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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

The Blueprint
by Jay-Z


8.6

based on 12 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 26 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The now-legendary Brooklyn rapper follows 2000's 'The Dynasty Roc la Familia' with this 13-track disc.

LABEL:	Uptown/Universal
RELEASE DATE:	11 September 2001
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rap

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

All Music Guide

A fully realized masterpiece.

100

Uncut

Almost every tune sounds like a hit. [Dec 2001, p.108]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Trades the chilly, futuristic minimalism of S. Carter for a warmer, more organic sound rooted in the soul and funk of the '60s and '70s

Pitchfork

The Blueprint is possibly the least sonically inventive hip-hop chart topper in years-- stunning and captivating for sure, but still loungily comfortable enough to sleep to.

Sonicnet

The Blueprint is not a perfect album. Some of the material is undoubtedly filler. But this recording makes it clear that hip-hop is supposed to be fun -- and that Jay-Z is having a ball.

PopMatters

While The Blueprint falls short of his debut's brilliance, it is easily the best Jay Z recording since that release.

New Musical Express

By its close, 'The Blueprint' has eloquently mapped out life's foundations: laughter, tears, joy and pain, and has marked the Jigga as the complete rapper.

L.A. Weekly

Blueprint is his best since debuting with Reasonable Doubt in 1996.

CDNow

13 tracks of the kind of confident, effortless wordplay that made him a household name in the first place.

E! Online

The Bed-Stuy boy musters up enough of his own charisma, charm and wit to build another solid release.

Dot Music

It's not radically new - although the Timbaland and the Trackmasters contributions are genuinely exciting - but it's exactly what a lot of people want to hear from a hip-hop album right now.

Entertainment Weekly

But for an MC claiming to represent ''for the seat where Rosa Parks sat,'' one expects a bit more.

The average user rating for this album is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Greg B gave it a10:
The best rap album since Nas' "Illmatic". It's a masterpiece.

Blake G gave it a10:
Best album of 01.

Johnno H gave it a10:
Very strong album - one of the best of all-time in the hip-hop genre. I don't give out 10's often, but the way this album flows as well as the beats, lyrics and flow from Jay-Z are outstanding. Hard to pick a favourite track - "Heart of the City" maybe.

Frank gave it a10:
Just as good as his classic debut "Reasonable Doubt", wait, actually... it's better, alot better overall. I don't think Jay-Z's ever going to top this album. EVER!!

Gill C gave it a10:
A Modern Day Masterpiece. Top notch production from start to finish. By far, Jay-Z's best work to date.

Danny D gave it a10:
A hip-hop classic thanks to Kanye West's genius production!!!

Mas Z gave it a10:
best album

The Blueprint by Jay-Z

The Blueprint
by Jay-Z