0582. Jay-Z
The Blueprint

Damnit! I can't stand the bastard, but I can't deny he's got some headnodding tunes. And I got to say he's managed to get a dedicated fanbase, cause an album released in the U.S. on September eleventh 2001 managing to sell almost half a mil in it's first week is a pretty strong feat.

With Kanye's productions mostly good (once again showing what we all know: he should keep quiet and produce instead of making a fool of himself rapping bullshit) and Jay-Z beefing with Nas and others, it's an album that sort of belongs on a must hear list.

Even the backinnaday-part of the final (triple-)track, Blue Print (Momma Loves Me), is actually really good. Not common for reminiscing and meandering hip hop tracks.
The Blueprint isn't only approved for the list, but with a recommendation.