I just got finished watching Jay's documentary, Fade To Black and I have now realized his art and talent and most of those songs that he performed seem pretty recognizable. I really want to listen to some of his stuff, so does anyone who is a Jay-Z fan know which album I should start out with first? Some people say that the Blueprint is the best and others say that Reasonable Doubt is the peak of all of his powers and the one I should check out first!

black album..i don't have any of his other ones..so i don't know what they're like. all i know is i looooove the black album and have been listening 2 it nonstop lately

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Yeah, I've been listening to alot of Outkast stuff lately, so I really haven't been much interested in his work that much, until I watched the Fade To Black documentary!
[Edited 6/28/05 22:27pm]

start with the blueprint, then reasonable doubt and life and times vol 2...u can check out the rest later. this collection pretty much show the progression though not in order of the jigga man ...but u cant get an y better than the black album, but like most say, his minor efforts are better the most other rappers so called good albums.

love2thenines said:

Yeah...I agree...A lot of people swear by Reasonable Doubt, which is a strong debut...but you should start with the Blueprint and then go to Reasonable Doubt...The Blueprint to me is his best and most soulful work...Kanye West's production is incredible and Jay-Z gets very personal on a lot of tracks...a very solid pick-up

Another question...What about The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse?

silverchild said:

its ok, some good tracks, rest is filler

silverchild said:

I didn't even buy this one. Probably the least essential.

After Black Album, I would suggest checking out his studio albums in this order.


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

'all eyez on me' or 'life after death'

PlushFunk said:

Hmmm...that's a hard choice. I say both of them because although it was the last albums they released while they were alive, the albums have a worthy amount of material that is excellent and and bumping. Life After Death really got my attention when it was released back in 97 because it was so epic and I really enjoyed more than his debut album. Well, I first heard All Eyez On Me this year and there was a lot of filler here. I loved most of the material, but it was just hard to sit down and listen to this album for almost an hour. Disc 1 of AEOM was a near-flawless disc that would've made an amazing album but with Disc 2, there were alot of flaws that I came across. I luckily grew on this album but, I would've edited it. I think that Me Against The World was a more tighter and concise album. So, I would pick both All Eyez On Me and Life After Death.
[Edited 6/29/05 12:54pm]

CinisterCee said:

I agree with Cee. YOu have the classics Dead Presidents, Feelin' it, Can't Konck the Hustle, Bring it on, Politics as Usual, 22 Twos, Can I live?, and most of all Brooklyn's Finest with Notorious B.I.G!!!!!

The Grey Album.

So what's the big difference between The Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt?

silverchild said:

A real in studio duet between Jay and Biggie and Dj Priemier

Soulchild82 said:

i agree with this list, however i would put the mtv unplugged ahead of the blueprint 2,....i just think the roots added another dimension to those songs, plus it proved the J could still freak this songs with a live band.

http://www.thepurplealbum.com/

The Purple Album

I think "The Blueprint" is his best album. Probably my favorite rap album. After that, I lost interest but kept buying the discs. "Blueprint 2" was especially bad. Although I've heard a lot of the tracks from "Reasonable Doubt", I still don't own it. It's one of those CDs I just have to break down and buy, even if it's regular price!

The Life and Times...Volume 3

Nah, just get The Roots.

silverchild said:

The Blueprint is an enjoyable - easy to listen, clear, and production-ally fantastic.



Song Cry
Girls Girls Girls
The Takeover
Aint No Love
Izzo
Rulers Back (great INTRO!)
U Dont Know

the ONLY throwaway would probably be Hola Hovito, kinda lame.

Be sure to keep on listening after Momma Loves Me goes off for 2 bonus trax including a Hot revamp of Girls Girls Girls

(Old soul song sample:)
Im not a one girls guy....
And they know it
When it comes 2 love, I dont lie
And the girls respect b4 it
Aint gonna say my nose cant be over
Right now it's just 2 many fine ladies (out there)
2 choose one from, Im trying girls out!
(Waiting patiently)
Just trying girls out!
Until I find the one 4 me



After that The Black Album


Reasonable Doubt is coo. It's hard edgy and gritty. The beats are really rugged and hard. I loved the track with Biggie and a couple of others, but I dont really listen to it that often.

paisleypark4 said:

Just from listening to some of the sound samples, I would definitely agree with you!

silverchild said:

Thank you, now get it used, on sale or find someone who can burn it (though would suggest buying it cuz it would make it more relevant of a classic than a grey or 'cool color' CD-R). Plus u can see all the samples that Kanye and Just Blaze took

[Edited 6/29/05 23:15pm]

silverchild said:

Are u 4real?

Start with Reasonable Doubt.

Then get In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.

I stopped buying Jay-Z records after Hard Knock Life so I dunno anything post-1999.