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In Depth Review: Jay-z's Blueprint 1

Opening Opinion: 10/10
As you may or may not know, this is, what I consider to be the best rap album of all time. I’ve had this opinion actually for a while now. Let’s get into the review. Jay-z aka Shawn Corey Carter dropped this album back on 9/11/01 a day that lives in infamy. He even brags on the Blueprint 2 that the terrorist attack couldn’t stop this album from being successful. So what really makes this superior to Reasonable Doubt? Let’s go!
First there’s the lead single, Izzo (H.O.V.A.), a great party track that just feels really damn good on the ears you know. The beat is infectious here. It’s one of the things that makes this album so damn good. Jay raps about his come up. Another single, Girls Girls Girls, is a classic. Jay raps about a variety of girls; Young, Project, African,Chinese ,Indian, Model, you name it. The thing is the sample is just beautifully integrated with a laid back beat.

Back to the beginning of the album. Jigga runs through The Rulers Back with relative ease. It’s not the most exciting song here but it’s good and the first line was used for Kanye West’s Good Morning Song form Graduation. Then there’s a viscious diss rap supremacy song Takeover. He goes at Mobb Deep and Nas most notably. Nas really gets dissed hard. I won’t spoil it. You can see why Nas felt so inclined to respond with Ether.

JIgga That Nigga is easily the weakest song here. It’s pretty standard, but on most albums it would be a highlight. It’s like Jay is bored with his own flow. The next song, U Don’t Know hits really hard. The beat is epic, and Jay raps, “I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell, I am a hustler baby, I can sell water to a well.” The Timbaland produced Hola Hovito is a win. The beat will really get you movin. Jay is really boastin here with a razor sharp flow.

The Kanye West produced Heart of the City is terrific. The chorus is great, and Jay spits hard. Never Change is also really good. Kanye West lends vocals to a decent chorus. Song Cry is really dope. It’s a song of lost love but apparently Jay messed up,  “I was just f***in those girls, I was gon’ get right back”. It’s a nice continuation of the change of pace that the previous track set. All I Need is another dope song. On most albums it would be a highlight, but here it just fits right in.

Eminem joins the show on Renegade. It’s a dark and broody song but exciting also. Nas was right, for the first time on this album Jay gets outshined. Eminem is just supercharged here. Both rappers make their case for G.O.A.T. Blueprint is the last track. He gives you a trip down memory lane in Marcy Projects. Its pretty good track, but wait there’s 2 bonus tracks. Breath Easy is like a come on now I’m the best type of song. The remix to Girls Girl Girls follows and its got a hotter beat than the original, but weaker verses.
BP2 is good, BP3 is great, but BP one is a masterpiece.



Closing Opinion 10/10

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