On this day in 2009, Jay-Zâalready one of hip hopâs most iconic figuresâreleased his eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3, through Roc Nation, Asylum, and Atlantic Records.
The project, produced mainly by Hov himself alongside Kanye West, No I.D., the Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, and others, stood out as Jay-Zâs most feature-heavy album at the time. It showcased collaborations that defined an era, with artists like Rihanna, Drake, Alicia Keys, and Kanye all contributing to its sound.
The singles from The Blueprint 3 quickly became anthems. âD.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)â set the tone by challenging the industryâs trends, while âRun This Townâ and âEmpire State of Mindâ dominated the charts and remain among Jay-Zâs most celebrated tracks. âOn to the Next Oneâ also became a defining record of the late 2000s, cementing the albumâs staying power in the culture.
Commercially, The Blueprint 3 was a landmark moment. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking Jay-Zâs 11th chart-topping album and breaking the record he once shared with Elvis Presley. Nearly 500,000 copies were sold in its first week, and the LP was certified platinum by the RIAA within two months. Today, it has moved over three million copies worldwide.
Fifteen years later, The Blueprint 3 still stands as one of Jay-Zâs defining works of the new millennium. This album blended his veteran artistry with a new generation of talent while keeping him firmly at the top of the rap game.
A salute to Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, Drake, Alicia Keys, and everyone who helped craft this essential piece of hip-hop history.