Also write on dooyoo and ciao.com under the name mcicp19. To all those who voted the BNP into their ...
Also write on dooyoo and ciao.com under the name mcicp19. To all those who voted the BNP into their European seats - YOU ARE TOTAL SCUM!
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The Blueprint is Jay-Z's (real name Shawn Carter) sixth studio album released on September 11th, 2001. The album sold 426,000 in its first week despite the tragedy on its release date, it was Jay's 4th consecutive album to go straight to the top of the album charts in America, and has since gone platinum.
Many people view this album as Jay's best work but few realise this album was produced in the studio within 2 weeks, while it only took Jay-Z a reported 2 days to write all the lyrics, helped by the fact the man has a photographic memory and doesn't need to write lyrics down, so there was bounded to be some he already had in there.
An album full of perfectly picked and very soulful samples, the Blueprint would mark a shift in Jay's style to a much more melodic and thought out production, something he would return to time and time again over his career. This album earned him the rare 5 mic award from the source and XXL magazines, came 5th in Rolling Stones Albums of 2001, and 4th in NME's albums of 2001.
The Album
(Sample information taken from wikipedia)
Track 1 - The Ruler's Back
A laid back track to start the album with. Jay-Z sounds ultra relaxed on this track, rapping effortlessly but still with rhythm and style. Good track.
Samples
'If' by Jackie Moore 'The Ruler's Back' by Slick Rick
8/10
Track 2 - Takeover
An mix of two of my favourite artists of all time - Jay-Z and Jim Morrison/The Doors., as the beats are mainly taken from '5 to 1' by the Doors. Kanye West produced this one (way before he was a platinum selling artist in his own right), I've always liked Kanye's production, he takes chances with his beats and I applaud him for that. The track is mainly a diss song taking shots at Nas, Prodigy of Mobb Deep among others. The lyrics are excellent in this one, it makes me wonder why someone like Prodigy would try and beef with someone so talented.
Samples
'Five
to One' by The Doors 'Sound of da Police' by KRS-One 'Fame' by David Bowie (interpolation) 'Oochie Wally' by Bravehearts
I don't care if you Mobb Deep, I hold triggers to crews You little f*ck, I've got money stacks bigger than you
Youse the fag model for Karl Kani/Esco ads Went from, Nasty Nas to Esco's trash Had a spark when you started but now you're just garbage Fell from top ten to not mentioned at all to your bodyguard's "Oochie Wally" verse better than yours Matter fact you had the worst flow on the whole f*ckin song but I know - the sun don't shine, then son don't shine
You said you been in this ten I've been in it five - smarten up Nas Four albums in ten years nigga? I can divide That's one every let's say two, two of them sh*ts was due One was - NAHHH, the other was "Illmatic" That's a one hot album every ten year average And that's so - LAAAAAAAME! Nigga switch up your flow Your sh*t is garbage, but you try and kick knowledge?
10/10
Track 3 - Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
One of the more well known tracks on here, one he performed brilliantly at Glastonbury, and the next one to be produced by Kanye. This track was made to be the first single from the album and you can tell, it's bouncy, has an easy to remember and sing chorus, and is quite mainstream friendly in many respects. I do like this one.
Track 4 - Girls, Girls, Girls additional vocals from Q-Tip, Slick Rick and Biz Markie
A slow, laid back song about how much Jay loves girls (surprise, surprise) with great production from Just Blaze. This was the second single and has many of the same qualities as the last track. The raps are basically about the different girls Jay has all over the world.
Samples
'There's Nothing in This World That Can Stop Me from Loving You' by Tom Brock 'High Power Rap' by Disco Dave & The Force of The Five MC's
8/10
Track 5 - Jigga That Nigga
This track was the 3rd single which surprised me as its not the best track on here by a long way, but I guess like the other singles its got a catchy chorus, is bouncy, and is radio friendly (sort of), but I'm not keen. Production in this one is from Poke and Tone.
6/10
Track 6 - U Don't Know
An ok track produced by Just Blaze. The lyrics are decent and there's a really nice beat, love the distorted voices. Jay's raps are excellent in this one.
Track 7 - Hola' Hovito additional vocals and production by Timbaland
A fantastic beat, this is one of my favourite tracks on the album, and one of my favourites to have on in the car. A great mix of different sounds in this one (a mark of Timbaland's production), while Jay raps with his unmistakable flow and grace. Love the chorus, love the verses, love this song.
Choice lines
Catch Hov' in the drop, nasty thang lane switchin Once you turn your neck for a sec your dame's missin Bujando, bujando, the cops is comin Got that rap patrol behind yo, get to runnin I'm unstoppable Hov', untoppable flows I'm the compadre, the Sinatra of my day Ol' Blue Eyes my nigga, I did it my way If y'all not rollin with Hov' then hit the highway
10/0
Track 8 - Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
People may remember this track from the advert for the brilliant movie 'American Gangster', or Jay rapping this over U2's 'Bloody Sunday' track at Glastonbury. Another great song with Jay rapping about how times are changing but people are still jealous of him and how people around him are falling from the public eye but he's not. Nice laid back track in a contrast to what Jay's saying, it's no surprise Kanye West produced this one.
Samples
'Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City' by Bobby Blue Bland
Choice lines
Look scrapper I got nephews to look after I'm not looking at you dudes, I'm looking past you I thought I told you characters I'm not a rapper Can I live? I told you in ninety-six that I came to take this sh*t and I did, handle my biz I scramble like Randall with his Cunningham but the only thing running is numbers fam Jigga held you down six summers; damn, where's the love?
10/10
Track 9 - Never Change additional vocals from Kanye West
Laid back track produced by Kanye, basically about whatever happens Jay-Z won't change (yeah right lol). It's a nice track to listen to, very easy on the ears but there's better on here.
Sample
'Common Man' by David Ruffin
7/10
Track 10 - Song Cry
About the closest to a love song you'll ever get in rap music, this track was produced by Just Blaze. Jay's rapping about a relationship he's in. Decent track with top music.
Sample
'Sounds Like a Love Song' by Bobby Glenn
7/10
Track 11 - All I Need
The worst track on here by far, I really can't stand this one, the beats are average at best and badly paced, while even Jay's raps cant save this one.
Track 12 - Renegade featuring and produced by Eminem
I'll start of by saying I'm not the biggest Eminem fan in the world, he does make good music but it's pretty much pop-rap these days, give me the Infinite album or the Slim Shady LP and EP any day over his later stuff.
Jay-Z and Eminem are two of the true rap greats when it comes to sales and popularity, possibly both being in the top 5 ever, while both have fantastic skills for both making songs and freestyling so a track with them both on was always going to be interesting. Jay starts the song of with a great rap but once Eminem takes the mic he completely out does Jay from start to finish which is no easy achievement, Nas even mentioned it on his tracks 'Stillmactic' and 'Ether'. Like I said I'm not a massive Eminem fan but he's truly brilliant o this track, plus his production is fantastic.
Choice lines (all Eminem)
See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here To shatter the picture in which of that as they paint me as a monger of hate and Satan a scatter-brained atheist But that ain't the case, see it's a matter of taste We as a people decide if Shady's as bad as they say he is Or is he the latter - a gateway to escape? Media scapegoat, who they can be mad at today See it's easy as cake, simple as whistlin Dixie while I'm wavin the pistol at sixty Christians against me Go to war with the Mormons, take a bath with the Catholics in holy water - no wonder they try to hold me under longer I'm a motherf*ckin spiteful, DELIGHTFUL eyeful The new Ice Cube - motherf*ckers HATE to like you What did I do? (huh?) I'm just a kid from the gutter makin this butter off these bloodsuckers, cause I'm a muh'f*ckin Renagade!
10/10
Track 13 - Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)
This track samples heavily from the great Al Green's 'Free at Last' track, and I love it. Easily the best of the laid back songs on here, this is really one to put on and kick back and relax to.
Sample
Free at Last" by Al Green
9/10
The track has a small break of silence then goes into a great freesyling session, with a Just Blaze produced beat that has been used by rappers countless times on mix tapes, I personnaly have at least 10 different tracks with people rapping over this beat.
Sample
Got to Find My Own Place" by Stanley Clarke
8/10
The same track then flows into a remix of 'Girls, girls, Girls', this time with new production by Kanye, the music is totally different to the original, its not bad but not so good either.
Sample
Trying Girls Out" by The Persuaders
6/10
Overall a 9/10 from me, one of Jay-Z's best albums, with only maybe Reasonable Doubt being better. I would recommend this for nearly everyone unless rap music offends you.
The Blueprint may be Jay Z's most captivating record since Reasonable Doubt, but its ... more
predictably detached mood reflects the master hustler's superior ability to trick out lacklustre subject matter with lyrical complexity and brief flashes of manufactur...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: That Typical Jay Z rythm we love, with those meaningful lyrics. Disadvantages: Maybe A few more tracks would have been nice, but normal amount given.
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