Ranking Jay-Z Albums

[Harry B]

Why do people like Vol 1?

It’s his worse produced album and features some of the worse songs of his career

I think KC isthe one worse than that one, maybe MCHG too

Because it had 2 super wack forced Puffy songs, 1 aight Blackstreet single but 11 straight classic songs.

 

[areohbee824]

My list always changes, currently:

Reasonable Doubt
The Blueprint
The Black Album
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
American Gangster
Vol. 2... The Hard Knock Life
4:44
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter
The Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse
Magna Carta... Holy Grail
The Blueprint 3
Kingdom Come

Edit: Everything stays in rotation from RD down to Vol. 3

 

[Cloud McFly]

Because it had 2 super wack forced Puffy songs, 1 aight Blackstreet single but 11 straight classic songs.

Agreed

Songs like A Million And One Questions, Imaginary Player, Streets Is Watching, Who U Wit II, Where I’m From, and You Must Love Me are some of the best songs he’s ever made.

 

[Big Mel]

Agreed

Songs like A Million And One Questions, Imaginary Player, Streets Is Watching, Who U Wit II, Where I’m From, and You Must Love Me are some of the best songs he’s ever made.

That’s why despite its jiggy songs Vol. 1 is forever his second best album to me.

 

[CrimsonTider]

Because it had 2 super wack forced Puffy songs, 1 aight Blackstreet single but 11 straight classic songs.

nikka hell no

That Album has maybe 3 all time Jay z songs at the most

 

[Absolut da poet ®]

Just make a poll



Reasonable Doubt
The Blueprint
The Black Album
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
American Gangster

Vol. 2... The Hard Knock Life
4:44
Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter

The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
The Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse
The Blueprint 3
Magna Carta... Holy Grail
Kingdom Come

 

[CM_Burns]

RD
Vol 3
Blueprint
Vol 1
BP 2
Vol 2
Black Album
Dynasty
Kingdom Come
American Gangster
4:44
BP 3
Magna Carta Holy Grail

His only weak albums are BP 3 and Magna Carta, I like the rest

 

[TheDarceKnight]

That’s dope how you put the CDs on top of each other like Jay did.

I never get why Dynasty is rated so low. It has some of Jay’s most underrated solo work (soon you’ll understand, dynasty intro, where have you been, and even squeeze first). Is it folks that didn’t like Rocafella? Most of the beats on there are also go-to freestyle beat mainstays to this day.

Anyways. My order is the following, but AG and V1 sometimes swap spots, as do Dynasty and V2

Reasonable Doubt
Blueprint
Black Album
Vol. 1
American Gangster
Vol. 3
444
Dynasty
Vol. 2
BP2
BP3
Kingdom Come
MCHG

 

[Cloud McFly]

That’s dope how you put the CDs on top of each other like Jay did.

I never get why Dynasty is rated so low. It has some of Jay’s most underrated solo work (soon you’ll understand, dynasty intro, where have you been, and even squeeze first). Is it folks that didn’t like Rocafella? Most of the beats on there are also go-to freestyle beat mainstays to this day.

Anyways. My order is the following, but AG and V1 sometimes swap spots, as do Dynasty and V2

Reasonable Doubt
Blueprint
Black Album
Vol. 1
American Gangster
Vol. 3
444
Dynasty
Vol. 2
BP2
BP3
Kingdom Come
MCHG

I feel the same about The Dynasty. I gotta rep you for mentioning two of Hov’s most underrated tracks in Soon You’ll Understand (in my top 5 Jay-Z songs), and Squeeze 1st (he spazzed on that shyt).

 

[TheDarceKnight]

I feel the same about The Dynasty. I gotta rep you for mentioning two of Hov’s most underrated tracks in Soon You’ll Understand (in my top 5 Jay-Z songs), and Squeeze 1st (he spazzed on that shyt).

Thanks breh!

IMO Squeeze 1st was like the blueprint for Threat.

 

[KingJay]

Current top 5, but it changes
Black Album
4:44
Blueprint
Reasonable Doubt
American Gangster

 

[areohbee824]

That’s dope how you put the CDs on top of each other like Jay did.

I never get why Dynasty is rated so low. It has some of Jay’s most underrated solo work (soon you’ll understand, dynasty intro, where have you been, and even squeeze first). Is it folks that didn’t like Rocafella? Most of the beats on there are also go-to freestyle beat mainstays to this day.

Anyways. My order is the following, but AG and V1 sometimes swap spots, as do Dynasty and V2

Reasonable Doubt
Blueprint
Black Album
Vol. 1
American Gangster
Vol. 3
444
Dynasty
Vol. 2
BP2
BP3
Kingdom Come
MCHG

The Dynasty is HOV's most underrated to me even with all the features. "This Can't Be Life"

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Why do people like Vol 1?

It’s his worse produced album and features some of the worse songs of his career
o

I’m the opposite and I don’t get how people don’t like it.

Yes, it has 2-3 of the worst songs he’s ever made, but I’ve never seen an album with a few mis-steps punished more than Volume 1. Every Jay album has a couple big misses but people don’t let him live these ones down.

On top of that, even City is Mine is sort of cheesy in a fun way and it’s not awful awful.

It’s got 10-11 joints of incredible material. He was still sort of in his Reasonable Doubt bag but also toned down the ziggity fast rap flow thing.

Some of his best songs ever are on there. Imaginary Player. Where I’m From. A Million and One. Streets is Watching. Friend or Foe ‘98. You Must Love Me.

All bulletproof classic material. I’d also argue the track sequencing is a little funny and if improved people might rank it higher.

 

[DJ Mart-Kos]

I think all Jay albums got classic songs on it.
I actually like it that people finally start to realize that Vol. 1 is one of his best albums.

I do think Blueprint 2 is a real underrated album to. I used to like it better than The Black Album back in the day.

 

[Izanami]

BP2 is criminally underrated. Might be the point where Jay entered his prime.