Shawn Carter, Hova, Jiggaman, Iceberg Slim; he’s not a businessman, he’s a business, man. Hopefully, his career and accomplishments speak for themselves, but if you're somehow unfamiliar with the golden child of BK, this list is an excellent place to start. I'm going to be ranking Jay-Z's 13 solo albums from worst to best, and giving some quick blurbs that share my thoughts on each record. This list will not be including any of Hov's collab albums, but if you must know, they'd all rank towards the bottom (yes, even that one). Let the record show: I am a massive Jay-Z fan. He's one of my favorite artists of all time, and I'd probably rank him as the greatest MC to ever step up to a mic. Everything said in this list is said with love, and is merely just one rap fan's take on one of the greatest and most iconic discographies on the planet. Now, without further ado...
13. Magna Carta... Holy Grail (2013)
The Blueprint 3 was Jay-Z's most decadent album to date, and indulged in giving its listeners an insight into the upper-upper-echelon of wealth and prestige. Magna Carta doubles down on that idea, but trades the previous album's poppy production for a glossier, minimalist aesthetic. In short: it's boring. This is really the album's cardinal sin, and the main reason that it's being slotted dead last. I've listened to Magna Carta numerous times since its release, and to this day I have trouble remembering what even a fraction of the songs actually sound like. For many fans, Magna Carta marked a worrying turning point in Hov's career, where his financial status had elevated him to a level of complete unrelatability, and to this day many of the references here are so pretentious and niche that they make hardly any sense to the average listener. It's not offensively bad; but in the decade-plus since its release, this album has failed to ever leave any sort of significant impact. There are projects further up this list that have songs I consider to be truly bad, but as a whole, none of those albums leave me feeling like I've wasted my time in the way that Magna Carta does. Luckily, it wasn't the last we would hear from Jay-Z, but there's really not much that can be said to make a case for Magna Carta... Holy Grail and its complete forgetability.
Favorite Track: Part II (On the Run) [feat. Beyoncé
12. The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse (2002)
During the late 90’s and early aughts, releasing a double album was a basically a hip-hop rite of passage. While a few of these double features have stood the test of time (see All Eyez on Me), the majority of these records have since been remembered as bloated low-points in their creators’ careers. Unfortunately, The Blueprint 2 is no exception. Following up the first Blueprint was already an gargantuan task, but even if you disregard what came before it, The Blueprint 2 is still a half-baked experience. At 25 tracks and nearly two hours in length, it should be quite telling that the album was reissued in 2003 with a condensed track-list that cut more than half of the original songs. The dip in quality from the original Blueprint is truly baffling; the beats are cheap and uninspired, Hov’s performances are mostly lifeless, and the features are never enough to salvage any of the tracks they appear on. Of course, there’s still a few must-listens; “03 Bonnie and Clyde” and “Excuse Me Miss” are classic singles, and album cuts like “All Around the World” and "Poppin' Tags" are seriously worth your time. In general, though, The Blueprint 2 is the only Jay-Z album that feels like a chore to get through, and you’d be forgiven for only revisiting a handful of tracks and letting the rest of the album sweep itself under the rug.
Favorite Track: All Around the World (feat. LaToiya Williams)
11. Kingdom Come (2006)
For many rap fans, Kingdom Come would be considered the unanimous pick for the worst album Hov has ever produced. This is largely due to the fact that this album was meant to serve as Jay-Z's comeback after "retiring" with The Black Album in 2003, and was preceded with a significant amount of hype as a result. While it was definitely a disappointment, in the many years since it's release, I'd argue that Kingdom Come actually has some quality moments that keep it from being slotted at the very bottom of this list. Still, it's by no means a great album. From the first few moments of "The Prelude," Jay-Z just doesn't sound on. Throughout many of the tracks here, his vocal deliveries are deadpan and stilted, and the instrumentals are often so jam-packed with noise that it can be difficult to even discern what he's saying. "Oh My God," "Hollywood," and "Anything" are all face-palmingly bad, and the complete lack of rap features definitely holds this album back from feeling like anything other than a commercialized cash grab. However! "Show Me What You Got," "Lost One," and "I Made It" are cuts that continue to stand the test of time. The first half of the album is actually pretty decent, but after "Anything," the quality nose-dives into the crash landing that is "Beach Chair." Still, I have a better time with Kingdom Come than I do with the two albums that have preceded it on this list, and the strength of the best songs it has to offer is enough to warrant the once-in-a-blue-moon re-listen.
Favorite Track: "Show Me What You Got"
10. Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999)
On paper, the rhetoric behind Vol. 3 makes a lot of sense. Vol. 2 was Hov’s most commercially successful record up to that point, so it seems only natural that the 1999 follow-up would put an even larger emphasis on club-friendly jams. Unfortunately, in practice, this decision resulted in one of the most inconsistent and overproduced projects in Jay-Z’s catalog. It’s certainly not bad, but the majority of the music on Vol. 3 goes in one ear and out the other. This is in large part due to the production, because despite how well Jay raps on most of these songs, the lackluster Bad Boy-era beats don't have much staying power. There’s more than a few gems; “Hova Song,” “It’s Hot,” and “Nymp” are all standouts, but they’re unfortunately outweighed by stinkers like “Things That U Do” and “S. Carter.” Now, I'd definitely be remiss to not mention the timeless single “Big Pimpin,” which remains just as catchy, fun, and iconic today as it was twenty-four years ago. I also can't discuss Vol. 3 without also mentioning first-third of album closer “Anything." Intended to be a follow-up to "Hard Knock Life," "Anything" is quite possibly my favorite Jay song of all time, and showcases all of the wit, charisma, and relatability that I love about his pen (or lack thereof). However, when all's said and done, Vol. 3 is a forgettable Jay-Z release whose brightest moments sadly aren’t enough to make the album shine as a whole.
Favorite Track: "Anything" (Just the first part)
9. The Dynasty - Roc La Familia (2000)
For an album that began life as a Roc Nation compilation record, The Dynasty turned out impressively cohesive. With that being said, it’s certainly a mixed bag, where the track-list is prone to going from undisputed classic to undisputed skip with each and every song. This album can perhaps be best viewed as a drawing board for what was to come. It marked the first collaborations between Jay-Z and producers like the Neptunes and Kanye. It was really the last time the Roc-a-Fella roster was used to round out the feature list, and it showcased Jay trying his hand at a multitude of different sounds and styles. While I can applaud the willingness to experiment, I can't say that it makes up for this album's weaker moments. Still, “Intro” and “I Just Wanna Love U” are certifiable mainstays, and Jay and Kanye’s first-ever collab, the heartfelt “This Can’t Be Life,” will always bring a tear to my eye. Unfortunately, tracks like "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" and "Holla" are also on this album, which results in an overall project that's pretty good, but littered with duds. The familiar forget-ability of the non-Hov Roc Nation members persists on this record, but feels like even more of an oversight due to the fact that this album is literally designed to showcase the label. The Dynasty has plenty of greatness for die-hard fans to enjoy, but for everyone else, just stick to the gems and forget about the rest.
Favorite Track: This Can't be Life (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)
8. The Blueprint 3 (2009)
The third and final installment of the Blueprint series represented a stylistic new leaf for the then 40 year-old MC: it was the first of his album covers to not feature his likeness, it abandoned traditional hip-hop production in favor of electronic, radio-friendly instrumentals, and the content was more lavish and upper-one-percent than anything that had preceded it. At its worst, Blueprint 3 feels like a poorly-aged attempt to dominate late 00's radio stations with glossy, overproduced versions of Jay-Z's traditional style. At its best, it's thoroughly entertaining and poppy in the most charming of ways, with several glimpses of genuine genius that have stood the test of time. This dichotomy is perhaps best embodied by Jay-Z's most successful song to date, "Empire State of Mind." Is it blatantly bubblegum and somewhat uninspired? Absolutely. Is it also going to make my day better every time it comes on? You better believe it. The Blueprint 3 has a fair share of these sorts of guilty pleasures, and despite how much the music snob in me might try to deny it, this is arguably the most fun record on this list. Even still, it's difficult to look past tracks like the painfully bad "Venus Vs. Mars" and the perpetually corny "Young Forever." I really will always have a soft spot for this album, but it simply isn't Jay-Z at his best, and we're lucky that he's delivered significantly better projects.
Favorite Track: Thank You
7. Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998)
While the majority of this article has been fairly reminiscent of other Jay-Z album lists, this particular placement is not quite par for the course. When this album dropped in 1998, there was nothing that could touch its level of replayability, bumpability, and straight up swagger. This was the album that made Jay-Z the man he is today; a chart-topping juggernaut that showcased everything about Jay's hustler persona that fans have fallen in love with. To date, it's still the most commercially successful record Hov's ever released. However, as someone who did not grow up in the 90's and has only experienced this album through retroactive listens... it hasn't aged very well. I'd still consider it a great album, and an absolute must-listen for any self-respecting rap fan, but in terms of Jay's catalog, it's a middle-of-the-road project I revisit once or twice a year. Let's make a couple things clear, though: "Hard Knock Life" is a truly genius single that will forever remain timeless, and many of Jay's verses on this album have yet to be topped. There's plenty of album cuts to enjoy; "A Week Ago" and "It's Like That" are personal favorites. In general, though, Vol. 2 suffers from unremarkable production, forgettable hooks, and fairly rocky sequencing (for years, I couldn't finish this album due to how boring of an introduction "Hand It Down" is). The fact that this album has connected with so many listeners is truly an astonishing feat, and it deserves recognition for that fact alone. Unfortunately, the overall album experience is simply not as balanced as many other entries in his career, and this is why I think it deserves a spot smack dab in the middle of this list.
Favorite Track: Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
6. In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997)
While Reasonable Doubt is now regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, it performed poorly and went fairly under the radar upon its release. Instead, Jay-Z’s sophomore record, Vol. 1, was the MC’s first real step into the limelight, and marked the beginning of a relationship with commercial success that would never be severed. This album sees Jay embodying what would eventually become his signature persona; a cold-blooded hustler whose penthouse views were never far from the corners he started at. Lyrically, he’s just as sharp as ever, and his energy balances between laid-back confidence and steely-eyed hunger. The major downgrade in this album is its production. There’s obviously some amazing beats on here, but while the beats on Reasonable Doubt are just as hard hitting as ever, Vol. 1’s instrumentation is far more forgettable. It’s still a phenomenal project with plenty to go back to, but there are also a decent number of skips, including the borderline unbearable “I Know What Girls Like,” which might just be the worst song Hov’s ever recorded. There’s no denying the greatness of cuts like “Where I’m From,” “The City is Mine,” and the Preemo-produced “A Million and One Questions,” and it’s these sorts of gems that populate the majority of Vol. 1. It may not have cracked the Top 5, but if you’ve never heard this one, get on that as soon as you possibly can.
Favorite Track: "Intro: A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More"
5. American Gangster (2007)
There's an age-old adage that feels especially apt for describing Jay-Z's tenth studio album: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. At no point on this album is Hov breaking new ground; it's still street talk, lyrical gymnastics, and soulful production. Yet, this is exactly what makes American Gangster such a success. After the lukewarm response to his industry comeback just a year prior, Jay returned to his roots and bounced back with an album that perfected the gangster-rap formula he'd embodied more than two decades before. In part, American Gangster is a concept album, loosely based on the 2007 film of the same name, which tells the story of real-life gangster Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington). While Jay-Z's album isn't directly affiliated with the film, he cited it as the primary inspiration, and saw his own climb to the top as a symbolic parallel to Lucas' tragic rise and fall. Whatever impact the film had on him, it's clear from the first moments of "Pray" that Hov definitely had something to say with this record. His lyricism is just as good as ever; vivid depictions of dramatic crime scenes that capture the very essence and insipid hypocrisy of the American Dream. On top of that, the production on this album makes Kingdom Come look like a impractical joke. The music samples heavily from 70's soul music, adding a handmade quality to the project and also serving as a homage to both Hov's childhood and the setting of the original film. This was the Jay-Z the world had missed, and after two decades of taking the science of the streets to the charts, American Gangster feels like the culmination of the hustler-turned-businessman narrative that had captivated fans of the Brooklyn Boy since the first time he gripped a mic.
Favorite Track: "American Dreamin'"
4. The Black Album (2003)
From this point forward, the order of this list is basically entirely unimportant. On any given day, any of these albums could suddenly rise to the top of my ranking, and this list is merely a reflection of how I'm feeling at the moment. Released in 2003, The Black Album was intended by the Jay-Z's final release, a dramatic send-off that would allow him to hang up his fitted-cap with dignity. While his retirement proved to be short-lived, The Black Album is still an incredible summation of everything Jay's career had built up to that point, and remains an undeniable highlight in his discography. It truly has something for everyone; smash hits like "99 Problems" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," club jams like "Change Clothes," and fan favorites like "Public Service Announcement" and "Threat." Aside from a few hooks and a hilarious contribution from Cedric the Entertainer, Jay-Z is the sole performer of this project, and he basks in the limelight with a level of swagger that's impressive even for him. This is Jay at his most confident, and every verse on this project oozes with the charisma of someone who knows exactly how much they're impressing you. In order to make this album feel as epic as possible, Hov enlisted a murderer's row of producers, most of whom crafted some of the most recognizable beats of their career. Kanye, The Neptunes, Rick Rubin, Timbaland, Just Blaze, Eminem, 9th Wonder; it's enough to make a rap fan shed a tear. The album is unfortunately held back by the infamous "Justify My Thug," which will probably forever be clowned by Hov fans for interrupting an otherwise perfect album. Ultimately, though, it doesn't even matter, because The Black Album is an undisputed hip-hop classic that defined an entire generation, and you better believe it still holds the hell up.
Favorite Track: Change Clothes
3. 4:44 (2017)
While it might be catchy to call 4:44 a response to Beyoncé’s album Lemonade, it’s really a gross oversimplification that misinterprets both albums’ intentions. Lemonade is more than just a middle-finger to an unfaithful husband, it’s a public celebration of finding the strength to forgive the love of your life when the world’s ear is pressed against your door. 4:44 is similarly multifaceted, it’s not just a confirmation of infidelity-accusations, it’s a man who’s built a career on embodying machismo killing his own ego and apologizing with complete honesty to the people his actions have hurt. 4:44 can be scarily transparent at times, and it’s hard to believe that one of the richest and most famous people on the planet feels like a close friend by the time the album comes to a close. For years, Hov’s albums suffered from sounding more and more manufactured. In contrast, 4:44 feels delicately handmade. The entire album’s production is handled by the legendary No.I.D, who supposedly crafted the beats by sampling from a playlist of Jay-Z’s favorite songs. The result is imperfect and raw, capturing a demo-ish quality that has never appeared on a Jay-Z album before or since. The beats are constantly shifting, never sticking to any sort of predictable loop or sample, and Jay-Z’s performances are dynamic, memorable, and emotional. He's spitting wisdom all over this project, but it's no longer delivered with the sneering detachment of albums like Magna Carta. Jay-Z is tapped in, on the clock, and frankly; better than ever. 4:44 isn’t just a comeback, it’s an epilogue to an incredible career that simultaneously silences haters while also baring a superstar's soul for the entire world to see.
Favorite Track: Caught Their Eyes (feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Reasonable Doubt (1996)
Of all the stories surrounding the creation of Jay-Z’s now legendary debut, perhaps my favorite involves Jay and his Roc-a-Fella associates renting a tiny office space in Manhattan so they could mimic the feel of a professional record label before they’d attained any sort of success. It’s a tale that’s indicative of the entire attitude behind Reasonable Doubt, a fake-it-till-you-make-it hustler’s mentality that doesn’t just want to win, it has to. It’s hard to believe that upon its release in 1996, Reasonable Doubt didn’t sell particularly well, and it certainly didn’t make Jay a star. It’s only been in retrospect that the album has come to be regarded as one of the best rap debuts of all time, and many Hov fans personal pick for his definitive pinnacle as an artist. If you’ve never heard the album, please kindly click out of this review and come back once you’ve done that due diligence. To call it timeless would be an understatement; “Dead Presidents” is so New York it could give “C.R.E.A.M.” a run for its money. Across a 15-song track-list, at least 10 are essential to any Jay-Z fan's rotation, and the iconic verses, choruses, and instrumentals are re-interpolated to this day. There's a true sense of dazzlement to Reasonable Doubt, and it really manages to immerse the listener in a glossy world of mafioso kingpins and late-night trips in a Chromed-out-Lexus. You can't help but feel cooler when tracks like "Feelin' It" are on, and by the time the album has come to a close, people who have never even seen a thousand in cash will feel the urge to purchase a fur coat and a bottle of Moët. This is truly an album that I am never not in the mood to hear, and as long as hip-hop is alive, Reasonable Doubt will remain one of the brightest moments in its history.
1. The Blueprint (2001)
OK, earlier, when I said that any album in the Top 4 could be eligible for the top spot, I might have been lying. The truth is, there was never a second where I considered anything other than The Blueprint taking the crown. Back in the days of iTunes and purchasing music, The Blueprint was one of the very first albums I ever bought, and it's still one of my favorite records ever made. Recorded during a slew of legal battles and in the midst of his infamous beef with Nas, The Blueprint captures Jay at a moment of back-to-the-wall scrappiness, which just so happened to occur alongside one of the greatest team of collaborators he's ever assembled. Just Blaze, Timbaland, a little up and comer named Kanye West; it really is a star-studded affair. Additionally, "Renegade" features a guest spot from Eminem at his peak, and while Jay-Z might have rapped his ass off on the track... just ask Nas who had the better verse. Jokes aside, this album embodies everything there is to love about Jay-Z's music. It's glamorous, hard-hitting, and poignant. Not a single second goes to waste on this album; every beat is perfected, every verse is iconic, and the entire experience is perfectly curated to entice re-listen after re-listen. The Blueprint truly is one of those musical landmarks that bears to be remembered for generations to come, and I have no doubt that even on my deathbed, nothing will make me smile like hearing Hov say, "Money talks, so talk mo' bucks."
Favorite Track: Song Cry
Comments