Finally it has arrived. The long awaited new album “The Blueprint” from his majesty, the self-proclaimed King of New York, Jay-Z recently hit stores. To say it is phenomenal would be a gross understatement. “Classic” is a better adjective, indeed. This diverse new offering will definitely raise the bar for east coast hip-hop and mainstream rap in general.

It begins with a declaration song titled “The Ruler’s Back,” intended to let the world know that he still holds the throne. The next track, “The Takeover,” is a response to his rivals and critics which is sure to incite a war of words. Jay levels verbal attacks at fellow New York MC’s Nas and Prodigy: “Takeover, the breaks over/ God MC, me Jay-Hova/ hey little soldier you aint ready for war/ R-O-C too strong for y’all/ Don’t let me do it to you dummy cuz I over do it/ so you won’t confuse it with just rap music…” Uh-oh let’s hope another Tupac/Biggie situation isn’t about to occur.

This time around Jay doesn’t spend the whole album rhyming about money, clothes, and women. “The Blueprint” is probably his most revealing album since Reasonable Doubt. On the title track a/k/a “Mama Loves Me,” he rhymes about all the important people in his life who helped him get to where he is today. “Song Cry” has him speaking to the love of his life that he lost due to infidelity, and “Never Change” is a track that explains his desire to be true to himself. The lyrical pinnacle is “Breathe Easy,” a hidden track where he gives potential competitors a run for their money.

Almost all the beats on “The Blueprint” contain samples from old school R&B records. Most of the production, which is handled by Bink, Timbaland and newcomer Kanye West, is soulful and even makes use of vocal samples. “Izzo (HOVA)” samples the Jackson 5, and “Heart of the City,” the album’s best song, samples Bobby “Blue” Bland on the chorus. Thankfully, Jay-Z has done away with the old corny keyboard beats which dominated “In My Lifetime Volume III.”

“The Blueprint” is a classic because each song on the album is above average. Even the lackluster tracks like “Renegade,” a disappointing collaboration with the Great White Hope himself, Eminem, and the Timbaland produced “Jigga That…” sound better than the vast majority of rap music getting airplay on popular radio. The lyrics are simple yet poignant, and the beats are amazing. With all of the carbon copies emerging out of the rap game in recent years, it’s good to finally hear a solid album from one of the veterans who still has the ability to, as Rakim put it, “move the crowd.”

This story was originally published in The Shield on Oct. 12, 2001.