The Blueprint [2011 Back to Black Version]

by Jay-Z

Overview

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. ~ Jason Birchmeier

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2011
Label:	Mercury / Virgin Emi
UPC:	0600753353479
Rank:	15268

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Ruler's Back
2. Takeover
3. Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
4. Girls, Girls, Girls
5. Jigga That N***a
6. U Don't Know
7. Hola Hovito
8. Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)

Disc 2

9. Never Change
10. Song Cry
11. All I Need
12. Renegade
13. Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jay-Z   Primary Artist,Vocals
Eminem   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Slick Rick   Guest Artist,Vocals
Biz Markie   Guest Artist,Vocals
Q-Tip   Guest Artist,Vocals
Keon Bryce   Vocals
Luis Resto   Keyboards
Kanye West   Choir/Chorus
Josey Scott   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Michele Mills   Vocals
Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua   Organ,Strings
Victor Flowers   Organ
Stephanie Miller   Vocals
Demme Ulloa   Vocals
Eric "E-Bass" Johnson   Bass
Luren Leek   Vocals (Background)
Schevise Harrell   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Tony Dawsey   Mastering
Jim Morrison   Composer,Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Bobby Byrd   Composer
Chas Chandler   Composer
L. Parker   Composer,Composer
D. Richards   Composer
Larry Gates   Composer,Composer
Alphonso Mizell   Composer
Jackie Members   Composer
Larry Miller   Composer,Composer
Barry Bailey   Composer
Lawrence Parker   Composer
Eric Burdon   Composer
Eminem   Mixing,Producer
Doug Wilson   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
John A. Lomax   Composer
Jay-Z   Composer
Walter Sigler   Composer
Robert Relf   Composer
Robby Krieger   Composer
Samuel Barnes   Composer
Just Blaze   Producer
Luis Resto   Composer
Phil Hurtt   Composer
Richard Poindexter   Composer
Richard Huredia   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Poke & Tone   Producer
Kanye West   Composer,Producer
R. Johnson   Composer
R. Lemay   Composer
Shane "Bermy" Woodley   Assistant Engineer,Recording Assistant
Mike Garson   Composer
Ray Manzarek   Composer
J. Morrison   Composer
Tyrone Thomas   Composer
A. Green   Composer
Damon Dash   Executive Producer
Timothy Mosley   Composer
Timbaland   Producer
Al Green   Composer
Alan Lomax   Composer
Bink   Producer
Tom Brock   Composer
Dan Walsh   Composer
Stanley Clarke   Composer
Bobby Miller   Composer,Composer
D. Gibbs   Composer
D. Walsh   Composer
Freddie Perren   Composer
M. Price   Composer
John Densmore   Composer
Jean-Claude Olivier   Composer
Deke Richards   Composer
S. Barnes   Composer
Della Valle   Images
Jimmy Douglass   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Ralph Johnson   Composer,Composer
Bunny Sigler   Composer
Kamel Abdo   Engineer
Jason Goldstein   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
S. Black   Composer
Gerald Brown   Composer
Jonathan Mannion   Photography
Shawn Carter   Composer,Executive Producer
Tony Vanias   Recording Director
Roosevelt Harrell   Composer,Producer
Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua   A&R
Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Reginald Payne   Composer
Rob Mitchell   A&R
Dennis Lussier   Composer
Bryan James Chandler   Composer
B. Chandler   Composer
Robert Poindexter   Composer
B. Miller   Composer
Rodney Lemay   Composer
J.L. "Marty" Morrison   Composer
Kareem "Biggs" Burke   Executive Producer
J Smith   Composer
DJ Head   Drum Programming
Jason Noto   Art Direction
Marshall Mathers   Composer
Lenny S.   A&R
Justin Smith   Composer
August Moon   Composer
Darcell Lawrence   A&R
Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton   Mixing,Engineer
Douglas Gibbs   Composer
Robert Eugene Miller   Composer
Raymond Gomez   Composer
Michael Price   Composer
Charles Fleming   Composer
George Edward Belton, Jr.   Composer
George Belton   Composer
Raeneal Quann   Composer
Sonni Black   Composer
Jacqueline Members   Composer