The Blueprint
by Jay-Z
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. L.A. Weekly
    80
    Blueprint is his best since debuting with Reasonable Doubt in 1996.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    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.
  3. Pitchfork
    87
    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.
  5. AllMusic
    100
    A fully realized masterpiece.
  6. Sonicnet
    80
    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.
  7. Dot Music
    70
    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.
  8. E! Online
    75
    The Bed-Stuy boy musters up enough of his own charisma, charm and wit to build another solid release.
  9. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    But for an MC claiming to represent ''for the seat where Rosa Parks sat,'' one expects a bit more.
  10. The A.V. Club
    90
    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
  11. CDNow
    80
    13 tracks of the kind of confident, effortless wordplay that made him a household name in the first place.
  12. PopMatters
    80
    While The Blueprint falls short of his debut's brilliance, it is easily the best Jay Z recording since that release.
  13. Uncut
    100
    Almost every tune sounds like a hit. [Dec 2001, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Album of 2001
13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2001
8
#8 Most Shared Album of 2001

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 305 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 279 out of 305
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 305
  3. Negative: 21 out of 305
  1. rabseye
    Aug 17, 2010
    10
    easily one of the best rap album of the decade if not the best. personally i believe it matches the black album and reasonable doubt ineasily one of the best rap album of the decade if not the best. personally i believe it matches the black album and reasonable doubt in quality and may even outshadow them. ultimately jay z at his best… Full Review »
  2. BlakeG
    May 24, 2007
    10
    Best album of 01.
  3. chimsijheh
    Feb 20, 2004
    0
    wack dont was ur time
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