The Blueprint is Jay Z's sixth studio album, but the first to position him as the most likely heir to hip hop's vacant throne. The new millennium was still awaiting somebody to fill the considerable shoes of deceased duo Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., and Mr Carter possessed both the street authenticity and lyrical ingenuity to take the genre forward. Raised in the dog-eat-dog projects of Brooklyn, Jay clawed his way to success and finds the LP an appropriately lofty platform from which to look down and brag. Content-wise, it's hardly the most inventive hip hop album ever, but remains a memorable exercise in flair and panache. Decade Defining Track: Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
