Reviews (page 5 of 9)
I don't usually like rap/hip hop but this was actually okay
Der har aldrig været noget særligt der fangede mig ved Jay Zs vokal eller lyrik, og jeg har altid fundet ham kedelig på mange af hans egne projekter. Der er dog en masse at anerkende dette album for, og lyden er helt tydelig skelsættende.
Har formentligt sat et kæmpe aftryk på, hvordan genren lyder efter dette album. Det er godt, men det siger mig ikke det helt store.
Jeg må indrømme, at jeg altid har syntes, at Jay Z er helt horribelt overvurderet. Jeg har aldrig rigtig set lyset. Til gengæld sker der noget i dag. Det er som om, det er lidt bedre, end jeg husker det. Stadig ikke helt deroppe, men det er ikke dårligt. Jeg vakler mellem 3 og 4 stjerner. Jeg lader dog *ikke* tvivlen komme den anklagede til gode i dette tilfælde. 3.7
Lidt for meget umlaut over det her, der var dog rigelig "aha, aha", klassik Jay - men intet imponerende
okay album. Havde nok forventet lidt mere
If I didn't know any better I would think this Jay-Z fella didn't like this other fella named Nas. This is fine if not overplayed at the time. This came out my senior year of high school and it. was. everywhere. I still remember going to parties at my friend's house and all of the Jay-Z and other early 00 hip hop would be playing but when my buddy wanted everyone to leave and be hanging out with his closest friends we'd put on Yessongs and somehow that would clear the room. It was a simpler time.
Not bad, not the best
oh i’ve heard this before. don’t remember it much. when it comes to jay z, i like 4:44. don’t visit the rest very often.
It is OK. I can see back when this came out it may have meant more, now it does not stand apart from anything else.
Solid
Really solid rap album
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Izzo (H.O.V.A.), Renegade I can tell you right now, even though I like hip-hop, I'm not listening to the Collector's Edition. I can't devote 4.5 hours to Jay Z (I try to do every album at least twice). This album has some good songs (and a really good feat. by Eminem) but I think it suffers from being too long and simply not being as good as both The Black Album and Blueprint III. I expected to both recognize more songs and ideally enjoy more songs, but I found it very same-y instead.
Is the most important aspect of any plan.
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
Mi sa che il genere non fa per me.
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.
Overall good, with highs and lows, some tracks greatly outshining others
The beats are great but the lyrics are less so
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
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
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.
Production, samples, beats are all good, don't really care for the lyrics, good listen though
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
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?
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
Some amazing beats, let down by some mid-level bars.
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.
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.
i was gonna rate it 4 stars, then i heard girls girls girls part 2
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
Thanks Jigga Man!
Fairly strong start but overstayed its welcome.
My rating 3.0. Not bad. Liked the mix of rap and music
Tää nousee sinne vähän ylempään keskikastiin näissä klassikko räbäytyksissä. Oikein hyviä biittejä ja menoa
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.
Solid 3.5. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would.
Like most rap albums, this one is too long. Not my favorite Jay Z album (The Black Album), but decent.
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
Decent rap album, not my favourite but it was ok
Estuvo bien, pero me faltó algún hit de verdad
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.
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
Good but not my favorite Jay-Z record
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
- 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
Okay.
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
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
I think Froggy Fresh may have right about Jay Z. But that production though.
Kanye’s beats make half the album
Didn’t care for it but wasn’t bad
Some great tunes
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.
80/100
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 .
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
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.....
Neutral
Not bad not good not for me ı’m not hyped any song but no one disturbed me
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.
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.
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
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
better than i expected
King del sampling
Good but hollow. Has nothing to say.
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.
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
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
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?
Meta flow negrito, mueva 6/10
Nice beats, didn’t seem super strong vocally but I’m less familiar with hiphop.. 2.5/5
Some catchy music but definitely not really my thing.
Kinda got just bored with his style. I dig some good hip hop. This has some great beats, but much of it felt... meh
Pretty good Not my favorite Jay-Z lowkey mid
He likes girls (girls girls)
Overall: 5/10 It's nothing special. His lyrics are lame, his flow is mediocre and so are most of the beats. Occasionally there was a song that got me hyped but they're few and far in between. Jay-Z always just seemed a little fake to me as well. Not bad, not good. Fav Song: Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
Good samples, good production, I like the parts where you can tell Kanye is behind the wheel. 'Izzo' is iconic. Lyrically the album is pretty self-aggrandizing. But hey, it was 2001. Overall I’ve enjoyed the rap on the 1001 list more than I would’ve thought.
Some of Jay Z’s lyrics are crude, some tracks feel like marketing material for his other businesses, and some contain gems: “You’re a candle in the sun, that shit don’t even out” While Jay’s contributions are mixed, Kanye’s productions, without fail, are exceptional. I would give them six stars if I could. But it’s not a Kanye album.
I can see how he ended up with Beyonce because both of their music is just a 3
Not for me
Favourite Track: Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love), Never Change
Not my genre but not unpleasant
Good rapping
Uiteraard luister ik amper naar de teksten, maar ik lees wel de wiki en daar staat dan in dat het veel diss-tracks zijn en dat Jay-Z bekend staat om zijn braggadocio (een moeilijk woord voor wat ik altijd kinderachtig noem). Dus daar gaat alweer een puntje af. Wel vind ik de manier waarop Jay-Z rapt geinig, hij is een beetje lui. Qua rap bedoel ik dan he, voordat ik de racismekaart krijg toegeschoven. Ook qua muziek vind ik het prima moet ik zeggen. Er zit altijd een leuk sampletje in of een interessante beat, zoals bijv bij track 2 Takeover dat de rockdrum van the Doors nadoet of track 3 van zo te horen the Jackson 5. Met name zo'n track a la the Doors is heel anders dan veel andere hiphop en daarmee onderscheidt de muziek zich soms. Door het veelvuldige gebruik van samples, voelt het als meer dan just another rapalbum. Het lijkt zo meer op een soul-album met wat raps er over heen. Het maakt het voor mij een stuk beter luisterbaar en ik kan zelfs zeggen dat ik met enig plezier heb geluisterd. Op het einde zit een nummer met schijtlolbroek Eminem, wat ronduit irriterend is. Eminem past totaal niet in de flow van de rest van het album wat mij betreft. Het stoort me gewoon. Het album balanceerde op de rand van de 3,5, maar dit maakt de keuze gemakkelijk.
Lots of radio friendly hits and some decent rhymes but just not as gritty or cutting edge that I would like in my hip hop
jay has made some of the top rap songs of the 2000s but unfortunately they are scattered throughout multiple albums. there are probably only two songs from this album that make that list. all the songs have good instrumentals and very slick production and the samples are excellent. i appreciate the fact that there weren't any interludes or skits but it still felt way too long.
It's definitely a product of it's time. There's some good production and sampling on here, but I couldn't make it through. I was angry when I was listening to this album, and it didn't really improve my mood. I feel like I should revisit it to give it a fair shake, but I probably won't.
Pretty decent effort from Mr Zee. High production values, and some smooth raps, bu give me some Dre, Cube or 'Nem any day.
Seminal album and a pivot point in all of hip hop
I like it, good vibe. Studying to the music which works very well. Enjoyed it more than expected, saved a couple of songs in my playlists.
3.5
Я не фанат хіп-хопу нульових, це ніби й непоганий альбом, але я від такого не кайфую.
Good album. Jay Z is creative and gets the message out.
So it was recorded a few miles away from the twin towers and was released on September 11th 2001. And I’m sure that everyone knows that. Also pre crazy kanye produced a lot of this including ‘takeover’ which is a good song, theres also renegade with eminem which serves as a great climax. But girls girls girls and Jigga weren’t that good to me 3/5
2,8/5
"You have to film MTV cribs for a week". Jay Z has flow! This man is seriously talented in his writing. He has excellent pacing and all his lyrics come off clean. I wouldn't say his beats are my favorite, but they do match his lyrics well. Overall impressive, just not my style of rap. There was a nice variety amongst this album, from growing up poor to straight up gangster shit. Favorite song Hola' Hovito , "If I ain't better then BIG, then I'm the closet one" 7 out of 10
Solid album that doesn’t much for me. Pretty meh
All the tropes are here. Honestly, Eminem shows smoother, tighter rapping on the song he features in. Jay Z sounds, like many of these rappers do, like he has an inferiority complex and, as a result, tries too hard to pretend he is the greatest. Who wants to hear bragging?
Not a fan of rap, especially rap that doesn’t sound good either. The one song Eminem was featured on was fire though. Don’t conform any of this music and barely actually listened… I just remember from when I was a kid…
I listened to about half of it. There were some cooler songs but it’s just hard for me to connect w this type of music. I can appreciate it though!
If you can disregard and not pay too close attention to the lyrics, the music and flow is great. There were a few bars that hit but several that made some songs hard to listen to, esp Girls, Girls, Girls 1&2. I really enjoyed the back half of the album, namely Heart of the City, All I Need and Blueprint. I have never listened to Jay-Z before and while I don’t listen to a lot of rap outside of Kendrick Lamar 😅, I think this album got me more interested in expanding my horizons. 7/10
By 2001, Jay-Z wasn’t just another rapper—he was the standard-bearer for commercial hip-hop. The Blueprint doubles down on that stature with its polished mix of soul samples, booming basslines, and hooks that stick to the ribs. A showcase for early Just Blaze and Kanye West production, the record leans mainstream by design, sometimes too sleek for its own good. Still, it’s stacked with definitive moments: “The Ruler’s Back” announces Hov’s dominance with blaring horns, while “Takeover” cements itself as one of rap’s fiercest diss tracks. “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)” rides a masterfully flipped soul loop into instant anthem territory, and “Song Cry” shows a rare vulnerability—even if its glossy sheen feels a little misplaced here. Then there’s “Renegade,” where Eminem steals the spotlight with ferocious verses. If The Blueprint sometimes sounds overly tailored for mass appeal, it also proves Jay-Z knew exactly how to balance artistry with empire-building.
The production on here is unreal, every beat has so much bounce, each sample hits the ears just right. As for the rapping, it’s mooostly good - not on par with the quality of the production, but mostly good. Like a lot of rap of it’s time, some dated language and corny lyrics disrupt an otherwise very recognizable set of flows JayZ delivers. “Takeover” was the first beat that had me nodding my head - so bouncy! “Izzo (HOVA)” is iconic and reminds me to use this space to encourage you to go listen to the mashup EP JayZ and Linkin Park put together, which includes this song. It’s one of the most unique ideas you’ll ever hear and is pulled off perfectly. “U Dont Know” has some cheesy lyrics but a great chipmunk soul sample. Same can be said for “Ain’t No Love”. He’s maybe a little one-note in terms of what he’s rapping about, but JayZ hit his stride here in many ways. Strong 3/5
It’s OK
I really wasn't looking forward to this, but I actually enjoyed the music a decent amount. The album is overlong and could do with the last 15 minutes or so being cut out as it gets weaker towards the end. Lyrically it's also heavily infected with the cancer of American capitalism, with it's celebration of materialism, but it's hardly the first album to be like that.
well at least now i know who runs new york. 3/5
I enjoy Jay-Z’s flow and beats
Med så meget melodi i musikken er det svært at se sig sur på rappen, så det her var faktisk fint nok.
Det er et af de Hip-Hop albums der faktisk er til at holde ud at høre. Dejligt befriet fra interludes. Der er dog også kun få tracks der virkelig rykker i mig.
Not a big fan but I can listen to some of his music
The rhythm was good overall, but wasn't really attention-grabbing. The classic, Izzo, was definitely my favorite. Beyond that, it seemed plain.
Some classic songs on this record. It felt a little too long
I like this album
gostei em
Funny, it's like the generator knew I needed to listen to Jay Z today. H.O.V.A is a banger. Not a big Jay Z fan, but honestly, it's not bad. Might appreciate more with more listens.
ok album. YouTube has a "deluxe" version that is nearly 3 hours long. No thanks. He should be smoking a blunt on the cover :-)
I can't say I see the appeal. The Renegade track just makes me wish Jay put any emotion into any of his tracks.
Interesting
Jay Z has an amazing flow, and the beats are really well done. All that said, the bragging and coke bars got old quickly. I felt like halfway through the album, he didn't have anything new to add. fav track: "Renagade" 3/5 This project is not the kind of hip-hop that speaks to me.
Highlight Song/s: Takeover, Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 1), U Don't Know and Renegade This is my first good listen to Jay-Z. I had previously listen to a couple of his other songs such as "Dead Presidents II" and "Empire State of Mind"; I am a big fan of Dead Presidents. In other words I am saying that this review comes from a completely new perspective and not a Jay-Z fan perspective. The production is pretty good, it makes some songs sounds really big and powerful (for better or for worse.) Jay-Z's rap and flow style is a bit difficult for me to get into; I am not too sure why. I don't believe it's something that I could come around to either. Not everyone is for everyone I guess. The track that stands out the most is "Takeover" which is a diss track about Nas and Prodigy (from Mobb Deep,) one of my favourite hip-hop songs is "Ether" by Nas, so it was a bit of a surprise when Nas took the flow of the chorus "we running this rap shit" as the outro, I was like "Oh!, that's where the thing is from." Nas mocking Jay-Z by using parts of the his songs, reminds of Eazy-E doing the same thing with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg; mocking them and their songs "'Nuthin But A 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day" on Eazy's song "It's On." Conclusions for the song, It's not too bad, but it isn't as great as "Ether." Having had listened to both songs now, it has made me appreciate both songs and the entire feud with Nas and all the great songs that have come from it.
Liked a few of these songs WAY more than I ever thought I would like Jay Z, but overall, it really drug on for me
Some distant beats here and there, but maybe not a classic
After a few dud millennium rap and RnB albums, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this and how essential it felt. Great rhymes, interesting samples and music sitting behind it. Think this is a solid 3.5 stars for me - maybe not something I’d return to again and again but I would enjoy again if I was in the mood for this.
Favorite: Renegade On renegade I think that JAY Z was being pushed to be better and bring it more and I think that works but I wish he was at that level the whole album.
it didn’t emotionally resonate or feeling particularly moving for me, but was fun to listen to. i vacillated between being into his bravado and feeling pretty uninterested by it. overall i appreciated the cohesion of the album though + his addresses to the listener. highlights: the ruler’s back, hola hovito, heart of the city.
This is rap which I dont like, but To some extent I can relate to rhis.
Decent--the hits were the highlights.
I appreciate Jay-Z but I feel like this album isn't quite hitting for me because I didn't grow up with it. His skilled lyricism is there, as is the legendary beef with Nas. But nothing to hook me as a new listener
There’s no doubting the classic status of this one. The debate for me is 3 or 4 stars…and I keep bouncing back and forth. Love Heart of the City and had never heard it before - but honestly, that’s as much the sample as anything.
3.6 coulda been better with some cuts tho
I'm not versed in a lot of hip hop but have been trying to familiarize myself with the classics. Cool production from a pre-not see Kanye but the words are meh.
I know this is a somewhat landmark album in the Hip Hop genre but it just doesnt have the same appeal to me as the 90's hip hop. I mean its fine but it feels very 2000's but not in a good way. Don't get me wrong I still like it but I just don't rate it as highly as maybe I should. More R&B on this album than I was expecting.
3-
Listening to Takeover outside of the context of the Jay-Z/Nas beef was interesting. I don't think this is nearly as strong as Ether, but that's neither here nor there. The production value and the choruses on this thing were definitely of extremely high quality. However, Jay-Z's braggadocios tone and rap style does really get on my nerves. I don't need to listen to some cunt brag about how rich he is for an hour. Imagine paying actual physical money just for the artist you like to flex on you the entire time about how rich he is. Bet that made your fans feel good, huh. I don't think I can emphasise enough how good the production on this thing is though. Girls Girls Girls, Jigga, Never Change, etc. all hold up so well as beats. It's just ruined by Jay-Z's cunt voice. I think a 3 is a generous rating. Pretty much just for the production value. I realised I don't like Jay-Z after listening to this thing. Hopefully that's all there is for Jay-Z, but I have a feeling Blueprint 3 will be on here, too.
Jay Z looks the way someone who had no exposure to black people outside of Jim Crow era propaganda would imagine they look. The album was ok.
I was all primed and ready to say "just not my cup of tea and that I'm not a Jay-Z fan". I wouldn't say that I loved this album. But...I certainly didn't hate it. The first couple of songs in particular were bangers. It didn't really hold my attention after that (save for the few songs I'm generally familiar with including Renegade with Eminem which was a highlight).
I must admit this was better than I expected
Music interesting. Lyrics are occasionally interesting but not overall remarkable. Seem to fall into a common set of topics and style.
Probably deserves a 4 but giving a high 3. I'm not the biggest hip hop guy and can see why the die hards might not be into this but I'm a sucker for the soul influenced sound that he/Kanye go for. Some fun songs on here and there was a lot that I was close to adding to library but didn't quite get me there. Rating: 3.4
40 songs A lot Spójny
Jay-Z’s Ego is a more fitting album title. Same old stuff with the same old braggadocio and often misogynistic lyrics. Every song coming in around the same tempo doesn’t help either. The duet with Eminem was a real top tune, but rating up as the true standout here is the production and clever choices of sampling.
Not bad - misogyny hit a bit hard like
I tried to understand why this is as critically acclaimed as it is and admittedly the sampling and production is impressive. Jay-Z is a good rapper and some of his unique quirks with his delivery are neat enough but sometimes his odd grunts are annoying and I understand he’s just rapping his thoughts but a lot of the time I find his thoughts to be dumb. 3 stars
There’s a few bangers, there’s more not-bangers
ok
I'm not really a fan of Jay-Z's style of rap, without trying to sound like an utter wank I'm not that keen on mainstream, radio pop hip-hop. The only track I felt went against that was Takeover. The Five to One sample was a bit jarring and distracting to begin with, but I eventually liked it. I didn't pay that much attention to the lyrics, but Girls, Girls, Girls was very dated and a bit cringe I will say the production has a large, grandiose style that is quite nice. There are some decent beats too, but they just get a bit repetitive Probably didn't help my enjoyment having an Eminem feature near the end of the album, I can't stand Eminem Kind of boring really. I can see why people would like it but it's not my thing Highlights: Takeover
This still bounced along nicely and its certainly a top album for this time and genre, but its lost its bite over time for me.
The production on this is fantastic. Eminem's guest spot is awesome. Jay-Z is fine. I don't love his voice or content.. it's just not that interesting. I've tried, and there are a couple of his tracks I really like. But generally not a fan.
A lot of undeniable talent but Jay doesn’t really tickle my pickle. His flow is so slow and consistent it’s practically sleepy. Kweli is still my GOAT MC, this album doesn’t change it. Yikes, there is some “dated” language. Not just homophobe slurs, but the entire track “Girls Girls Girls.” The Nas beef is silly, but it’s hilarious that even in a diss track Hov has to admit that Illmatic is great.
I don’t usually like rap, but I gave this a shot because it’s the Jay-Z album. Sadly, it felt more like a blueprint for boredom.
It was alright. I'm not a rap guy. I know Jay-Z is important to the genre, but I wasn't really feeling it.
This was fine for the first 4-5 tracks, then it got horribly repetitive. Samples and beats were good, but 63 minutes is a long time to hear someone talk about how much money they have.
This was fine. The music is more agreeable than many other rap albums on this list and the n words are aplenty.
Not a fan particularly
At first the hip hop was a refreshing change but I have a few in a row and this is maybe suffering from that but not enjoying it as much as snoop dog or notorious BIG. Feel this is a okay album.
What a day to release an album. Favorite track: "U Don't Know," probably
3.5
I'm going with a (6.8) ★★★ for *The Blueprint* and thus might have room to grow. There are some rap tropes in here that are reasons why rap is not a preferred genre for me, most notably the endless boasting and posturing. Still, there was enough compelling elements too to kinda perk up my ears. One is the nod to Bowie on "Takeover". I actually am not crazy about the song, but the use of "Fame" gave me a pleasant chuckle. Surprisingly one of my favorite tracks on the album was "Renegade" with Emenem which suprised me in that that period of Emenem is one that usually grates on my nerves. But honestly the more self revealing title track really tugged my emotions a bit. I can't say I'm full in on this album or even 75%, but but there is much to admire
A bit repetitive, but quite good hiphop. 3.5 stars
Amazed how much the rap albums I actually seem to enjoy.
I've never listened to Jay-Z. Not my bag. Like most music I avoid, it was better than I was expecting.
I've always thought Jay-Z was a bit overrated and this confirmed it - family friendly pop rapper who definitely should not be above the records it's above. There are pleasant songs on here but none of it is as vital as the true classics of the genre.
The best song, and frankly the only good song, on this album isnt even jayz's song. Its renegade and was written by eminem. Rest of the album barely even hits mediocre. 3 stars for eminem outperforming jayz on his own album.
Liked it more than I was expecting
Not bad, but didn't enjoy the disses trackes
First time I listen to on of Jay Z tune (with knowledge). I am pleasantly surprised. Difficult to tell anythoing about the lyrics after a quick glance. I am not sure I understand what the message is. There's the gansta attitude...
I like the accompanying music
Some of the lyrics could only be described as corny, which was kind of off putting. The beats were generally good, and you can really hear Kanye in a lot of them (for better or worse). I like Takeover the best - loved the Bowie allusion.
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
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.
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
An okay album, Rap's not my favorite style of music. But I did like the song I Don't Know.
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.
It’s very well built.
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).
Mola, pero más repetitivo que la hostia.
Mag seine Stimme, gute Beats.
Diss track is funny but just not great after that
3- Stars (7/15)
Normal disclaimer....not a fan of rap. Fwiw, seems to be well-presented and arranged.
Вроде прикольно
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
sì, beh
First time listening to jay z overall tight rhymes and wordplay
Pretty vulgar. Some classic songs though
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.
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.
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
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
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?
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
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.
3/5
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
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.
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.
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 first half of the album was fun but for the second half I just waited for it to be over, so 3/5
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.
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
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.
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.
honestly... not my fave. something bout these recent rap albums just ain't hittin.
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.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Favourite track: Song Cry.
16/11/24 Not the worst thing I've listened to, but I'm not going to listen to it again.
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.
If rap is your thing Jay- Z is your guy
I quite liked this album. Has some decent songs, but with like all albums from around this time it is bloated. Quantity over quality.
three stars for young kanye’s production
Jay Z:n räbäytyksessä on aina lepposa meno ja helppoa pudoteltavaa. Levyllä ei ole ensimmäistäkään megaleiskautusta ja taso koko levyn OK. On tehnyt parempiakin.
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.
Average
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.
its alright, a bit heavy on the content of the lyrics for me compared to its musical value
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.
Not in my top 20 hip-hop albums, that's for sure...
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”.
alright
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
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.
Ci sta ci sta
i very much enjoyed the sound of this album, a mix of hip-hop with soul-like features, which blended nicely. i also appreciated the - if somewhat facetious - lyricism of jay-z, and i am often in awe of rappers for crafting such long, intricate verses. to be honest, i rated this album a three due to its length. after about 40 minutes i was getting bored of the sound, and each song sounded like the last. if this was a half hour album, it would have kept my attention better.
B- The Ruler's Back 3 Takeover 4 Izzo (H.O.V.A.) 3 Girls, Girls, Girls 3 Jigga That Nigga 3 U Don't Know 3 Hola' Hovito 3 Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love) 3 Never Change 5 Song Cry 3 All I Need 3 Renegade 3 Blue Print (Momma Loves Me) 3 Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise) 3 Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2) 4 I used to love this album, but it's hard to take Jay Z seriosuly after performing at a Hillary Clinton campaign event.
Could never get that excited for this guy, his style is a little dull.
Fine, if somewhat cliched
"It's ya boy, Jay-Z! Woo!" Okay, it doesn't happen on every track, but sure feels like there's a meme soundboard with all the Jigga vocal flows on it. I liked the samplings, you can tell Kayne West's beginnings. Plenty of good beats and flows. Renegade is solid. Glad I listened, doubt I'll revisit.
Overhyped Jigga Very unReasonable. Doubt he's good as Nas. I recall friends seriously wanking to this album. While I dig the soulful tunes, Jay's braggadocio is grating. His first album was definitely his best. After that, he needed to take some advice from Chuck D: Don't Believe the Hype.
Not really my thing. I'm glad I didn't pick the edited version that would've been equipment to stripping the vocals.
Hip Hop generally doesn’t get me excited or keep me interested. This record doesn’t break that expectation.
Hova and Takeover are still pretty good. Some of the album cuts were better then i expected. The other singles seemed really dated. I guess if you have more nostalgia for this album then I do. Fine but not great.
Solid
Not bad. Some great songs.
3.4
3.5/5. Pretty good. Nothing ground breaking, though.
Classic Girls girls girls is not great Beats are cool
Eh
I'm not a huge fan of Jay-Z's style, but musically this is pretty tight. Enjoyed his use of samples. And bonus points for a song featuring Eminem that I actually enjoyed, even if it seemed a bit out of sorts from the rest of the album. Fave Songs: Heart of the City (Ain't No Love), Takeover, Never Change, Renegade, Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
The 90s Hip Hop selections have so far been excellent, showcasing the records that influenced the genre at the time and are still generally good to listen to today. Likewise, The Blueprint has held up well and is a reminder that Jay-Z was pretty ubiquitous at the time, collaborated with all the big names in a way that elevated both his work and their involvement. This one does strike me as a little 'safer' than some of the others though, less of an edge to it and perhaps a little overproduced at times. It's nice not to be cringing at the lyrics but it's also a shame they don't ever really hit deeper or challenge the listener too much.
I love hip-hop, but I don't often fuck with Jay-Z. I know he's Good At Rap, but I just never listen to his stuff. But when I do, I listen to this joint. The Black Album too, I guess. That I.Z.Z.O. (H.O.V.A) track is fire. And late in the record we get an appearance from the force of nature known as young Eminem. It's all Good Rap. That I never really listen to.
it really wasn’t as bad as i thought because i do like hiphop. i just really don’t prefer jay z especially as a person. i know he has a legacy but the songs weren’t bad. i may not really return though.
This had some tracks that were very catchy. The female backing vocals totally carried whenever present. Stand-out: Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)
Great beats but I cant stand Jay-Z's voice and flow. He's not awful, just not for me.
Can't say this blew me away. Enjoyed Eminem's cameo
Ok sound. Liked some of the sampling
Great beats, but his lyrics never really appealed to me.
‘The Blueprint’ is OK. Not great, just OK. Apparently in 2018 “it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” being the first entry created in the 21st century.” I must be missing something, cos I’m not hearing it.
Maan i dont know I'm only gonna give it a strong 3. I love the man, but 2000s rap is just cheap sounding for me. The beats and flow are fire but it just has that specific 2000s sound that I really dislike