The Blueprint - Definition and Overview

The Blueprint (2001) is the sixth, and many consider best, album from rapper Jay-Z. Originally intended to be released on September 18 2001, the album's release was pushed forward one week (to combat widespread bootlegging), thereby coinciding its release with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Blueprint was reportedly cut in two days. Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, one for gun possession, another for assault. At the time he had become hip-hop's most attacked artists, with Nas, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Jadakiss and others attacking him in song. Half of The Blueprint became a battle album, in which Hova, from on high, attacks Nas, Prodigy, and all manner of prosecutors and persecutors. Jay-Z deepens his sound on The Blueprint as well. Here, 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 Five. The only exception is the track "Renegade" where Eminem (The producer of the track) breaks the album out of the soul-sample loop and produces a slow bounce, full of strings and pings and wildly alliterative rhymes. Where Eminem likes to play fast and on both sides of each argument, Jay-Z moves through his rhymes solid and dependable, almost obsessive about making every word heard and every intention understood.

Track listing

1. "The Ruler's Back" (Carter/Harrel/Hurtt/Sigler) - 3:49
2. "Takeover" featuring Josey Scott (Burdon/Carter/Chandler/Densmore/Krieger/Lemay/Lomax/Manz/Morrison/Parker/West) - 5:13
3. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (Carter/Gordy/Mizell/Perren/Richards/West) - 4:00
4. "Girls, Girls, Girls" (Brock/Carter/Relf/Smith) - 4:35
5. "Jigga That Nigga" (Barnes/Carter/Olivier) - 3:24
6. "U Don't Know" (Byrd/Carter/Smith) - 3:19
7. "Hola' Hovito" (Carter/Mosley) - 4:33
8. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" (Carter/Price/Walsh/West) - 3:43
9. "Never Change" (Carter/Miller/West) - 3:58
10. "Song Cry" (Carter/Gibbs/Johnson/Smith) - 5:03
11. "All I Need" (Carter/Harrel) - 4:28
12. "Renagade" performed by Jay Z / Eminem - 5:37
13. "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)" (Carter/Green/Harrel) - 12:08

Personnel

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