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{{dablink|For other uses, see [[Blueprint (disambiguation)]].}}
{{dablink|For other uses, see [[Blueprint (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
|Name = The Blueprint
| Name = The Blueprint
|Type = studio
| Type = [[Album]]
|Artist = [[Jay-Z]]
| Artist = [[Jay-Z]]
|Cover = Jay-z-the-blueprint.jpg
| Cover = Jay-z-the-blueprint.jpg
|Released = [[September 11]] [[2001]]
| Released = [[September 11]], [[2001]] <small>([[United States|US]])</small>
|Recorded = 2001; Baseline Studios, Mathattan Center
| Recorded = 2001 at Baseline Studios, Mathattan Center
|Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[Mafioso rap]]
| Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] <br> [[Mafioso Rap]]
|Length = 63:41
| Length = 63:41
|Label = [[Roc-A-Fella Records|Roc-A-Fella]]/[[Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam]]
| Label = [[Roc-A-Fella Records|Roc-A-Fella]]/[[The Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam]]
|Producer = [[Jay-Z]] <small>(exec.)</small>, [[Damon Dash]] <small>(exec.)</small>, Kareem "Biggs" Burke <small>(exec.)</small>, [[Kanye West]], [[Just Blaze]], [[Bink]], [[Timbaland]], [[Eminem]], [[Trackmasters Entertainment|Poke and Tone]]
| Producer = [[Jay-Z]] <small>(exec.)</small><br>[[Damon Dash]] <small>(exec.)</small><br>Kareem "Biggs" Burke <small>(exec.)</small><br>[[Kanye West]], [[Just Blaze]], [[Bink!]], [[Timbaland]], [[Eminem]], [[Trackmasters Entertainment|Poke and Tone]]
|Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{rating|5|5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:309ss39qa3zg link]
| Reviews =
*[[All Music Guide]] {{Rating-5|5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:309ss39qa3zg link]
*''[[The A.V. Club]]'' (favorable) [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/12925 link]
*''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' {{rating|4|5}} [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1017 link]
*''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' (A) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,175535,00.html link]
*''[[NME]]'' (8/10) [http://web.archive.org/web/20040408082405/http://www.nme.com/reviews/8808.htm link]
*[[Pitchfork Media]] (8.7/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18836-the-blueprint link]
*[[Pitchfork Media]] (8.7/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18836-the-blueprint link]
*[[PopMatters]] (favorable) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/j/jayz-blueprint.shtml link]
*[[RapReviews.com]] (8.5/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2001_09F_blueprint.html link]
*{{Review-Christgau|A-|name=Jay-Z}}
*[[Robert Christgau]] (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=642&name=Jay-Z link]
*[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]] {{rating-5|5}} [[The Source (magazine)|link]]
*''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{rating|3.5|5}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jayz/albums/album/216039/review/6067649 link]
*''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' {{rating-5|5}} (XXL) [[XXL (magazine)|link]]
*''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' (B+) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/jay-z/the-blueprint.htm link]
|Last album = ''[[The Dynasty: Roc La Familia]]''<br />(2000)
| Last album = ''[[The Dynasty: Roc La Familia]]''<br />(2000)
|This album = '''''The Blueprint'''''<br />(2001)
| This album = '''''The Blueprint'''''<br />(2001)
|Next album = ''[[The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse]]''<br />(2002)
| Next album = ''[[The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse]]''<br />(2002)
|Misc = {{Singles
| Misc = {{Singles
|Name = The Blueprint
|Name = The Blueprint
|Type = studio
|Type = studio
Line 38: Line 35:
}}
}}


'''''The Blueprint''''' is the sixth solo album by [[rapper]] [[Jay-Z]]. Its release date was changed from [[September 18]] [[2001]] to [[September 11]] to combat [[bootleg]]ging. Despite being overshadowed by the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the album sold over 426,000 copies in its opening week, becoming Jay-Z's fourth consecutive album to reach number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. It was certified two times [[RIAA certification|platinum]] as sales stand at over two million units in the U.S.<ref>Basham, David ([[March 29]] [[2002]]). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453141/20020328/jay_z.jhtml Got Charts? Jay-Z & R. Kelly, Cornell & Rage: Dynamic Duos — Well, Maybe Not]. MTV. Accessed [[May 24]] [[2008]].</ref><ref>[http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=The%20Blueprint&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Searchable Database]. Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed [[May 24]] [[2008]].</ref> Jay-Z boasted about the record's success on the track "The Bounce" from his following album ''[[The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse]]''.
'''''The Blueprint''''' is the sixth solo album released by [[rapper]] [[Jay-Z]]. The album's release date was pushed up from [[September 18]], [[2001]] to [[September 11]], [[2001]], in order to combat widespread [[Copyright infringement|bootlegging]]. Unfortunately, the album's new release date landed on the day of the infamous [[September 11 2001 Terrorist Attacks|terrorist attacks]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Pennsylvania]] and Jay-Z's native [[New York City]]. Despite being overshadowed by the attacks, the album sold over 426,000 copies in its opening week becoming his fourth consecutive album to hit #1 on the [[Billboard 200]]. It would eventually be certified 2x Platinum as sales currently stand at more than 2.3 million copies in the US. Jay-Z would later dare to boast about the record's success on the track "The Bounce" from his following album ''[[The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse]]'';


==Background==
==Background==
''The Blueprint'' was reportedly cut in two weeks, with Jay-Z allegedly writing the lyrics in two days.<ref>Recounted by Jay-Z on the documentary ''[[Collision Course (album)|Collision Course]]'' DVD. ''Collision Course''. Jay-Z and Linkin Park. Roc-A-Fella/Warner Bros./Machine Shop Recordings. 2004.</ref> Jay-Z awaited two criminal trials for gun possession and [[assault]]. At the time he was engaged in feuds with [[Nas]], [[Prodigy (rapper)|Prodigy]] of [[Mobb Deep]], and others attacking him in song. Parts of ''The Blueprint'' became a battle album, particularly in "[[Takeover (song)|Takeover]]", in which Jay-Z attacks Nas, Prodigy, and all manner of persecutors, set to the hard rock of samples of [[The Doors]]' "[[Five to One]]". "Takeover" closes with the line "To all you other cats throwing shots at Jigga/You only get half a bar, fuck y'all niggas" as a blanket response to all his enemies not mentioned elsewhere in the song.
''The Blueprint'' was reportedly cut in two weeks, with Jay-Z allegedly writing the lyrics in only two days.<ref>Recounted by Jay-Z on the documentary ''[[Collision Course (album)|Collision Course]]'' DVD. ''Collision Course''. Jay-Z and Linkin Park. Roc-A-Fella/Warner Bros./Machine Shop Recordings. 2004.</ref> . Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, one for [[Gun Control Act of 1968|gun possession]], another for [[assault]]. At the time he was engaged in several feuds, with [[Nas]], [[Prodigy (rapper)|Prodigy]] of [[Mobb Deep]], and others attacking him in song. Parts of ''The Blueprint'' became a battle album, particularly in "[[Takeover (song)|Takeover]]", on in which Jay-Z attacks Nas, Prodigy, and all manner of persecutors, set to the hard rock of samples of [[The Doors]]' "[[Five to One]]". "Takeover" closes with the line "To all you other cats throwing shots at Jigga/You only get half a bar, fuck y'all niggas" as a blanket response to all his enemies not mentioned elsewhere in the song.


In 'The Blueprint'', Jay-Z and his producers turn to vintage [[soul music|soul]], fueling almost every song with a stirring vocal [[sampling (music)|sample]]: [[Al Green]], [[Bobby Bland|Bobby "Blue" Bland]], [[David Ruffin]] and the [[Jackson 5]]. Exceptions include "[[Jigga that Nigga]]", "Hola' Hovito", and most notably "Renegade", a track produced by and featuring [[Eminem]].
In ''The Blueprint'', Jay-Z and his producers turn to vintage [[soul music|soul]], fueling almost every song with a stirring vocal [[sampling (music)|sample]]: [[Al Green]], [[Bobby Bland|Bobby "Blue" Bland]], [[David Ruffin]] and the [[Jackson 5]]. Exceptions include "[[Jigga that Nigga]]," "Hola' Hovito," and most notably "Renegade," (misspelled "Renagade" on the back cover) a track produced by and featuring [[Eminem]]. "Renegade" was the only track with a guest rapping appearance, and many fans and critics feel that Jay-Z was overshadowed by Eminem's visceral, assonant rhymes{{Fact|date=January 2008}} ([[Nas]] declared on his response song [[Ether (song)|Ether]] that "Eminem murdered you on your own shit"). It also differs in tone from the rest of the album, featuring a much darker beat.


==Reception and impact==
==Critical reception and impact==
''The Blueprint'' contained a unique and balanced blend of soulful samples that had both street credibility and mainstream appeal, thereby garnering praise from all quarters of the hip-hop community and receiving special recognition from critics. Most consider ''The Blueprint'' to be one of Jay-Z's best albums, holding it on a level close to that of his debut, ''[[Reasonable Doubt (album)|Reasonable Doubt]]''. Upon its release, ''The Blueprint'' was rated as [[VIBE|Vibe Magazine]]'s ''"Best Album of the year"'', and even received a ''5 mic'' (out of 5) rating from ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' (a distinction reserved for hip hop classics). [[Pitchfork Media]] named it the 2nd best album of 2000-2004, behind [[Radiohead]]'s ''[[Kid A]]''. The popularity and commercial success of the album established [[Kanye West]] as one of hip-hop’s most celebrated producers. Furthermore, ''The Blueprint'' signaled a major stylistic shift in hip-hop production towards a more [[Soul music|Soul]]/[[R&B]]-centric and sample-reliant sound, creating a number of imitators who attempted to emulate the album's atmospheric style. Prior to ''The Blueprint'', mainstream hip-hop producers had largely eschewed [[music sampling]] in favor of the keyboard-driven ''[[Timbaland#The "Timbaland sound": 1996 - 2000|Timbaland sound]]'' (characterized by a shifting, syncopated rhythm, similar to [[samba]] or [[Drum and bass|jungle music]]), due to the financial and legal issues associated with copyright laws. ''The Blueprint'', however, revived musical sampling as a common practice in [[hip hop music]] and dislodged the digital keyboard-driven production style as the dominant sound in hip-hop music.<ref>http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid=1&csid1=2325</ref> Kanye West would later incorporate some of the production and sampling techniques he used on this album into his own solo albums (see ''[[The College Dropout]]'', ''[[Late Registration]]'' and ''[[Graduation (album)|Graduation]]''.)
''The Blueprint'' contained a unique and balanced blend of soulful samples that had both street credibility and mainstream appeal, thereby garnering praise from all quarters of the hip-hop community and receiving special recognition from critics. Most consider ''The Blueprint'' to be one of Jay-Z's best albums, holding it on a level close to that of his debut, ''[[Reasonable Doubt (album)|Reasonable Doubt]]''. Upon its release, ''The Blueprint'' was rated as [[VIBE|Vibe Magazine]]'s ''"Best Album of the year"'', and even received a ''5 mic'' (out of 5) rating from ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' (a distinction reserved for hip hop classics). [[Pitchfork Media]] named it the 2nd best album of 2000-2004, behind [[Radiohead]]'s ''[[Kid A]]''. The popularity and commercial success of the album established [[Kanye West]] as one of hip-hop’s most celebrated producers. Furthermore, ''The Blueprint'' signaled a major stylistic shift in hip-hop production towards a more [[Soul music|Soul]]/[[R&B]]-centric and sample-reliant sound, creating a number of imitators who attempted to emulate the album's atmospheric style. Prior to ''The Blueprint'', mainstream hip-hop producers had largely eschewed [[music sampling]] in favor of the keyboard-driven ''[[Timbaland#The "Timbaland sound": 1996 - 2000|Timbaland sound]]'' (characterized by a shifting, syncopated rhythm, similar to [[samba]] or [[Drum and bass|jungle music]]), due to the financial and legal issues associated with copyright laws. ''The Blueprint'', however, revived musical sampling as a common practice in [[hip hop music]] and dislodged the digital keyboard-driven production style as the dominant sound in hip-hop music [http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid=1&csid1=2325]. Kanye West would later incorporate some of the production and sampling techniques he used on this album into his own solo albums (see ''[[The College Dropout]]'', ''[[Late Registration]]'' and ''[[Graduation (album)|Graduation]]''.)


The song "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" has later on been used in the [[movie trailer]] for the film ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'', in which Jay-Z did not have a role. But later, based an album off the movie's concept which also became Number #1.
The song "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" has later on been used in the [[movie trailer]] for the film ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'', in which Jay-Z did not have a role. But later, based an album off the movie's concept which also became Number #1.
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!align="center" |#
!#
!Title
!align="center"|Title
!Songwriter(s)
!align="center" width="140"|Songwriter(s)
!Producer(s)
!align="center" width="125"|Producer(s)
!Featured guest(s)
!align="center" width="100"|Featured guest(s)
!Sample(s)
!align="center" width="150"|Sample(s)
|-
|-
|1
|1
|"The Ruler's Back"
|"The Ruler's Back"
|Shawn Carter<br>Roosevelt Harrell<br>Phil Hurtt<br>Bunny Sigler
|Shawn Carter<br>Roosevelt Harrell<br>Phil Hurtt<br>Bunny Sigler
|[[Bink (producer)|Bink]]
|[[Bink (producer)|Bink!]]
|
|
|
|
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|2
|2
|"[[Takeover (song)|Takeover]]"
|"[[Takeover (song)|Takeover]]"
|Shawn Carter<br>[[Kanye West]]<br>John Densmore<br>Robby Krieger<br>Ray Manzarek<br>Jim Morrison<br>Lawrence Parker<br>Alan Lomax<br>Eric Burdon<br>B. Chandler<br>R. Lemay
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>John Densmore<br>Robby Krieger<br>Ray Manzarek<br>Jim Morrison<br>Lawrence Parker<br>Alan Lomax<br>Eric Burdon<br>B. Chandler<br>R. Lemay
|Kanye West
|[[Kanye West]]
|
|
|
|
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|"[[Izzo (H.O.V.A.)]]"
|"[[Izzo (H.O.V.A.)]]"
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>Berry Gordy<br>Alphonzo Mizell<br>Freddie Perren<br>Deke Richards
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>Berry Gordy<br>Alphonzo Mizell<br>Freddie Perren<br>Deke Richards
|Kanye West
|[[Kanye West]]
|
|
|
|
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|Additional vocals: [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]], [[Slick Rick]] and [[Biz Markie]]
|Additional vocals: [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]], [[Slick Rick]] and [[Biz Markie]]
|
|
*"There's Nothing in This World That Can Stop Me from Loving You" by Tom Brock
*"There's Nothing In This World That Can Stop Me From Loving You" by Tom Brock

*"High Power Rap" by Disco Dave & The Force of The Five MC's
*"High Power Rap" by Disco Dave & The Force Of The Five MC's
|-
|-
|5
|5
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|"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
|"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>Michael Price<br>Dan Walsh
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>Michael Price<br>Dan Walsh
|Kanye West
|[[Kanye West]]
|
|
|
|
*"[[Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City]]" by [[Bobby Blue Bland]]
*"[[Ain't No Love In the Heart of the City]]" by [[Bobby Blue Bland]]

|-
|-
|9
|9
|"Never Change"
|"Never Change"
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>Bobby Miller
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West<br>Bobby Miller
|Kanye West
|[[Kanye West]]
|Additional vocals: Kanye West
|Additional vocals: [[Kanye West]]
|
|
*"Common Man" by [[David Ruffin]]
*"Common Man" by [[David Ruffin]]
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|"All I Need"
|"All I Need"
|Shawn Carter<br>Roosevelt Harrell
|Shawn Carter<br>Roosevelt Harrell
|[[Bink (producer)|Bink]]
|[[Bink (producer)|Bink!]]
|
|
|
|
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|Shawn Carter<br>Marshall Mathers<br>Ryan Montgomery (uncredited)
|Shawn Carter<br>Marshall Mathers<br>Ryan Montgomery (uncredited)
|[[Eminem]]
|[[Eminem]]
|Eminem
|[[Eminem]]
|
|
|-
|-
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|"Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)"
|"Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)"
|Shawn Carter<br>Roosevelt Harrel<br>Al Green
|Shawn Carter<br>Roosevelt Harrel<br>Al Green
|[[Bink (producer)|Bink]]
|[[Bink (producer)|Bink!]]
|
|
|
|
*"Free at Last" by [[Al Green]]
*"Free At Last" by [[Al Green]]

|-
|-
|*
|*
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|
|
|
|
*"Got to Find My Own Place" by [[Stanley Clarke]]
*"Got To Find My Own Place" by [[Stanley Clarke]]
|-
|-
|*
|*
|"Girls, Girls, Girls (remix)"
|"Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix)"
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West
|Shawn Carter<br>Kanye West
|Kanye West
|[[Kanye West]]
|
|
|
|
Line 196: Line 196:
(*) Indicates bonus track
(*) Indicates bonus track


==Charts==
==Chart positions==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Chart (2001)
!Chart (2001)<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wxfrxq80ldde~T3 allmusic ((( The Blueprint > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))]. Allmusic. Accessed [[May 24]] [[2008]].</ref>
!Peak<br />position
!align="center"|Peak<br>position
|-
|-
⚫
|align="left"|U.S. [[Billboard 200]]
|Canadian Albums Chart
|align="center"|1
|3
|-
|-
⚫
|align="left"|U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
⚫
|U.S. ''Billboard'' 200
|align="center"|1
|1
|-
⚫
|U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
|1
|-
|-
|U.S. Top Internet Albums
|align="left"|Top Canadian Albums
|align="center"|3
|21
|-
|-
|}
|}
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|-
|-
| 2001
| 2001
| "[[Izzo (H.O.V.A.)]]"
| "Izzo (H.O.V.A)"
| 8
| '''#8'''
| 4
| '''#4'''
| 7
|'''#7'''
|-
|-
| 2001
| 2001
| "[[Girls, Girls, Girls]]"
| "Girls, Girls, Girls"
| 17
| '''#17'''
| 4
| '''#4'''
| 9
| '''#9'''
|-
|-
| 2002
| 2002
| "[[Jigga that Nigga]]"
| "Jigga That Nigga"
| 66
| '''#66'''
| 27
| '''#27'''
| 7
| '''#7'''
|-
|-
| 2002
| 2002
| "[[Song Cry]]
| "Song Cry
| -
| -
| 45
| '''#45'''
| -
| -
|}
|}
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*Richard Huredia - Mixing
*Richard Huredia - Mixing
*Tony Dawsey - Mastering
*Tony Dawsey - Mastering
*Jimmy Douglas - Engineer, mixing
*Jimmy Douglas - Engineer, Mixing
*[[Timbaland]] - Producer
*[[Timbaland]] - Producer
*Jason Goldstein - Mixing
*Jason Goldstein - Mixing
*[[Poke and Tone]] - Producer
*[[Poke and Tone]] - Producer
*Jonathan Mannion - Photography
*Jonathan Mannion - Photography
*Tony Vanias - Recording director
*Tony Vanias - Recording Director
*[[Damon Dash]] - Executive producer
*[[Damon Dash]] - Executive Producer
*Shawn Carter - Executive Producer
*Shawn Carter - Executive Producer
*[[Eminem]] - Producer, vocals
*[[Eminem]] - Producer / Vocals (Renagade)
*[[Kanye West]] - Producer, vocals
*[[Kanye West]] - Producer, Vocals
*Kareem "Biggs" Burke - Executive producer
*Kareem "Biggs" Burke - Executive Producer
*[[Just Blaze]] - Producer
*[[Just Blaze]] - Producer
*Jason Noto - Art direction
*Jason Noto - Art Direction
*Victor Flowers - Organ
*Victor Flowers - Organ
*[[Josey Scott]] - Vocals
*[[Josey Scott]] - Vocals
*Shane "Bermy" Woodley - Assistant engineer
*Shane "Bermy" Woodley - Assistant Engineer


==References==
==References==
Line 279: Line 276:
{{start box}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box
{{succession box
|before = ''[[Toxicity (album)|Toxicity]]'' by [[System of a Down]]
| before = ''[[Toxicity (album)|Toxicity]]'' by [[System of a Down]]
|title = [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] [[Number-one albums of 2001 (U.S.)|number one album]]
| title = [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] [[Number-one albums of 2001 (USA)|number-one album]]
|years = [[September 29]] – [[October 19]] [[2001]]
| years = [[September 29]] - [[October 19]], [[2001]]
|after = ''[[Pain Is Love]]'' by [[Ja Rule]]
| after = ''[[Pain Is Love]]'' by [[Ja Rule]]
}}
}}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}
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[[Category:Jay-Z albums|Blueprint, The]]
[[Category:Jay-Z albums|Blueprint, The]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Timbaland]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Timbaland]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Kanye West]]


[[da:The Blueprint]]
[[da:The Blueprint]]

Revision as of 01:53, 26 May 2008

For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation).
Untitled

The Blueprint is the sixth solo album released by rapper Jay-Z. The album's release date was pushed up from September 18, 2001 to September 11, 2001, in order to combat widespread bootlegging. Unfortunately, the album's new release date landed on the day of the infamous terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Jay-Z's native New York City. Despite being overshadowed by the attacks, the album sold over 426,000 copies in its opening week becoming his fourth consecutive album to hit #1 on the Billboard 200. It would eventually be certified 2x Platinum as sales currently stand at more than 2.3 million copies in the US. Jay-Z would later dare to boast about the record's success on the track "The Bounce" from his following album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse;

Background

The Blueprint was reportedly cut in two weeks, with Jay-Z allegedly writing the lyrics in only two days.[1] . Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, one for gun possession, another for assault. At the time he was engaged in several feuds, with Nas, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and others attacking him in song. Parts of The Blueprint became a battle album, particularly in "Takeover", on in which Jay-Z attacks Nas, Prodigy, and all manner of persecutors, set to the hard rock of samples of The Doors' "Five to One". "Takeover" closes with the line "To all you other cats throwing shots at Jigga/You only get half a bar, fuck y'all niggas" as a blanket response to all his enemies not mentioned elsewhere in the song.

In The Blueprint, Jay-Z and his producers turn to vintage soul, fueling almost every song with a stirring vocal sample: Al Green, Bobby "Blue" Bland, David Ruffin and the Jackson 5. Exceptions include "Jigga that Nigga," "Hola' Hovito," and most notably "Renegade," (misspelled "Renagade" on the back cover) a track produced by and featuring Eminem. "Renegade" was the only track with a guest rapping appearance, and many fans and critics feel that Jay-Z was overshadowed by Eminem's visceral, assonant rhymes[citation needed] (Nas declared on his response song Ether that "Eminem murdered you on your own shit"). It also differs in tone from the rest of the album, featuring a much darker beat.

Critical reception and impact

The Blueprint contained a unique and balanced blend of soulful samples that had both street credibility and mainstream appeal, thereby garnering praise from all quarters of the hip-hop community and receiving special recognition from critics. Most consider The Blueprint to be one of Jay-Z's best albums, holding it on a level close to that of his debut, Reasonable Doubt. Upon its release, The Blueprint was rated as Vibe Magazine's "Best Album of the year", and even received a 5 mic (out of 5) rating from The Source (a distinction reserved for hip hop classics). Pitchfork Media named it the 2nd best album of 2000-2004, behind Radiohead's Kid A. The popularity and commercial success of the album established Kanye West as one of hip-hop’s most celebrated producers. Furthermore, The Blueprint signaled a major stylistic shift in hip-hop production towards a more Soul/R&B-centric and sample-reliant sound, creating a number of imitators who attempted to emulate the album's atmospheric style. Prior to The Blueprint, mainstream hip-hop producers had largely eschewed music sampling in favor of the keyboard-driven Timbaland sound (characterized by a shifting, syncopated rhythm, similar to samba or jungle music), due to the financial and legal issues associated with copyright laws. The Blueprint, however, revived musical sampling as a common practice in hip hop music and dislodged the digital keyboard-driven production style as the dominant sound in hip-hop music [1]. Kanye West would later incorporate some of the production and sampling techniques he used on this album into his own solo albums (see The College Dropout, Late Registration and Graduation.)

The song "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" has later on been used in the movie trailer for the film American Gangster, in which Jay-Z did not have a role. But later, based an album off the movie's concept which also became Number #1.

Accolades

Track listing

# Title Songwriter(s) Producer(s) Featured guest(s) Sample(s)
1 "The Ruler's Back" Shawn Carter
Roosevelt Harrell
Phil Hurtt
Bunny Sigler 		Bink!
2 "Takeover" Shawn Carter
Kanye West
John Densmore
Robby Krieger
Ray Manzarek
Jim Morrison
Lawrence Parker
Alan Lomax
Eric Burdon
B. Chandler
R. Lemay 		Kanye West
3 "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" Shawn Carter
Kanye West
Berry Gordy
Alphonzo Mizell
Freddie Perren
Deke Richards 		Kanye West
4 "Girls, Girls, Girls" Shawn Carter
Justin Smith
Tom Brock
B. Relf 		Just Blaze Additional vocals: Q-Tip, Slick Rick and Biz Markie
  • "There's Nothing In This World That Can Stop Me From Loving You" by Tom Brock
  • "High Power Rap" by Disco Dave & The Force Of The Five MC's
5 "Jigga that Nigga" Shawn Carter
Jean-Claude Olivier
Samuel Barnes 		Poke and Tone Additional vocals: Stephanie Miller and Michelle Mills
6 "U Don't Know" Shawn Carter
Justin Smith
Bobby Byrd 		Just Blaze
7 "Hola' Hovito" Shawn Carter
Tim Mosley 		Timbaland
8 "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" Shawn Carter
Kanye West
Michael Price
Dan Walsh 		Kanye West
9 "Never Change" Shawn Carter
Kanye West
Bobby Miller 		Kanye West Additional vocals: Kanye West
10 "Song Cry" Shawn Carter
Justin Smith
D. Gibbs
R. Johnson 		Just Blaze
  • "Sounds Like a Love Song" by Bobby Glenn
11 "All I Need" Shawn Carter
Roosevelt Harrell 		Bink!
12 "Renegade" Shawn Carter
Marshall Mathers
Ryan Montgomery (uncredited) 		Eminem Eminem
13 "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)" Shawn Carter
Roosevelt Harrel
Al Green 		Bink!
* "Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)" Shawn Carter
Justin Smith 		Just Blaze
* "Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix)" Shawn Carter
Kanye West 		Kanye West

(*) Indicates bonus track

Chart positions

Chart (2001) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 1
U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1
Top Canadian Albums 3

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
2001 "Izzo (H.O.V.A)" #8 #4 #7
2001 "Girls, Girls, Girls" #17 #4 #9
2002 "Jigga That Nigga" #66 #27 #7
2002 "Song Cry - #45 -

Personnel

  • Slick Rick - Vocals
  • Biz Markie - Vocals
  • Q-Tip - Vocals
  • Richard Huredia - Mixing
  • Tony Dawsey - Mastering
  • Jimmy Douglas - Engineer, Mixing
  • Timbaland - Producer
  • Jason Goldstein - Mixing
  • Poke and Tone - Producer
  • Jonathan Mannion - Photography
  • Tony Vanias - Recording Director
  • Damon Dash - Executive Producer
  • Shawn Carter - Executive Producer
  • Eminem - Producer / Vocals (Renagade)
  • Kanye West - Producer, Vocals
  • Kareem "Biggs" Burke - Executive Producer
  • Just Blaze - Producer
  • Jason Noto - Art Direction
  • Victor Flowers - Organ
  • Josey Scott - Vocals
  • Shane "Bermy" Woodley - Assistant Engineer

References

  1. ^ Recounted by Jay-Z on the documentary Collision Course DVD. Collision Course. Jay-Z and Linkin Park. Roc-A-Fella/Warner Bros./Machine Shop Recordings. 2004.
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
September 29 - October 19, 2001 		Succeeded by
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