Too many rappers think boasting is the only skill they need. Thankfully, we have the charismatic Jay-Z to remind us (and them) that there are other strengths required - such as the ability to come up with a catchy chorus. The New York rapper formerly known as Shawn Carter presents a dozen or so on his solid fifth solo album The Blueprint. Ditching the Broadway samples for more slow-rolling soul and groove-oriented loops (with the exception of The Doors' Five to One snippet that anchors Takeover), Jay puts his passive-aggressive delivery and oddly free-form flow to good use on head-bobbing jams like Izzo (H.O.V.A.) and Jigga That N***a - and still makes time to dis rhyming rival Nas and laugh about his court cases. Yeah, Jay-Z can boast with the best of them. Only he has good reason to. (More on: Jay-Z).

Track Listing 1. The Ruler's Back
  2. Takeover
  3. 1220 (H.O.V.A.)
  4. Girls, Girls, Girls
  5. Jigga That N***a
  6. U Don't Know
  7. Hola' Hovito
  8. Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)
  9. Never Change
  10. Song Cry
  11. All I Need
  12. Renagade
  13. Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)