Mars” would be the worst song on the album if not for “Young Forever,” which is in the conversation of worst Jay-Z songs ever. Throughout the project, Jay’s pedestrian bars match the lackluster beats. “Venus vs. Cole, Drake, and Kid Cudi, only Cole – a Roc Nation artist – is allowed a verse rather than being relegated to performing a forgettable hook. He also hedges on the collaborations, because while he keeps with the future vibe by featuring the next generation in the form of J. Songs like “Already Home” and “Reminder” sound like the work of a deeply insecure artist that is petrified of his achievements being forgotten, yet on “Off That” and “On To the Next One,” Jay chastises the listener for focusing on his past achievements. Why is this a Blueprint album? It sounds nothing like the first two, the soul samples replaced by beats that are the result of asking a producer to make something “futuristic.” Perhaps that was Jay’s point – he’s making the blueprint for the future? The music is just as confusing as the title. Carter Collection) or any of his non-album appearances.Įven his worst LPs are still better than most artists’ best, but what are his greatest albums?
Kelly ( The Best of Both Worlds Unfinished Business), Linkin Park ( Collision Course), Kanye West ( Watch the Throne), and Beyoncé ( Everything Is Love) live albums ( Unplugged Live in Brooklyn) soundtracks ( Streets Is Watching) other compilation albums ( Blueprint 2.1 Greatest Hits) mixtapes ( The S. It does not include all of his other releases, like the collaborative albums with R. The list below includes only solo studio albums. It was impossible for anyone to imagine that this would be the outcome for the guy with the rapid-fire delivery that was best known as Jaz’s sidekick, but he’s reinvented his sound several times (with varying results) and has become a worldwide superstar. With 14 number-one albums on the Billboard chart (11 in a row as a solo artist), 21 Grammys, over 100 million records sold, and countless other side deals, he has repeatedly gone beyond the normal bounds of what a rapper could do.
He’s a business, man.Ranking Jay-Z’s Albums: Jay-Z is the most successful emcee in history.
In between those projects, he grew his empire, helming Roc-a-Fella Records and spearheading various film, clothing, sports management, and production deals. He returned in 2006 with Kingdom Come, and followed it with heavy output, including 2017’s lauded 4:44. JAY crafted his initial farewell statement on 2003’s The Black Album-with production from the soon-to-break-out Kanye West -but couldn’t stay away. Carter), proving his acumen for the charts. 2… Hard Knock Life) and “Big Pimpin’” (from 1999’s Vol. He went on to amass further hits like “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” (from 1998’s Vol. JAY’s debut album, 1996’s Reasonable Doubt, established his hustler attitude.
He rose from a tough childhood in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects to earn over 20 Grammys and sell over 100 million albums, all the while perfecting the frank NYC flow established by predecessors like Biggie Smalls. If ever there were a reasonable doubt that JAY-Z didn’t have the chops to thrive in hip-hop, his modern mogul status proves otherwise.