Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Jay-Z – ‘The Blueprint 3’

Eight years after the original Blueprint, Jay-Z drops one of the most anticipated albums of the year, The Blueprint 3, on Tuesday. Has Jay solidified his position as the greatest rapper alive? Find out below.

Entertainment Weekly: Even if it lacks the raw power of his earlier work, the album succeeds at its larger goal—reaching maximum commercial blast radius while maintaining its street bona fides. B+

USA Today: There was a time when a rapper couldn’t expect to last past his 20s. Jay-Z, who is nearing 40 and releasing his 11th studio album, shows that for someone who is measured mostly against himself, lyrical dexterity doesn’t have an expiration date. 3.5 out of 4

Los Angeles Times: Regardless of this lackluster effort, nothing can alter Jay-Z’s place as one of the greatest rappers of all time. That said, despite several strong moments, Blueprint 3 documents an artist who refuses to wallow in the past, but lacks a (ahem) blueprint for the future.

Newsday: Sorry, young rappers, Jay-Z’s whole Blueprint thing was a trick. These albums don’t show a path to success. They show how Jay succeeds, why he cannot be duplicated. And The Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation) is the most untouchable of them all.

The Boston Globe: In the end, the key is in the names Jay chooses to acknowledge or ignore. It’s not that Jay-Z believes he’s the only star in the genre. It’s that he has a set idea of who else is worthy. And it’s not that the Blueprint is Jay-Z’s idea of what hip-hop should be like. It’s that this is what it sounds like when he makes it.

Chicago Tribune: Blueprint 3 splits the difference between its two predecessors, with Jay-Z sounding hungrier than he has in years on about half the tracks while sharing time with guest stars or grappling with undercooked production on the rest. At its core, the album is less about introducing newfound skills or subject matter than it is a platform for Jay-Z to showcase his imperious flow, to reassert his world-conquering ego, to remind everyone just who the heck he is. 2.5 out of 4

The Washington Post: The rap icon’s 11th album is the first full-scale disaster of his career, a collection devoid of the mega-jams we expect from hip-hop’s undisputed alpha male. Instead, we suffer lyrics that suggest a new credo: Shrug that dirt off your shoulder.

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Run This Town,” “Empire State of Mind,” “Off That,” “Young Forever”

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26 Comments

babybenz
September 6th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Wow! This is def another classic to add to he’s resume. I’m def picking this up on tuesday even tho I feel he should have just stick with the 9/11 tradition, cos despite the leak, its Jay, it would still bring in crazy sales.
That being said, would tuesday hurry up already! Lol

[Reply]
emil
September 6th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Album isnt a classic, not as good as BP1. But a solid album nonetheless.

[Reply]
gee man
September 6th, 2009 at 4:55 am
The BP3 is good work but not great. I do believe Jay will see success.

[Reply]
Review Roundup: Jay-Z – ‘The Blueprint 3’ | Jay-Z Blueprint 3
September 6th, 2009 at 6:29 am
[...] Entertainment Weekly: Even if it lacks the raw power of his earlier work, the album succeeds at its larger [...] Source [...]
Moussa KZ.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:55 am
I’m listening to it now for the 1st time, its good so far!

[Reply]
BP3 is my album of the year
September 6th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys to perform “Empire State Of Mind” at the VMA’s and it will be the next single!!

I already bought the album on rhapsody!! hova rocks. love this dude.

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mad
September 6th, 2009 at 8:57 am
young forever is like one of the worst tracks on it…best = thank you,already home,so ambitous

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2 commercial
September 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
everyone is afraid to say the truth, the album is not that great the beats are dope. its the lyrical jay z its more of the kanye album. he tried something different and its going to sell to the youths(jerk soulja fans)

[Reply]
Don
September 6th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
The Blueprint is an album that transcends the hip-hop genre. It’s ascended to just being music, and good music at that. Though the features are a bit much, Jay-Z still takes command at all times. As an 11th album, there’s nothing Jay can do but put out material that’s relevant to him in the now, and that folks is his true blueprint.

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alim
September 6th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
god…jay-z let me down yo. not only were the beats mediocre, he didn’t bring the noise lyrically. all the singles were great, hate feat kanye great, but it just wasnt jay-z.

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Josue Lopez
September 6th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
i just want to say this is a great rap/hip hop album i really dont listen to rap or hip hop but this album is one i have to buy because its a real clasic and its very different from other music today im from mexico and i listen to rock en espanol pop alternative but this album is really really great

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Reasonable Doubt JayZ Fan
September 6th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Honesty, are you guys really listening to this album? All i hear is about how great he is. THAT IS IT. When i think about Jay-Z, i think about songs with lyrical content that exercises my mind with story telling. None of that was here. It was all just him boasting about how he is the greatest and why he is the greatest. Why the fuck would i want to listen to that? I’d listen to 50 Cent then. Jay Z loves the attention. Nas is still rhymes about the world and just himself.

[Reply]
JWB
September 6th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
i’m not sure what to think of the album right about now…im just enjoying it and letting it sit in.

i’ll see how much i like in a few months from now.

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Southern Boy
September 7th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I dont see how anyone can say this album is bad, hell, i dont see how they can even say it is just above average. This is a Classic.

if the album didnt say Jay Z , i bet most of you would say its the best thing you heard in years(and it is)but you always want the best to get better and better and in my opinion, he did.

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paula
September 7th, 2009 at 1:24 am
I didn´t listen to the album, yet.
But there´s only one Jay. I love the song Run this Town , but it´s not the best i heard. I´m lovin his new song with Alicia…
I dont´t think the album it´s going to be bad, but it´s not going to be a huge sucess.
I know one thing…there´s only one Jay-z( it doesn´t matter if the album its a failure or a sucess)

[Reply]
Mmmm...
September 7th, 2009 at 6:41 am
this album was not tha shit… definitely not like any of his previous albums… lyrically it wasn’t fire… beats were amazing… highly anticipated for no fucking reason to be honest… && now that it leaked the album probably wont sell a many copies as he thought… back up plan will be a world tour, WATCH!!

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Burmy
September 7th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Blueprint 3

(You know why? Because Raekwon knows to STICK WITH WHAT WE LOVE HEARING FROM HIM there!)

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Matt.Beezy
September 7th, 2009 at 10:58 am
^ word…ppl are overrating a sub par Jay-Z album when Raekwon’s album is ten times better.

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gee man
September 7th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I must agree Rae OBFCL2 is straight crack period. That”s some real hiphop for those that love the raw feel and grimey element of Hiphop. You won”t be disappointed.

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sosiccwitswagga
September 7th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
im copin it septeber 11, 2009 the blueprint 3 its THE ROC NATION.

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Young
September 7th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
This is the wackest shit this year period..first em now jay hip hop is truly dead

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D-Lon
September 8th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Jay-Z is on another level, he’s the greatest… but htis album is not th greatest… i mean, “hate” i hate that song… “everyday a star is born” is a good one… greatest song on the album is “thank you” cause Jay killed all these niggaz that’ve been trowing stacks at him….

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sun
September 8th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
REVIEW 6/10 (it be lower if it were for the good production)

The weskest lyrics (guest apperances are better).. WACK HOOKS.. Good Production (for the most part cept timbo)..
Best tracks werent on the album brooklyn go hard.. jockin jay..
weak hook venus vs. mars..
great track already home.. & On to the next one (& DOA)
worst track.. hate.. reminder.. forever..
… different doesnt mean good..
star is born (j. cole better verse than jay).
kanye better than jay on run this town

i hope sales are bad so he makes a better album

[Reply]
OB4CL2..
September 8th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
The Washington Post: “The rap icon’s 11th album is the first full-scale disaster of his career, a collection devoid of the mega-jams we expect from hip-hop’s undisputed alpha male. Instead, we suffer lyrics that suggest a new credo: Shrug that dirt off your shoulder.”

LMAO one review told the truth…

[Reply]
wilderal
September 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Album of the year by far

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priceless daimonds
September 25th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
jay z has definately seen sucess already need i say multi- millionare!!!!!! and the bp3 is the best albumn i have heard since lil waynes carter3!!!- every song is not great but its a good solid album

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