#66 The Blueprint by Jay-Z
The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time
- 2025 Album Rank
- 66
- Total Points
- 918
- Year Released
- 2001
- Billboard 200 Chart Peak
- 1
- Weeks at #1
- 3
- RIAA Sales Certification
- 3,000,000 (Multi Platinum)
- Buy Album
- Apple Music Amazon
The Blueprint Album Details
The Blueprint is Jay-Z's critically acclaimed sixth studio album, released on September 11, 2001, the same day as the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Despite the unfortunate timing, the album quickly became one of the most celebrated works in hip-hop history, praised for its soulful production, sharp lyricism, and effortless delivery. Crafted during a period when Jay-Z was facing both legal troubles and high-profile rap beefs, the record plays like a confident artistic statement, reaffirming his dominance in the rap world.
Produced largely by a then-rising Kanye West and Just Blaze, with contributions from Bink!, the album is rich with sped-up soul samples that became a defining sound of early 2000s hip-hop. Tracks like Izzo (H.O.V.A.), Girls, Girls, Girls, and Song Cry showcased Jay-Z's range, from braggadocious anthems to introspective storytelling, while Takeover served as a decisive moment in his feud with Nas and Mobb Deep. The album's cohesion, warmth, and lyrical mastery have led many to rank it among the greatest rap albums of all time.
Interesting Facts About The Blueprint
- Jay-Z reportedly recorded the entire album in just two weeks, much of it in a single take without writing down lyrics, a style he calls "writing in his head."
- Izzo (H.O.V.A.) was Kanye West's first major hit as a producer, built around a sample of The Jackson 5's I Want You Back.
- Takeover uses a sample of The Doors' Five to One and sharply escalated Jay-Z's rivalry with Nas, leading to Nas's response track Ether.
- Song Cry is one of Jay-Z's most emotional tracks, reflecting on failed relationships, and is notable for not including an actual sung hook, only the sample itself carries the melody.
- The album leaked weeks before its release, but Jay-Z decided not to delay it, confident in its quality and impact.
- Just Blaze's work on songs like U Don't Know and Girls, Girls, Girls established him as one of the premier producers of the era.
- The record was made while Jay-Z was awaiting trial for a stabbing incident involving record executive Lance "Un" Rivera; he would later plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
- Critics praised the album for returning to sample-based production at a time when hip-hop was leaning heavily on synthetic beats.
- Despite its dominance, the album only produced one Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Izzo (H.O.V.A.) showing that its legacy is built more on critical acclaim and influence than commercial singles.
The Blueprint Tracklist
- The Ruler's Back
- Takeover
- Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - Reached #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
- Girls, Girls, Girls - Reached #17 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
- Jigga That Nigga
- U Don't Know
- Hola' Hovito
- Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
- Never Change
- Song Cry
- All I Need"
- Renegade
- Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)
