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- Here’s Jay Z’s discography, ranked by Jay Z: 1. Reasonable Doubt 2. The Blueprint 3. The Black Album
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Sep 11, 2018 · Each of the three albums that followed Jay-Z’s debut signaled an important career milestone. Vol. 1 saw Jay emerging from under The Notorious B.I.G.’s shadow to assume his still-warm seat...
- Insanul Ahmed
- Kingdom Come
- The Blueprint 3
- The Blueprint2: The Gift & The Curse
- Magna Carta…Holy Grail
- Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Carter
- The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
- 4:44
- In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
- American Gangster
- Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life
Everyone gets a bit rusty, don’t they? That was certainly the case for Kingdom Come, a record that landed in 2006 after Hova had been on a hip-hop hiatus for three years. While he hadn’t stepped up to a mic in those years, his fame and notoriety had grown ginormously. It meant expectations for his return were high. Perhaps because of this, the reco...
Conceptually, Blueprint 3was always going to struggle to match the previous two records in the series and with the classic soul samples which peppered those albums were replaced by futuristic beats. It was clear Jay was trying to lay out a new blueprint for the future, but this 2009 LP is confused, at best. While songs like ‘Already Home’ and ‘Remi...
There’s no doubt that the effect of his feud with fellow New Yorker Nas can be heard on The Blueprint2. Nas’ classic diss track ‘Ether’ clearly spun Hova and he spent much of this record trying to recoup some of the losses. Almost the entire double LP is dedicated to that pursuit. It leaves the album a little directionless when revisiting in 2020. ...
Now, the inclusion of Magna Cartaso low on this list is likely to split opinion but hear us out. The reason this LP is so low is that it is only made for the hip-hop elite. Full to the brim of self-referential moments that only the rap elite can understand, for the wider audience, the record is almost indecipherable. There are some notable moments ...
After the huge success of Hard Knock Life, Jay was positively floating on air and was ready to return to the booth quicker than many expected. Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Cartersaw Hova once again try to balance the two worlds he occupied — providing pop hits and searing rhymes in equal measure. It’s a difficult act to pull off and it shows. Luckil...
A new millennium it may have been but the year 2000 proved that Jay was still the king of the hill and, on The Dynasty, he started to exert his unchallenged power largely by producing a record that he had much less to do with than his previous efforts — the rapper doesn’t even appear on two tracks. It’s one of the standout moments for Hova, not bec...
There’s always a worry that your heroes won’t know when to quit and with Jay nudging his career over the 20-year mark, there was a serious fear that 4:44, his most recent record, could fall flat on its face. Luckily, that wasn’t to be the case and, if anything, the LP goes to show that class is a permanent feature. Following Beyonce’s landmark albu...
Difficult second album? Not a chance. Jay proved that Reasonable Doubt was no fluke when he once again appeared as the saviour of hip-hop. Not concerned with actively pursuing beef or any kind of street cred, Jay emanated understated menace and a collected command of his craft. On this record, he lurched for the crown and empty throne left behind b...
There’s no doubt that American Gangsteris an underrated gem. Not often breaking the top five of Jay’s best, the reason this record flourishes, especially when looking back, is the simplest, soulful and oh-so-sultry beats courtesy of Diddy and the Hitmen. It’s the exact album Jay would have made had he been active in the seventies. There are loose n...
There’s never much doubt about the top four of Jay’s canon but, nevertheless, it’s worth reminding yourself of four of the greatest albums in hip-hop history, starting with this gem from 1998. Hard Knock Lifesees Jay reign supreme as one of the most gifted lyricists of his generation. It was this record that launched Jay into a whole new realm and ...
- Jack Whatley
- 393 VOTES. The Blueprint 1. The Ruler's Back 2. Takeover 3. Izzo (H.O.V.A.) 4. Girls, Girls, Girls 5. Jigga That N***a 6. U Don't Know 7. Hola' Hovito 8. Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)
- 370 VOTES. Reasonable Doubt 1. Can't Knock the Hustle (feat. Mary J. Blige, Pain In Da A**) 2. Politics as Usual 3. Brooklyn's Finest (feat. The Notorious B.I.G)
- 321 VOTES. The Black Album 1. Interlude 2. December 4th 3. What More Can I say 4. Encore 5. Change Clothes (feat. Pharrell Williams) 6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder.
- 253 VOTES. 4:44 1. Kill Jay Z 2. The Story of O.J. 3. Smile (feat. Gloria Carter) 4. Caught Their Eyes (feat. Frank Ocean) 5. 6. Family Feud (feat. Beyoncé)
- Reasonable Doubt. Reasonable Doubt is JAY-Z’s best album because it is the one he had the most time to create. Everything in his 26 years of life prior to the project’s release served as content to discuss in his street coded debut album.
- The Blueprint. The Blueprint may be JAY-Z’s most significant album. The project dropped on Sept. 11, 2001 and sold almost 500,000 copies in its first week.
- The Black Album. Can you imagine if The Black Album was JAY-Z’s last album? Well, that was initially the goal after the instant classic was released. The rapper-turned-entrepreneur felt he had given everything he could to Hip Hop and was excited to lean deeper into his dreams of conquering the corporate world.
- American Gangster. JAY-Z’s first attempt at a concept album with American Gangster was gold from start to finish. The unofficial movie soundtrack to the classic Denzel Washington film shows Hov putting himself in the shoes of the legendary drug dealer Frank Lucas.
- Reasonable Doubt (1996) Regarded as Jay Z’s magnum opus, this debut album sets the tone for his illustrious career. His lyrical prowess, coupled with hard-hitting beats, makes it a timeless classic.
- The Blueprint (2001) Considered by many as a masterpiece, this album solidified Jay Z’s position as one of the greatest rappers of all time. With standout tracks like “Takeover” and “Renegade,” Jay showcases his versatility and flawless flow.
- 4:44 (2017) After a four-year hiatus, Jay Z returned with arguably his most personal and vulnerable album yet. Admitting to infidelity and addressing social issues like police brutality, “4:44” showed a new side of the usually guarded rapper.
- The Blueprint 3 (2009) The third installment in “The Blueprint” series, this album showcases Jay Z’s growth and continued relevance in the rap game. With hits like “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys and “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye West, this album solidified Jay’s status as a mainstream superstar.
Oct 1, 2020 · Seven years ago, I took up the monumental challenge of ranking Jay Z’s entire incredible catalog. Seven years is a might long time – this one was due for a refresh. Since 2013, Jay has dropped two more LPs, released an album with wife Beyonce, and has continued to solidify his position as the figurehead of hip-hop.
Mar 22, 2024 · Here real hip hop heads rank every Jay-Z album, from Reasonable Doubt to Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, The Blueprint and The Black Album to 4:44.
