You’ve got to hand it to Shawn (Jay-Z) Carter. He’s arguably one of the finest rappers in the game, yet he’s always pushing the creative envelope and never resting on his laurels. The Blueprint 2 is Jay-Z’s tenth studio album since his 1996 debut. This total includes some classics like Reasonable Doubt, compilations like The Dynasty and what might be the most overrated hip-hop release in recent history, The Blueprint.
The original Blueprint received a load of praise, including a 5-mic review in the heavily biased hip-hop rag, The Source. Many fans were able to look past the album’s inconsistent production and radio-friendly vibe. In reality, save for tracks like Renegade (where Eminem completely outclasses Jigga) and Takeover (an overly long dis to Nas and Prodigy), The Blueprint simply didn’t deserve to be placed alongside groundbreakers like Ready to Die and The Chronic.
Jay-Z is out to top himself with The Blueprint 2 and, amazingly, he somehow manages to release a sequel that’s better than the original in nearly every way. Rule #5 of basic hip-hop reads that double CDs are usually overstuffed ego-fests. Most rappers simply don’t have enough interesting things to talk about over 25 to 30 tracks. While Jay-Z’s ego is probably only a step behind LL Cool J and Will Smith, Jigga manages to craft one gem after another, until the album loses steam in the last third of the second disc.
Disc One opens with A Dream where Jay-Z tells of meeting the late Biggie Smalls in heaven. Kanye West’s production perfectly compliments this imaginary conversation and Mary J. Blige provides a wonderfully angelic hook. B.I.G makes an appearance, too, in the form his verse lifted from his classic Juicy. Reinforcing the previous paragraph, Jay-Z has the balls to compare his haters to those who persecuted Jesus.
Dr. Dre pops up on the remix to The Watcher, from Dre’s 2001 album. However, it’s Truth Hurts and Rakim that completely incinerate this track. All Around the World features LaToiya Williams on the hook, as Jay shows love from New York to Japan (“I’m a Tokyo Giant like Ichiro, I am”). Timbaland, as usual, effortlessly raises the beat level on What They Gonna Do and The Bounce.
Disc Two begins with Diamond is Forever. A powerful against-all-odds track that continues the lyrical heat from Disc One while briefly referencing Jay-Z’s real-life and ill-fated attempt to buy a condo in an exclusive community. Rock and rap meet on Guns & Roses as Lenny Kravitz makes a cameo. Jay-Z is able to keep up with Kravitz (or is it the other way around), while referring to himself as “The Michelangelo of Flow”.
The very best tracks follow as Meet The Parents proves you don’t have to be profane to paint a haunting picture. It tells the tale of young boy’s murder, the affect it has on his mother and the tragic connection of the father he never knew. The very good title track is a completely different flow as it’s another extended dis towards Nas. It’s not as good as Takeover but Jigga does get off some good lines regarding Nas’ occasionally nonsensical lyrics.
The album’s weakest moments are few and far between. U Don’t Know Remix and As One are the only truly awful cuts. The three “bonus” tracks are pretty much just throwaway filler and the Paul Anka sampled I Did It My Way is one of those “so bad, it’s good” songs that Jay-Z always seems to have on an album.
