Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3

by Sean Deez on September 11, 2009

Regardless of what’s said, everyone has an opinion on Jay-z. To some he’s the greatest of all time, to others, he’s a lot of flash and flare with one classic. Which ever side you land on is irrelevant to him. In fact, Hov embraces the lovers and the haters alike, and together, they’ve helped him build a catalogue of 10 number one albums (soon to be eleven), multiple hit singles, a label, a brand, an image, and an equally powerful and popular love interest. Perhaps more importantly, Jay gained respect early in his career and, unlike other vets similar to him, has maintained this respect by putting out quality material (for the most part). With his latest release, the highly anticipated Blueprint 3, it seemed like many were waiting for Jay to fail. Nevertheless, this album brings back the return of the Kanye/Jay connection, but also lacks the necessary Just Blaze production. It also loads up on guest features. Still, Jay will always have those double entendres that make any listener rewind, and his ear for beats changes from great to good on any given day. But, what’s most important here is, does Jay show that he has matured into his almost 40 state, while displaying the hunger and feistiness of a young emcee?

What most of us adored about the original Blueprint wasn’t necessarily a return-to-form by Jay-z, instead, it was the military general mentality he took, as opposed to the playful bachelor attitude seen throughout the Volumes. We see this lyrical militia on “Death of Auto-tune (D.O.A),” as Jay kills a trend right at its peak. Don’t think this was powerful? There aren’t too many auto-tune tracks running around anymore, are there? Of course, we can’t forget about the beat courtesy of another vet, No ID. The guitar riff tied in with the clarinet soprano saxophone may provide for one of the most addictive beats of 2009. The same boss mentality flows through to the next single, “Run This Town,” featuring two of the biggest artists in music, Rihanna and Kanye. It’s bound to grow on any attentive listener, especially given the emotionally driven beat courtesy of Kanye. Mr. West’s return to rap is complete with a marvelous verse including gems like “This is a fast life, we are on a crash course/ watchu think I rap for? To push a fuckin’ Rav-4?” It would be silly to not think that this couldn’t have been a Rihanna song though. Not only does she steal the show, she’s considerably more powerful than the other two.

The singles tell one side of the album, but still do not give the whole story – for better or for worse. “A Star is Born” has Jay reflecting on all of the rising talent he’s seen throughout his career ranging from Eminem, Drake, Outkast, Lil’ Wayne, Wu Tang, etc. This reflection is beautiful, like looking back at a scrap book full of one’s memories. To bring the content full circle, a rising star, J. Cole (on Hov’s Roc Nation team) absolutely bodies this track. And I mean he bodies it. Another shining moment is on the Kid Cudi assisted “Already Home.” It not only delivers Jay’s most liveliest moment on BP3, but also a classic, trademark Kanye West string-infused production. Jay gives the middle finger to critics (like myself), and flips the script on distant bullies: “Now these ni**az is mad, oh, they call me a camel/ but, I mastered the drought/ what the fuck, I’m an animal/ half-man-half-mammal.”

Jay never really hits a lyrical peak on Blueprint 3, instead, he walks the fine line between sincerity and sheer passion, as seen on the Alicia Keys featured “Empire State of Mind” and Kanye/No ID horn-infused “Thank You,” and head scratching befuddlement. The three Timbaland tracks not only seem outdated and out of place, but they are amongst the worst sounding on the album. “Venus vs. Mars” stays with the “Blue Magic” laid back flow, as Hov compares the two not-so-different planets men and women live on. However, it is boring, tedious, and lifeless. “Off That,” a flossy I-have-what-you-never-will joint that only stays strong based on the strength of Drake’s chorus-only appearance, while “Reminder” might win an award for one of the weirdest hooks of the year. The beats aren’t only weak, but it seems like the Tim/Jay combo that was so successful in the late 90’s to the mid 2000’s is so far gone.

As mentioned earlier, Blueprint 3 is missing that key Just Blaze banger. There’s certainly no issue with Kanye and No ID handling a bulk of the production, but for whatever reason, the production never sits well consistently throughout the project. Regardless, the album is loaded with surprises ranging from the great Jeezy guest spot on “As Real As It Gets,” to the weirdly addictive Swizz Beats joint “On To the Next One,” to the must-be-purposely-bad “Hate” featuring Kanye. Granted, BP3 has its moments, and truly, it is loaded with replay value, but most of the mementos don’t come from Hov himself, sadly, it seems like his desire for making music just isn’t there any more.

76/100

“A Star is Born”

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“Thank You”

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“Already Home”

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Posted in Music Reviews

Charity

I’ve tried to “addict” myself to On To The Next One, really I have. Haven’t succeeded yet, tho.

A fair review; I just think that Hate is a lyrical standout (with the exception of Kanye’s first verse) on the album, even if that goddamn vocal sample should be sent back to the Inferno.
Charity

I also thought that his backhanded compliment of Prodigy on A Star Is Born was somehow more insulting than his shout-out to the Wu (“They *had* a hell of a run.”). Maybe that’s just me.
Charity

*less insulting
http://twitter.com/smallpro smallpro

i literally love this album. it’s not great as an album, but it proves hov’s greatness to me. it’s all about the little details…switching his rhythm to a 3/4 pattern here, stretching a couplet beyond where it should have ended there; he’s the best to do it.
http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

If you read reviews around the web, you may notice that I’m a little bit harsher on the downfalls of the album than they are. I’m not giving Jay a free pass simply because he’s Jay. And one great track for 2 ‘meh’ or ‘not bad’ tracks doesn’t make up for things in most cases.

There’s still a lot left to be desired with this, but , in a year or two, who knows, my appreciation could grow. But with over 35 listens according to my itunes, this is where I stand.
http://www.myspace.com/djsoulclap DJ SoulClap

Word @Small Pro
http://myspace.com/mrmag MaG

i hear you deez…tryin to refrain from being a jay stan i def was mad at the signles but listened to the album and felt alot better about the cohesiveness…really aside of the three timbo tracks and “hate” im def spinnig the album cause frankly i listen to hov for the lyrics and the flow manuevering he’s mastered….def agreeing wit small pro on this one…the way he’s extended the bars is a sight to behold man

and passion gone? i dunnooo man…the fact that he bought this album back and really doesn’t need to make anotha song anotha day in his life and would still be in the public eye cause of Beyonce and the other things he got going on just leads me to believe he’s more passionate about the music then he was back when…i think mayb the direction is different and the sound is too but i dont think his passion has dimmed……people were jumping all ova dmx when he said that, forgetting the dude was falling off waaay before jay took over def jam
Charity

Does anyone else here hate Young Forever, tho? If anyone were ever looking to project moody, fading and desperate onto Hov, that track would be their Exhibit A. That’s not what I think of Jay, but it’s certainly what I think about that song.
http://twitter.com/realfrequency Vatkeezy

Very on point, Deez, I personally give it 7.5/10 as well and co-sign all of your comments except Rihanna on “Run This Town” because she ruins that song for me. “Venus vs. Mars” without that corny hook is dope.
Keith n’ dem

be honest, the album was a huge letdown. cuban linx blew this shit out of the water, considering the fucking hype this website put on the blueprint. yall expectations were through the roof! maybe if he didnt have his album produced by the most overrated act in music, and a guy who hasn’t made dope beats since resurrection. maybe jay should have tapped patrick douthit to produce the whole thing. that would have been worth the hype.
http://www.myspace.com/carsten11 Carsten

Couldn’t agree more Sean. The album would be a lot better without the Timbo joints. Cut these tracks, add some “History”, “Jockin’ Jay-Z”… and I would have a longtime relationship with this cd.
http://euqnichtims.deviantart.com Cinque

I think that the album review was fair I also believe that honestly you can’t please everybody just look at the mix reactions you guys got for even hosting this whole 11 days of Jay-Z . With that being said i put money on had he just stuck with Kayne’s production the album would have been a classic more like Commons Be . Nonetheless he did’nt and this just happens to be the end result Jay to me with this album straddles the line between back packer introspective , and party celebatory Hov . Lyricaly i still think he would and did take a shit on quite a few rappers ( Game and Joe Budden included ) . If you were looking for the best runner up the the first BluePrint go listen to American Gangster . That album was a classic further more if you want to be real who made a better album than that since then I mean really ! Lets also keep it 100 he did’nt have to make that album but he did because we love introspective drug dealer Hov more than than introspective grown Hov. That was his your welcome moment to everyone .I have a question for everyone and just be real why is it that you really wan’t this man to keep going back to Jay circa 99 ? If he did that the argument would be that he never really pushed the culture forward but remained stagnant .Why are our artist in Hip-Hop never allowed to grow ? Take a look at long list of the emcees who are soooo lyrical and hard body right , but at what point does that mean shit ! They stick to the same damn formula and get the same lackluster results and then until eventually we just dont care anymore . Im just saying thats my opinion maybe im just crazy .
http://myspace.com/mrmag MaG

@ Cinque…thank you…thats all i can say to that…..that’s the truest thing ive heard in a min…..jus be happy he’s growing man…..we not in 1999 anymore, why should he be you kno?
http://twitter.com/realfrequency Vatkeezy

Co-sign Cinque & MaG. “Ni**as want my old shit, buy my old album”. If Jay kept making Reasonable Doubt he wouldn’t be a true artist because he wouldn’t be taking any risks and y’all would get tired of it and complain about that.
Charity

@Cinque: Err, but part of me thinks that Kanye is part of the problem. Like, in terms of identifiable missteps on this albums, I blame Timbaland. But where the album disappoints in terms of its overall feel, I detect a heavy Kanye influence on the feel/sound/outlook. Jay has already suggested that Kanye had a lot more input into the direction of this album than he did with the first Blueprint. I can’t articulate this very well: insomuch as its innovative — at worst, indulgent — BP3 just feels like a very black yuppie album to me. And when I think black yuppie, I think Kanye West.
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

@Keith n’ dem
You seem real upset about something? Speak your mind. Plus you still on this 11 days thing. Please read the first post. This was planned for over a year. If you don’t like it…skip the post. Or search out ATCQ/QTip, or Common, or West Coast, or Ghostface week. We did those as well.

Fair review. Its not great, but it’s not a ish sandwich as all of the comments I was seeing. I think some of the hooks were really bad (“Venus vs. Mars” comes to mind). However, the album to me has a cohesiveness feel with some miss steps. Jay’s lyrics are always on point. They take a couple listens to catch everything. Something that may seem simple in reality is complex/deep.

I Can’t remember what song now, but the 9/11 metaphor..I cringed at first listen, but after hearing it about 5 fives I got it.

After watching the Jay-Z concert last night. He performed for 2 hours and it seem too short. He’s making stadium music now. He is making music to play at the Garden and not at SOB’s.

Time will tell with this album…cause I appreciate KC more than in 2006. “Run This Town” is a hit. It works.
http://kevinnottingham.com Justin

Not feeling the album.
http://www.myspace.com/brendanakacrates Brendan AKA Crates

I’m not feeling it either Justin. Too much Timbo.
CEELOS

Honestly the album is ill. Its better then relapse.If you aint feeling it you diggin way to deep. Its just music. Jay has poured out his life over 10 albums its crazy that he can still keep it interesting. If your not feeling it you probably not grown cause alot of his gems have great wisdom that probably are going way over your head.
Tommylux

The album’s definitely far from what I expected – in a negative way. Really, it starts off really good, and I was expecting bangers along the lines of “DOA”, but once I got to the Swizz song and everything after that, I was like “mehhhh”. There’s some really horrible songs towards the second part of the album, dull generic club buzzers that probably even won’t do well in a club. Some beats could have been something but somehow feel like they’re work in construction, no complexity in them at all. Remaking “Forever Young” by just adding a hip-hop-like snare? Man, please… And it’s also kinda off for Jay to go and yell death to Autotune, when half of his album sounds no better than the commercial crap coming out of Autotune-crazy labs. Deez, I think you’ve been generous nevertheless, I would have given this no more than a 50. I mean jay is Jay andf that’s cool, nice to hear him, but that’s not enough to cut it. besides, he’s not being a spectacular emcee on this anyway…
http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

“He is making music to play at the Garden and not at SOB’s.”

this may be one of the best quotes I’ve ever read.

Thomas, write man lol
eA

“Venus vs. Mars” is, IMO, the worst track on the album. This whiny business is not cutting it for my eardrums. J. Cole & Alcia captured me on the album, though… A.Keys needs to come back to the game and J. Cole needs to drop something new – and quick. And I agree that Hova ain’t hungry on this album. When you compare Hova to J. Cole, you SEE that, without a doubt. There’s really nothing for Jay-Z to strive for anymore, so why would he be a hungry artists.

Another note, Charity, I do like “Forever.” It’s one of those times he stepped on the ledge, like with the Frank Sinatra sampling, but this time it actually worked. It’s a nice track, soft as hell, but nice nonetheless.

great review. btw, good word that “befuddlement.”
http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

And Thomas, I know the song you are thinking about, and it’s killing me that I do’n know it right now…I’ll go relisten
Keith n’ dem

jay z + 9th wonder = an amazing record
jay z + kanye west/no id = a forgettable record
Zach

I think the Neptunes produced So Ambitious is one of the better tracks on the album, surprised you didn’t give it any mention.
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

“I was gonna kill a couple rappers
But they did it to themselves
I was gon’ do it with the flow
But they did it with their sales
I was gon’ 9/11 ‘em, but they didn’t need the help
And they did a good job them boys is talented as hell
Cuz not only did they brick they put a building up as well
They ran a plane into that building and when that building fell
Ran to the crash site with no masks and inhaled
Toxins deep inside their lungs until both of them was filled
Blew a cloud out like a L into a jar then took a smell
Cuz they heard that second hand smoke kills
Niggas thought they was ill found out they was…ILL
And it’s like you knew exactly how I wanted you to feel”

3rd verse “Thank You”

For all of the people who don’t like the album….comment on OB4CL2. Rae put out one of the better albums this year and everybody wants to waste time on something they don’t like. Don’t get it.

Jay still got lyrics.
Victor

Yeahh I qouted that verse on Thank You when someone was saying Jay fell off lyrically. I think he’s still a great emcee, people forgot American Gangster in a hurry. I dunno why people are in a rush to get rid of rap’s elder statesmen. Old man rap ftw!

Off That is terrible, as is young forever (or beach chair pt 2) on to the next one is decent but i feel Jay was copying the A milli formula. Empire State of Mind, Thank You, What We Talkin Bout, Already Home and So Ambitious are the standouts. Reminder would be dope imo if not for one of the most terrible hooks ive heard in aaages.
http://sketchesofmysoul.blogspot.com Mr. Genius

@Cinque “That album was a classic further more if you want to be real, who made a better album than that since then, I mean really”

Uh, American Gangster dropped in November before Lupe stole the show (and rap album of the year) with Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool. No album that year (aside from maybe Below The Heaven) touches on a wider subject matter.
Matt

IMO, the only great song on this whole album is “Star is Born”.

“Hate”, “DOA”, “Run This Town”, “Young Forever”, “Off That”, “On To the Next One”, “Venus Vs. Mars”, and “Reminder” are below average. Jay has a line here or there in those songs, but most of the aforementioned aren’t worth listening to in entirety. “What We Talkin’ About” “Real As It Gets” “Thank You” and “Empire State of Mind” are aight. Not bad, not good… “So Ambitious” and “Already Home” are both good. If Jay-Z didn’t say that “snot on us” line, “Thank You” could have easily been a good song. That line bothers the shit out of me, makes me want to pull my hair out… Also, what’s the issue with Jay-Z’s random ass accent? He trying to be on some “relapse” type of shit? So, for me, on a 15 track album, that “nigga jigga” has 7 songs that are at least decent. I’m not surprised by this at all, this is how it’s been for years. GOAT? Meh…

Also, what is that album even being a “blueprint” too? Nothing on that album is very original, it may be new to Jay-Z and some of his fans but I didn’t really hear anything groundbreaking on that album. This album is somewhere in the 67-71 range for me. “Chemical Warfare” is better than this… just for the record.

“Young Forever” is the corniest song on the album… I don’t see how anyone can actually be a fan of that song. Basura. I may be the only person that doesn’t love “Empire State Of Mind”. That song is ok to me, and if Alicia wasn’t singing on it I’d probably have it below average to be honest. Nothing appeals to me at all about “DOA”. The beat is eh to me and the “political connects” line is the only positive to the song The Eric B. and Rakim line is dope on “Run This Town” and Kanye does a decent [NOT AMAZING] (it’s not hard to “bury” Jay-Z when he spits two terrible verses) job on his verse, but the addition of that dead bird squawking completely ruins it for me. The rest of the joints I don’t really feel need an explanation, they seem to be generally disliked by most.

What are y’all talking about having to “rewind” a verse or having to listen to this album multiple times to get the meanings? This shit is pretty simplistic… I’ve listened to the album about 6 times (mostly forced myself to form a valid opinion) and I don’t think there is a line that I haven’t understood or caught-on to by the first sit-down. I hope I don’t cause an uproar… I would have posted this yesterday but the site was acting up.
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

Please read comment #26 from me. If you don’t like the album…comment on Rae’s. All the complaining and Rae only has 15 comments? Rae got an 87…one of the highest scores this year.
Matt

This is the BP3 post, so I posted about BP3? This isn’t really complaining either, I pretty much knew this album wasn’t going to be amazing. It’s more like, “this album isn’t very good and this is why”.

Anyways, I purposely stated NOTHING about Rae’s joint because this isn’t a comparison thread. I haven’t taken enough listens to Rae’s joint for me to give it a fair overall review, but that album is dope. I planned on commenting on OB4CL2, but I’m going to need a few more listens so I can give it a more proper “mini” review. I could just say it’s “dope” but that ain’t me.
Jason

album’s good. really dislike timbo for giving jay such ordinary beats.
also the positioning of tracks is questionable, going from timbo beat >> kanye beat >> timbo beat >> kanye beat…really throws off the flow of the album

and finally. whats a blueprint album without a just beat?! really woulda loved to hear a bonafide banger or soul beat there!!
Mike

yeah the first time i heard the 3rd verse on THANK YOU it was a “holy ish” moment! It’s funny how some people hate certain songs and others love those same songs on this album. Like “on to the next one” just bumps for me but a lot of folks don’t like it. As far as what you said about Autotune Deez… you couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t listen to the radio/mtv/bet/vhi but I recently went on ITUNES and listened to the top 100 songs they had on there and it seemed like EVERY RnB/Rap song in that list had autotune on it. I mean it was disgustingly bad. I liked the review tho. This album is like most of his albums to me. Half good/Half bad.
Lil Ish

That is weird, i thought reminder had a dope beat. I also thought is was one of the best track as far as lyrics go. The hook is what might throw some.

I agree with a lot of what you’re say but i would have rated it a bit lower.
http://www.myspace.com/randomprod89 Random Productions

I think the Timbaland Production was good…”Off That” is actually good too…idk why ppl get off disliking the album…

Oh I get it..He’s not the same Hov…Okay, probably dats why nobody was feeling KINGDOME COME either (which is one of my Favorite albums, due to his maturity), because his approach was different…

I can agree that some of the tracks were tiring (“Hate” smh, and maybe “Run This Town”)….

My Most Favorites are “Thank You”, “Empire State of Mind” (I read dat NaS was supposed to feature…if true, HE WOULDVE RIPPED THE SHeesH out dat track!)…”On to the Next One”, “Venus vs Mars”, “Already Home”, “Reminder” & “So Ambitious”

I think this album was good enough…ppl expect too high for Jay….

FAIR REVIEW BTW…..
http://www.djvalroy.com dj valroy

re: Thomas (comment 30) i think the reason why there are more comments for this album compared to Raekwon is because of the level of expectancy – sure, OBFCLII was highly anticipated as well, but i would suggest that people who buy Rae’s album are hip-hop fans, people who buy Jay Z’s records are not just hip-hop fans, but pop/rock/r&b fans as well, and may well be the only purchase of a rap act all year. also when the ‘king of NY’ releases an album, fans and haters alike will have their say, positive or otherwise
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

@Matt and dj valroy
We love it when yall comment on stuff. My comment was more to say Rae got a 87/100 (one of the highest ratings this year from this site) and it only has 15 comments. People don’t like Jay’s album..comment and go to the one that you think is superior (I think Rae made a better album than Jay). That’s all. It wasn’t a shot tho.

I would disagree with “level of expectancy.” People such as myself has been waiting for Rae to make this album since ’99 when Immobilarity. People had doubts about this album based on the title. I would say the expectation level of both albums were high….especially for people who had the OG purple tape.

I would call myself a true hip hop fan…I purchased both albums. I don’t like pop/rock and am into r&b somewhat. The difference is Jay is good at promoting his stuff. He always releases his singles/albums when something is going on….VMA’s, BET Awards, etc. He has more push for his album.

With that said Rae has been a part of a group that has sold millions of records worldwide. Any Wu-Tang fan knew this album was coming out.

You’re right….Jay is an earner….his post always seem to have the most “debate.”
Mr Cee

I have listened to BP3 over and over and still can’t get excited about it or give it much praise. When I first listened to the album I dismissed it as garbage but on listening to it some more a few tracks have grew on out me but overall I still feel the album is average at best and never worthy of 76/100 but each to their own.

There was 10+ features on the album and largely they didn’t add anything significant to a track and Drake feature was dreadful. Features such as Cudi, Drake etc felt like Jay was using other artists to stay relevant like he was going through a mid life criss. The beats were questionable, his flow and lyrics just got boring as the album went on and when the last track ended I didn’t feel like I just listened to a Jay-Z album.
Mike

It has to do with Jay Z has been the TOP emcee/rapper/hip hop artist in the game for a long time. I doubt it has anything to do with true hip hop fans. I doubt there are many fans who come to this site that aren’t true hip hop. I think JayZ is more talked about because #1 he has more fans and #2 everyone is in agreement that Rae’s album is dope and there ain’t much debate about it while everyone is debating Jay because the album is highly debatable. As far as Rae I like the album but I can’t stand the long intro’s/constant talking. The production is sometimes great but there still are boring songs on there for me and boring content. Also the production feels to clean for me. I wanted a rawer/dirtier feel. Both albums are dope. I don’t think CL2 is classic as most fans have been posting all over the net but a dope album. I think DEEZ and Freddie have had both great and on point reviews for these albums. peace
http://www.iigunzent.com DJTommyIIGunz

You kno Mike. I agree that CL2 wont go down in history as a “hip Hop Classic” but I think it IS a “Classic WU Tang” album. I think it could have been “dirtier” but it’s hard to achieve that sound nowadays. i mean It’s not like the MV-8800 or the MPC 4000 are gonna give you that SP12 sound. It’ll never happen no matter how hard you try.
Mike

yeah i hear you DJ… i think thats why so many people are hype about the album. It’s been a long time IMO since we’ve had a great “core” Wu album. I always like Ghost albums but other than that there hasn’t been anything special out IMO. I think that is a big reason for the hype over CL2. It’s kind of like having your NFL team win the Super Bowl after they haven’t been to the playoffs in 15 years lol
http://www.iigunzent.com DJTommyIIGunz

That’s really what it is. The album is Great but I wouldn’t put it above Ghost’s Fishscale2. lol I mean it’s close but nah. It’s kinda like the Clippers making the playoffs. lol
BC

I though Venus V Mars was a good track? quite a dissapointing album in my own opinion.
http://www.djvalroy.com dj valroy

re Thomas: i hear what your saying thomas, like you, i was looking forward to rae’s album more than jay -z’s, and i know what you mean about the amount of comments this album is getting compared to Reakwon’s – i reckon its because jay-z polorizes opinion why there is so much debate, whereas anyone that loves hip-hop, they are more than likely gonna love anything to do with Wu Tang, so there is’nt much argument really, but with Jay, there will always be questions about if he’s hip-hop or not, is he really the G.O.A.T. is he better now than in 1996 etc. etc.
i love the comments too by the way……and feel free to disagree with me-thats what makes this artform and our culture so great, the difference of opinion, i think one thing is beyond question though……we all love hip-hop!
http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

I don’t mind the “hate” comments. I mean, that’s what a discussion area is for. Vent if need be!
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

I trying to get the word “hate” out of my vocab. Your opinion is just that…may not agree with it, but its that….not “hate.”

DJ Valroy…you’re right…Jay does “polarizes” opinion. Any post on the site with him gets the most hits.

@BC- “Venus vs. Mars” is a dope track sans the hook. I don’t go to clubs any longer, but I know in the DC metro area if and when that gets played….asses will shake.
trapperjohnmd

Very dissapointed.
Started off like Usain Bolt and ended up like the last guy in the race.
He’s like an old guy still going to a 21 and under club
Lil Ish

^^
lmao the album wasn’t bad because he was old. Thats asinine
http://www.djvalroy.com dj valroy

As age is mentioned, i wonder how long Jay will go on for? personally i don’t think he’ll ever put out another “great” or “classic” album again, but he is more than capable of spitting a dope rhyme or two – maybe doing what Radiohead plan to do, which is never to release an album again, but release a single every now and then for the internet would be a good comprimise…..
http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

I’ve been bumping this album more and more lately and really starting to love a lot of the tracks. On first listen, this was right above Kingdom Come, but has since moved about The Dynasty, Vol 2, and maybe Vol 3 in my order of favorite Jay albums.
Victor

I dont think age has slowed dude, its just changed him. There is a fair amount to like about the album. It defo polarises people, but i think if even those who hated it re-listen then they will appreciate some of the gems on it. The terrible cuts are painful though.

I think he is more than capable of another classic, if he can get a dope production line up about then he should be fine. Rae assembled a 24 dope to classic beats on his lp. Plus a preem-Jay collabo is long overdue. He also needs to work with Q-Tip. The same could be said for Nas as well.
http://www.sumaku.com Simba

So when will the remixs start coming out?
GeeTee

Wow! U gave this a higher score than Nas’ Untitled LP? (67/100) If I remember correctly. Lmao just giving u shit Sean D, I still bump Untitled to this day though. This album is good, liked the same songs the reviewer stated and hated the same one also. I don’t think u brought up Young Forever though, horrible song IMO and it’s the second best selling track of album on iTunes! WTF is wrong with people?
Top 5
1. So Ambitious – So underrated, I dare say best Neptunes Jay collab ever!
2. Empire State of Mind – If Nas was on it it’d be one of the best songs of this decade
3. Thank You – Most lyrical song of the album and my favorite verse, Thomas already delved into that lol.
4. Run This Town – Amazing single and the beat is addictive, Jay bodies it with his impeccable flow, Kanye on the other hand disappoints “Up top 2 bee stings???” (Referring to women’s breasts) Really Kanye?? lol
5. What We Talking About – Vintage J-A-Y hyphen!
Gramma-White (GET IT)

I agree with the Just Blaze part and I would LOVE to know why Jay dropped blaze from this album, considering the work blaze put in on previous Blueprint albums.
I totally disagree with the Timbo productions. No there not that great but the combination still there. Venus vs Mars is my tune. A reminder ”I crushed elvis in his blue swayde shoes/made the rolling stones seem sweet as kool aid too” BIG TUNE.
The best track for me is ‘So Ambitious’ which sounds like it was made round Reasonable Doubt times.
Not a great album but a good one… 4/5
Charity

Yeah, but I love Hello, Brooklyn on the Classic Gangster mix.
Charity

Wrong thread damn!
http://rapnewscenter.blogspot.com/ akzzle

Been a while since ive been here, and i would like to say i was very disappointed in this album by jay. Maybe im more into the grown up aspect as jay should be at 40 years old (im a young 24). No ID destroys every beat he is involved in on this album, and i agree with the review with the timbo tracks as being too outdated. Kanye does justice with every track he gets involved with, but the production changes just doesn’t let the album flow. My favorite track out of the bunch is Empire State of Mind which is just way to sick IMO. Anyways its good to see jay back and his numbers going strong, i do miss just blaze a lot in this album and im happy he didnt do a beyonce collabo on this joint.
Thomas

Say what you will about Jay-Z, but the legends in this game respect him.

Found this via a commentor on a Jay-Z related post around the net. KGR co-signs Jay-Z…nuff said.

http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index11.jhtml
Charity

@Thomas I remember reading that a while back. If I recall, Kool and Jigga have had that kind of rapport with each other for years, kind of like Rakim and Nas.
Victor

I just think when people get a degree of love for hip hop they begin to shun anyone or anything mainstream, like its popular. I was on unkut the other day (generally a good site) and the vitriol was mad lol The writer even questioned RD’s classic status. A lot of the commenters came across stuck up, tbh i was like that for a couple of years but realised if the quality is there an emcees “status” in the game is irrelevant.
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

I think Drake’s last verse of “Fear”: Drake said it best on

“Fear” third verse:
“But its funny having fans/Who find you before anybody ever has the chance, and build you up so you could be the biggest in the game/And realize when your there, sometimes the shit don’t feel the same.”

Anyhoo, this article will be my reference point for my Jay-Z arguments. hahaha.
MIQ VERSE

Blueprint 3……..not a classic album but in the same sense it is a good album in my opinion. I did not really care for the “Haters” track at all. I have been a little surprised at the fact that there has been no Bleek on his albums in quite some time. Not that I really care but just curious! I think Timbaland is feeling himself too much these days. I am a huge Timbaland fan but I think he rests on his laurels which explains the underwhelming production on “Off That”. My personal thing is that with this album you can’t fault Jay for experimenting but at the same time when you are talking mainstream radio which Jay is a mainstream artist there are no hiphop artists in my opinion that are competing with “Empire State of Mind” or “Run This Town”! Having said that I hope the next Jay album is back to the roots as far as delivery and production. I personally don’t want to hear any more coke stories.
kenny

the album woulda been a super great album if the track list was this
1 DOA
2 Brooklyn go hard
3 run this town
4 Dead presidents 3
5 what we talking about ( str8 rap without hook)
6 As good as it gets
7 already home
8 on to the next one
9 when the money goes ( original jay track )
10 so ambitious
11 empire state of mind
12 thank you

IT PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THIS ALBUM WAS PUT TOGETHER IN A VERY SHORT IT CONTRARY TO WHAT HE WANTS US TO THING ( THAT HE TOOK HIS TIME WITH IT ) MAYBE HE SHOULD DELEGATE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ROLES TO EXCLUSIVELY TO SOMEONE NEXT TIME . LIKE HOW HE DID ON AMERICAN GANGSTER . SO MUCH A GUY CAN HAVE ON HIS PLATE .
kenny

BONUS TRACK A STAR IS BORN … INTRODUCING J COLE .
http://www.kevinnottingham.com Deez

I definitely don’t agree with Star Is Born being a bonus track. The Blueprint albums have always been about setting a foundation, literally showing and telling the blueprints of hip hop. Why wouldn’t you want to put the essence of the theme in the album itself?

If one song fits the mint, it’s that track.
Mr.Louie

so im the only one that loves this? wow
http://www.myspace.com/alegorymusic AleGory

Correction: The sample on DOA is a soprano saxophone not a clarinet. My 2 cents.
http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

interesting. Thanks Alegory.
http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

Album con’t to grow on me. Seeing Jay in concert (were he didn’t perform any songs from RD or AG) and him performing songs from this album……there is a vision for these songs and this album.

Anyhoo…
J. Rizzle

Thomas….”clap 4 him, clap 4 him” !!!
A87th

I felt like a bait & switch happened with this album! There was nothing I heard prior to the album’s release that caused this, but some of Jay-Z’s interviews, album title, and come to think of it, some of the lines in “Swagger Like Us” and “DOA” misled me to believe that Jay would at least attempt real hip hop again on this one. Jay claimed not to be a “skinny-jeaner”, but this album is for kids. As a man, I can’t in good conscious ride down the street playing any of these joints. Seriously, what’s the point of wanting to kill auto-tune, only to replace it with pseudo new-wavvy, I’m O.K., you’re O.K. but not as rich as me, freak nigga music? Thumbs down….

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Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3

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