Where do I start with The Blueprint?
Do I start with the production – part of which was done by some unknown guy with a weird name from Chicago?
Or do I talk about the name of the album – “The Blueprint” – and discuss how the definition of “Blueprint” encompasses the entire purpose of it?
Or do I discuss how it took JAY-Z only two days to write the lyrics and only two weeks to cut the album while he awaited two criminal trials?
Or do we talk about how the album was released on the same day that the 9/11 attacks occurred? What significance does that have, you might ask? Well, that’s speculative.
Or do we talk about the numerous feuds Jay-Z had at the time, and how they influenced the album, such as the track “Takeover”?
Or do we just discuss the lyrical prowess that Jigga drops in this album, touching your soul? Maybe because of the soul samples used and the “soulful” producer, Ye.
Oh, and let’s not forget that earlier this year, the album was selected for preservation in the “National Recording Registry” by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant”.
Throughout the album, we see Jay-Z transform from a well-established rapper to arguably the most-established rapper. An album that gave Kanye and Just Blaze fame as excellent producers and featuring Eminem on Renegade as the only feature throughout the album with one of the most lyrically sophisticated tracks we’ve been blessed to hear. A track so good, they haven’t done a feature since – they don’t need to.
Combining the experiences Jay-Z has had with regards to his criminal convictions, romantic life, struggles, pains, joys, upbringing and experiences within the industry, a blueprint is formed.
A blueprint to what? We may think.
To life. Elements of which can be extrapolated into our own lives.
Not just a blueprint… The Blueprint.
Unfortunately, I can only express so much admiration and fascination for this album. Jay-Z’s lyrical ability is universally undeniable, and it only got better as he grew.
Jay-Z’s lyrical finesse predominantly comes from his experiences. The more he sees, learns and lives, the better the lyrics.
In conclusion, The Blueprint is a perfect balance between art, lyricism, emotion, life lessons, good production and biographical elements. I don’t define a Hood Intellectual purely by their lyrical competence or level of knowledge, but rather by a balance of all the above. Furthermore, today we all know that Jay-Z helps as many people as he can and this is evident in The Blueprint because even 18 years ago when it was released, he helped make Kanye and Just Blaze into the successful people they are today.
As a result, I score this album: 
Favourite Tracks:
- The Ruler’s Back
- Heart Of The City (Ain’t No Love)
- Never Change
- Song Cry
- All I Need
- Renegade
- Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)
Least Favourite Track(s):
- No such thing!
Favourite Bars:
Kitchen table, that’s where I honed my skills
Jaz made me believe this shit was real
Labels turned me down, couldn’t foresee
Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)
Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?
Renegade
What’s all the f***in’ fussin’ for?
Because I’m grubbin’ more and I pack heat like I’m the oven door?
Heart Of The City (Ain’t No Love)
What, the streets robbed me, wasn’t educated properly
Well, f**k y’all, I needed money for Atari
Was so young my big sis’ still playin’ with Barbie
Young brother, big city, eight million stories
Never Change
We used to use umbrellas to face the bad weather
So now we travel first class to change the forecast
Song Cry
I can’t see ’em comin’ down my eyes
So I got to make the song cry
Song Cry
