coke you could run the slalom". Favourite song: U Don't Know Least: Girls, Girls, Girls
This does nothing for me. Vocal delivery is monotone and lifeless, completely lacking any emotion or inflection. Production sounds thin and empty, generic R&B with unnatural clicky beats. I truly do not understand those who claim this to be the greatest hip-hop album ever released.
Just awesome! J never disappoints
Don’t hear what all the hype is about. Way overrated.
Meh, wasn't too fussed with this. Didn't really give it much thought while listening.
nice. production is top notch
This was ok. I wouldn’t put it above “Vol. 2 - Hard Knock Life”
A lot of these songs were catchy. Doesn't mean they were good though unfortunately. Enjoyed 1 or 2 but this was way too long A lot of awful lyrics and too much use of the n word. We get it you're a tough guy 🙄 2 ⭐️
Great sample work and production. Hov got excellent flow. But it gets pretty repetitive until Em shows up on Renegade. Doesn't hold a lot of interest for me .
A lot of the rap from this era is brimming with unlistenable misogyny. This is a refreshing change of pace. There's still a bit, but it's no longer the central characteristic. It manages to have the delightful bravado that rap can have. Also the instrumentation holds up remarkably well.
I don’t care for Jay-Z, so this did absolutely nothing for me.
Pass
Real Gangsta with souly touch
Jay Z was at his peak here. One of my all time favorite rap albums!
Enjoyable but overstays its welcome.
Not a bad album necessarily, but not really my jam. Jay z doesn't rap in a way that grips me. The eminem verse on the other hand was uplifting. Production and beats on the album are also really good
Je n’ai jamais aimé la musique de Jay Z, et cet album ne fait pas exception…
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.
Never been a huge Jay Z fan. To me his stuff often feels a little repetitive, even dull. That being said, I do understand that there are some great moments on The Blueprint and a relentless insistence to the music throughout the album.
Some great lyrics mostly let down by generic music. A few stand out tracks but this could have been so much better with a different producer.....
2 stars because there are some good samples on there!
Some bops on this for sure but didn’t really see the hype for the most part
Favourite Jay-Z album, class tunes, song cry etc. So good, beats black album marginally into first place jigga
Neutral
- 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)
Not bad not good not for me ı’m not hyped any song but no one disturbed me
Classic rap album. Takes me right back to junior high and highschool.
More rap, please
i liked the beats but booooring bars
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
I have to say I was not 100% focused on listening to this one, but absolutely nothing grabbed me. The beats were alright.
I don't really love self-aggrandizing music, and Jay-Z seems to be a perfect example of this style in the rap genre. There are also no songs that really got to me. The best I can compare him to is Kanye's album I had gotten a few weeks ago, Kanye's beats were better, and the lyrics a bit more self-aware (though that would be lost to him later in life).
If this was a blueprint for how to fail to meet expectations, then congratulations Jay-Z. You nailed it. Listening to this album was like expecting The Beatles and getting Bad Company instead. I don't care if Jay-Z loves girls. I don't care how many cars he drove. Maybe I'm missing something. But I didn't like the delivery, and I didn't think the lyrics were that great. Public Enemy is necessary. 2 Pac is necessary. This isn't. And Jay-Z admits as much on the track, "You Don't Know" - he's selling you something you don't need. Intentionally. I did like some of the music, though. So I'm going with a 3.
This album helped launch JAY Z into the stratosphere in 2001.. 24 years ago. Personally I think he voice is unique but lyrics are not. His expertise is finding and developing talent in others.
Hip hop royalty. First great album after his debut and was executed with catchy bars that were both more mainstream popular and hip-hop underground. Production value was immensely high. Eminem did outshine him on Renegade but it's hard not to be outshone by Em. Ignore the fact that 2 of his next few followups were collaborators projects with R Kelly, that he cheated on Beyonce and was good mates with P Diddly. Take the album on face value!
Not a fan of rap. It may be modern-time beat poetry, but like that genre, it resonates with those who share some experience. Otherwise it's just spoken word over a drum track.
For the album that lead to jay getting ethered, pretty dang good
Never listened to this guy before. Lots of swearing and talk of "Gurls". But if I am to focus on the energy, the tunes, and the rhythm I feel compelled to give it a high rating. I will need some time to reflet on wth just happened. Was four stars but one taken off he is just appropriating other peoples songs and that sucks.
Neeee, ich mag es nicht hören... gar nicht!
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
I’ve never really enjoyed Jay Z much, but at least he’s a good producer…except it’s mostly produced by Kanye here. I’m no hip hop expert but I find his flat style really boring and the lyrics are a bit Alan ‘needless to say I had the last laugh’ Partridge.
5.5/10 Lyrics don't connect to me at all (as is often the case for hip hop), but the beats and production are excellent Highlights: Renegade Takeover Izzo
Couldn't get into it. There are some dope beats but the delivery and the lyrics left me wanting. Kind of disappointed with this one.
I think this is an objectively good album that does absolutely nothing for me. Also runs a bit long, chop maybe 20 mins off and it would probably be a banger
This was not bad for the genre.
better than i expected
King del sampling
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.
Good but hollow. Has nothing to say.
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.
Musically better than expected, but that’s from a massively low bar. Still bloody awful
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.
Jay-Z has perfected being “hood” while drive a Bentley and wearing Burberry. His rhymes leave any opp in his wake with some of the baddest beats you’ve ever heard and lyrics that are as mysterious as they are cutting-edge. Jay-Z’s songs don’t sound like any one else and he dominates the mic every time he touches it. Jay has recurring themes of starting out with nothing and making it big which I believe is what draws a large number of his audience in. Being that this album is early in his career, I personally don’t think it’s his best work, but it’s clearly full of the qualities that made him a global icon going forward.
The album might be Jay-Z at his finest, and that leaves a lot to be desired. His lyrics achieve basic at best and Jay will never be accused of being smooth or flexible in his delivery. The Blueprint reveals how he revels in cheesiness with his wordplay. Some of these rhymes are downright embarrassing: Gnarly dude I puff Bob Marley dude All day, like Rastafaris do Or I’m packing heat like an oven door - um, no. And, If Beyoncé ever heard Girls, Girls, Girls he’d definitely be sleeping on the couch. The second half picks up musically, driven by more intricate beats, although Renegade shows just how out of his league he is when put up against someone that can craft intricate lyrics and use variety and energy in their delivery. His rhymes feel juvenile at times and underwhelming on the regular. Lyrical Exercise is the one track where he shows promise as a writer, but the rest of the ‘ I sold drugs. I bribed the DA, I’m better than Nas, Girls love me’ rap wears thin at best.
I like Jay Z well enough but not a huge fan. To be fair not a big fan of hip hop in general, so no shade on Jay Z specifically. This album fell flat for me. Nothing special, nothing interesting.
This record exudes a charisma and style that only Jay Z would be able to claim. Although this record may be flashy, I feel like there's a lack of substance in the production in the deeper cuts. Favourite Track(s): Izzo (H.O.V.A.), Takeover Least Favourite Track(s): Renegade
Better than most rap albums, but still not for me.
Rap
Classic east coast rap
Jay-Z has never really been one of my favourites of the genre but perhaps I need to give him more time??? Enjoyed this, real NY sound to it, got a bit long in the tooth at time but overall good. 3.7/5.0 Best Song: The Ruler’s Back
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
Wait, is he Jay-HOVA as in Jehovah? I didn’t catch that until today. There’s just so much context to this I don’t have. What happened with Nas?
Zašto moram ovo slušati 🫠 neke od ovih stvari me vraćaju u djetinjstvo, ali ne nužno in a good way. Baušteeeeelaaaaa! 😅 1/5, 1/10
bragging: the album
You have no idea the vice grip that Izzo (H.O.V.A.) had on middle school Zach. 4/5
Nope
Meta flow negrito, mueva 6/10
two themes you'll hear in this album are "my records are selling really well" and "i beat the charges." okay then jay-z. okay. the highlight is when eminem shows up.
Shock horror I quite liked this. I think this is the first hip-hop album where I’ve been able to hear and understand every word of the lyrics. That’s not to say that they are all great lyrics. But I’m going to give Jay Z the benefit of the doubt and say that I’m think a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek. I found there were a lot of ear worms on here too, even though many of the samples were quite repetitive (typically). But on the whole this is pretty good.
It's fire !
Solid
I loved this album as a kid
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.
So classic
Hip Hop, 46eme album =>1/5