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The Blueprint

The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 11, 2001, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan Center Studios and Baseline Studios in New York City. Contrasting the radio-friendly sound of Jay-Z's previous work, The Blueprint features soul-based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Bink, as well as Timbaland, Trackmasters, and Eminem, who also contributes the album's sole guest feature.

For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation).

The Blueprint

September 11, 2001 (2001-09-11)

May–July 2001

Baseline Studios (New York City)

63:25

At the time of the album's recording, Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, one for gun possession and another for assault, and had become one of hip hop's most dissed artists, receiving insults from rappers such as Nas, Prodigy, and Jadakiss.[2][3] The album is also notable for both its producers Kanye West and Just Blaze's breakouts as major producers. West produced four of the thirteen tracks on the album, including the songs "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and the controversial "Takeover", which included diss lyrics aimed at rappers Nas and Prodigy, while Just Blaze produced three tracks, "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Song Cry", and "U Don't Know", also including the hidden bonus track "Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)".


The Blueprint received universal acclaim from music critics, with praise being directed at Jay-Z's performance and the album's soul based soundscape. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time as well as one of the greatest albums ever made in general. Despite its release coinciding with the September 11 attacks, it sold over 427,000 copies in its opening week and debuted at number one in the US, holding the spot for three weeks. It was later certified 3x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. In 2018, the album 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.[4]

Background[edit]

The Blueprint was reportedly cut in two weeks, with Jay-Z recording nine songs in two days.[5] At the time, he was awaiting two criminal trials for gun possession and assault. He was also engaged in feuds with various rappers such as Jadakiss, Fat Joe and in particular Nas and Mobb Deep member Prodigy. In the song "Takeover", Jay-Z attacks the two Queensbridge rappers, using a sample of the song "Five to One" by The Doors[6] and an interpolation of David Bowie's "Fame".[7] On The Blueprint, Jay-Z and his producers used vintage soul as inspiration, including a vocal sample on almost every track from such artists as Al Green, Bobby "Blue" Bland, David Ruffin and The Jackson 5. Exceptions include "Jigga That Nigga", "Hola Hovito", and "Renegade", a track produced by and featuring the rapper Eminem, and the only track on the album featuring another rapper on verses.

Blueprint Lounge Tour[edit]

In late August, Jay-Z announced a September–October tour in small venues.[8] Because of the September 11 attacks occurring on the same day the album was released, the first two performances were rescheduled. Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were subsequently added, and Jay-Z donated to relief organizations one dollar of the cost of each ticket sold for the tour.

Cover[edit]

The photograph on the album's cover, taken by Jonathan Mannion, was inspired by one from The Firm, a series by Jocelyn Bain Hogg depicting organized crime in Britain. Instead of the telephone and brass knuckles seen next to the ashtray in the original picture, a cigar, a pack of cigars and a microphone were placed.[9] It also is a homage to The Blueprint album, by Boogie Down Productions; using a switched point-of-view and dynamic, but the same pose, as the original album title.

Ranked #4 in 's 50 "Albums of the Year 2001".

NME

Ranked #5 in 's "Top 10 of 2001".

Rolling Stone

Ranked #7 in 's "Albums of the Year 2001".

Spin magazine

Ranked #12 in 's "50 Records of the Year 2001".[32]

Wire magazine

Commercial performance[edit]

In spite of its release coinciding with the 9/11 attacks, The Blueprint sold over 427,000 copies in its opening week,[39] becoming Jay-Z's fourth consecutive album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It was certified double platinum as sales stand at over two million units in the U.S.[40][41] Sales stand at 2.7 million as of February 2012.[42]

signifies an additional producer

^[a]

"Takeover" features additional vocals by .

Josey Scott

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" features uncredited vocals by Demme Uloa.

"Girls, Girls, Girls" features additional vocals by , Slick Rick and Biz Markie.

Q-Tip

"Jigga That Nigga" features additional vocals by Stephanie Miller and Michelle Mills.

"Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)" features uncredited vocals by Keon Bryce.

"Never Change" features uncredited vocals by .

Kanye West

"Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)" features background vocals by Schevise Harrell and Luren Leek.

"Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)" features uncredited vocals by and Chanté Moore.

Michael Jackson

List of number-one albums of 2001 (U.S.)

List of number-one R&B albums of 2001 (U.S.)

at Discogs

The Blueprint

at Metacritic

The Blueprint

at Blender

Album Review

at Stylus Magazine

Album review