Significant longplayers from yesteryear

12 September 2026

Hip-hop champ, producer, entrepreneur and Beyoncé‘s husband
JAY-Z released his widely applauded 6th album, titled THE BLUEPRINT
on 11 September 2001, 25 years ago.

#1 in the US, (only) #30 in the UK

At the time of the album’s recording, Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, one for gun possession and another for assault, and had become one of hip-hop’s most dissed artists, receiving insults from rappers such as Nas, Prodigy, and Jadakiss.

The Blueprint was universally acclaimed by music critics, particularly for Jay-Z‘s
performance and the album’s soul-based soundscape. It is widely regarded as
one of the greatest albums in the hip-hop genre.

Its impact is evident in the way it influenced a generation of artists, such as Kendrick
Lamar and J. Cole, shaping the sound and direction of hip-hop in the years that followed.

Entertainment Weekly said: “One of the greatest
poets ever to pick up a mic released his magnum opus.”

Singles.

– GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS –

– JIGGA WHAT, JIGGA WHO –

– SONG CRY –

ALBUM

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