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Keeping Score: Jay Z Ranks His Album Catalog For His Birthday

jay z-ranks-albumsJay Z turns 44 today and he’s reflecting on the work that he’s been able to accomplish over his illustrious career. Jay Z ranked all of his albums from his favorite to least favorite bodies of work and posted the results on his Life + Times website.  As reported by stupiddope.com: 

“With his 44th birthday being celebrated today, the legendary Brooklyn native MC, Jay Z, returns with something rather dope for our reading and viewing enjoyment. In honor of his born day, Jay decided to rank his album personally, giving us a short, concise, yet dope list of each album, where it ranks and why; along with an accompanying picture.

Jay states that his best album, a solid choice, is Reasonable Doubt, while coming in last was the album, Kingdom Come, for which he says ‘First game back, don’t shoot me’.”

However for most Jay Z fans, there’s no such thing as a “bad” Hov album.  But it is interesting to see what the man himself thinks of his own work. What’s also interesting is that his latest album, “Magna Carter Holy Grail,” has gotten a slight downgrade since its release in July. Jay had previously stated in an interview that he thought his latest album was his best work behind “Reasonable Doubt,” “The Black Album,” and “The Blueprint,” but he has seemingly changed his mind.

No matter where each individual album ranks though, Jay Z can rest assured that no one in rap has a catalog this impressive. And as he said on his short track “Versus,”  “Your best sh*t ain’t better than my worse sh*t.”

Check how Jay Z ranks his albums below:

1. Reasonable Doubt (Classic)

2. The Blueprint (Classic)

3. The Black Album (Classic)

4. Vol. 2 (Classic)

5. American Gangster (4 1/2, cohesive)

6. Magna Carta (Fuckwit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail)

7. Vol. 1 (Sunshine kills this album…fuck… Streets, Where I’m from, You Must Love Me…)

8. BP3 (Sorry critics, it’s good. Empire (Gave Frank a run for his money)

9. Dynasty (Intro alone…)

10. Vol. 3 (Pimp C verse alone… oh, So Ghetto)

11. BP2 (Too many songs. Fucking Guru and Hip Hop, ha)

12. Kingdom Come (First game back, don’t shoot me)

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