The Blueprint

A few months have passed, so it was only a matter of time before a new Jay Z album. Though he has had some excellent cd's throughout his career, none of them match the overall greatness of "Reasonable Doubt". Now, of course, Jay Z has many targets aiming at him. Lets see if his newest cd "The Blueprint" lives up to its hype, or does it fall back into the category of the last Jay Z album "Roc La Familia".
The Rulers Back – Jigga starts this track off talking about how he wants to thank everyone for this purchase. An ol school beat backs Jigga up as he spits about how the ruler of the rap game has returned. He also handles the infamous question about Amil's dissapearing act from the Roc. A solid starter track.

$2.00

"You got a couple of beans, and you don't have a clue. The situation is bleek. I'm gonna keep it real cause fuckin wit me you gotta drop a mil, cause if you gonna cop something you gotta cop for real." - Jay Z

Takeover (ft. Josey Scott From Saliva) – Ouch..this song is hurtin me..and I ain't even in the line of fire from all the harsh words being thrown at some of New York's finest. On this very long track, Jigga calls out names and says that the Roc is runnin the rap shit. Nas, Mobb Deep....the game is about to get ugly.

$4.50

"I don't care if you mobb deep. I hold triggers to crews. You little fuck, I got money stacks bigger than you. When I was pushing weight back in 88'..you was a ballerina. I got the pictures, I seen ya. " - Jay Z

"Went from nasty nas, to esco's trash. Had a spark when you started, but now you just garbage. Fell from top ten, to not mentioned at all. Till your body gaurd's Oochie wally verse was better than yours." - Jay Z

Izzo (HOVA) – Maybe its just me, but this one track that I just don't see the big deal about. It uses a overused Jackson 5 sample, and a commercial hook that is nice the first time around, but after 100 listens..once realizes how annoying this song is. I really fail to see why this was the first single.

$.50

Girls, Girls, Girls (ft. Q-Tip, Slick Rick,Biz Markie) – Talks about a strange collabo. Anyway, on this song Jigga spits about,...well...girls, girls, and more girls. Oh, and Tip, Slick, and Biz do nothing but sing the hooks for Jigga. Its one of those tracks thats just got that vibe that you have to listen to, but its not truly memorable.

$1.00

Jigga That Nigga – TRACKMASTERS! These guys definately belong in the top 5 hot producers right now. This is a hot club, jeep track that just gets you pumped the minute the beat drops. Lyrically, not much to see here.

$1.75

U Don't Know – This track just does nothing for me. Its blah, and its not that jigga doesn't do well on it. He always spits well. Its just this track is not good. At all.

$.10

Hola Hovito – Jigga gives a shout out to the tracks producer Timbaland from the start, and the beat is definately banging(doesn't sound like a Timbo beat though). Anyway, this song is cornier than all hell. Considering that Jigga wants this track to be his third single, I'm trying to wonder where he wants to take his career. After the corny Izzo, and now this...what the hell is going on in his head. I wonder if there is an instrumental version of this song. Also, he says something in this song that just bothers me. "If I ain't better than Big, I'm the closest one." Sorry Jigga, Big is in a complete different stratosphere than you. Don't ever let shit like that come from your mouth again.

$.75

Heart of the City (Ain't No Love) – On this track, Jigga asks his city where's the love in his own city. He knows there are rappers under him waiting in the wing, but he's going to use up all his time at the top till its time to sit down. Then, somehow this song becomes a church-esque track. I'm feeling this song.

$1.50

Never Change - Another slow type track from Jigga. On this track, Hova talks about how he still Jay Z..no matter whay he does. He will never change. Nice message, but another track that is just blah.

$.75

Song Cry – On this, yet another slow tempo track, Jigga says that he can't see them coming down down his eyes. So he has to make the song cry. A track where Jigga spits about people who've passed or women who left, and how he misses them. He can't shed a tear for them, so he spits about it. Solid song.

$2.00

All I Need – Hova talks about the things in life that he needs, in this...another slow tempo track. He then has the nerve to sample 2pac's "All I Need in this life of sin.." line (Pac is rolling around in his grave). Anyway, this is another of many pointless slow paced tracks on this cd.

$.30

Renegade (ft. Eminem) – I would just like to point out that Eminem did the beat for this song, and he BLESSED THE FUCK out of it (even the soundeffects and ad libs that are behind all Eminem tracks is here). Ok, on to the song. This track is hot, with the exception of that Jay -Z track hoeing everyone..the best track on the album. Its very rare when you get a collabo where both lyricists are equally talented. This is the case here, and this song is just something I can listen to over and over again. On this track, the two basically say that they are renegades and they have never been afraid to talk about whatever is on their minds.

$4.00

"You motha fukas, say that I'm foolish. I only talk about jewels. Do you fools listen to music, or do you just skim through it. See I'm influenced by the ghetto you ruined. The same dude you gave nothin, I made something doing what I do through and through. I give you the news, with a twist of just his ghetto point of view." - Jay Z

"Thats when you start to stare at whos in the mirror. And see yourself as a kid again, and you get embarassed. And I got nothing to do but make you look stupid as parents. You fuckin do gooders, to bad you couldn't do good at marriage." - Eminem

Blueprint – Bringing in the close of the cd with another message/slow tempo track that allows Jay Z to get some things off his chest. Now, I think one of these on an album is cool. But when your whole album is full of these reflection/slow tempo tracks. Something is horribly wrong. Anyway, a decent track..but nothing to write home about. There's a bonus track hidden somewhere at the end of this song.

$.75

Breathe Easy (bonus track) - There's a bonus track hidden somewhere at the end of this song.We will call is "Breathe Easy". Basically, Jigga spends the entire track talkin ish about how great he is, and how everyone else is not as great as he is.

$.75

Girls, Girls, Girls Remix (Bonus Track) - A alternate version of the original. THis time, Qtip, Biz, and Slick are nowhere on the track. This songs is a lot more annoying than the original.

$.30

Well, yet another dissapointing album in this wonderful world of hip hop. I think Jigga had the wrong plan at hand when he created this blueprint, because with the exception of two tracks..nothing on this cd is really worth repeated listens. Maybe one day he'll be able to reach the pinnacle that was "Resonale Doubt".

Album worth: $20.95

Album price: $18.97

-Now that you've read something, he's written. Wouldn't you like to find out more about Vigilante? Here you go.

-Interested in buying the cd? Look no further: The Blueprint - Jay Z.