The Blueprint

The Blueprint
Studio album by Jay-Z
Released	September 11, 2001
Recorded	April 2001; May - July 2001
Studio	Baseline Studios (New York City, New York) Manhattan Center (New York, New York)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	63:48
Producer	Bink, Kareem "Biggs" Burke (exec.), Shawn Carter (exec.), Damon Dash (exec.), Eminem, Just Blaze, Timbaland, Trackmasters, Kanye West

Jay-Z chronology
Previous	The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000)
Next	The Best of Both Worlds (2002)

The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released in 2001 on Roc-A-Fella Records. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to fight bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan Center Studios and Baseline Studios in New York City. Contrasting the radio-friendly sound of Jay-Z's previous work, The Blueprint features soul-based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West and Just Blaze. At the time of its recording, Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials for gun possession and assault, and had become one of hip hop's most dissed artists, receiving insults from Nas, Prodigy and Jadakiss.

The album is also famous for the breakouts of its producers Kanye West and Just Blaze. Kanye West produced four of the thirteen tracks on the album, including the hit single "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and the controversial diss track "Takeover", which features diss lyrics aimed at Nas and Prodigy. Just Blaze produced the songs "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Song Cry" and "U Don't Know". The two also produced a hidden track each. Eminem is the sole guest appearance on the album, appearing on the self-produced "Renegade".

Upon its release, The Blueprint received universal acclaim, with critics praising Jay-Z's lyricism and the production. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 420,000 copies in its first week. The Blueprint has since sold over 2,700,000 copies in the United States alone as of February 2012. The album is considered one of Jay-Z's best albums and has been labeled as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

The Blueprint's release also coincided with the 9/11 terrorist attacks that occurred that day but hours later.

Legacy

Rolling Stone ranked The Blueprint at #50 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020.

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Time
1.	"The Ruler's Back"	Jay-Z	Carter, Harrel, Hurtt, Sigler	Bink	3:50
2.	"Takeover"	Jay-Z	Burdon, Carter, Chandler, Densmore, Krieger, Lemay, Lomax, Manzarek, Morrison, Parker, West	Kanye West	5:13
3.	"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"	Jay-Z	Carter, Gordy, Mizell, Perren, Richards, West	Kanye West	4:01
4.	"Girls, Girls, Girls"	Jay-Z	Brock, Carter, Relf, Smith	Just Blaze	4:35
5.	"Jigga That Nigga"	Jay-Z	Barnes, Carter, Olivier	Trackmasters	3:24
6.	"U Don't Know"	Jay-Z	Byrd, Carter, Smith	Just Blaze	3:19
7.	"Hola' Hovita"	Jay-Z	Carter, Mosley	Timbaland	4:33
8.	"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"	Jay-Z	Carter, Price, Walsh, West	Kanye West	3:43
9.	"Never Change"	Jay-Z	Carter, Miller, West	Kanye West	3:59
10.	"Song Cry"	Jay-Z	Carter, Gibbs, Johnson, Smith	Just Blaze	5:04
11.	"All I Need"	Jay-Z	Carter, Harrel	Bink	4:29
12.	"Renegade"	Jay-Z, Eminem	Carter, Mathers	Eminem	5:38
13.	"Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)"	Jay-Z	Carter, Green, Harrel	Bink	3:41
	"Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)"	Jay-Z		Just Blaze	3:45
	"Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)"	Jay-Z		Kanye West	4:14

Notes:

• Track 1 features bass performed by Eric "E Bass" Johnson and strings performed by Keyamo.
• Track 2 features additional vocals performed by Josey Scott.
• Track 4 features additional vocals performed by Q-Tip, Slick Rick & Biz Markie.
• Track 5 features additional vocals performed by Stephanie Miller & Michelle Mills.
• Track 13 features organs performed by Bo, live organs performed by Victor Flowers, and background vocals performed by Schevise Harrell & Luren Leek.

Credits

• A&R: Lenny S. & Gee Roberson
• A&R Administration: Rob Mitchell
• A&R Coordinator: Darcell Lawrence
• A&R Direction: Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua
• Art Direction: Jason Noto
• Mastered by: Tony Dawsey
• Mixed by: Doug Wilson (track 1, 10, 13), Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton (track 2), Supa Engineer DURO (track 3, 8), Jason Goldstein (track 4-6, 9, 10), Jimmy Douglas (track 7), Richard Huredia (track 12)
• Photography: Jonathan Mannion
• Photography (Architectural Imagery): Della Valle + Bernheimer Design
• Recording Administration: Tony Vanias
• Recorded by: Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton (track 1-6, 8-13), Kamel Abdo (track 2-4, 8, 9), Jimmy Douglas (track 7)
• Recorded by (Assistant): Shane "Bermi" Woodley (track 5, 6, 10)

Album liner notes

Thank You's': I wanna thank everyone responsible for The Blueprint (my life) my Momma Loves Me (Gloria Carter) Pop I miss you (A.J.) Eric fought me (my big bro Ez) Mickey dressed me/my big mouth sister Michelle/Annie fed me (my other big mouth sister Andrea) Grandma fed me banana pudding (my heart Hattie White) my nephews (Lavelle, Ramel, Colleek, Jarrel and Eric Jr. My nierce Airis and my neice Tianna (Love you 'til death, wouldn't let no trouble come your way!!!) All my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. Bee High and Fam (Johnny, BJ, Shakora, Danay, Antawn, Brandon) "Ty rolled with a n***a (Ty-Ty and the whole Smith Family), Damon Dash (you seen it Huh?) my Godson Boogie, Ava, Biggs, (What's up Hoffa?) Biggs, Lil Remo. Hip Hop (since 1972). Bleek (one Hit Away my n***a), Beans (I been there fam trust me)... Marcy and The Whole Entire Brooklyn, I Got Ya'll!!!

My folks: The O.G. Juan and the Whole Baseline Crew (Moya, Midnight, Shane, Kamel, Tyse and Paul) Rell Mack, Bob-A Lob, S.A., Street, Claudie B, The Whole 142! Dolfo, Roger, Tom Dewey, Tone, Dat, Jaz (you made me believe this s**t was real) Omoyele (Fan Fam), Murder, Leeky, Geda K, Saddiq, Roller, The Whole Mafia, The Whole Get Low, Bill, Snow, Ermani, Tone (Lil Man) Chuck, Ant, Duece & Rasta, Curt Love, Emory, Big Ty, Kurt, Lody Christ. Hold Ya Head We Got Your Name on the Bricks. Everybody on the street. I Know Too Many Folks, Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rocafella Staff: Carline, Chaka, John, Lenny S, Gee, Dara, Bobby, Pharel, Burt, Emmanuelle, Garvin, John B., Daryl, Robin, Shari, Ramses,

Thank you Guido, JJ, Big John, Jimmy Iovine, Steve Stoute, Paul Rosenberg, Ian Allen and Eric Weissman

Lyor, Kevin, Julie, Randy, Kyser, Deidre, Darcel, Mignon and the Def Jam Staff

Rocafella Artists: DJ Clue and Rell, Freeway, Oschino & Sparks, Chris & Neef, Tamika & Billie, Allen Anthony,...we got this!
Producers: Kanye West, Just Blaze, Trackmaster, Timbaland, Bink, Eminem

Street Team: Danielle, Latrice, Will, Travis, Derrick, Raymond (Chico), "Big Daddy" (Pause), Antone, Donald, Mike Eric, Damon, Anchor, Maze, Jake, Say, Godfather, Sean, Bill Blass, Lenny, DJ Lump, C-note, T.

To This Whole Fake Bulls**t Industry, Thanx 4 being so Fake and Keeping me on my Toes!!! I Love Ya'll Holla Back!