@dead_press: Some albums just become favorites with instant impact. Around the time «The Blueprint» hit the streets I was really into the Eastcoast sound and this one went straight into the category: Play to death! It was extra exciting when he beefed with Nas and the two of them went back and forth. Although I have great respect for Jay’s music, unfortunately Nas was the big winner in my opinion. Regardless, this record is a masterpiece. He goes more into a soul-based sampling and hits the masses with an even more mainstream sound. There are so many bangers here and tracks like «Heart Of The City», «Never Change» and «Renegade» are still played regularly in my car! The record is also considered to be both Kanye West and Just Blaze s’ commercial springboard and the work done behind the controls makes me understand why too! Jay shows off his entire toolbox here and he really manages to enter the 2000’s with a classic for the history books. As mentioned earlier I have a love/hate relationship with this man and currently I am a fan. It was simply a pure pleasure to hear that record on the turntable today. Where do you rate this in his catalog? #jayz #hiphop #vinyl #90s #album #wax #2001 #rap #brooklyn #collection #newyork #legend #oldschool #nowspinning #coffee #turntable
