The greatest Hip Hop album of all time?

The Blueprint.





Its crazy. So many historic events can be associated with this album. It was released on one of the most tragic days America has ever seen, and somehow still managed to sell around half a million units in its first week. It gave birth to "Takeover", one of the most scathing battle records ever recorded, which ultimately gave birth to the greatest battle between two incredible artist on wax (and no one was killed). Shortly after its release, the album single handedly shifted the industry, and re-sparked interest in soul sampleing.





The album was immediatly released to critical acclaim, due to its carefully selected beats, originality, content, and lyrics, yet still maintaining mainstream appeal. The album was kept to a minimum of 13 songs, with each track complementing the one before it. There is no one song that feels like it doesn't belong. The album is one of few hip hop albums that really puts the focus on the artist. The album contains only one feature, Eminem, who lends an incredible verse on "Renegade".





Hip Hop has seen many classic albums, but not too many hold such weight. Dont get me wrong, there are some heavy hitters out there (Illmatic, Ready To Die, The Chronic), but Blueprint is in a class of its own. There's something special about Blueprint. It has such an aura. I believe it is the best representation of a classic album. I would like to believe that Jay knew exactly what he was doing when he called it "The Blueprint". It becomes more timeless as time goes by.





Lyrically there are better albums than Blueprint. Artistically there are better albums than Blueprint. But there isn't a better album that balances both as well as Blueprint. It was released at a time when Hip Hop felt like it was getting stale and unoriginal. It was the breath of fresh air music needed. It couldn't have possibly came at a better time. It is and will forever remain my favorite album, and is what I believe to be the greatest hip hop album of all time.

The greatest Hip Hop album of all time?
Stillmatic %26gt; Blueprint
Reply:illmatic or e.1999
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First off, its only a coincidence that Jay released the album on 9/11.





2nd, Ether was much more scathing than the Takeover.





3rd, "eminem murdered you on your own ish"





4th, there was already an album called "The Blueprint." Maybe you should listen to it.





5th, Jigga has one album that is better than Blueprint, which releases a better aura.





However, I appreciate your argument, and I certainly respect it. However, imo, Jigga alone has an album better than the Blueprint, and I could easily name 25 other albums that have everything better than Blueprint.





My vote for greatest goes to Illmatic. The album is studied at two ivy league colleges...enough said.
Reply:IMO. Eric B and Rakim's Paid In Full is THE album. Rakim lyrically was ahead of his time. He also innovated a new rapstyle with this album. The production was amazing. It also shows the lost art of DJing with Eric B's amazing skill. I think Illmatic comes a very very close second.
Reply:Reasonable Doubt %26gt; The Blueprint
Reply:I agree Blueprint was a great album, one of the best ever made. But it is not even J's best album. Reasonable Doubt was ahead of its time. I think the greatest Rap album of all time is simply, The Chronic. This album changed the face of rap music, it made artists free agents instead of contract slaves, it gave its just dues to the DJ or producer as they go by now, it gave rap a solid foothold in American music as a force to reckon with. From front to back, be it great songs or funny interludes, u listened to the entire tape.(yes i did say tape, i am old). I luv many hip hop Cd's but my personal fav will always be the chronic.
Reply:Well American Gangster Is Better Than Blueprint %26amp; Reasonable Doubt of course





so yea ..........





Blueprint is a great album i agree but come on all the hip hop heads already know it dosen't compare to the greatest albums in hip hip history ( Paid In Full , illmaic, Ready To Die ,Reasonable Doubt, Criminal Mided .... and so on)
Reply:I think the Blueprint was wack...at least in Jay-Z terms, it wasnt' better or more relevant than the black album, or Reasonable Doubt. In Hip-Hop terms, you cant really say what the greatest was, there are many "greats". Like Jeru the Damaja's 1st album, Gangstarr's Hard to Earn, Redman's 1st album, Krs-One's Criminal Minded, Eminem's Marshall Mather's LP, Black Moon's 1st album, Wu-Tang Forever...Too many to mention. Also there are so many records made and released before 1990 that are "classics" in their own way, that no one can possibly answer that question.
Reply:Well In My Point Of View!...I Have To Say Eric.B And Rakim: Paid In Full!
Reply:Illmatic = greatest rap album of all time


Jay-Z has better albums than that....
Reply:BLACK ALBUM %26gt; BLUEPRINT


greatest album of all time is....





tie between Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Ironman, and 36 Chambers.








knowledge, son!
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