Blueprint Vol.1, The [PA] - Jay-Z

Advantages: Great songs, Great artist
Disadvantages: none that I know of

...From reasonable doubt to the blueprint he hasn't lost his flair. Jay-Z started out rapping back in 1996 on his own record label roca-fella-records. He was also good friends with rapper biggie smalls and attended the same school in brooklyn as busta rhymes. I decided to get this album simply because I have all his other releases and wanted to carry on the collection. Nothing has been able to touch his first album until this was released. As soon ...
...I knew I had to have it. Here is the track listing for the blueprint 1. The Rulers Back 2. Takeover* 3. Izzo (Hova)* 4. Girls, Girls, Girls* 5. Jigga That N***a 6. U Don't Know 7. Hola' Hovito* 8. Heart Of The City* 9. Never Change* 10. Song Cry 11. All I need 12. Renegade* 13. Blueprint Extra Track - Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix) All the songs I have marked with a star are my favourite tracks on the album. I will give a description ... Read review

Advantages: wicked production from eminem and kayne west, kicked of the beef with nas
Disadvantages: none soild album few week tracks

The Blueprint is one of Jay Z best works as all of his album has been rated good by critics. But this album seems to edge above the rest. Reasonable doubt being his best album it seems to touch it in quality. This album has the right mix of club hits and solid hip-hop for the true fans but it includes the low tempo R&B songs as well. This album will be famous for starting one of the most famous battles in hip-hop was Jay Z took on Nas with his diss ...
...10/10 13. Blueprint (Momma Loves Me) 9 /10 – very good song tell jay z life story a bit. Followed by the two bonus tracks ***Plus Two Bonus With Producers like Timberland, Kayne west, Just Blaze, Eminem and bink. This album was destined to be a success. This album shows a more personal side to the jigga man. As Jay Z kept it to 4-5 producers it shows a more quality album and with hardly any appearances it shows as a more solo album and makes it ... Read review

Advantages: So many hit songs! plus hidden bonus tracks
Disadvantages: nope!

In my own personal opinion,The Blueprint is the best crossover album of all time even more than BIG's Life After Death! I say this because Jay has made himself appeal to the masses by successfully combining commercial hit records with street anthems. The Blueprint starts off with The Rulers Back and Jay raps that hes back to run the show with triumphant trumpets bellowing in the background. Next up is The Takeover which in my opinion is the best ...
...Deep from start to finish with heavy samples from The Doors and has a great Rock beat. He rips Mobb Deep's Prodigy to shreds with: "When I was pushing weight back in 88, You was a ballerina I got the pictures I seen ya! then you dropped shook ones and switched your demeanor, well,we dont believe you you need more people!" He smashes Nas's credibility by personally and comically running through his poor lyrics of late, poor record sales and totally ... Read review

Advantages: Classy, Excellent use of sampling, Effortless
Disadvantages: Not long enough!

...at his very best, 'The Blueprint 'exhibits all the essential of a modern hip hop album. Combines raw beats with funky riffs and soulful voices to create an atmosphere of a smoky blues club meets the MC battle stage. Whilst popular releases such as 'Izzo' and 'Girls, Girls, Girls' bring Jay Zs ever-strong talent respectfully into the mainstream, 'Song Cry' is pure genius, showing the multi-faceted side his writing skills. 'Hola Hovita' introduces ...
...To sum up, sublime would be the essential word. Jay Z himself claims this to be one of his favourite albums, and rightly so. If (and it will) The Blueprint leaves you gasping for more, check out the MTV Unplugged album - a live and acoustic beauty of this masterpiece. ... Read review

Advantages: Great Lyrics
Disadvantages: n/a

This album is truly remarkable, no one could ever think that Jay-Z could top his multi-platinum selling first album, however i think he has achieved it with this. The singles he has released of this album include Izzo ( Hova ), Girls Girls Girls, Song Cry. It also includes the very famous comeback to Nas's song off his massively acclaimed album "Illmatic", 'The Takeover'. The lyrics in this song are absolutely brilliant, and im sure you all know ...
...on this CD is Renegade, this features Eminem, and is the first duo with, in my opinion the best rappers to ever live. The four long verses are great, and will have you smiling at some of the lyrics these two geniuses come out with. This really is as every bit as good as the Dynasty, if not better. This is deffently worth the buy, you can pick this CD up for no more then £10 which is a true bargain. I would recommend this item to anyone even considering ... Read review

Advantages: Missing You - Aaliyah tribute fantastic song
Disadvantages: seems like a rip off changing a couple of tracks

...As I said when I reviewed the original BP2 it is not one of Jiggers better albums and this updated version did nothing to change my opinion except with the tribute to Aaliyah who tragically died in a plane crash and was also engaged to Jay's business partner Dame Dash. The track sampled Aaliyah's track Miss You and is the pefect melody behind Jay's excellent lyrics and flow on the song, he is for once not boasting about his wealth but shows he is more than capable of empathy and reflection. I think Jay will change a lot of peoples opinions with this song and it is great but I still feel the album was quite badly put together. His early offerings such as Reasonable Doubt and Vol 1 were lyrical journeys that gave the listener value for money and an insight into hip hop along with good lyrics. I found this a very frustrating album... Read review

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