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1988 Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

  • Summary: After both rapping and producing on other artists' records, double-threat Blueprint finally combines his talents on his first solo disc. Aesop Rock, Illogic and Vast Aire guest.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. A true original not to the game, but to rap music at its best.
  2. Though he's the kind of rhymer who scans "another good record with bad distribution" all too swimmingly, the hip-hop don't stop.
  3. Blueprint is the antidote to 12 months of Kanye overexposure. His gritty beats pour sand in West's glossy modernist Vaseline, and his rhymes have the anti-anti-intellectual attitude of a loudmouth braggart you'd be proud to have on your quiz bowl team.
  4. On 1988, Blueprint delivers a guide to a sparkplug of a year, capturing its essence whilst feeling bang up to date.
  5. These songs are enjoyable and beautiful and pure hip-hop --- glittering, hard diamonds that hopefully won’t get buried in the underground scene’s mounds of coal.
  6. For all his skillful sampling and solid lyrics, Blueprint hasn't broken any new ground with 1988, which just underscores the troubling tendency of underground art forms to become more like the mainstream as they age.
  7. Blueprint could have cut-and-pasted his way through 1988, recycling hooks, beats and samples, but he clearly took his time and laid out his vision.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Apr 21, 2016
    10
    production is tight as well as his lyricism. most like to assume all this guy says is gibberish, obviously very little pay attention to whatproduction is tight as well as his lyricism. most like to assume all this guy says is gibberish, obviously very little pay attention to what this guy spits. he remains one of the few rappers that can not only produce their own music but can rap lyrically as well. classic. Expand
  2. ManuelM
    May 15, 2005
    10
    it was a surprisingly great album. especially that track with Aesop Rock.
  3. LeeM
    May 22, 2005
    10
    ill as hell...great dedication to the greatest year of hip-hop and the year i was born....cop it...blueprint's probably the tightest ill as hell...great dedication to the greatest year of hip-hop and the year i was born....cop it...blueprint's probably the tightest emcee/producer out there...peace Expand
  4. HeathR
    May 17, 2005
    9
    Good album that traces back to the mid-school. Dirty, choppy beats that keep your head moving, and lyrics you can memorize, and visualize.
  5. Ben
    May 29, 2005
    9
    What Jake Brid... B said. Good stuff
  6. JakeB
    May 25, 2005
    9
    one of the best rap albums i have heard to date. up there with illmatic and madvillainy. the track boombox even has a sample of nas rapping one of the best rap albums i have heard to date. up there with illmatic and madvillainy. the track boombox even has a sample of nas rapping from NY State of Mind, although slowed down. very good album. Expand
  7. Chris
    Aug 7, 2005
    7
    A Tad above average. The only thing that is good is the dudes production.

See all 8 User Reviews