Aside from the fact that he gets to get all cuddly and shit with Beyonce', what's his relevance in the music world? Is there anything of his worth listening to?

If you like rap at all, you are sleeping on one of the dopest lyricists out there, who also comes with top notch production.

Blueprint and Black Album are two of the best rap albs of the 00s.

His earlier stuff is good, too...and he drops some seriously subversive shit and gets it played on the radio. Who the hell else puts Annie in his chorus and gets a #1 hit?

I concur!!!

Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse are two one of my favorite albums. If you're familiar with mid-90s hip-hop you'll know why the former is considered a classic by many, but the latter is a bit more controversial. A lot of people think the original Blueprint is far superior, but I like the experimentation on its sequel much more. Also, I think Jay's flow was somewhat weak on the original Blueprint but improved a lot on the BP2. If I had to rate all of his albums it would probably break down like this.

Reasonable Doubt (5/5)
Vol. 1 (4/5)
Vol. 2 (1/5)
Vol. 3 (3.5/5)
Dynasty (3.5/5)
Blueprint (3.5/5)
Blueprint 2 (4.5/5)
Black Album (3.5/5)

It's all taste really. What kind of hip-hop are you generally into?

"99 Problems" is one of the best songs of the year IMO.

There's a line on a song from the Blueprint where he says something to the effect of "Niggaz acting like I told you to sell drugs / No, Hov did that so hopefully y'all won't have to go through that"

For some reason it gives me chills all the time, and stands out as the one line that should probably be paid the most attention.

4.5 for BP2? Fuck that. That album gets a fat 2. Only below average album Jay-Z ever released (apart from Best of Both Worlds)

But really. I love Jay-Z.

Reasonable Doubt (4/5) classic, you can tell he's trying to find his own voice

Vol. 1 (don't have it)

Vol. 2 (5/5) so many great songs. early timbaland beats are insane. the hits on here are my favorite jay z hits. and the album cuts are great too. very solid.
Vol. 3 (5/5) so dark and dirty, amazing. that "in the club" was ever on the radio is amazing. the beats on this album are insane.
Dynasty (3.5/5) not as solid all the way through, but a few classics as well. 1-900-HUSTLA is awesome and uses a wonderful sample of the 10 Wheel Drive.
Blueprint (3/5) Disappointing to me. "Ain't no love" is the only standout track to me.
Blueprint 2 (x/5) Don't know this one very well
Black Album (5/5) This gets 5/5 for 99 problems alone. But minus one or two songs this album is perfect.


in answer to the first question, yes. jay z is one of the best there ever was.
his beat selection is amazing. he pretty much legitimized the Neptune's, Timbaland, Just Blaze and Kanye. Arguable the best four producers right now.

not the best lyricist out there, but he's always interesting to listen to weather he is talking gibberish or telling intricate stories. he's the man.

Got damn. Blueprint is the best mainstream hip hop album since 2000. If not THE best album.

He speaks the truth. Peep "Takeover" then remember that Jay does everything off the top of his head, then remember how he makes Nas look so damn foolish.

the just released collaboration with Linkin Park is fun as well...

liked them going in.. but turned me into a fan of his as well, and may check some stuff out...

not that it's asking a great deal, but please don't ever procreate. do it for me, do it for the team, but for the love of god just never stick your weiner into a woman's pleasure chest unprotected.

Sigh, it looks like even here I'll be the only one who thinks the BP2 is better than the original.

i just don't get why people love the Blueprint so much.
easily Jay's worst pop songs and the rest of the cuts are on the same level as all his other albums.

So, being that I'm not much of a rap fan -- which of his albums would be the most tolerable for me to be introduced to?

T, i personally dont think you can go wrong with either "The Blueprint" or "The Black Album"; i've been getting into Jigga myself lately and I really enjoy these two---looking forward ro checking out the earlier shit based on the recommendations in this thread. Thanks guys!

Probably Reasonable Doubt.

I think the Blueprint 2 is also really easy to listen to, even if it's a double album. It's so damn catchy all the way through. I just don't understand why people find it so easy to hate.