Ten Years Since The Blueprint……

It’s ten years since Jay-Z’s classic album, The Blueprint, was first released, and met with somewhat unexpected success.

Of course, the album was already likely to be popular with fans. It was the rappers sixth studio album, and one which was made in an exceptionally short space of time, largely due to the fact that Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials (Kellz), of which the outcome was uncertain. It was not know how much longer Jay-Z would be a free man, and so The Blueprint was reportedly cut in just two weeks.

The release date was also pushed up, amid fears that tracks would be leaked and spread online. However, resulted in the new release date clashing with the tragic events of September 11th. However, while a number of artists did experience a negative effect on music sales in the light of 9/11, The Blueprint went on to be a huge success. Bob Dylan‘s ‘Love and Theft’ and Mariah Carey‘s ‘Glitter’, which were also released on this day, both suffered from the resulting chaos of the terrorist attack. The Blueprint, however, managed to sell over 426,000 copies in its opening week, reaching number one on the Billboard Chart.

Since then, The Blueprint has gone on to sell over two million copies, while becoming certified as double platinum. Ten years later, the album is still enjoyed by music fans of many genres. Whether they are listening to tracks such as ‘Izzo (H.O.V.A.)’ while having a session of Party Poker or dancing to ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ in a club, this album doesn’t evokes the sense of sadness which is more commonly associated with 9/11. Instead, with samples from a number of critically acclaimed soul artists, it has perhaps more of a celebration of America’s great musical heritage.

Ten years later, The Blueprint is still often recognized as Jay-Z’s finest work, holding as much significance now as it did then.