The Blueprint 2001 Album

Jay-Z

Unpopular opinion of the day incoming. My predicted rating for this release is very high, but I guess that doesn't take in my feelings toward Jay-Z. He has of course created some good stuff over his long career in the industry but I've never loved his style/voice and I generally prefer him more so as a featuring artist than over a whole album. He doesn't seem to switch it up like many of the best and isn't as lyrical interesting either. Also, overall his beat selection on albums are rarely to my liking, and these tracks add to those thoughts. Every time I try to get into this album the beats are a let down. A lot of it feels like pop rap, some of the hooks are absolute rubbish ('Izzo'/'Jigga That Nigga'/'Hola' Hovito'), overall the beats are too soft and I'm just really not a big fan of them. The soulful tracks in the final third of the album really help the album be anything of note at all, along with Em's Renegade of course. One of those hip hop 'classics' I'd label as being very overrated. Best Tracks: Heart of the City, Never Change, Renegade