Never Change is Jay-Z's greatest song ever.

futuremd · Oct 27, 2012

Can someone break this down for me?

Illphillip or ninjahood or someone who considers themselves in tune with NYC hip-hop.

How much did Blueprint change the game and why is it considered a classic? I've read reviews but I don't really "get it"

Mind you, I love the album. But that was before I really knew how many considered it a classic.

I barely remembered when it dropped and while I like the music on it, I can't tell if that alone makes it a classic or if it really was something "new" to the genre.

Maximus Meridius · Oct 27, 2012

Probably the best album ever IMO. I Listened to it everyday for like 2 straight months when it first came out. I think I was 13 when it came out, this album is like the soundtrack to my youth.

thunderchunk69 · Oct 27, 2012

FutureMD said:
Can someone break this down for me?

Illphillip or ninjahood or someone who considers themselves in tune with NYC hip-hop.

How much did Blueprint change the game and why is it considered a classic? I've read reviews but I don't really "get it"

Mind you, I love the album. But that was before I really knew how many considered it a classic.

I barely remembered when it dropped and while I like the music on it, I can't tell if that alone makes it a classic or if it really was something "new" to the genre.

you serious?
YOU?
I know you've heard of this Kanye guy, right?
The blueprint got him an article in the source that I hung on my wall.
It was the pinnacle of his soul sample era, it dropped on 9/11
It was a great album too, so I guess that counts.

futuremd · Oct 27, 2012

ThunderChunk69 said:
FutureMD said:

Can someone break this down for me?

Illphillip or ninjahood or someone who considers themselves in tune with NYC hip-hop.

How much did Blueprint change the game and why is it considered a classic? I've read reviews but I don't really "get it"

Mind you, I love the album. But that was before I really knew how many considered it a classic.

I barely remembered when it dropped and while I like the music on it, I can't tell if that alone makes it a classic or if it really was something "new" to the genre.

Click to expand...

you serious?
YOU?
I know you've heard of this Kanye guy, right?
The blueprint got him an article in the source that I hung on my wall.
It was the pinnacle of his soul sample era, it dropped on 9/11
It was a great album too, so I guess that counts.

I know when it dropped. I'm talking about the music itself. Were the samples THAT revolutionary?

Yeah, I know kanyes role in it quite well.

How do I put this...I know the backstory behind all of it and how long it took to record. I get all that.

But I don't get its cultural significance in context other than I love the songs.

I'm just trying to put things in perspective here. I understand all the lyrics. I understand how the record came together. I get all of that. I'm just trying to measure its significance.

thunderchunk69 · Oct 27, 2012

FutureMD said:
ThunderChunk69 said:

FutureMD said:

Can someone break this down for me?

Illphillip or ninjahood or someone who considers themselves in tune with NYC hip-hop.

How much did Blueprint change the game and why is it considered a classic? I've read reviews but I don't really "get it"

Mind you, I love the album. But that was before I really knew how many considered it a classic.

I barely remembered when it dropped and while I like the music on it, I can't tell if that alone makes it a classic or if it really was something "new" to the genre.

Click to expand...

you serious?

YOU?

I know you've heard of this Kanye guy, right?

The blueprint got him an article in the source that I hung on my wall.

It was the pinnacle of his soul sample era, it dropped on 9/11

It was a great album too, so I guess that counts.

Click to expand...

I know when it dropped. I'm talking about the music itself. Were the samples THAT revolutionary?

Yeah, I know kanyes role in it quite well.

How do I put this...I know the backstory behind all of it and how long it took to record. I get all that.

But I don't get its cultural significance in context other than I love the songs.

I'm just trying to put things in perspective here. I understand all the lyrics. I understand how the record came together. I get all of that. I'm just trying to measure its significance.

so you're wondering why you don't find something "revolutionary" when you're listening to it out of it's original timeframe?
come on, you're better than that.
if it wasn't revolutionary Kanye wouldn't be on like he is now.
it was right after "Oh Boy" the biggest Def Jam single at that point. Kanye perfected that sound and Jay owned the rights when this dropped.

antidope · Oct 27, 2012

It's the greatest album ever made. Outside of the actual content, you have to consider the fact that it was the first album that I remember that was heavily bootlegged. Bootlegged to the point that it got pushed up, it dropped on September eleventh, and even with all that was going on, it was still on people's mind(I know it was on mine and I didn't even get it until Friday) still did great numbers, and was widely regarded as his best album and let's not forget that this album marked retirement number one. To go out at the time with your best album? I can't think of anyone who did that at any point in their career. Even non JAY-Z fans had this album on repeat for months. The Blueprint is a masterpiece in every aspect.

aircommandermarsfiend · Oct 27, 2012

Jay Z is ight, but dude Greezee has a 1999 join date? I didn't even have the damn internet back then.

sumrndmdude · Oct 27, 2012

1. D'Evils

2. Dead President (1,2,3)

3. momma loves me

4. Give it to me

5. heart of the city

Master Zik · Oct 27, 2012

I like this song a lot but it's not better than AZ's Never Change.

I'd take his verse on This Can't Be Life or Why We Die over a lot of his songs.

PETEY PABLO said:
ThunderChunk69 said:

Song Cry is SOOOOO overrated

Jay-Z's attempt at showing emotion falls short, AND I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE BEST.

Fallin + Can't be life + Renegade > these tracks ESPECIALLY Song Cry

Click to expand...

i felt he was out of his element , and while i feel its not sincere its still and EXCELLENT song in my opinion

All I hear when I listen to Song Cry is the I Need Love sample :lol:

Never looked for these type of songs from dude. I just did not feel he connected with it.

D StaXX · Oct 27, 2012

FlacoBey said:
I highly doubt Jay-Z had 92 bricks, and then lost it all
How do you lose 92 imaginary bricks?

I'm a Jay fan. But hell no.
How the &^%$ would you lose 92 bricks? 92 bricks?!..
Naw.. impossible.

young handsome · Oct 27, 2012

FutureMD said:
Can someone break this down for me?

Illphillip or ninjahood or someone who considers themselves in tune with NYC hip-hop.

How much did Blueprint change the game and why is it considered a classic? I've read reviews but I don't really "get it"

Mind you, I love the album. But that was before I really knew how many considered it a classic.

I barely remembered when it dropped and while I like the music on it, I can't tell if that alone makes it a classic or if it really was something "new" to the genre.

Im the highest I've ever been ever so let me tackle this with grace...

This album cemented Jay's status to forever be mentioned in the greatest MC's debate, which it is why it's highly regarded with Jay fans... "And if I aint better than BIG, then I'm the closest one." The music itself was also different at the time. The production previous to the release of BP1 was very Timbaland-esque at the time, so by choosing the lead single ""I.Z.Z.O", he would become a trendsetter because errbdy wanted beats like that. It also dropped on 9/11(self explanatory), and still debuted #1 with huge sale. Introduced the game to Kanye, Just Blaze, B!nk... The fued with Nas is another reason why Blueprint is celebrated because he performed excellent under pressure, going against another legend. He was the best and he knew it.. The performance at the VMAs with the Jordan jersey. white people knew what a ghetto megastar looked like right there. The lyrics and flow change-up.. everything about.. the source, xxl, vibe (perfect ratings from each, at a time when these magazines had credibility), rolling stone, etc.. rave reviews.
[table][tr][th=""]Professional ratings[/th][/tr][tr][th=""]Review scores[/th][/tr][tr][th=""]Source[/th][th=""]Rating[/th][/tr][tr][td]Allmusic[/td][td]

[sup][16][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]Robert Christgau[/td][td]A−[sup][17][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]Entertainment Weekly[/td][td]B−[sup][18][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]NME[/td][td](8/10)[sup][19][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]Pitchfork Media[/td][td](8.7/10)[sup][2

[/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]PopMatters[/td][td](favorable)[sup][21][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]Rolling Stone[/td][td]

[sup][2][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]USA Today[/td][td]

[sup][22][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]Vibe[/td][td]

[sup][23][/sup][/td][/tr][tr][td]The Washington Post[/td][td](favorable)[sup][24][/sup][/td][/tr][/table]

Ranked #2 in Entertainment Weekly's Best Albums of the Decade
Ranked #5 in Rolling Stone's "Top 10 of 2001"
Ranked #252 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2012
Ranked #4 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Best Albums of the Decade in 2009
Ranked #1 in Complex magazine's "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s"

reasons why, beside the music itself, the blueprint is what it is today.

edit lol: I was born in 91, so I'm simply recalling, I ain't pick up BP1 until my later life,,, lol

airjordan jb23 · Oct 27, 2012

NationalTruckerDave said:
"Anything" is so underrated, and the video is just as good

member 2323 · Oct 27, 2012

sumrndmdude said:
1. D'Evils

2. Dead President (1,2,3)

3. momma loves me

4. Give it to me

5. heart of the city

flatbushfiyah23 · Oct 27, 2012

Not a crazy statement IMO. Easily in his top 5-7 tracks and I would say its definitely the best song on The Blueprint.

remi23 · Oct 27, 2012

Antidope said:
It's the greatest album ever made. Outside of the actual content, you have to consider the fact that it was the first album that I remember that was heavily bootlegged. Bootlegged to the point that it got pushed up, it dropped on September eleventh, and even with all that was going on, it was still on people's mind(I know it was on mine and I didn't even get it until Friday) still did great numbers, and was widely regarded as his best album and let's not forget that this album marked retirement number one. To go out at the time with your best album? I can't think of anyone who did that at any point in their career. Even non JAY-Z fans had this album on repeat for months. The Blueprint is a masterpiece in every aspect.

ill steelo · Oct 27, 2012

this dude Antidope puts Jay's name in all caps every time he types it.

-Red- · Oct 28, 2012

1. I like this song but it's probably not one of the best three songs on the Blueprint in my opinion (U Don't Know, Momma Loves Me, Heart Of The City), let alone the best Jay-Z song ever.

2. Song Cry is a decent song at best. NT is the only place I've heard this song being discussed in such reverential terms.

3. Please tell me that everyone saying how "real" Jay's little story about 92 bricks is, is joking. I know Jay is some of you all's idol and everything, but that's one of the most ludicrous claims a rapper not named Rick Ross has ever made about selling drugs. If you think that little story was "real" it just goes to show you how little you really know about the streets.

4. Bun B absolutely murdered Jay-Z on Big Pimpin' both lyrically and flow-wise. Jay and Em were a draw in my eyes on Renegade, but Bun's slaughtering of Jay on Big Pimpin' is undeniable.

antidope · Oct 28, 2012

ill steelo said:
this dude Antidope puts Jay's name in all caps every time he types it.

Thats how its supposed to be written. The worst is when people dont put the hyphen and use a space

And how much more do you know about the streets? The thing is that the argument boils down to this. JAY-Z said something, and says its true, other people say its lies. With no evidence it really boils down to who you want to believe. If people choose to believe him whats really wrong with that? Until theres proof otherwise what can you say?

red mpls said:
4. Bun B absolutely murdered Jay-Z on Big Pimpin' both lyrically and flow-wise. Jay and Em were a draw in my eyes on Renegade, but Bun's slaughtering of Jay on Big Pimpin' is undeniable.

I love that Bun B verse, one of his best, but that isnt true. Especially if we're talking about the extended version with the extra verse at the end. No sir no I have to disagree.

-Red- · Oct 28, 2012

Antidope said:
3. Please tell me that everyone saying how "real" Jay's little story about 92 bricks is, is joking. I know Jay is some of you all's idol and everything, but that's one of the most ludicrous claims a rapper not named Rick Ross has ever made about selling drugs. If you think that little story was "real" it just goes to show you how little you really know about the streets.

Click to expand...

And how much more do you know about the streets? The thing is that the argument boils down to this. JAY-Z said something, and says its true, other people say its lies. With no evidence it really boils down to who you want to believe. If people choose to believe him whats really wrong with that? Until theres proof otherwise what can you say?

Looking at Jay's claim objectively, these are the things that you would have to believe in order to believe Jay's little story was true... which you and others apparently do:

1. Jay had 92 bricks. All at the same time. This is where the story falls apart right here, that is, as soon as it begins. Do you understand how much weight this is? Do you understand how few people in this entire country are in possession of that kind of weight at any one time? Yet you actually believe that Jay-Z was one of those people :lol:

2. Jay somehow "lost" all of those bricks. Meaning he was robbed somehow of 92 bricks, because I'm pretty sure no one would dare say he was dumb enough to literally "lose" them. And apparently he didn't know who robbed him because he didn't get them back from whoever took them from him. Instead, he...

3. Went to his connect and told him someone robbed him for millions of dollars in cocaine and he couldn't get it back either because he didn't know who did it (in which case he was an unbelievable idiot) or because he did know but whoever took it was more gully than he was (in which case he was a *****). The connect was just like, "OK, bro," since Jay was that dude, and gave Jay millions of dollars in bricks on consignment?

4. Jay sold all of those bricks in five days.

I mean, if you choose to believe a story like that, I guess that's your choice :lol:

. As for me, I personally know guys that were going out of the country and moving more than the kind of weight that Jay's talking about. If you were not one of an extremely select few people in regional distribution locations, you were not really seeing the type of weight Jay's talking about in this song. Period.

johnny cakes · Oct 28, 2012

red mpls said:
Looking at Jay's claim objectively, these are the things that you would have to believe in order to believe Jay's little story was true... which you and others apparently do:
1. Jay had 92 bricks. All at the same time. This is where the story falls apart right here, that is, as soon as it begins. Do you understand how much weight this is? Do you understand how few people in this entire country are in possession of that kind of weight at any one time? Yet you actually believe that Jay-Z was one of those people

2. Jay somehow "lost" all of those bricks. Meaning he was robbed somehow of 92 bricks, because I'm pretty sure no one would dare say he was dumb enough to literally "lose" them. And apparently he didn't know who robbed him because he didn't get them back from whoever took them from him. Instead, he...
3. Went to his connect and told him someone robbed him for millions of dollars in cocaine and he couldn't get it back either because he didn't know who did it (in which case he was an unbelievable idiot) or because he did know but whoever took it was more gully than he was (in which case he was a *****). The connect was just like, "OK, bro," since Jay was that dude, and gave Jay millions of dollars in bricks on consignment?
4. Jay sold all of those bricks in five days.
I mean, if you choose to believe a story like that, I guess that's your choice

. As for me, I personally know guys that were going out of the country and moving more than the kind of weight that Jay's talking about. If you were not one of an extremely select few people in regional distribution locations, you were not really seeing the type of weight Jay's talking about in this song. Period.

The hell are you talking about? Lolz

-Red- · Oct 28, 2012

Johnny cakes said:
red mpls said:

Looking at Jay's claim objectively, these are the things that you would have to believe in order to believe Jay's little story was true... which you and others apparently do:

1. Jay had 92 bricks. All at the same time. This is where the story falls apart right here, that is, as soon as it begins. Do you understand how much weight this is? Do you understand how few people in this entire country are in possession of that kind of weight at any one time? Yet you actually believe that Jay-Z was one of those people

2. Jay somehow "lost" all of those bricks. Meaning he was robbed somehow of 92 bricks, because I'm pretty sure no one would dare say he was dumb enough to literally "lose" them. And apparently he didn't know who robbed him because he didn't get them back from whoever took them from him. Instead, he...

3. Went to his connect and told him someone robbed him for millions of dollars in cocaine and he couldn't get it back either because he didn't know who did it (in which case he was an unbelievable idiot) or because he did know but whoever took it was more gully than he was (in which case he was a *****). The connect was just like, "OK, bro," since Jay was that dude, and gave Jay millions of dollars in bricks on consignment?

4. Jay sold all of those bricks in five days.

I mean, if you choose to believe a story like that, I guess that's your choice . As for me, I personally know guys that were going out of the country and moving more than the kind of weight that Jay's talking about. If you were not one of an extremely select few people in regional distribution locations, you were not really seeing the type of weight Jay's talking about in this song. Period.

Click to expand...

The hell are you talking about? Lolz

I'm talking about dudes in here actually believing Jay's little story on this song as "all fact." Catch up.

antidope · Oct 28, 2012

red mpls said:
Antidope said:

3. Please tell me that everyone saying how "real" Jay's little story about 92 bricks is, is joking. I know Jay is some of you all's idol and everything, but that's one of the most ludicrous claims a rapper not named Rick Ross has ever made about selling drugs. If you think that little story was "real" it just goes to show you how little you really know about the streets.

Click to expand...

And how much more do you know about the streets? The thing is that the argument boils down to this. JAY-Z said something, and says its true, other people say its lies. With no evidence it really boils down to who you want to believe. If people choose to believe him whats really wrong with that? Until theres proof otherwise what can you say?

Click to expand...

Looking at Jay's claim objectively, these are the things that you would have to believe in order to believe Jay's little story was true... which you and others apparently do:

1. Jay had 92 bricks. All at the same time. This is where the story falls apart right here, that is, as soon as it begins. Do you understand how much weight this is? Do you understand how few people in this entire country are in possession of that kind of weight at any one time? Yet you actually believe that Jay-Z was one of those people

2. Jay somehow "lost" all of those bricks. Meaning he was robbed somehow of 92 bricks, because I'm pretty sure no one would dare say he was dumb enough to literally "lose" them. And apparently he didn't know who robbed him because he didn't get them back from whoever took them from him. Instead, he...

3. Went to his connect and told him someone robbed him for millions of dollars in cocaine and he couldn't get it back either because he didn't know who did it (in which case he was an unbelievable idiot) or because he did know but whoever took it was more gully than he was (in which case he was a *****). The connect was just like, "OK, bro," since Jay was that dude, and gave Jay millions of dollars in bricks on consignment?

4. Jay sold all of those bricks in five days.

I mean, if you choose to believe a story like that, I guess that's your choice

. As for me, I personally know guys that were going out of the country and moving more than the kind of weight that Jay's talking about. If you were not one of an extremely select few people in regional distribution locations, you were not really seeing the type of weight Jay's talking about in this song. Period.

And this alone should be reason enough for anyone else to believe that JAY-Z is telling the truth. You knew people who did it, why cant he be one of those people. That is all I am trying to say, whether or not you believe it is a different story. In a story where its your word against his, this is all that matters

-Red- · Oct 28, 2012

Antidope said:
red mpls said:

Antidope said:

3. Please tell me that everyone saying how "real" Jay's little story about 92 bricks is, is joking. I know Jay is some of you all's idol and everything, but that's one of the most ludicrous claims a rapper not named Rick Ross has ever made about selling drugs. If you think that little story was "real" it just goes to show you how little you really know about the streets.

Click to expand...

And how much more do you know about the streets? The thing is that the argument boils down to this. JAY-Z said something, and says its true, other people say its lies. With no evidence it really boils down to who you want to believe. If people choose to believe him whats really wrong with that? Until theres proof otherwise what can you say?

Click to expand...

Looking at Jay's claim objectively, these are the things that you would have to believe in order to believe Jay's little story was true... which you and others apparently do:

1. Jay had 92 bricks. All at the same time. This is where the story falls apart right here, that is, as soon as it begins. Do you understand how much weight this is? Do you understand how few people in this entire country are in possession of that kind of weight at any one time? Yet you actually believe that Jay-Z was one of those people

2. Jay somehow "lost" all of those bricks. Meaning he was robbed somehow of 92 bricks, because I'm pretty sure no one would dare say he was dumb enough to literally "lose" them. And apparently he didn't know who robbed him because he didn't get them back from whoever took them from him. Instead, he...

3. Went to his connect and told him someone robbed him for millions of dollars in cocaine and he couldn't get it back either because he didn't know who did it (in which case he was an unbelievable idiot) or because he did know but whoever took it was more gully than he was (in which case he was a *****). The connect was just like, "OK, bro," since Jay was that dude, and gave Jay millions of dollars in bricks on consignment?

4. Jay sold all of those bricks in five days.

I mean, if you choose to believe a story like that, I guess that's your choice . As for me, I personally know guys that were going out of the country and moving more than the kind of weight that Jay's talking about. If you were not one of an extremely select few people in regional distribution locations, you were not really seeing the type of weight Jay's talking about in this song. Period.

Click to expand...

And this alone should be reason enough for anyone else to believe that JAY-Z is telling the truth. You knew people who did it, why cant he be one of those people. That is all I am trying to say, whether or not you believe it is a different story. In a story where its your word against his, this is all that matters

But that's part of my point since you asked me about the streets. I know dudes in real life that Jay is trying to portray in music. Guys that were integral parts of the largest and most powerful street organization of the last 50 years in this country. You're hearing about this lifestyle through Jay-Z the rapper who seems like he's telling the truth to you because you have no real life point of reference. I highly doubt he's telling the truth because I know what the truth looks like in real life. It's not "my word against his," it's trying to look at things realistically and recognizing entertainment, exaggeration, and urban legends when you hear them and not wanting so badly to believe an exaggerated or fabricated story of a rapper selling drugs over 20 years ago...

johnny cakes · Oct 28, 2012

red mpls said:
But that's part of my point since you asked me about the streets. I know dudes in real life that Jay is trying to portray in music. Guys that were integral parts of the largest and most powerful street organization of the last 50 years in this country. You're hearing about this lifestyle through Jay-Z the rapper who seems like he's telling the truth to you because you have no real life point of reference. I highly doubt he's telling the truth because I know what the truth looks like in real life. It's not "my word against his," it's trying to look at things realistically and recognizing entertainment, exaggeration, and urban legends when you hear them and not wanting so badly to believe an exaggerated or fabricated story of a rapper selling drugs over 20 years ago...

-Red- · Oct 28, 2012

OK bro...

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Never Change is Jay-Z's greatest song ever.

futuremd

Maximus Meridius

thunderchunk69

futuremd

thunderchunk69

antidope

aircommandermarsfiend

sumrndmdude

Master Zik

D StaXX

young handsome

airjordan jb23

member 2323

flatbushfiyah23

remi23

ill steelo

-Red-

antidope

-Red-

johnny cakes

-Red-

antidope

-Red-

johnny cakes

-Red-

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