User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 215 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 155 out of 215
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Mixed: 39 out of 215
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Negative: 21 out of 215
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BrettCSep 11, 2009Loved nearly every track. A few I could do without.
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A.C.Sep 20, 2009
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AjayDSep 10, 2009
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D.TNov 16, 2009A Half decent effort....& a half terrible album! Has glimpse's of why we love Jay-Z & also has moments of how he can be a ignorant to the point were you think "Is this guy serous" However songs like "Thank you" "Off That" & "D.O.A" Are great & demonstrate how advanced his head is interms of creativity (When its not up his Arse) D.Tail
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Nov 14, 2011"Empire State of Mind" was a great song describing new york and Jay Z's life beautifully with rythmic raps and great support from Alicia Keys. Must listen!!!
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CNSep 16, 2009
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DemoineONov 25, 2009HOV should retire I enjoyed the beats more than the lyrics.He is too overated go out and buy RELAPSE or BEFORE I SELF DESTRUCT to see true genius and lyrical prowess.
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Jan 9, 2011So many awesome guests in his songs. One of the best albums I ever listened to.
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Sep 27, 2011Jay-Z should be ashamed. Yes he is top of the Charts, yes he went platinum, but does that mean it has skill. For some who bleats he is the "best Rapper Alive" I was expecting a much better Album, especially after American Gangster.
They were all radio friendly tracks the one collaboriation song with J. Cole should have been a single. That would bring a lot recognition to J. Cole. -
Nov 18, 2013This Album definitely had it's moments Empire State of mind). However, overall it was a very inconsistent album. It seems that at times, Jay Z gets annihilated, whether it's by little brother Run this town), or the next hottest thing out (drake). Only about 5 or 6 great tracks on this album, that's what saves the album.
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Jan 20, 2017There are some gems in this album but overall it's just boring. The beat selection is so generic besides some tracks like D.O.A. and Run This Town and for most of the album Jay Z's verses are just cliche, nothing special. And a few tracks on the album are just annoying
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MarcLOct 1, 2009To me Jay just seems tired .. some good tracks on it , but not as good as previous releases
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SlimSSep 16, 2009Not his best, but not nearly his worst. Listen to the lyrics people! Don't just skim through the beats and look for catchy hooks. The first 5 songs are all very good, it drops off a bit with Real As It Gets, Hate and So Ambitious are straight terrible but overall it's a good album.
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dMusickSep 17, 2009I don't know what critics hear but this album is Jay-Z on top of his game once again. It reminds of 'American Gangster' which was so eloquently laid. Awesome beats & on point samples!
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JaeJOct 31, 2009This album is a peace of art, from all the blueprints album i have heard this one is so far the greatest one.... Just by listening to it you can hear his pain, and how him feelings about everything.
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YoManSep 10, 2009Decent album but nothing really special
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VijayVSep 11, 2009The great thing about Jay-Z's new album is how he mixes styles and tones yet he still keeps his message of rap alive and well.
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KaranK.Sep 13, 2009The album is strong and so is the base. As always the lyrics are better than the music but music is also amazing. Jay-Z can never disappoint, its proven now. Tracks like Off That, Run this Town. Hate, Reminder, Venus vs. Mars and more are superb and the Death of Autotune is again a masterpiece and Jay-Z did it the fine way. Rap like him and you'll know.
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SpotRusherSep 14, 2009Talk about cruise control. This is not a good album...and an even worse hip hop album. This is one of the most incohesive, unsurprising, forced albums I've ever heard. Heavy on guests with lackluster, out of place verses. 'Death of Autotune' is featured here, yet he has Rihanna & Kanye West featured...both of whom shamelessly use Autotune. Hmmm. Should have stayed retired.
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DerekCSep 18, 2009Jay-Z tries to too hard to be mainstream in this album. Very disappointing to following up a classic like American Gangster. Hope he goes back to his classic joints next time around.
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PetersonMSep 20, 2009Great album.
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CandaceTSep 9, 2009The beats are fresh and Venus vs. Mars is my suga honey iced tea!!!
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PatrickJ.Oct 18, 2009Pretty sure this was supposed to be a Jay-Z album... yeah, that's right, I'm talking to you "timba". Let's be realistic. Jay-Z, you're an accomplished writer, producer, and successful Label owner. Why, oh God, why, are you getting Timbaland in to produce your stuff? BUT! that having been said, aside from the blatantly obvious timba parts, the album was well done.
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seanrOct 20, 2009HOV. you cannot make a comeback;when you was never gone.
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JoshDSep 10, 2009Slightly Underrated.
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JimmyPSep 12, 2009
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SteveR.Sep 12, 2009Cliché added to the typical women hating times the self-effacing bigotry . . . Kanye: why slum with someone so virile?
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VictorM.Sep 13, 2009Dope album.
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PetersonMSep 21, 2009Great album.
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chrisRSep 23, 2009
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Awards & Rankings
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Blueprint is hip-hop as big business, and Jay retains his CEO throne.
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Jay overreaches, leaning too heavily on by-the-numbers production from Kanye West and Timbaland, and muffling his own voice in favor of a guest-heavy tracklist.
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Without its filler, this album could have been at least good, if not great. But, for better or for worse, this is what Jay wanted us to hear right now. It’s just a shame that it’s not entirely worth hearing.