Carter was a solid body of work with records like “Big Pimpin’,” “Dope Man” and “Is That Yo B-?” Likewise, The Dynasty, which dropped in 2000, had its share of classic songs, including its intro, “I Just Wanna Love U,” “This Can’t Be Life,” “1-900-Hustler” and “Where Have You Been.” And though it was billed as a Jay-Z album, in reality, it was a Roc-A-Fella Records compilation album. Yet, depending on who was asked, there was a sentiment that he was beginning to rest on his laurels. But to understand the depth of Jay-Z’s classic opus, though, is to understand the world it was born into.īy the fall of 2001, Jay-Z was one the biggest stars in music with three consecutive No. It’s a coming-of-age project that’ll always hold a special place in my life’s journey, even if I can readily identify its personal flaws as a man who’s now five years away from 40. So much of what I thought Black masculinity was - the fearlessness, the bravado and the ambition - lived in that album. It’s not that I wanted to be a rapper, but that autonomy to move in the world under my own power and discretion was deeply coveted. How LeBron James plays when his most famous fans are at the game.Jay-Z turns 50: Music, money and the legacy of Marcy Houses.The same world I’d have to survive in was the one where Jay-Z was encountering unparalleled success, which at the time, far outweighed the controversies around him. The album arrived at a time when my adolescence was barreling closer and closer toward young adulthood. The Blueprint, recognized by the Library of Congress for its artistic brilliance, represents the moment when my personal connection to Jay-Z was stamped. 11 to counteract bootlegging.Īs I look back after 20 years, the album represents a time capsule because it reveals two people, Jay-Z and myself, who, in some ways, just don’t exist anymore. Originally planned for a November release, the release date was moved to Sept.

I planned to drive to Circuit City after school to purchase an album I’d been awaiting all summer, The Blueprint by Jay-Z. I’d just started driving and the world was opening up.

It had been a day of anticipation for me at Matoaca High School in Virginia during the second week of classes. Across multiple platforms, the terrorist attack on America is being revisited with the gift, and grief of 20 years of hindsight. Say the date and watch the reaction: Sept.

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