The Blueprint

[Byron The Bulb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-6_WMgmphs

Have I made a thread about this album before? Probably. Whatever. Listening to it start-finish for the first time in ages and, damn, this thing's really aged like fine wine. Has enough time passed that we can all agree that "Takeover" is better than the four minutes of gay panic d/b/a "Ether"? I think we can. Nas lost.

Anyway, in light of everything that came after, it's really hard not to listen to this album with a tinge of sadness and regret for what Jay-Z became. I guess the album's "I'm a rich guy who's above it all" message and picked-clean aesthetic now seems like something of a harbinger of the loathsome yacht rap he's been making for the better part of the last decade. Maybe we should have seen it coming. Maybe some people did. The signs were there:

It still hurts, though.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

better than the four minutes of gay panic d/b/a "Ether"

http://youtu.be/x4iBBfEHNaE

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

This is my favorite era of Jay-Z. It doesn't help that I was in 7th grade at the time and everything on Top 40 and hip hop radio stations sounded awesome but it's a good album. I love the Jay Z Unplugged album/special with The Roots from this period too.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

"Hola Hovito" reminds me that Timbaland's decline into boring middle age mediocrity and irrelevance has been an even greater loss for pop music than Jay-Z's.

 

[Edwin]

Co-sign. It's the best.

 

[Precious Roy]

I and I bought a bootleg of this on like sept. 22 off the streets. streets was hot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjd-SXw-we8&feature=kp

remember when Jay didn't suck? those were the days

 

[Incandenza]

The Black Album is the best Jay-Z album. And that's the truth.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

The Black Album has a lot to recommend it, but, man, in hindsight "Change Clothes" looks like the exact moment he slipped into the abyss of self-impressed complacency.

 

[KOAB]

One of the few musical acts that I can think of who got progressively worse with each album they released after their debut one. The rate of regression is quite an accomplishment itself.

 

[Incandenza]

I remember defending "Change Clothes" on this board back when it came out. I stand by it being a good song.

 

[Incandenza]

ha ha!

 

[Alfie]

I'm no longer the massive Jay-Z fan I once was, but this is a good one. I'll probably be bumping it a lot this summer.

 

[Precious Roy]

I remember defending "Change Clothes" on this board back when it came out. I stand by it being a good song.

It had a catchy hook thanks to Pharrell, but that's all it was really. And Byron is right.

KOAB might be on to something about each album he does being progressively worse. Reasonable Doubt is by far the best IMO. In My Lifetime was really good but not quite as good. I'll defend Vol. 2 because I played the shit out of some of the songs on that album and I still love a lot of it, but a lot of it sounds dated and overall it's weaker than his first two albums. Vol 3 same thing. Blueprint is actually his 2nd best album IMO so KOAB isn't 100% on this, but I think hes onto something

tbf, I really haven't listened to anything since The Black Album. I loved Watch The Throne....but like Blueprint 3 (I didn't even know there was a 2), American Gangster sdtk...Kingdome Come? I've honestly never listened to any of these once, only whatever hit singles get overplayed in passing. And Welcome to NY. No idea what album that is off of tho

 

[Byron The Bulb]

Blueprint 2 is mostly a bloated mess, but it does have a p. cool Nas diss set to an Ennio Morricone sample

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8hgYHQov0

 

[MFer]

Blueprint 2 was a double disc album, which often means tons of filler. I hated it. Also, not that it really counts, but the second album he did with R. Kelly was hot garbage too. I'll defend American Gangster; I thought it was a great concept album. The rest of the recent stuff, eh, I like some songs here and there.

On topic, I was all about Blueprint when it came out. I think the only song people were sour on was Jigga That Nigga, but I've heard worse.

 

[Ed Wood Caulfield]

I think Kingdom Come might be his most forgettable album. Which is funny now since that was his huge comeback after "retiring".

 

[KOAB]

I remember defending "Change Clothes" on this board back when it came out. I stand by it being a good song.

It had a catchy hook thanks to Pharrell, but that's all it was really. And Byron is right.

KOAB might be on to something about each album he does being progressively worse. Reasonable Doubt is by far the best IMO. In My Lifetime was really good but not quite as good. I'll defend Vol. 2 because I played the shit out of some of the songs on that album and I still love a lot of it, but a lot of it sounds dated and overall it's weaker than his first two albums. Vol 3 same thing. Blueprint is actually his 2nd best album IMO so KOAB isn't 100% on this, but I think hes onto something

I now view music like comedy; it's totally subjective. I've never been a Jay-Z fan but when I gave Reasonable Doubt a shot... I was totally amazed by it in 2007.

I viewed that album for the time period it's in and so close to the Tupac and Biggie deaths... and how rap was and it's fucking incredible. There's no stupid long skits... just quick reenactments of some Scarface and Carlito's Way lines at the beginning of a couple of songs, the way each song sort of ties together with the last. It's a shame Jay-Z never hit this level again where he uses guests spots perfectly and closes out this album with one of the best reminiscing songs in the history of this genre.

As a guy who used to be a pure Jay-Z hater... this album is a beautiful accomplishment. One of the few albums where I can listen to every song... I don't feel the need to skip since there's no filler skits & songs or lazy guest spots.

I know I'm gushing over Reasonable Doubt, but seeing what Jay-Z evolved into while his debut was so AMAZING... fuck it, Reasonable Doubt is the best hip-hop, rap(whatever you guys call it now), album ever... and a Top 25 album in the history of music IMO. I can't wait to see it get even more praise on its 20th anniversary in a few years and more people get to see the hungry unknown Jay-Z who got into rap before he became this weird flag holder of rich guy rap who the President of the United States calls a role model.

 

[Alfie]

I now view music like comedy; it's totally subjective.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

that was p. funny, next level meta-references right there.

 

[Incandenza]

god damn music

 

[Lord of The Curry]

I remember defending "Change Clothes" on this board back when it came out. I stand by it being a good song.

It had a catchy hook thanks to Pharrell, but that's all it was really. And Byron is right.

KOAB might be on to something about each album he does being progressively worse. Reasonable Doubt is by far the best IMO. In My Lifetime was really good but not quite as good. I'll defend Vol. 2 because I played the shit out of some of the songs on that album and I still love a lot of it, but a lot of it sounds dated and overall it's weaker than his first two albums. Vol 3 same thing. Blueprint is actually his 2nd best album IMO so KOAB isn't 100% on this, but I think hes onto something

I now view music like comedy; it's totally subjective. I've never been a Jay-Z fan but when I gave Reasonable Doubt a shot... I was totally amazed by it in 2007.

I viewed that album for the time period it's in and so close to the Tupac and Biggie deaths... and how rap was and it's fucking incredible. There's no stupid long skits... just quick reenactments of some Scarface and Carlito's Way lines at the beginning of a couple of songs, the way each song sort of ties together with the last. It's a shame Jay-Z never hit this level again where he uses guests spots perfectly and closes out this album with one of the best reminiscing songs in the history of this genre.

As a guy who used to be a pure Jay-Z hater... this album is a beautiful accomplishment. One of the few albums where I can listen to every song... I don't feel the need to skip since there's no filler skits & songs or lazy guest spots.

I know I'm gushing over Reasonable Doubt, but seeing what Jay-Z evolved into while his debut was so AMAZING... fuck it, Reasonable Doubt is the best hip-hop, rap(whatever you guys call it now), album ever... and a Top 25 album in the history of music IMO. I can't wait to see it get even more praise on its 20th anniversary in a few years and more people get to see the hungry unknown Jay-Z who got into rap before he became this weird flag holder of rich guy rap who the President of the United States calls a role model.

Best rap album ever? Nahhhhhh.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

I agree with Inc, The Black Album is the best Jay-Z album.

 

[KOAB]

I remember defending "Change Clothes" on this board back when it came out. I stand by it being a good song.

It had a catchy hook thanks to Pharrell, but that's all it was really. And Byron is right.

KOAB might be on to something about each album he does being progressively worse. Reasonable Doubt is by far the best IMO. In My Lifetime was really good but not quite as good. I'll defend Vol. 2 because I played the shit out of some of the songs on that album and I still love a lot of it, but a lot of it sounds dated and overall it's weaker than his first two albums. Vol 3 same thing. Blueprint is actually his 2nd best album IMO so KOAB isn't 100% on this, but I think hes onto something

I now view music like comedy; it's totally subjective. I've never been a Jay-Z fan but when I gave Reasonable Doubt a shot... I was totally amazed by it in 2007.

I viewed that album for the time period it's in and so close to the Tupac and Biggie deaths... and how rap was and it's fucking incredible. There's no stupid long skits... just quick reenactments of some Scarface and Carlito's Way lines at the beginning of a couple of songs, the way each song sort of ties together with the last. It's a shame Jay-Z never hit this level again where he uses guests spots perfectly and closes out this album with one of the best reminiscing songs in the history of this genre.

As a guy who used to be a pure Jay-Z hater... this album is a beautiful accomplishment. One of the few albums where I can listen to every song... I don't feel the need to skip since there's no filler skits & songs or lazy guest spots.

I know I'm gushing over Reasonable Doubt, but seeing what Jay-Z evolved into while his debut was so AMAZING... fuck it, Reasonable Doubt is the best hip-hop, rap(whatever you guys call it now), album ever... and a Top 25 album in the history of music IMO. I can't wait to see it get even more praise on its 20th anniversary in a few years and more people get to see the hungry unknown Jay-Z who got into rap before he became this weird flag holder of rich guy rap who the President of the United States calls a role model.

Best rap album ever? Nahhhhhh.

If it's not the best it's easily top 3.

 

[Edwin]

Best rap album ever? Nahhhhhh.

If it's not the best it's easily top 3.

1. Macklemore - The Heist
2. One of those Donald Glover albums
3. MC Lars - The Graduate

sorry HOVA

 

[Mickey Massuco]

not enough witty whites on that list where's weird al??

 

[Edwin]

Real talk: Reasonable Doubt might not make my top 13, much less 3, but that doesn't mean it isn't very good!

 

[KOAB]

If it's not top 13 surely it's in ya Sweet Sixteen

 

[Alfie]

4. Reasonable Doubt
3. Ready to Die
2. Doggystyle
1. Illmatic

This was an emotional post.

 

[KOAB]

...I guess I'll accept these lists now that I view music like comedy

 

[Edwin]

If it's not top 13 surely it's in ya Sweet Sixteen

The albums I'd personally rank over it are probably

Ready to Die
Enter the Wu-Tang
Aquemini
Stankonia
Illmatic
Doggystyle
The Chronic

It can hang with anything outside that pantheon. And I'm gonna listen to it at work tomorrow.