Reviews (page 5 of 10)
WOW. What a load of (c)rap over top of some (at times) pretty good music.
He has a unique voice where he sounds like he is on the verge of laughing constantly. If you think that’s cool then you might like this. Otherwise it’s gets annoying about 30 seconds in. It also doesn’t help that 90% of his lyrics are grunts, uhs, and just repeated filler words. The backing tracks are very generic and spotlight that he is supposed to be the main attraction not the instrumentals. Once again, if you like his sound/flow then thats good otherwise it comes across pompous and annoying. 4/10
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
Extra largo. siempre siento que con 59 minutos estamos muy bien. también sé que hay toda una generación que piensa qus este es un disco clásico del género, pero a mí no me pasó nada.
Every track (hard) knocks (lol), I’ll give it that. The beats are smooth and rich, but the ego, man. I feel like I got a contact high from all the bragging. It's technically tight, but it’s all flash and flex with zero surprise. The Eminem feature snapped me awake, which tells you how checked out I was by then. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Izzo - Girls, Girls, Girls - Renegade
3.5
Too. Fucking. Long.
Enjoyed this way more than I expected. I've never listened to his music before, but would give it another go.
The cool part about this project is learning about artists I never gave a fair shake. In this case, all I knew from Jay-Z was Empire Stare of Mind. Now I know. Jay-Z fucking sucks. The beats are so boring. His rapping is awful. That tired often wrong critique that rapping is just talking actually fucking applies here. There’s no flow. It’s so boring. Shut up.
I've never been able to get into J besides a handful of albums and then the Grey Album.
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
It's hard to imagine a worse release date for an album than 9/11/2001, so on some level I feel like we should all cut Jay-Z some slack for a remarkably forgettable album, although I feel like all the legal troubles he got into, and the whole diss culture he participated in kind of offsets any sympathy for bad timing. Despite the impressive cast of luminaries who helped with the production of the album, I was really struck by how few tracks were compelling; the only ones that seemed decent were (maybe) "Takeover", "U don't know", and the Eminem-backed "Renegade". It's hard to understand how this is regarded as one of the great hip-hop albums of all time, frankly, but I guess I just don't have a suitably appreciative ear.
Powerful start and Takeover is masterful--love the Bowie reference and I sense a whiff of the Doors in the edges. Izzo is a nice change of pace and the distant burst of the Jackson 5 is beautiful. Another good change of pace with Girls, Girls, Girls--solid. Jigga doesn't do a lot for me but isn't awful, and the slump continued until Hola Hovito picked things up. Heart of the City gets back to the first song with its power and confidence--works best when Jay Z can keep the drone out of his rap. Never Change brings back some lyrical sound but isn't all that great, Song Cry similar in that it introduces variety but doesn't seem all that great. Renegade features Eminem but also doesn't rise above the middle of the road. Strong ending with Blueprint, and the hidden Girls reprise is good. Overall, a decent album that could have been much better if they'd cut a few of the filler tunes.
Klassiker Album fav track Girls Girls Girls
Alles Banger Top: Girls girls girls (beide parts)
It’s no wonder Beyoncé became a cowboy because her husband has been one of America’s largest producers of beef for decades.
Good if a little tough to listen to with current context.
pehmeet pehmeet. 2000-luku alkaa ja räppi meni pohjamutiin... suu auki mutaa suuhun. mutaa suussa aaah kärsii ja kärsii. slurp slurp tämä on räppi hallitsamattomia liikkeitä mudassa kuin robottimaisia liikkeitä hieroo mutaa hieroo mutaa aaah aah aah...kaikki! Annamme Jayzille voimaa, koska hän näyttelee kovaa... Miksi? Tämä ei ole niin loogista..Ymmärrän, ymmärrän.. se ei ole niin loogista.. se on mahdollisuus kuunnella jännittävää musiikkia! Sinun täytyy antaa hänelle valtaa. MUUTOIN se ei toimi. kiinda wack hola hovito
Klassiker, vanvittig rap, produktion, indflydelse
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.
An okay album, Rap's not my favorite style of music. But I did like the song I Don't Know.
Wasn’t my cup of tea. Didn’t finish it
Got bored
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.
Look at my money, look at my hos.
Love the beats
4/5
The Good: Nothing… The Bad: Everything… The Ugly: My face after listening to this album for 3 minutes… It’s (c)RAP… nuff said. I tried listening to it, but the grandioseness of the egos just was too much for my little person. So, to remedy all that negativity, I listened to some great albums I’ve come to know thanks to this voyage, and my day all of a sudden was a lot better… 1*
I could imagine it might have been very good in 2001, but some hooks and beats do sound a bit old for me. I was not really paying much attention tho. Could have missed some good arrangement or details.
Easy 5 stars. Fire album. It’s just an immaculate flow from top to bottom. Grade A hooks, amazing beats, just a masterpiece.
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.
Too long, too many mid songs. Overrated.
Really conflicted with this one. Izzo and Heart Of The City are great songs that everyone immediately thinks of when Jay-Z is mentioned but the album itself drags in places and even though Jay’s flow is legendary, the laid back style doesn’t help with the pacing. I also know that this album is important, but it’s not the best of the Blueprint series. Between a high three and a very low four, so I’ll go three in hopes we get other albums from his discography.
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 am still no closer to understanding how Jay Z is so popular. This is average at best.
This record didn't do much for me. I was a little surprised at my reaction to the record as he's got a fairly mass market following, in many respects, but it was a little heavy on the gangsta and a little light on the talent.
Might be an unpopular opinion, but I just don’t get the appeal of Jay Z. Stuck in my old head hip hop ways, I guess.
I wanted more hits. Otherwise…SOLID
4.5. Its got amazing pre crazy production and Jigga is on fire here. The soundtrack to 2001
This is THE Jay Z album. The reason why he's in every old head's top 5. I also love how the production is so similar to The College Dropout (one of my favorite albums of all time, unfortunately produced and written by one of the worst humans alive). Barely any features, but that Em feature is so iconic. This album is such a vibe, and the lyricism is so fun. 5/5
Not my cup of tea, but it has some great moments.
It’s very well built.
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.
I don't know. I can barely understand what he is talking about. And most of the beats sound generic to me. There are some musical spots that are cool. but, I'm definitely not interested. And his voice is so annoying, I can't believe people like this shit. This is like terrible, the kind of terrible that makes me want to kill myself. And I hate all these music industry "gangster". The People that take advantage of someone else. Fuck this guy, Kanye and everyone involved on shady things.
God the production is so good on this. K***e W**t was always a better producer than a rapper but this is nuts + Just Blaze + Timbaland + Eminem?? This album would go nuclear if it was released today. No question, one of the great rap albums of all time.
Great production, great flow. Absolutely no holding back in the lyrics. Just an overall triumph.
Incredible album strong 4.5 if I could give it that
Extensive and heavy record with many moments. Great flow and beats all around. A stand out I wouldn't mind to listen to again.
Liked it but not my fave
Never sat down and listened to this front to back before. Hip hop isn’t really my genre and I found the lyrics a bit eye-rolly in places, but I enjoyed the music and it made a good soundtrack to a sunny afternoon. The Takeover was my favourite, I liked the way the samples were layered and especially the playfulness of how they used the Bowie lyric. You can also see how there’s stuff being done here that would go on to be super influential in 00s rap (not least Kanye’s production), but I also think some of that stuff maybe hasn’t aged that great (not least Kanye’s production). Overall, a mixed bag for me. If I could I’d probably rate it 3.5, but as it is I think 3 is fairer than 4 as I probably won’t revisit this (except maybe The Takeover).
The anger is palpable. Some great flow and beats.
Mola, pero más repetitivo que la hostia.
he sure loves girls imo jay z is very overrated, best song is the one with eminem lol
The fake David Bowie "Lame" sample in the Nas diss track is embarrassing. Jay's flow is absolutely mid at best on the whole album and whatever persona he tries for on The Blueprint did not age well. He's trying to hold onto the millennium-era flossing rap mogul look with his pop beats while bragging like he's still out in the streets. Then at the end of the record he puts "Song Cry" out trying to be a backpack rapper. Jay-Z is fake as hell.
Quite listenable for a hip-hop/rap-album.
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.
Insane
Solid album. Good beats and solid vocal work. I feel like it lacked overall cohesion, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. 'Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)' was my fave track.
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.
yet another essential rap album
Izzo is a pretty good track. Rest of it does nothing for me 2/5
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.
Mid Hip Hop
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--
Mag seine Stimme, gute Beats.
Diss track is funny but just not great after that
Whys he killing everyone? Not for me.
3- Stars (7/15)
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.
Good production some ok beats but it ain't my jam, no real hype for me on this.
Normal disclaimer....not a fan of rap. Fwiw, seems to be well-presented and arranged.
Extravagant production and Jay is at his best here. The truly great songs are spread across the runtime which makes for a nice album experience. Definitely a 2000s hip-hop classic.
Tried to listen, but didn't get too far. Not a genre of music I like, although I do try to give the albums a chance.
Вроде прикольно
I did not really enjoy this, it just felt long and boring.
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
I need to take an RSL (Rap Second Language) class to be sure but I think I liked this.
Decent, solid rap album.
Dope album. I'm very familiar. I'd give it a 3.5 for my taste, but I can't lean toward 4. 3/5.
This was decent but wouldnt listen again
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."
sì, beh
First time listening to jay z overall tight rhymes and wordplay
Pretty vulgar. Some classic songs though
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
Auch hiermit verschwende ich meine Zeit nicht!
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.
I mostly liked the production and instrumentation. I’d say he has great flow if he didn’t mention it a million goddamn times. Also, Girls Girls Girls really sucks.
The Blueprint isn’t just one of Jay-Z’s best albums—it’s one of the most important hip-hop records ever made. Released at a time when mainstream rap was shifting toward shinier, more polished production, it redefined sonic trends, solidified Jay’s dominance, and made household names out of Kanye West and Just Blaze. It’s the sound of an artist at the peak of his powers, reshaping the game while making it look effortless. Let’s settle this up front: Takeover is a much better track than Ether. Built on The Doors' Five to One, its menacing bounce and surgical precision hit harder than Nas’s more scattershot response. Beyond being a diss track, it sets the tone for the album—swaggering, calculated, and relentless. Jay claims his crown with absolute confidence just two tracks in. But The Blueprint isn’t about competition. It’s about effortless dominance. Jigga That N***a, Hola’ Hovito, Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love), and Izzo (H.O.V.A.) would be career-defining hits for most artists, yet Jay tosses them off as if it’s nothing. His lyrics balance braggadocio, street wisdom, and introspection, painting him as both an untouchable mogul and mn reflective hustler. “I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell / I am a hustler, baby, I’ll sell water to a well” is quite the flex. And then there’s Song Cry, where Jay opens up emotionally, singing, “I can’t see ‘em coming down my eyes / So I gotta make the song cry”—a rare moment of vulnerability in the midst of his dominance. Production-wise, this album set a new template for early 2000s hip-hop. Kanye and Just Blaze’s lush soul samples brought warmth and grandiosity to the beats, wrapping Jay’s effortless delivery in a soundscape that felt both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Tracks like Heart of the City and Never Change carry an almost gospel-like quality, giving The Blueprint a richness that few rap albums of the time could match. While some questioned whether soul loops would make the production feel too backwards-looking, The Blueprint proved that revisiting the past could still push the genre forward. The album dropped on 9/11, an eerie coincidence that gave its celebration of success an unintended undercurrent of uncertainty. The timing created an unexpected contrast between Jay’s triumph and the broader societal unease of the moment, adding a layer of depth to the album’s reception. And while Nas and others did fire back, The Blueprint stood tall as a declaration of artistic supremacy. Just look at the sales numbers—The Blueprint went platinum within two weeks of release. Over 20 years later, this album is everywhere. Kendrick’s bravado, J. Cole’s introspection, and the entire soul-sample renaissance owe a debt to it. Even artists like Danny Brown, who take an off-kilter approach to storytelling, carry some of the Blueprint’s DNA. If you want to understand 21st-century hip-hop, The Blueprint isn’t just recommended—it’s required.
Oh no not more hip hop! But hold on it’s Jay Z it’ll be good right? Wrong, say old shit, bitches this motherfucker that! At leat he didn’t ask me suck his dick!!
Ég held að það sem mér finnist leiðinlegt við rapptónlist er að það vantar alla einlægni. Rapparar syngja um hvað þeir séu frábærir og miklir kóngar eða drottningar. Þessi plata er full af svoleiðis textum. Þótt lögin séu allt í lagi, skemmtilega sömpluð tónlist þá fæ ég bara nóg af þessari textasmíð. Ég gæti samt alveg hlustað á þessa plötu án þess að upplifa þjáningu.
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.
Hip-hop's "bling era" passed me by as a caricature to hate on, being the contemporary counterpart to Nu Metal, so I'm coming into this pretty fresh. Fun production, great bass lines, clever lines delivered with confidence. Gotta mention the bass again! Enjoyed this way more than expected, he's a good storyteller and the album is full of tasty music. Favourite tracks: The Rulers Back, Takeover, U Don't Know, Song Cry, Renegade, Girls x3
Helt okej album, ett par riktigt bra låtar. Överlag lite tråkigt
Ein zwei ganz nette Lieder, insgesamt uninteressant
I can’t believe Kanye produced this damn
The first half was just tracks trying to be big and grandiose, but they instead came off annoying, and his style doesn't excite me. The back half toned it down a little and had a couple good songs, but not enough to save the whole thing
2025-02-12
some decent 2000s rap. one of the best eminem features of all time. 3/5 but 4/5 after listening to renegade
Hadn’t gotten around to listening to this one until today. Takeover is so good you understand why they let Kanye make college dropout.
Renegade was the best one on this. Otherwise, I don't think this aged very well. 2/5
I know I'm in the minority when I say this but I don't get the attraction to Jay-Z's music. It may be his grating voice, it's just not something I can listen to (James Taylor is another one I can't stomach, same with Drake or that dude from Linkin Park). I'm also not into message rap, I want funky beats not words I need to absorb and make sense of. It's just average as hell with zero appeal. 2001 is when this came out, I was listening to "2001" by Dr. Dre, the complete opposite with banging beats, visual lyrics, great guests and memorable songs that aren't as repetitive and wordy. 149M listens to "Renegade", "Izzo" with 83M, and 70M for "Heart Of The City", impressive for sure. I can't imagine spending an hour and listening to this entire album by choice. Just not my sound I guess, and I know people worship him. Best thing he ever did was score Beyonce, and that's a real headscratcher! 2 Stars, thanks for trying.
Its alright its a classic dont care for the genre that much Ynn
I sell ice in the winter I sell fire in hell is a hilarious line…. All the signs of a great artist are here in this album but I don’t think it’s his greatest work. He’s a master lyricist and understands musical instrumentation but only some of the songs really hit the sweet spot. For me, a lot of it was off the mark but his future albums show a more evolved approach while this still feels a bit too raw for a “great album.” It’s clear Ye had a role in the producing & some of these songs just don’t age well eek
A few good things here but a lot of it wasn’t
I quite like a bit of Jay-Z but I don't connect with much of his stuff on a deeper level. Still a bit too much focus on fast cars, iced-out watches and bird-chasing brag chat to be really interesting to me. The Nas diss on this is funny but also indicates that Nas lives rent-free in Jay's head. Protest too much?
Not this dude…
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!
all the songs are twice as long as they need to be
3/5. There is an interesting energy around this album and after some songs I think I figured it out. A lot of rappers try to have bravado and it doesn't come off right, like they are trying too hard. Jay-Z doesn't have that issue, he means what he says and there is not a hesitation here. Some aged lyrics, mainly the F-slur, but overall a series of complex yet straightforward lyrics mixed with excellent sampling and production all around. I'm sure it will take some time to fully enjoy but not sure I'm throwing this on multiple times. Didn't fully connect with me as much as I was hoping it would. I respect the quality, but not sure it's for me. Best Song: U Don't Know, Takeover, Song Cry
wow
Loved it!
I've listened to it enough to know it's not for me. I definitely like this better than the album from The Streets in this album challenge but I'll give this a 2.
Some interesting beats/loops, but this album doesn't do much for me. 2 stars.
Good beats but not a fan of his style GORLS GORLS GORLS
Innovative and well executed production, braggadocios lyrics that for the most part work
Alright, I don't like Jay-Z. I think he's massively overrated and I like very few of his songs. I think his beats are average and his flow is boring. I'm sure that there's stuff to like about this album, certainly the nas diss track is cool and culturally interesting but I really just don't like his sound. His punch lines fall flat for me and he seems too cool to do anything more experimental with his flow. It feels like he's trying to be B.I.G. but without the charisma or range. All is to say that I don't hate it, but I can't believe this guy got as big as he is. Every verse I hear from him sounds like he's reading it off a sheet for the first time.
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".
I don't often listen to entire rap albums. I sat through the 3 hour collectors edition of this that was procured by YouTube music. Lots of standouts, the B-sides are great. Good listen.
Don't know about street credibility, which - given the super stardom appeal - would surprise me with #11. I also don't know about ingenuity of this one. I hardly can relate to the lyrics either: too remote. But I like the sonics and the flow of this one. Nothing for my personal list, but doesn't seem to bad either. Not my style, but somehow easy to listen to.... Young forever feels VERY awkward, though, representing my personal worst of the 80ies, but I tend to ignore it.
flow
I really don’t get the hype with Jay-Z. I find this record hard to rate as it was just very mediocre, nothing stood out at all, and it was all very same! Really dull stuff. I will never listen to this again. Favourite song: All I need. Least favourite: Almost every track in the album. Album artwork: Meh!
3/5
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.
Don’t like anything about this. Hate the lyrics.
It’s an okay rap album. There are some radio hits, but not much else on here that’s notable. 3/5 Might listen again
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.
Much much better than I remembered, when I used to just think that the Black Album was much better and call it a day. Song cry, heart of the city, izzo and all I need were as good as remembered, takeover was a happy surprise as I'd forgotten how good it was, and renegade remains one of the best in his entire catelogue
Respect the game, that should be it; What you eat don't make me shit.
It's hard to give a rating to this one. I didn't hate it. But I didn't really like any of it either. I did like some of the lyrics, e.g.: I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell I am a hustler baby, I'll sell water to a well But I have to say when Eminem made his appearance in Renegade I realised that there are better rappers out there. Best tracks: U Don't Know Renegade
Did not like lyrics or his music. I’m not a fan of Jay Z.
The musical part of this is really pretty good. Unfortunately, he has to open his mouth and screw everything up.
There's some good stuff on here but it's not my favorite Jay Z. It seems to meander and lose focus a bit, it maybe that's just me. Still a strong album, just not my favorite.
Nice! I've been waiting for a hip hop album :) For a long time I considered this to be a perfect 10/10 album. Since then I think its dropped to maybe just a 9/10 but its still phenomenal in my opinion. The production and samples are top notch and Jay's bars here are so damn good. "Heart of The City" and "Never Change" are some of my favorite Jay-Z tracks. The song with Eminem makes me cringe a bit but so does everything else Eminem is involved with. Overall though this is the best Jay-Z album as well as one of the best hip hop albums of this era. Officially beats "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" as the best album I've received so far. Favorite track: Heart of The City (Ain't No Love)
Если бы можно было поставить 0 звезд…. Не знаю почему этот альбом вообще здесь оказался и кому он мог понравится Если мужик пишет песню с текстом О ДЕВУШКИ Я ТАК ЛЮБЛЮ ДЕВУШЕК - он гей, господи Джей Зи всегда был геем, плохим геем. В общем и целом очень ленивая работа над саундом как и над текстом, дослушивала с трудом
One of the most heralded Hip Hop albums of all time and for good reason. Even as someone who at the time wasn’t a huge Jay-Z fan, I couldn’t ignore this one. There are rare misses on this album, and it helped showcase Kanye to the world as a top tier producer. From the beats, to the rhymes, everything just combines into a certified classic. It also featured “Takeover” that would take the beef with Nas to the mainstream and help ignite a firestorm of debate between two of New York’s greatest rappers and which songs were better. Truly a must listen for any hip hop head.
10/10
It feels well put together and there are a couple of great tracks on here (I liked Renegade). But it did sort of fade into the background for me a lot of the time and it's an awful lot of Jay-Z rapping about how great Jay-Z is... Maybe I'd get more out of coming back to it and listening more intentionally, but I'm not feeling much so far.
Never understood the appeal of Jay-Z, and I am still baffled by it.
There are some good memorable tracks here but all the lyrics were about how much money he has, taking revenge on people who doubt him, and shitting on other rappers for not being as good as him. It gets a 3 but only because of Izzo (HOVA).
A couple bangers
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.
1/1/25. Happy new year! This album is a classic for me, great rapping and great samples/beats with a rock like sound. Can always revisit.
Tour guide through Jay’s brain Rhymes and bass without much care Lacking in substance
The first half of the album was fun but for the second half I just waited for it to be over, so 3/5
Not listening to someone who did gross things with Diddy
Okay
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.
Pop Rap for suburban white boys. I like Jay Z as a hype man on some songs - but a whole album of him talking about how great he is gets a bit long in the tooth.
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?
exceptionally unexpectedly good
Very slick production and samples make this feel more like a pop album than a rap album. Smooth delivery and clever/ funny lyrics although I find the ego/ subject matter alienating.
The Blueprint I bought this around the time it came out after hearing, or more likely seeing Takeover on MTV. That still sounds great, the sample is of course excellent, but is used brilliantly too, not exactly subtle, but it creates the groove and the tension in the song. The Ruler’s Back, Izzo, Girls, Girls, Girls, U Don’t Know, Heart of the City continue the excellent use of samples, using similar funk, jazz and soul influences as G-funk, but with less of the weeded out paranoia atmosphere, making it sound pretty warm and very accessible. The pop sensibility to the music is really evident, and while the lyrics aren’t as hardcore as Biggie or Nas or Tupac, they still touch on those same subjects, but his delivery is so laid back and non-aggressive it feels way less confrontational, combining with the music to make a very enjoyable listen. Was thinking 4 but on the final listen it might be crossing into the 5s, it’s a great album, lyrically dense but humorous and musically open armed it’s a great listen. It’s much better than some rap albums I’ve given 4 to, ergo I’ll slip into the 5s 🗺️🗺️🗺️🗺️🗺️ Playlist submission: Takeover
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.
Omg was NOT expecting Girls, Girls, Girls Part 2!! "Put ya number on this paper/ 'cause I would love to date ya" – the kids will never understand ✅✅✅ Song Cry
2.5 The beats themselves aren't bad but I can't stand the ugly prick. Beyonce kill him already
not my cup of tea
3.5
I really liked this. I’ve never listened to much Jay-Z before and I liked this album.
musically fine, but asthetically not me
Funky Rap, not too shabby. If you can look past the lyrics, that is. 3/10
Don’t play this stuff on principle. Glorify’s all what’s wrong in the world. 1/5 15/12/24
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.
1. rulerz - 0 2. take over - -1 / fuck you for uzing the doorz 3. izzo - 1 4. girlz - 1 5. jigga - 1 6. knouu - 1 7. hola - 1 8. heart - 1 9. change - 0 10. cry - 1 11. need - 1 12. renegade - 1 13. blueprint - 1 14. lyrical - 1 15. girlz 2 - 0
Lol the timing of this. Actually some bangers but a bit repetitive.
All I can think of while listening to this is that Jay-Z is in the news for raping a 13 year old. My Jay-Z connection is that my kids went to the same middle school that he went to. 13 year olds are in middle school. F JZ.
The last album before 9/11 I guess? Pretty decent NY Hip Hop. Jay Z is not my favorite rapper but has some pretty classic tracks.
First time listening to this! Classic album, I’m not sure on where I feel on how this ranks in his catalog but it’s damn sure at or near the top. Just top tier rapping, production, flow and song making. Hog is really one of the greatest to do this rap shit and he shows it constantly on this project. The beat on Blueprint!!!!! Eminem might’ve got him on Renegade though, I have to spin that back and see!
Lots of hits on here, but overall the album felt like a bit of a chore to get through. Can see why this album is one of the greatest according to hip-hop fans though. Maybe I'll come back to this in a few years with a different opinion if I go through a hip-hop phase again.
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⭐️
Dont understand the fascination with Jay-Z yeah he is a great rapper and great flow but nothing that says goat to me.
It seems good to me. Will I listen to again: 60%
That shit was gas
Effortless flow and pioneering sound. A slam dunk from a natural talent in his prime.
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.
honestly... not my fave. something bout these recent rap albums just ain't hittin.
Top 5 rap album for me. The beats are so consistently incredible on this, the album comes together so well, and Jay's rapping is confident, suave, and mechanical. Funniest lyric of all time is during the vulnerable breakup song where Jay says 'You don't throw away what we had like that / I was just fuckin them girls, I was gon get right back'. No notes. Best Track: Song Cry Worst Track: Renegade
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.
2 - I dunno, just don't think I will ever choose to listen to this
Overrated. Maybe the best verse on the album was Eminem's. Some tracks like Girls, Girls, Girls haven't aged well. Production is ok if slightly one-dimensional, but it's beginning to feel a bit dated now. 3.3/5
I found this surprisingly bland. The beats are okay, but I just don't like Jay Z as a rapper, his voice is dull, and his lyrics aren't fantastic. Most of the songs are about how rich Jay Z, how much he doesn't care about the industry, and the other usual subject matter from a 90s hip-hop album. The problem is that this is an early 2000s hip-hop album, so it's all a bit stale.
It's good. Kanye is producing much of it and it's influenced some of favorites (Kendrick Lamar).
I've really never listened to Jay-Z much beyond his hits, and I don't think I've given a rap album 5 stars on here except for good kid, m.A.A.d. city (which I was already very familiar with). That ends today, this album is great. This is a great combination of Jay-Z lyricism, fun samples, and interesting production from a few different producers. I also have to give credit where it's due, the whole album is strong but the Kanye-produced songs are really great. I get the hype. It actually starts a bit slow for me, but on song 2 they're sampling The Doors and it only gets better from there. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" is super catchy, "Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)" is top-tier, "Renegade" brings in Eminem out of nowhere, and there's a whole bunch of other really solid songs. This doesn't have Jay-Z's biggest hits, but it's consistently good-to-great the whole way through. Favorite song: Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love) Other: Takeover, Izzo (H.O.V.A.), Girls Girls Girls, U Don't Know, Hola' Hovito, Never Change, Song Cry, Renegade, Girls Girls Girls (Part 2) 11/20/24
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
No me aporta nada..
Favourite track: Song Cry.
Classic
One of the best hip hop albums ever
16/11/24 Not the worst thing I've listened to, but I'm not going to listen to it again.
It may be the Blueprint of Rap but it does nothing for me. 2 stars or D-.
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
I’ve never really been a Jay-Z fan and probably never will be. He’s had a few hot tracks, and I’ll give him credit for those, but his persona and the way he comes across in his music just don’t resonate with me. That said, the production on this album is top-tier. The beats are incredible, and I love the way they mix old-school soul samples with a fresh sound for the time. It’s also interesting that Kanye West was one of the producers on this album, which adds an extra layer of appeal.
Day306 - overrated album by an overrated artist
Precursor to what would be perfected in Ye's college dropout debut
I never listened to Jay-Z before. I probably will again at some point.
If rap is your thing Jay- Z is your guy
Great early Jay-Z
i wish i liked this more :/ also, released on 9/11/01. yikes
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'm just not a JAY Z fan. I know he's well regarded. Just not my thing. This was an album I could've been just fine not hearing.
This is just a lot of monotonous fast-talking. Not a fan.
not gonna listen. can’t stand jay z
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
Not a big fan of Jay as a person but this isn't a bad record. Fairly melodic for a rap record
Nah
What else is there to say. This is THE Blueprint. The highlight of this album is Kanye's production. Forever a classic.
I quite liked this album. Has some decent songs, but with like all albums from around this time it is bloated. Quantity over quality.
Renegade is by far the best track.
I wasn’t 100% familiar with your game
Jay Z seems to hype himself via cussing like crazy and doesn’t seem to really say much of value. Didn’t think I would hear myself saying I long for Public Enemy compared to this.
He is way tooo overhyped
I’m not impressed. You’ve made a ton of money (somehow), hustled a bunch of drugs, and banged a bunch of women and then made a career bragging about it. Congrats? You sold your soul for this? Really? I don’t understand how he’s supposed to be a generational talent or artist. This isn’t art.
musically this was interesting-had some nice samples, good variety of sounds & tempos. but lyrically-ugh. demeaning to women, overuse of so, so, so many words, and constantly talking about himself.
Renegade is a good one
4+
there seems to be an epidemic among rap artists… the nonstop talking about themselves. jay-z does this ad nauseam. this album is about 85% jay-z loving him some him, about 5% about women, about 8% about “fuck them haters”, and 2% (one song) about family, which was nice. this trend on the album of the non stop self aggrandizing of jay-z is frankly tiresome. the whole album was literally about jay-z and anyone jay-z adjacent. tis not for me, and honestly tis one of the main reasons i don’t usually listen to rap…
1/5
Takeover is the better song and Ether is the better diss track. If Blueprint did anything, it woke Nas up out of his rap slumber and created Stillmatic. I am not a big Jay-Z fan but you cannot have a list of important albums without The Blueprint. It's essential to rap, whether you like Jay-Z or not. What's interesting about Jay-Z is he doesn't really have an album that is a classic or one album you should start off with. If he did, this would be it. This is the closest Jay-Z comes to putting together a perfect album. The track order on this album is what sets it apart, as many times a rapper will have a 16 song album and it falls off at some point. Jay-Z does a good job mixing the lesser songs with the great songs. Did I need Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)? I did not but I also didn't need a Blueprint 2, Blueprint 2.0 and Blueprint 3, yet we got all of those. A worthwhile listen, even if Jay-Z isn't the best rapper and does not really have a signature song that appears on here.
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
Excellent
three stars for young kanye’s production
Viele Gastauftritte (Janet Jackson, Beyonce,...) Für Rap ok, aber nicht mein Genre. 2/5
I see this is one of the more influential hip-hop albums, and I can hear something in its production that indicates high quality, but as with almost every other hip-hop album I've been graced with along this project, it doesn't excite my eardrums in the slightest.
Jay Z:n räbäytyksessä on aina lepposa meno ja helppoa pudoteltavaa. Levyllä ei ole ensimmäistäkään megaleiskautusta ja taso koko levyn OK. On tehnyt parempiakin.
Laadukas paketti. Jaylla siisti tyyli ja artikulointi selkeää. Biitit hyviä ja hauskasti oli Doorsiakin sämplätty.
I'm actually stunned. How on earth has this made it on the list? I've said this before about plenty of terrible rap on here, given the few (and I mean few) amazing rap albums out there that I'm no worried aren't going to turn up. This is utter, utter shite. Lyrically it's on par with what I scribbled down into my school book at 12 after getting really into Eminem. Read the lyrics for Takeover for example. Downright embarrassing. Then on girls girls girls... Slightly racist, very mysoginistic, but again, downright embarrassing. Glad I never gave this clown the time of day. Top 10 worst albums I've gotten on here, I'd pay good money to never hear this again.
Awful drone
It grew on me quick and then grew off me just as quick. His rapping style I liked, some of the production seemed original and was really interesting, but I got really bored and irritated by it by about three quarters of the way through. I’m not really sure why but the endless bragging didn’t help.
Enjoyed the sampling and technique but his ceaseless cussing wore me down. What would his Mum say.
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.
Average
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.
I had never listened to a full Jay Z album before. Not bad, 2.5 for sure. I didn't realize Izzo was by JayZ. Brings me back to the junior high dance days.
This album is a megaton.
Very good - Jay-Z is great - Renegade is a sick track.
Pretty good
its alright, a bit heavy on the content of the lyrics for me compared to its musical value
The Blueprint is outstanding, isn't it? Massive sound, quality production, inimitable vocals and flow (even if he's not the very best of the best (anyone who gets a cameo from Eminem gets shown up tbf)), and really it's just the first and last track that aren't as good as everything in the middle. It's iconic, it's a 5, first one from me in a while.
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.
So I thought I was going to love this. Girls Girls Girls has always been one of my favourite songs of his and I really liked the first few tracks And then it just seemed to run out of steam a bit. Never bad but a bit … samey
Classic flow.
This was decent. I liked a lot of the production, and Jay Z has a cool voice and flow. I probably wouldn't choose to put this on often, but that's just mostly my taste in style; most of the hip-hop I enjoy is from a decade earlier.
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
Not in my top 20 hip-hop albums, that's for sure...
Fucking amazing, back to front hype with more sexy, essential naughties tracks. Lyricism, flow is peak peak hip hop. Samples go absolutely insane. All I need and girls, girls, girls at the top for me. So catchy, so hard.
Now I know why this guy is so many people’s goat 🐐
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
Another rap album that just escapes me. Lots of recognizable samples and such, but ultimately not that compelling to me. Of course, rap just isn't my thing.
A tacky hour of a dude bragging about his newfound wealth. Ick.
Not much to say really
Dig the music.
Packs a powerful punch 4.3
Some fun throwbacks and some new discoveries
Some of this is fine (Izzo, Takeover, Heart of the City, Never Change, Song Cry), but mostly this is not my jam, as you know. Not enough “songs”.
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.
alright
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
More like Jay Zzzzzzz. You're sending me to sleep man!
Rap crap
9/10 near perfection, its amazing no se como no lo había escuchado antes. El diss a Nas fue mi parte favorita.
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
What is so great about this.
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.
2.5
Good album
100
01) The Ruler's Back - 6,5 02) Takeover - 7,5 03) Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - 9,0 04) Girls, Girls, Girls - 8,5 05) Jigga That Nigga - 7,0 06) U Don't Know - 7,0 07) Hola' Hovito - 7,0 08) Heart of the City (Ain't No Love) - 7,0 09) Never Change - 6,5 10) Song Cry - 7,0 11) All I Need - 6,5 12) Renegade - 6,5 13) Blueprint (Momma Loves Me) - 6,5 14) Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise) - 6,0 15) Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2) - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,03 (70/100) Current ranking: 179/276
Immature mysogonist moaning about being rich. Not badly, some tracks really good but whole listing too long.
I've always been pretty indifferent about Jay Z as an artist. I think he did great work to propel the East coast hip hop scene similar to Dr Dre in the West. But like Dre, the people he puts on tend to have better music than his own work. I still like the beats and Jay Z has some good flows. Just a lot of forgettable songs on this album to go along with the hits.
Thought it was good but got tired of it about halfway through. Eminem was too late to save it
I felt the exact same way tbh.
Ci sta ci sta
Not my cup of tea, but did not entirely hate it
Count how many times he goes "ho".
Not a huge fan of jay z but I like the vibe and production on this one.