The Daily Spin II

Jay-Z | The Blueprint 3

Welcome back to the Daily Spin. For the uninitiated, this is the series in which I review an album every day of 2025.

As was the case two years ago, my favorite song from each album can be found at the playlist linked here.

Album: The Blueprint 3 (2009)

Artist: Jay-Z

Link:

I know I’m outing myself as a youngin’ here, but this was my real introduction to Jay-Z, Collision Course aside.

My take on this similar to my take on Prince’s Purple Rain - a few 10s surrounded by a whole bunch of 4s and 5s, like running into my girlfriend in a bar but having to politely turn down John Cena to get to her.

When it’s good, it’s the best of that late aughts sound, somewhere between recession pop and dreaming sound, this idea that you could claw out of hell and make something of yourself.

When it’s bad, it’s just a very rich man sounding off on the poor like “damn why ain’t you like me” which is harsh, really, and it feels in particularly poor taste reviewing this year.

Still, this is better than most third installments of franchises.

Rating: 7/10

Best Tracks: Run This Town

Worst Tracks: Reminder