Music mogul JAY-Z is for the people even if they subscribe to Apple Music. The TIDAL owner has reportedly allowed the streaming giant to once again stream his Blueprint trilogy.
According to reports, Young Hov quietly hit the green light on Apple Music getting access to his classic studio projects years after pulling them.
After initially pulling his Blueprint trilogy from streaming services in favor of his company Tidal in 2016, on Wednesday (May 22), Jay-Z has brought those albums back to Apple Music. In 2016, Jay-Z yanked the Blueprint series from Apple Music, Spotify and Google Play. His 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt, vanished from streaming services back in 2015 and remains the only album from Jay-Z’s discography unavailable on Apple Music. (Billboard)
Back in 2017, reports emerged about JAY wanting his music pulled from services like Apple Music and Spotify.
In a statement to The Verge on Friday, Spotify said the removal of some of Jay Z’s catalog was done “at the request of the artist.” The leading streaming service no longer has any of Jay Z’s solo work, with only features and his projects with R. Kelly and Linkin Park remaining on the service. This is the third time Jay Z’s content has been pulled from the streaming services — after Tidal launched Jay Z removed his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, from all streaming services except for Tidal. Last year, Jay Z’s Blueprint series was removed from streaming services as well. (The Verge)
In March, JAY-Z protégé Freewayhit up Instagram to reflect on Young Hov’s Blueprint album getting archived in the Library of Congress.
The same week, the Library of Congress announced JAY’s legendary album will be inducted into the National Recording Registry.
Each year, the registry selects 25 recordings that are at least 10 years old and are deemed as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the National Recording Preservation Board. This year’s additions bring the total number of recordings in the registry to 525. Other albums added to the registry this year include Cyndi Lauper’s hit 1983 album She’s So Unusual and Curtis Mayfield’s classic 1972 blaxploitation soundtrack Superfly. (SPIN)
Blueprint is JAY’s sixth studio album and is widely regarded as one of his best works. The full-length also notably marks some of Kanye West and Just Blaze’s first breakout production credits. West produced four cuts on the project including “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” which became JAY’s first top ten single as a lead artist, while Just Blaze produced the Grammy-nominated “Song Cry” among others. (The FADER)
State Property‘s Freeway is officially a part of music history. The hip-hop veteran has saluted longtime mentor and former Roc-A-Fella Records labelmate JAY-Z on his The Blueprint album getting archived in the Library of Congress.
Freehit up Instagram Wednesday to reflect on Young Hov’s latest career achievement.
On Wednesday, the Library of Congress announced JAY’s legendary album will be inducted into the National Recording Registry.
Each year, the registry selects 25 recordings that are at least 10 years old and are deemed as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the National Recording Preservation Board. This year’s additions bring the total number of recordings in the registry to 525. Other albums added to the registry this year include Cyndi Lauper’s hit 1983 album She’s So Unusual and Curtis Mayfield’s classic 1972 blaxploitation soundtrack Superfly. (SPIN)
The rap legend’s album is among 25 records to be inducted, alongside music from Earth, Wind, & Fire (“September”), Nina Simone (“Mississippi Goddam”), Curtis Mayfield (“Super Fly”), Cyndi Lauper’s “She’s So Unusual,” and an excerpt from president Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 speech where he announced the death of Martin Luther King Jr. (Okayplayer)
Blueprint is JAY’s sixth studio album and is widely regarded as one of his best works. The full-length also notably marks some of Kanye West and Just Blaze’s first breakout production credits. West produced four cuts on the project including “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” which became JAY’s first top ten single as a lead artist, while Just Blaze produced the Grammy-nominated “Song Cry” among others. (The FADER)
Jay-Z‘s focus is on reforming the criminal justice system right now, but make no mistake, he’s still winning on the music front too. A total of 25 recordings are being inducted into the National Recording Registry and Hov’s work is among those being honored.
Alongside Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly,” Cyndi Lauper’s “She’s So Unusual,” and Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam,” Jay-Z’s The Blueprint will be recognized. “The most contemporary recording is hip-hop mogul Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint, which solidified his reputation as one of the greatest rappers in music,” a press release for this year’s additions states.
“The National Recording Registry honors the music that enriches our souls, the voices that tell our stories and the sounds that mirror our lives,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in the announcement. “The influence of recorded sound over its nearly 160-year history has been profound and technology has increased its reach and significance exponentially. The Library of Congress and its many collaborators are working to preserve these sounds and moments in time, which reflect our past, present and future,” she states.
With songs like “Never Change,” “Song Cry,” “Renegade,” “Takeover” and more The Blueprint is definitely an unforgettable moment in Jay-Z’s career—not to mention the album debuted at number one in the U.S., selling over 400,000 copies in its first week. Congrats to the GOAT.
Every year, The Library Of Congress selects 25 musical titles to add to its National Recording Registry. This act is meant to honor pieces of art for their cultural significance for future generations. A National Recording Preservation Board decides the annual inclusions. This week, JAY-Z’s The Blueprint album became the most modern addition to the archive. It also becomes Shawn Carter’s first work of art to receive this prestigious honor.
Jay’s sixth album released on September 11, 2001, the same day as the attacks on the United States. Arriving less than a year afterThe Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint marks the strongest pivot in Jay’s career. An artist with ties to The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac (in very different ways), to own the #1 spot squarely. One of the most poised contestants, Eminem, was a producer and lone guest MC on the album. The other contestant, Nas, was in Jay’s cross-hairs of high profile usurp, “The Takeover.” On The Blueprint, JAY-Zreinvented his sound with Kanye West, Just Blaze, and others during a series of sessions over just several days. The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder found the ultimate five-year progression from debut Reasonable Doubt. With a D-boy’s confidence and an exec’s get-it-done mentality, he pivoted to his 2000s stand as a Rap magnate. Often criticized for his resistance to vulnerability, Jay let the songs cry on his behalf. As the Roc Boy was lunging for the top, he made some of his most relatable music. The writing on The Blueprint is ultra-specific, but the themes, sounds, and attitude of the double platinum campaign seemingly spoke to all. Jigga had transformed to Hov’, and when he put his legacy on the line for the belt.
“The Takeover” was Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots-meets-Monopoly, as JAY-Z, perceptively an artistic underdog to Nas, knocked the Queensbridge icon off of his block. Also addressing Mobb Deep’s Prodigy, Jay was naming names—unlike his ’90s tussles on wax. “U Don’t Know” was the ringside celebration after the fight. Once dismissed as a drug-dealer MC, Jay-Z used the cold Just Blaze sample chop as a chance to show his “Michael Corleone”-like transition from New York crimes to The New York Times. The title track would also prove significant. The cold exterior of Hov gave way to an MC unafraid to not only acknowledge pain in his childhood, but one who said thank you to his circle. That, and “Song Cry” were hyper-aware reactions to Jay’s often lack of intimacy in songs. Together, the Roc’s in-house hit-makers of ‘Ye, Just, and BINK! made an album that may as well have been produced by one set of ears. The prominence of Soul, intricate slices, and broad instrumentation made this man’s words sound like prophecy. “Renegade” placed Jay and Eminem back-to-back, with a song that put the comparisons in the backseat, and the lyrically-dense message in the front. The Blueprint cemented Jay’s pole position, and it showed how a great MC and a gripping story still needs patience and refinement. In the Hip-Hop landscape, The Blueprint is a skyscraper.
Jay’s specificity, his sound, and his confidence gave way to 50 Cent, Cam’ron, T.I., Young Jeezy, The Game, Rick Ross, and a host of other dominant 2000s voices. Notably, Jay followed with two additional volumes of The Blueprint. However, few can argue that nothing compares to the double-platinum, chart-topping debut article.
Joining Jay’s album is Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly soundtrack album, Nina Simone’s Civil Rights outcry “Mississippi Goddamn,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” Cab Calloway’s “Minnie The Moocher” (which he performs in Blues Brothers), Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man,” Richie Valens’ “La Bamba,” and others.
Every year, The Library Of Congress selects 25 musical titles to add to its National Recording Registry. This act is meant to honor pieces of art for their cultural significance for future generations. A National Recording Preservation Board decides the annual inclusions. This week, JAY-Z’s The Blueprint album became the most modern addition to the archive. It also becomes Shawn Carter’s first work of art to receive this prestigious honor.
Jay’s sixth album released on September 11, 2001, the same day as the attacks on the United States. Arriving less than a year afterThe Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint marks the strongest pivot in Jay’s career. An artist with ties to The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac (in very different ways), to own the #1 spot squarely. One of the most poised contestants, Eminem, was a producer and lone guest MC on the album. The other contestant, Nas, was in Jay’s cross-hairs of high profile usurp, “The Takeover.” On The Blueprint, JAY-Zreinvented his sound with Kanye West, Just Blaze, and others during a series of sessions over just several days. The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder found the ultimate five-year progression from debut Reasonable Doubt. With a D-boy’s confidence and an exec’s get-it-done mentality, he pivoted to his 2000s stand as a Rap magnate. Often criticized for his resistance to vulnerability, Jay let the songs cry on his behalf. As the Roc Boy was lunging for the top, he made some of his most relatable music. The writing on The Blueprint is ultra-specific, but the themes, sounds, and attitude of the double platinum campaign seemingly spoke to all. Jigga had transformed to Hov’, and when he put his legacy on the line for the belt.
“The Takeover” was Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots-meets-Monopoly, as JAY-Z, perceptively an artistic underdog to Nas, knocked the Queensbridge icon off of his block. Also addressing Mobb Deep’s Prodigy, Jay was naming names—unlike his ’90s tussles on wax. “U Don’t Know” was the ringside celebration after the fight. Once dismissed as a drug-dealer MC, Jay-Z used the cold Just Blaze sample chop as a chance to show his “Michael Corleone”-like transition from New York crimes to The New York Times. The title track would also prove significant. The cold exterior of Hov gave way to an MC unafraid to not only acknowledge pain in his childhood, but one who said thank you to his circle. That, and “Song Cry” were hyper-aware reactions to Jay’s often lack of intimacy in songs. Together, the Roc’s in-house hit-makers of ‘Ye, Just, and BINK! made an album that may as well have been produced by one set of ears. The prominence of Soul, intricate slices, and broad instrumentation made this man’s words sound like prophecy. “Renegade” placed Jay and Eminem back-to-back, with a song that put the comparisons in the backseat, and the lyrically-dense message in the front. The Blueprint cemented Jay’s pole position, and it showed how a great MC and a gripping story still needs patience and refinement. In the Hip-Hop landscape, The Blueprint is a skyscraper.
Jay’s specificity, his sound, and his confidence gave way to 50 Cent, Cam’ron, T.I., Young Jeezy, The Game, Rick Ross, and a host of other dominant 2000s voices. Notably, Jay followed with two additional volumes of The Blueprint. However, few can argue that nothing compares to the double-platinum, chart-topping debut article.
Joining Jay’s album is Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly soundtrack album, Nina Simone’s Civil Rights outcry “Mississippi Goddamn,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” Cab Calloway’s “Minnie The Moocher” (which he performs in Blues Brothers), Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man,” Richie Valens’ “La Bamba,” and others.
