Album: “The Blueprint”
Release Date: September 11, 2001
Singles: “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” “Girls, Girls, Girls” “Jigga That Nigga” “Song Cry”
Best Songs: “Never Change” “Song Cry” “U Don’t Know” “All I Need”
Although being Public Enemy No. 1 (feuding with Prodigy, Nas, DMX and LOX), Jay-Z managed to maintain his seat on the throne as the one and only King of New York with The Blueprint. 2001 was the peak of Jay-Z as a lyricist in this semi 70s-themed album which birthed the career of Kanye West and Just Blaze.
One of the best lines: “I got a little two-two I call her Peggy Sue, When I’m off in the club she fit right in my shoe, Gotta switch her to my waist, just in case, A clown wanna flip gotta reach for my bitch, Wanna act out a movie I could give you a clip, But no ad-libbing nigga stick to the script” – “All I Need”