Review Summary: Jay-Z makes a "Blueprint" for a classic hip hop album.
Critical Responses:
Allmusic: 5/5
Robert Christagu: A-
Entertainment Weekly: B-
NME: 8/10
Rolling Stone: 3.5/5
USA Today: 4/4
Vibe: 5/5
The Source: 5 Mics
XXL: XXL
This album is so good that not even Osama Bin Laden could stop it's record sales, at 420,000 in it's 1st week. This album was on the Rolling Stone top 500 albums, at 252nd, out of it's hip hop albums on the list, The Blueprint made it at 14th, and on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 best albums of the 2000's, it made it at number 4 being the number 1 hip hop album on the list. The critical responses from other places were excellent as well, with Allmusic giving it 5/5, Vibe Magazine giving it 5/5, The Source magazine giving it 5 Mics, XXL giving it XXL (the equivalent of 5/5).
This album is not a return to the Jay-Z we heard on Reasonable Doubt, but a new Jay-Z, that wasn't as good as the Jay-Z heard on Reasonable Doubt, but still was excellent. He still chose a wide array of excellent topics to rhyme about as well. Now, for the track by track review.
1. The Ruler's Back: A classic song, and an excellent way to start the album. This song is a dedication song to Slick Rick, and even includes an interpolation of The Ruler's Back by Slick Rick. 5/5
2. Takeover: A classic song. This song has Jay-Z dissing his enemies, such as, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Nas, and others. One of the best Jay-Z songs ever. This song features excellent production provided by Kanye West. One of the best Jay-Z songs ever, and the best song on the album. This song samples the song "Sound Of Da Police" by KRS-One. This song has been sampled in the songs, "Ether" by Nas, "The Rape Over" by Mos Def, "I'm A Hustla" by Cassidy, "300 Bars And Runnin" by The Game, and other songs. 5/5
3. Izzo (H.O.V.A): A classic song, although it is one of his more popular songs, it's still classic. This song features excellent production provided by Kanye West. This song has been sampled in the songs, "Business" by Eminem, "The People" by Common, and other songs. 5/5
4. Girls, Girls, Girls: An excellent song, that Jay-Z dedicates to the women. This song features excellent production from Just Blaze. This song has been sampled in the song, "Ether" by Nas, and other songs. 4.5/5
5. Jigga That N****: An excellent song. 4.5/5
6. U Don't Know: A classic song, with excellent production from Just Blaze. 5/5
7. Hola Hovito: A classic song, with with possibly the best production Timbaland has ever done. This song has been sampled in the song "Big Brother" by Kanye West, and other songs. 5/5
8. Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love): A classic song, that features excellent production from Kanye West. One of the best Jay-Z songs ever. 5/5
9. Never Change: A classic song. 5/5
10. Song Cry: A classic song. This song looks at a harsh breakup, with someone who isn't named in the song. One of the best Jay-Z songs ever, and one of the best songs on this album. This song has been sampled in the song, "Back Like That" by Ghostface Killah, and other songs. 5/5
11. All I Need: A classic song. This song has been sampled in the songs, "Favorite Thingz" by Saigon, "New York" by AZ, and other songs. 5/5
12. Renegade: A classic song. One of the best songs Jay-Z has ever done. This song features Eminem, who also provides the production for the song, and beats Jay-Z lyrically on the song. 5/5
13. Blueprint (Momma Loves Me): A classic song, and an excellent way to end the album. Jay-Z dedicated this song to his mom, and is one of the best Jay-Z songs ever. 5/5
Overall I give this album, 5/5, 10/10, and my grade for it is "A+".
3 Best Songs:
1. Takeover
2. Song Cry
3. Renegade
3 Weakest Songs:
1. Girls, Girls, Girls
2. All I Need
3. Never Change
