I am really interested in seeing people's opinion on this.
1. Reasonable Doubt
"I'm smooth but deadly like a pearl- handled pistol." That has to be one of the greatest rap lyrics of all-time. I pick this one as my favorite, because there is genius on every song. The lyrics are incredible and the production is amazing. It's a flawless album.
2. The Blueprint
I give this album the heads up over AG for two reasons, AG isn't really original (he bites a movie), and Kanye West's influence on Blueprint.I didn't get heavy into music until the 11th grade, I was about 16 in 2002. This was the first album that I listened to in full length, three times in a row. The only album, actually. On top of that, I did that the day it came out. 9/11/01. Highlights: "Heart of the City," "You Don't Know," "Girls, Gilrs, Girls." (Jay's lyrics on "Renegade" are great, but "Eminem murdered him...")It doesn't have the rawness of Reasonable Doubt, or the lyrics. But,definently a classic album.
3. American Gangster
"Survive the dorught, I wish you well" I wish that the film was released a year earlier so the world would not have heard Kingdom Come. The production on this album is stellar, you can argue that it is really close to Blueprint, maybe better. "Ignorant Shit," is really clever so is ,"Say Hello". "I know" never really excited me. I think it's the beat. Lyrically, Jay-Z gets down right NASTY on "Success." And the production and story he tells on "American Dreaming" goes hand-and-hand. Great album, I just wish that it wasn't inspried by a movie.
4. The Dynasty Roc La Familia
I honestly had this one ranked 5th under The Black Album. But I rather an ambitious and hard Jay-Z album over a swan song. ( I listened to the Black Album a year and a half straight. I would actually give it a classic rating. I just perfer this one better.) I think if Jay-Z was to ever be classified as a gangster rapper, this album should be the reason. This album feels like a Showtime Lakers fastbreak against some biddy league team. Memphis Bleek spit the best lyrics of his career and Beanie Sigel was just as sick. "This Can't Be Life," Hip-Hop classic. I think the direction of this album should have stood hood and gangsta. "Not Guilty," should not be here. I think he tried to make a complete album, when just staying with raw songs could have been amazing.
5. The Black Album
Personally, I think this is my favorite Jay-Z album. I say personally because it came out the year I started college and it has Biggie on the last track saying, "You have to treat everyday like it's your first day as an intern," The whole album motivated me, but It's not one of Jay-Zs best albums. You can argue it up to 3rd best, that's the hightest I'll go. The Lyrics aren't amazing, they are up to par, but no where near Reasonable Doubt or the others. Hightligts: "Allure," "PSA" (The illest interlude of all time.)
6. Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life
The three albums in the trilogy are a toss up. It seems like these were the years where he was looking for radio. Since this album had many radio hits, I'll take this one over the rest. Not really a great album though. Is "Nigga what, Nigga who," one of the greatest rap beats of all time or what?
7. Vol. 3 Life and Times of S. Carter
I honestly don't think Jay-Z was trying to be lyrical at all on this album. He was just spitting, but I honestly really like this one too."There's Been A Murder," is a great story with great production." It almost feels like it could fit on Life After Death how it is so thematic. "NYMP," and "COme and Get me," are great songs. There is way too much filler on this album. You can scratch off, "Things that you do," "Snoopy Track," "S.Carter" and "Pop 4 Roc". I honestly believe that Mariah Carey and Juvenile are on this album as a return for him being on theirs. I think this album is good too, but the filler brings it down, and he isn't really lyrical. Big highlights here though.
"Watch Me," (Did you know that Dr.Dre did not make that beat, IRV GOTTI did?) "
8. The Blueprint 2 The Gift and the Curse
So much filler here also. So much filler that Jay-Z re-released it in a smaller version. "Meet the Parents" is a great song. I don't like this album that much though. It's too long, and there aren't many highlights. Except : "WHo knew the dude who loved apple pies from McDonald's, would soon be the boss of the Big Apple."
9. Kingdom Come
I really don't know where to put this album. I kind of hate it, because it seems like Cam'ron made him come back. The Intro, "Do u Wanna Ride," "30 Sometthing," are promising. Those songs are the only highlights. "Trouble," and "Dig a hole," serve no purpose. I put this one over Vol. 1 because the production is better.
10. In My Lifetime Vol. 1
The production on this album wasn't that good. On the song "This goes out," the trackmasters say "Trackmasters," it seems like every 2 seconds. Also, the beat for the song with Lil Kim and Puff Daddy is terrible. The best two songs are the two intro songs, and Streets is Watching. "My mind is like a flower in Bloom," how ill is that? Jay-Z actually considers this his worst album.
My Trusted MOGs
If I were to answer this question in depth, I'd be typing for an hour. So i'll try to keep it short.
1. The Blueprint "You Don't Know", "Takeover", "Renegades", "Hola Hovito"... all great songs. I think this album was the pinnacle. When you mix lyrics with kanye's beat and a commercial appeal... you get a classic album.
"Nah muhfuckas.. yall better run to the post office and get a job muhfuckas.... or starve muhhfuckas cause Jay's been the only one eatin thus-far-sub-par muhhfuckas"
2. Reasonable Doubt RD stands the test of time as a great album. I never once listened to this album until years after it came out, I was blown away.
3. The Black Album I actually don't think this is "a classic album" like a lot of hip hop fans, but it WAS very good. "Threat" was fucking violent poetry to me.
"Yall niggas is targets, y'all garages for bullets please don't make me park it in your upper level valet a couple strays from the .38 special ...nigga... god bless you."
4. The Blueprint 2 People slept on this album, I think it's undervalued for the simple fact that it came out after The Blueprint, which was impossible to live up to. True... it had filler, but what double album doesn't?? "A Dream" and "The Watcher" are two of my favorite Jay-Z songs..... Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and Rakim!!! That track was vicious.
5. American Gangster It was a cool album, but I only listen to a small handfull of the songs still..
6. The Dynasty I still think "I just wanna love you" is the best single Jay-Z has ever released. That was the very definition of a banger.
7. Volume 2 - Hard Knock Life It was cool... I just never got into it. I don't think it was a bad album but it just never connected with me.
8. Kingdom Come Horrible album. Sometimes I even find myself forgetting that Kingdom Come even exists because it was such a disappointment. "Do You Wanna Ride" is the best song on the album. I almost wish that song was on another album so people would pay attention to it. Also... Jay's last verse on "Oh My God" is crazy... one of my favorite Jay verses ever.
9. In My lifetime - Vol.1 see "Hard Knock Life"
10. The Life & Times Of S.Carter This is the only Jay-Z album that I can say is flat out BAD. I refuse to listen to it anymore.
My Trusted MOGs
It's funny that you say that Black Album isn't classic, and I say you can argue it up to 3, and you hvae it 3rd. You only broke my heart with placing Vol. 3 last. It has a lot of filler, but the last 3 songs should put it over Vol. 1.