Can I Get A: Deeper Look At Jay Z’s Album Ranking

Study the pros and cons of Hov’s list.

Can I Get A: Deeper Look at Jay Z's Album Ranking - Birthdays are a wonderful time to reflect on life, and what a life Jay Z's had so far. Celebrating 44 years this week, he went ahead and did his fans a favor by ranking his solo discography and posting it to his Life + Times website with a few notes on why he chose the order he chose. Check out the list and few more insights about the projects. Do you agree with Hov?(Photos: Def Jam, Roc Nation)

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Can I Get A: Deeper Look at Jay Z's Album Ranking - Birthdays are a wonderful time to reflect on life, and what a life Jay Z's had so far. Celebrating 44 years this week, he went ahead and did his fans a favor by ranking his solo discography and posting it to his Life + Times website with a few notes on why he chose the order he chose. Check out the list and few more insights about the projects. Do you agree with Hov?(Photos: Def Jam, Roc Nation)

Jay Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996) - We all know that Reasonable Doubt was the debut album of Jigga but it's also the first album cover Mannion shot, too. Taking an initial gamble with each other, the photographic memories continued with In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3... Life and Times of Shawn Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint and The Black Album.(Photo: Roc A Fella Records)

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1. Reasonable Doubt - The Facts: Peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard 200. Platinum certified.Haters Say: "The sound is not as timeless."They say you never forget your first. Jay Z definitely holds his seminal debut, Reasonable Doubt, close to the heart. He ranked the masterpiece number one on his list and with good reason. The album, released June 25, 1996, was a vivid autobiographical introduction into the life of a hustler-turned-rapper. In an era when heavyweights Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were spearheading the West Coast dominance over hip hop; Jay joined Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, and fellow Brooklynite Notorious B.I.G. in forging a resurgence of East Coast rap. Over soulful beats Jay captivated listeners with his effortless flow and piercing lyricism. Though the critically-acclaimed LP did not garner widespread attention initially, it went on to inspire the candid drug kingpin-...

The Evolution of Kanye West - Kanye became one of the most sought-after producers after he crafted several standouts on Jay-Z's 2001 classic The Blueprint. His use of sped-up soul samples turned hip hop production on its ear.(Photo: Courtesy Roc-A-Fella Records)

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2. The Blueprint - The Facts: Debuted No. 1. Double platinum in sales. Received a classic rating in hip hop mags The Source and XXL.Haters Say: "Em killed you on your own song."No album in Jay Z’s catalog is more era-defining and sonically influential than The Blueprint. With its release forever linked to the September 11 terrorist attacks, the thirteen track opus debuted at No. 1, while changing the scope of hip hop production in the early 2000s. Eschewing the trendy futuristic new millennium beats that were all too popular then, courtesy of Timbaland and The Neptunes, Hova selected a soul-tinged sonic backdrop constructed by two upstart beatmakers, Kanye West and Just Blaze. Though the album only sported two Top 20 singles on the Billboard 100 (“Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” “Girls, Girls, Girls,”) its hailed by critics for its start to finish impact and remembered by many for the...

Photo By Photo: Courtesy Roc-A-Fella Records

Jay-Z - “Interlude / December 4th,” The Black Album (2003) - “I learned that all things must come to an end...” says the voice on the first track of Jay-Z’s then farewell album before blasting into “December 4th.” The track includes spoken word interludes from HOV’s mother over a “That’s How Long” by The Chi-Lites sample. It’s a heartfelt account of HOV’s early life immersed in triumph.(Photo: Roc-a-Fella Records)

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3. The Black Album - The Facts: Debuted No. 1. Certified Triple platinum. Haters Say: "He should have never picked "Change Clothes" as a single."If this were Jay Z’s actual last album, this would be the way to sign off. This would be Jordan in Game 6. Released on November 14, 2003, The Black Album was presented to fans as Jay’s swan song, his farewell to game. The Brooklyn MC was set to retire after this, his eighth studio album, but he wasn’t going quietly. There was an air bravura that radiated throughout the LP, which found the superstar rapping with a boulder sized chip on his shoulder as if he was being forced out rather than leaving on his own accord. Rap fans would rue the day he left is the position he took on songs like “What More Can I Say” and “Encore,” sounding like he had enough of feeling unappreciated. Yet he rhymed with a young MC’s vigor and re...

Jay Z, Bentley Azure Convertible - Leading the rap pack, Jay Z's lady of choice once was the the Bentley Azure Convertible. Many of us dreamed about owning one with butter leather interior - an ode to movies like Belly and Paid in Full. (Photo: Def Jam)

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4. Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life - The Facts: First No. 1 album. Over five million sold. Won Grammy for Best Rap AlbumHaters Say: “Jay Z went commercial on this album.”All the great ones have that moment when they arrive. It’s that instance when their talent and aspiration meet to fulfill their true potential. Jay Z had that moment on September 29, 1998 with the release of Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life. The third album in his catalog catapulted the rapper to superstar status. Helped largely by the mainstream appeal of the lead single “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” the project boasted more radio-friendly production from producers like Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and Irv Gotti. Despite the gripes from hip hop purists, who consider this a crossover album, it’s the project that highly regarded by Jay’s Generation Y fan base. This is the Reasonable Doubt for many Millennials. The way Hov sees it, n...

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(Photo: Roc-a-Fella Records)

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5. American Gangster - The Facts: Tied Elvis Presley for the second most No. 1 albums. Sold 425,000 copies in its first week.Haters Say: “Jay’s drug raps are not believable anymore. He’s too corporate.”If Kingdome Come was Jay Z’s "first game back" then American Gangster was the game he performed like his old self. After struggling in his return from semi-retirement, Hov released the critically-acclaimed concept album that accompanied the Frank Lucas bio-pic starring Denzel Washington. Jay did a masterful job of juxtaposing his days as a hustler with the life of the notorious heroin kingpin. The familiarity of the storyline clearly helped Mr. Carter rediscover his groove. It was like serving up a batting practice fastball to a struggling slugger. Jay was able to find the sweet spot sonically as well thanks to soulful tracks that also spoke to the 70’s era music that defi...

Photo By Photo: Roc-a-Fella Records/ Roc-a-Fella Records

Album of the Year: Jay Z – Magna Carta Holy Grail - Jay Z didn't just shake up the world with his new age marketing scheme for the release of Magna Carta Holy Grail but he delivered one of the most introspective and sophisticated albums of his career. (Photo: RocNation)

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6. Magna Carta Holy Grail - The Facts: Sold 528,000 copies in its first week. Was platinum certified after offering free downloads via an innovative deal with Samsung.Haters Say: “Offering free downloads to go platinum? C’mon son! He doesn’t cover any new ground lyrically.”Some folks were surprised at how high Jay Z ranked his latest album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. In his explanation, Hov gave a list of songs (“F---wit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail”) from the LP that justifies its position, but it seems like it could slide down in the ranking over time. The newest of the material makes it hard to determine how it holds up against past works. (Photo: RocNation)

Photo By Photo: RocNation

7. In My Lifetime, Vol. 1  - The Facts: Certified platinum. Jay Z's first album to debut Top 5 on the Billboard 200.Haters Say: "Sunshine kills this album...f---..." Jay Z's second album was his first to release with major label backing (Def Jam). Sean "Puffy" Combs also got behind the boards as an executive producer (most noticeably so on "City Is Mine," which features Blackstreet). Some core fans were suspect that he went too commercial, but there was also a marked lyrical growth as Jay reeled with frustration following Biggie's death. It was released Nov. 4, 1997, debuting at No. 3.(Photo: Def Jam) 

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7. In My Lifetime, Vol. 1  - The Facts: Certified platinum. Jay Z's first album to debut Top 5 on the Billboard 200.Haters Say: "Sunshine kills this album...f---..." Jay Z's second album was his first to release with major label backing (Def Jam). Sean "Puffy" Combs also got behind the boards as an executive producer (most noticeably so on "City Is Mine," which features Blackstreet). Some core fans were suspect that he went too commercial, but there was also a marked lyrical growth as Jay reeled with frustration following Biggie's death. It was released Nov. 4, 1997, debuting at No. 3.(Photo: Def Jam) 

Jay Z, Blueprint 3 - The Blueprint is a classic. Blueprint 2, Jay Z’s double-disc follow up, is widely viewed with mixed feelings. Blueprint 3 falls somewhere in between. The 2009 release included smashes like “Empire State of Mind” and “Run This Town,” as well as features from Drake, J. Cole, Kid Cudi and more.  (Photo: Def Jam)

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8. The Blueprint 3 - The Facts: Dethroned Elvis Presly as the U.S. artist with most No. 1 albums. "Empire State of Mind" won the Grammy for Best Rap Song.Haters Say: "Jay Z joined the Illuminati."Jay Z grew his hair out while completing the Blueprint trilogy, and he left it that way for the set's first video, "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)," which premiered after the 2009 BET Awards.When the whole album released, it wound up breaking Elvis Presley's record for the most No. 1 debuts. It also gave New York a new anthem ("Empire State of Mind" featuring Alicia Keys), and introduced the world-at-large to J. Cole. (Photo: Def Jam)

9. The Dynasty - The Facts: Debuted at No. 1. Sold 557,000 in its first week. Haters Say: "This is more a crew album than a solo album.""The intro alone..." Jay wrote about this ninth pick, released Oct. 31, 2000. On it, he gave shine to the entire Roc-a-Fella family (with Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel assisting on most of the songs), as well as some newcomer producers you may have heard of, The Neptunes and Kanye West.(Photo: Island Def Jam)

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9. The Dynasty - The Facts: Debuted at No. 1. Sold 557,000 in its first week. Haters Say: "This is more a crew album than a solo album.""The intro alone..." Jay wrote about this ninth pick, released Oct. 31, 2000. On it, he gave shine to the entire Roc-a-Fella family (with Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel assisting on most of the songs), as well as some newcomer producers you may have heard of, The Neptunes and Kanye West.(Photo: Island Def Jam)

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10. Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter - The Facts: Debuted No. 1. Sold 462,000 in its first week.Haters Say: "Too many album fillers."Dec. 28, 1999, Jay dropped this set, which was meant to be a return to his Reasonable Doubt sound. This time, the world was ready for him. It moved half a mil in a week and was certified triple platinum by 2001. The video for "Big Pimpin'," it's most commercially successful single, was shot in Trinidad during Carnival, and is something of a rap legend. The only miss was the under-utilized Mariah Carey.(Photo: Def Jam) 

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10. Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter - The Facts: Debuted No. 1. Sold 462,000 in its first week.Haters Say: "Too many album fillers."Dec. 28, 1999, Jay dropped this set, which was meant to be a return to his Reasonable Doubt sound. This time, the world was ready for him. It moved half a mil in a week and was certified triple platinum by 2001. The video for "Big Pimpin'," it's most commercially successful single, was shot in Trinidad during Carnival, and is something of a rap legend. The only miss was the under-utilized Mariah Carey.(Photo: Def Jam) 

The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse: Where Are They Now? - The best blueprints create buildings that last. And Jay-Z's The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse is definitely lasting. The 2002 album is sometimes overlooked, but it was filled with big songs and big moments. And it all happened thanks to the big names behind it—the numerous rappers, singers, producers and more that helped Jay put it all together. Today (Nov. 12), 10 years after The Blueprint 2 dropped, we're taking a look back at the album's all-star team. Diamonds are forever, indeed. —Alex Gale (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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11. The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse - The Facts: Went gold in its first week. Debuted No. 1.Haters Say: "Too many songs. F---- Guru and Hip Hop, ha"The collection came as a double disc on Nov. 12, 2002 with criticism that it sounded too pop. The Gift, the more upbeat of the two full-length CDs, features a track with Biggie and Faith Evans, and his public announcement of his relationship with Bey, "'03 Bonnie & Clyde"). The Curse, was closer to the pavement, featuring M.O.P., Scarface, and much of the Roc-a-Fella roster.(Photo: Def Jam)

Jay Z, Kingdom Come - Jay’s return from “retirement” was a critical flop and in a countdown of all of Jay Z’s albums, Kingdom Come will mostly likely be in the last spot. Since then Jay’s managed to find the wonderful line of critical acclaim and commercial smash with Watch the Throne and Holy Grail... Magna Carta.(Photo: Def Jam)

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12. Kingdom Come - The Facts: Highest selling debut week (680,000) for a Jay Z album. Debuted No. 1. Lost Grammy for Best Rap Album to Kanye West's Graduation.Haters Say: "Why did he come back?"In October 2006, after a shocking retirement in 2003, Jay Z returned. Just Blaze sounded the alarm. The warning shot: "Show Me What You Got." First week sales of 680,000 made it Jay's fastest-selling debut.The rest of the album, however, suffered from that "state of emergency" vibe (aside from his critically acclaimed response to Hurricane Katrina, "Minority Report"). Jay's note on this one: "First game back, don't shoot me."(Photo: Def Jam)