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┌────────┐ ██▀▀
────┤ Info ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘
Artist | Jay-Z
Title | The Blueprint
Genre | Rap Format | Album
Source | Vinyl Time | 63:09
Label | Roc-A-Fella Records Store | 2001
Catalog | 314 586 396-1 Rip | 2022
Bitrate | 2907 kbps Size | 1377.84 MB
Freq | 96.0 kHz Encoder | FLAC 1.3.1
┌────────┐
────┤ Tracks ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘
A1. The Ruler's Back (Prod. Bink) 3:49
A2. Takeover (Prod. Kanye West) 5:12
A3. Izzo (H.O.V.A.) (Prod. Kanye West) 4:00
A4. Girls, Girls, Girls (Prod. Just Blaze) 4:34
B1. Jigga That Nigga (Prod. Poke & Tone) 3:23
B2. U Don't Know (Prod. Just Blaze) 3:19
B3. Hola' Hovito (Prod. Timbaland) 4:32
B4. Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love) (Prod. Kanye West) 3:42
C1. Never Change (Prod. Kanye West) 3:57
C2. Song Cry (Prod. Just Blaze) 5:02
C3. All I Need (Prod. Bink) 4:25
C4. Renegade (Feat. Eminem) (Prod. Eminem) 5:36
D1. Blueprint (Momma Loves Me) (Prod. Bink) 3:39
D2. Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise) (Prod. Just Blaze) (Hidden 3:45
Bonus Track)
D3. Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2) (Prod. Kanye West) (Hidden 4:14
Bonus Track)
┌────────┐
────┤ Notes ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘
From the projects to the throne, New York rapper, producer, and
entrepreneur Jay-Z embodied the quintessential rags-to-riches dream,
becoming one of the most successful MCs of his generation while
creating an empire that made him one of the richest artists of the
era. After debuting in the late '90s with Reasonable Doubt and In My
Lifetime, Vol 1, he began a chart run that notched over a dozen
number one albums spread over two decades, including the
multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life (1999), the
Blueprint series (2001, 2002, 2009), and The Black Album (2003).
In addition to his solo work, Jay-Z also found mainstream crossover
success with pop, R&B, and rock artists, notably collaborating with
protege Rihanna on their Grammy-winning "Umbrella" (2008);
alternative metal outfit Linkin Park on 2004's genre mash-up
Collision Course; Alicia Keys on New York City's unofficial anthem,
the chart-topping "Empire State of Mind" (2011); frequent foil Kanye
West on Watch the Throne (2012); and wife BeyoncΘ on numerous hit
singles, international tours, and the joint album Everything Is Love
(2018).
When Jay-Z dropped "The City Is Mine" in 1997 and claimed New York's
hip-hop throne upon the Notorious B.I.G.'s demise, many smirked and
some even snickered. Four years later in 2001, when he released The
Blueprint, no one was smirking and no one dared snicker. At this
point in time, nobody in New York could match Jay-Z rhyme for rhyme
and nobody in New York had fresher beats - and many would argue that
Jigga's reign was not just confined to New York but was, in fact,
national.
Yes, Jay-Z had risen to the top of the rap game in the late '90s and
solidified his position with gigantic hits like "Big Pimpin" and "I
Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me)." Furthermore, The Blueprint's
leadoff single, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," dominated urban radio numerous
weeks before the album hit the streets, generating so much demand
that Def Jam had to push up the album's street date because it was
being so heavily bootlegged. So when Jay-Z opens The Blueprint
dropping rhymes about 'runnin' this rap sh*t,' it's not so much
arrogance as it is a matter of fact.
And by the time he brutally dismisses two of his most formidable
opponents, Mobb Deep and Nas, less than ten minutes into the album,
there's little doubt that Jay-Z's status as the top MC in the game
is justified. But that's just one song. There are 12 other songs on
The Blueprint - and they're all stunning, to the point where the
album seems almost flawless. Besides rhymes that challenge those on
Reasonable Doubt as the most crafted of Jay-Z's career to date in
terms of not only lyrics but also flow and delivery, The Blueprint
also boasts some of his most extravagant beats, courtesy of
impressive newcomers Kanye West and Just Blaze.
Moreover, if the rhymes and beats alone don't make The Blueprint a
career highlight for Jay-Z, the minimal guest appearances surely do.
For once, listeners get exactly what they want: Jay-Z and nothing
but Jay-Z, over beats so loaded with marvelously flipped samples the
songs don't even need big vocal hooks. Besides, when you're already
the top MC in the game, there's no need for crossover attempts.
Uneven albums like Hard Knock Life were the crossover attempts, and
now that Jay-Z is 'runnin' this rap sh*t', a fully realized
masterpiece like The Blueprint is the glorious result.
┌────────┐
────┤░░░░░░░░├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
└────────┘