The Blueprint 3

The earliest hype over The Blueprint 3 came when DJ Clue released in January 2008 a mixtape song called "Ain't I", produced by Timbaland. In the intro, Clue says, "Off that Blueprint 3 baby!" However, a spokesperson for Jay-Z said that it was an old, unreleased song and that the recording of The Blueprint 3 had not yet started.{{cite news | title = New Jay-Z Song Leaks -- Is Blueprint 3 In The Works? | last = Reid| first = Shaheem | publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580691/20080131/jay_z.jhtml| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120904104012/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580691/20080131/jay_z.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = September 4, 2012| date = January 30, 2008| access-date = July 17, 2009}} On July 20, Timbaland, a frequent contributor to previous Jay-Z albums, told MTV News that he would be producing the whole album.{{cite news | title = Timbaland On Producing Jay-Z's Next LP: 'It'll Be A Monster'| last = Reid| first = Shaheem | publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1590927/20080715/timbaland.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829192309/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1590927/20080715/timbaland.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = August 29, 2008| date = July 16, 2008| access-date = July 17, 2009}} But in an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine, Jay-Z called the statement "premature".{{cite news| title = Jay-Z Teaming with Kanye West on Next Album| last = Van Dril| first = E.| publisher = TheCelebrityCafe| url = http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/18543.html| date = September 1, 2008| access-date = July 17, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090927013339/http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/18543.html| archive-date = September 27, 2009| url-status = dead}} In July 2009, Jay-Z confirmed The Blueprint 3 as the album's title during an interview with radio station Shade 45.

By November 2008, he had finished the album but with lengthy negotiations with Def Jam, he went on to reworking it.{{cite magazine | title = Jay-Z: He's A Business, Man | last = Concepcion| first =Mariel | magazine = Billboard| url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268021/jay-z-hes-a-business-man| date = July 20, 2009| access-date = July 21, 2009}} In January 2009, Jay-Z confirmed continued production of the album and admitted the leak of several songs.{{cite news | title = Jay-Z Taking His Time With Blueprint 3 To Make It 'Beyond And Above' | last1 = Rodriguez| first1 = Jayson |last2 = Calloway|first2 = Sway J. | publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603222/20090121/story.jhtmljay_z.jhtml| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120905141223/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603222/20090121/story.jhtmljay_z.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = September 5, 2012| date = January 22, 2009| access-date = July 17, 2009}}{{cite news | title = Jay-Z Explains Blueprint 3 Delays: 'I'll Be Axl Rose Out Here!' | last = Reid| first = Shaheem| publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605288/20090218/jay_z.jhtml?rsspartner=rssBloglines| date = February 18, 2009| access-date = July 18, 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In a Billboard magazine interview, Jay-Z confirmed "What We Talkin' About", the album's intro, "Thank You" and "Already Home" as song names, and collaborations with Australian electronic music group Empire of the Sun, rappers Drake and Kid Cudi and singer Rihanna. He also mentioned in an interview with DJ Semtex that his favorite song on the album is "Empire State of Mind".[http://nahright.com/news/2009/07/24/audio-jay-z-interview-w-dj-semtex/ Jay-Z Interview w/ DJ Semtex] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728034346/http://nahright.com/news/2009/07/24/audio-jay-z-interview-w-dj-semtex/ |date=July 28, 2009 }}. Nah Right. Retrieved on July 25, 2009. The official track list for Blueprint 3 was revealed on August 18, confirming the guest appearances from Kanye West, Rihanna, Drake, Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, J. Cole, Alicia Keys, and more.{{cite web | author=Dombal, Ryan | title=Jay-Z's Blueprint 3: The Tracklist | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/36262-jay-zs-iblueprint-3i-the-tracklist/ | work=Pitchfork | publisher=Pitchfork Media Inc | date=August 19, 2009 | access-date=August 19, 2008 | archive-date=March 21, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321171701/http://pitchfork.com/news/36262-jay-zs-iblueprint-3i-the-tracklist/ | url-status=dead }})

The cover consists of all-white instruments and recording tools stacked in a corner with three red bars superimposed across the image. To create the cover, instead of using photo editing software, the album's design team stacked all the equipment in the corner of a room before using a projector to create the bars. They then painted red onto the equipment where the projection of the bars was, and replaced the projector with a camera to achieve the correct perspective for the image. Blueprint 3 would be Jay-Z's first album to not feature his face on its cover art.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/09/best-rap-album-covers/the-blueprint-3 |title=50. Jay Z, The Blueprint 3 — The 50 Best Rap Album Covers of the Past Five Years |magazine=Complex |date=September 24, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2014}}

Most of the album's recording sessions took place in Hawaii at Avex Honolulu Studio, in an effort to avoid leakage. West's protégé Mr Hudson explained to The Times that he "won't get bothered there" compared to a major city such as New York or Los Angeles.{{cite news | title = Mr Hudson Goes 'Supernova' with Kanye| last = Crerar| first = Simon | newspaper = Times Online| url = http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6660915.ece| date = July 8, 2009| access-date = July 17, 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Sessions for the album took place during 2008 to 2009 at Avex Honolulu Studio and several other recording studios, including Germano Studios, Oven Studios, and Roc The Mic in New York City, Kingdom Studios and Lava Studios in Cleveland, Midnight Blue Studios and South Beach Studios in Miami, The Holy Chateau in Perth, Australia, and Westlake Studio in Los Angeles.The Blueprint 3 liner notes Roc Nation (2009){{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7987186|title=Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 CD|publisher=CD Universe|access-date=November 25, 2009}}

Jay-Z told Rolling Stone his method of selecting producers: "If Timbaland makes ten great tracks then he produces the album, if Kanye West makes ten great tracks then he produces the album; if he makes three, I'll take three. I let the music dictate the direction." However, the final track listing reveals, that West produced the majority of tracks on the album, and three done by Timbaland. West confirmed two songs, "A Star Is Born" and "Young Forever", during an appearance on The Wake Up Show in February 2009.{{cite news | title = Kanye West Says 'Best Hip-Hop Beats Of All Time' Will Be On Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 | last = Reid| first = Shaheem | publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605128/20090213/west_kanye.jhtml?rsspartner=unknown| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090217055644/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605128/20090213/west_kanye.jhtml?rsspartner=unknown| url-status = dead| archive-date = February 17, 2009| date = February 13, 2009| access-date = July 17, 2009}} Mr Hudson, who is the featured artist on the latter, described it as a flip on the Alphaville record of a similar name.{{cite news | title = Mr Hudson On Working With Jay-Z: 'I'm Pinching Myself' | last = Roberts| first = Steven | publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611532/20090515/mister_hudson.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090521080720/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611532/20090515/mister_hudson.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = May 21, 2009| date = May 18, 2009| access-date = July 17, 2009}} During a joint interview with Hudson, West confirmed that the pop artist would be featured on three songs. Pharrell stated that he emailed "So Ambitious" to Jay-Z the day he was mastering the album. He loved the track so much that he put off the mastering.{{cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Jayson|title=Jay-Z's 'So Ambitious' Is 'Ferocious', Pharrell Williams Says|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621726/pharrell-williams-calls-jay-z-collabo-ferocious.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129061044/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621726/pharrell-williams-calls-jay-z-collabo-ferocious.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2013|publisher=MTV|access-date=June 14, 2012|author2=Kash, Tim |date=September 16, 2009}}

The album was released September 8, 2009 on Roc Nation in the United States.Caulfield, Keith. (September 4, 2009). [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i418c5bc24c7b68c5c254ac761738d488 Jay-Z's 'Blueprint 3' Release Date Moved To Sept. 8]. Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2009-09-05.{{cite magazine | title = Jay-Z Confirms Roc Nation Deals With Sony, Atlantic | last = Concepcion| first = Mariel | magazine = Billboard| url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268241/jay-z-confirms-roc-nation-deals-with-sony-atlantic| date = June 30, 2009| access-date =July 17, 2009}} It was also released digitally on September 11, 2009, in the US, and its United Kingdom and international release followed on September 14 that same year.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/441/jay_z_is_back|title=A B&S Classic Interview – Pete Lewis speaks to Jay-Z|date=August 20, 2009|access-date=September 7, 2009|first=Pete|last=Lewis|magazine=Blues & Soul|archive-date=August 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816023558/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/441/jay_z_is_back/|url-status=dead}} Prior to its official release, the album leaked in its entirety on August 31, 2009.Langhorne, Cyrus. [http://www.sohh.com/2009/08/jay-zs_blueprint_3_leaks.html Jay-Z's 'Blueprint 3' Leaks Online Early, 'I May Be the Most Bootlegged Artist in History'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125050504/http://www.sohh.com/2009/08/jay-zs_blueprint_3_leaks.html |date=November 25, 2009 }}. SOHH.com. Retrieved on September 11, 2009. When asked about the leak, Jay-Z stated "It's a preview. I'm excited for people to hear the album. I'm very proud of the work I've done, so enjoy it".Reid, Shaheem. Rodriguez, Jayson. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090902155941/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1620482/20090831/jay_z.jhtml Jay-Z Looks at Blueprint 3 Leak As 'A Preview']. MTV. Retrieved on September 11, 2009.

The album's first single "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" was premiered on June 5, 2009, via New York radio station Hot 97.{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Barry |title=Jay-Z Premieres New Song, 'D.O.A.': 'Death Of Auto-Tune'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1613390/20090606/jay_z.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606182259/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1613390/20090606/jay_z.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 6, 2009|work=MTV |date=June 6, 2009 |access-date=June 21, 2009}} On June 7, 2009, Jay-Z made a guest appearance at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert, and performed D.O.A. live on stage, for the first time. On May 20, 2009, Jay-Z confirmed that he bought out the remainder of his contract from Def Jam Records in order to start his contract with Live Nation, as The Blueprint 3 was set to be released under Roc Nation and distributed by Atlantic Records. In August 2008, Jay-Z performed the Kanye West–produced song "Jockin' Jay-Z" during the latter's Glow in the Dark Tour.{{cite news | title = Jay-Z Announces Blueprint 3, Premieres New Kanye West-Produced Track At Kanye's NYC Show | last = Reid| first = Shaheem | publisher = MTV| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592311/20080807/jay_z.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080828092204/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592311/20080807/jay_z.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = August 28, 2008| date = September 7, 2008| access-date = July 17, 2009}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 6.3/10{{cite web|title=The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z review|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/924/Jay-Z-The-Blueprint-3.aspx|website=www.anydecentmusic.com|access-date=July 1, 2017}}

| MC = 65/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2Score = B+

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|last=Gill|first=Andy|date=September 18, 2009|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-jayz-the-blueprint-3-atlantic-1789649.html|title=Album: Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3 (Atlantic)|journal=The Independent|location=London|access-date=October 19, 2012}}

| rev5 = MSN Music (Consumer Guide)

| rev5Score = A−

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 4.5/10

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev9 = Slant Magazine

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev10 = The Sunday Times

| rev10Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news|url=https://account.thetimes.co.uk/authorize?client_id=DmsU3BBmymoUXORnXoqqrqiBLLKI6IvJ&scope=openid%20profile%20email&response_type=code&prompt=login&state=eyJyZXR1cm5fdXJsIjoiaHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0aW1lcy5jby51ay90dG8vYXJ0cy9tdXNpYy9hbGJ1bXJldmlld3MvIn0%3D&nustate=eyJyZXR1cm5fdXJsIjoiaHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0aW1lcy5jby51ay90dG8vYXJ0cy9tdXNpYy9hbGJ1bXJldmlld3MvIiwiZG9tYWluTmFtZSI6Ind3dy50aGV0aW1lcy5jby51ayJ9&redirect_uri=https://login.thetimes.co.uk/oidc/rp/callback|title=Review: The Blueprint 3|newspaper=The Sunday Times|location=London|date=September 2009|access-date=October 19, 2012}} {{subscription required}}

}}

The Blueprint 3 received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 65, based on 22 reviews.[https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/jayz/blueprint3 The Blueprint 3 (2009): Reviews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209072326/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/jayz/blueprint3 |date=February 9, 2010 }}. Metacritic. Retrieved on September 11, 2009. In his review for MSN Music, Robert Christgau called the album "fairly superb" and gave it an A− rating,Christgau, Robert. "[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Jay-Z Consumer Guide: The Blueprint 3]". MSN Music: October 2009. Archived from [http://music.msn.com/music/consumerguide/2009/?photoidx=36 the original]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} on October 2, 2009. indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction".{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php |title=CG 90s: Key to Icons |last=Christgau |first=Robert |publisher=Robert Christgau |date=October 15, 2000 |access-date=February 5, 2011}} AllMusic writer John Bush compared the album to its predecessors, describing it as "somewhere between the two, closer to the vitality and energy of the original but not without the crossover bids and guest features of the latter (albeit much better this time)".Bush, John. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1633820/review|pure_url=yes}} Review: The Blueprint 3]. AllMusic. Retrieved on September 6, 2009. Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly commented that the album succeeds at its goal of "reaching maximum commercial blast radius while maintaining its street bona fides".Greenblatt, Leah. [https://ew.com/article/2009/09/02/blueprint-3/ Review: The Blueprint 3]. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on September 5, 2009.

The Daily Telegraph gave the album four out of five stars and complimented its modern sound.{{cite web|title=Jay Z – The Blueprint 3, review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/6157253/Jay-Z---The-Blueprint-3-review.html |website=Telegraph.co.uk |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223143356/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/6157253/Jay-Z-The-Blueprint-3-review.html |archive-date=December 23, 2012 |language=en |date=September 8, 2009 |url-status=dead }} The A.V. Club gave it a B+ rating and stated, "Jay-Z sounds liberated by his legacy rather than weighed down by expectations".Rabin, Nathan. [https://www.avclub.com/jay-z-the-blueprint-3-1798206920 Review: The Blueprint 3]. The A.V. Club. Retrieved on September 11, 2009. Despite noting inconsistency in Jay-Z's rapping, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times complimented the album's varied musical elements and called it "an unexpected blend of maturity and youth".Caramanica, Jon (September 16, 2009). [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/arts/music/17jayz.html Music - Jay-Z Confronts the Anxiety of Being Influential]. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 22, 2011. Pete Cashmore of NME commented that it "delivers because of hefty beats and quality rapsmanship, nothing else. And, ultimately, that'll do just fine".Cashmore, Pete. [https://www.nme.com/reviews/jay-z/10806 Review: The Blueprint 3]. NME. Retrieved on September 14, 2009. Kiilian Fox of The Observer commented that Jay-Z is "maturing into a responsible elder statesman".Fox, Killian. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/13/jay-z-blueprint-3-review Review: The Blueprint 3]. The Observer. Retrieved on September 19, 2009. Zach Baron of The Village Voice viewed that "much of Blueprint 3 is about the weird, meta-rap work of redefining what it is to be a boss" and stated "Jay-Z's midlife crisis is over. Which doesn't make The Blueprint 3 a classic. But we'll take it. For now".Baron, Zach. [https://archive.today/20130205140637/http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-09-08/music/jay-z-s-midlife-crisis-is-over/ Review: The Blueprint 3]. The Village Voice. Retrieved on October 7, 2009.

In a mixed review, Slant Magazine{{'}}s William McBee found The Blueprint 3 "predictable", "complacent", and "a hip-hop feast, for sure, filled to the brim with elite production and elite rapping, but it lacks the hungriness, the spirit, and the craziness that marks a classic album".{{cite web|last1=McBee |first1=William |title=Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1841 |website=www.slantmagazine.com |access-date=June 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104220742/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/jay-z-the-blueprint-3/1828 |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Rolling Stone{{'}}s Jody Rosen called it "a catchy, pop-friendly record", but viewed that it lacks the "electric charge" of Jay-Z's previous albums and that he is "stuck for a subject [...] But he says it well".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jayz2/albums/album/29893976/review/30083900/the_blueprint_3 |title=Review: The Blueprint 3 |magazine=Rolling Stone |author=Rosen, Jody |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923031512/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jayz2/albums/album/29893976/review/30083900/the_blueprint_3 |archive-date=September 23, 2009}} Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that it "peters out in a mass of indistinct tracks" following its first four songs.Petridis, Alexis. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/10/jay-z-blueprint-3 Review: The Blueprint 3]. The Guardian. Retrieved on September 11, 2009. The Sunday Times criticized the music's "insistent straining for a crossover, pop-coloured sheen", writing that it "mires much of the album in insipidness, coating stale braggadocio (without, mostly, any compensating humour)." Pitchfork{{'}}s Ian Cohen commented that it is "so certainly Jay-Z's weakest solo album, you'll be tempted to wonder if Kingdom Come was somehow underrated".{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Ian|title=JAY-Z: The Blueprint 3 Album Review|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13445-the-blueprint-3/|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=June 25, 2017|language=en}} Greg Kot of the Los Angeles Times gave the album two-and-a-half out of four stars and viewed Jay-Z's celebrity and older age as somewhat of a flaw, stating:

{{blockquote|It's tough for hip-hop stars to age well. Once they become celebrities living in mansions and starring in family movies, street cred is usually the first thing to go. Just ask Ice Cube. Longevity just wasn't built into the hip-hop lifestyle, with its premium on youthful swagger, street tales and fast turnover [...] {{'}}The Blueprint 3{{'}} aims to show everyone he still has wicked skills on the mic. It does, even as it illustrates that sometimes he coasts on his celebrity [...] The message: Don't mess with ol' Gray-Z.Kot, Greg. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-sep-09-et-jayz9-story.html Review: The Blueprint 3]. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on September 8, 2009.|}}

The Blueprint 3 was ranked the best album of the year by Billboard,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266376/billboard-critics-top-10-albums-of-2009 |title=Billboard Critics' Top 10 Albums of 2009 |magazine=Billboard.com |date=December 16, 2009 |access-date=December 18, 2010}} and seventh best album of the year by MTV.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628330/20091215/paramore.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109080118/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628330/20091215/paramore.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |title=The Best Albums Of 2009, In Bigger Than The Sound - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=December 16, 2009 |access-date=December 18, 2010}} Rolling Stone named it the fourth best album of 2009 in its year-end list.[https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31421097/the_25_best_albums_of_2009/7] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221060750/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31421097/the_25_best_albums_of_2009/7|date=December 21, 2009}}

The Blueprint 3 debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart selling 476,000 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267385/beatles-jay-z-dominate-billboard-charts|title=Beatles, Jay-Z Dominate Billboard Charts|magazine=Billboard|author=Keith Caulfield|date=September 16, 2009|access-date=March 1, 2020}} This became Jay-Z's eleventh number one album, breaking the record he had previously shared with Elvis Presley. It also serves as the third-highest first-week sales of 2009. In its second week, the album remained at number one on the chart, selling an additional 298,000 copies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267309/jay-z-still-reigns-on-billboard-200-muse-and-kid-cudi-bow-high|title=Jay-Z Still Reigns On Billboard 200, Muse And Kid Cudi Bow High|magazine=Billboard|author=Keith Caulfield|date=September 23, 2009|access-date=March 1, 2020}} In its third week, the album dropped to number two on the chart, selling 134,000 more copies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267231/pearl-jam-scores-first-no-1-on-billboard-200-in-13-years|title=Pearl Jam Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200 In 13 Years|magazine=Billboard|author=Keith Caulfield|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=March 1, 2020}} In its fourth week, the album dropped to number six on the chart, selling 89,000 more copies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267159/barbra-streisand-surprises-with-ninth-no-1-on-billboard-200|title=Barbra Streisand Surprises With Ninth No. 1 On Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|author=Keith Caulfield|date=October 7, 2009|access-date=March 1, 2020}} On November 13, 2009, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over one million copies. In 2009, the album was the ninth best-selling album in the US, selling over 1.52 million copies in four months.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/960801/taylor-swift-edges-susan-boyle-for-2009s-top-selling-album |title=Taylor Swift Edges Susan Boyle For 2009's Top-Selling Album |magazine=Billboard.com |date=September 14, 2009 |access-date=December 18, 2010}} As of August 2012, the album has sold 1,933,000 copies in the United States.{{cite web|last=Grein |first=Paul |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-july-29-2012-albums-dog-days-145238401.html |title=Week Ending July 29, 2012. Albums: Dog Days Of Summer | Chart Watch (NEW) - Yahoo! Music |publisher=Music.yahoo.com |date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=November 7, 2012}} The album sold over 3 million records worldwide.

{{tracklist

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = What We Talkin' About

| note1 = featuring Luke Steele

| writer1 = {{hlist|Shawn Carter|Kanye West|Ernest Wilson|Kevin Randolph|Frédéric Mercier}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.}}

| length1 = 4:04

| title2 = Thank You

| writer2 = {{hlist|Carter|West|Wilson|Marcos Valle}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.}}

| length2 = 4:10

| title3 = D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)

| writer3 = {{hlist|Carter|Wilson|Garrett DeCarlo|Dale Frashuer|Paul Leka|Janko Nilović|Dave Sucky}}

| extra3 = No I.D.

| length3 = 4:15

| title4 = Run This Town

| note4 = featuring Rihanna and Kanye West

| writer4 = {{hlist|Carter|West|Wilson|Jeff Bhasker|Robyn Fenty|Athanasios Alatas}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.|Bhasker}}

| length4 = 4:27

| title5 = Empire State of Mind

| note5 = with Alicia Keys

| writer5 = {{hlist|Carter|Alexander Shuckburgh|Janet Sewell-Ulepic|Angela Hunte|Alicia Keys|Burt Keyes|Sylvia Robinson}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Shux|Sewell-Ulepic{{ref|a|[a]}}|Hunte{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 4:36

| title6 = Real as It Gets

| note6 = featuring Jeezy

| writer6 = {{hlist|Carter|Jay Jenkins|Maurice Carpenter|Leigh Elliott|Johnny Mollings|Lenny Mollings}}

| extra6 = The Inkredibles

| length6 = 4:12

| title7 = On to the Next One

| note7 = featuring Swizz Beatz

| writer7 = {{hlist|Carter|Kasseem Dean|Gaspard Augé|Xavier de Rosnay|Jesse Chaton}}

| extra7 = Swizz Beatz

| length7 = 4:17

| title8 = Off That

| note8 = featuring Drake

| writer8 = {{hlist|Carter|Timothy Mosley|Jerome Harmon|Aubrey Graham}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Timbaland|J-Roc}}

| length8 = 4:06

| title9 = A Star Is Born

| note9 = featuring J. Cole

| writer9 = {{hlist|Carter|West|Wilson|Jermaine Cole|Maurice Jordan|Al Goodman|George Medoro}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.|Kenoe{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length9 = 3:48

| title10 = Venus vs. Mars

| writer10 = {{hlist|Carter|Mosley|Harmon}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Timbaland|JRoc}}

| length10 = 3:10

| title11 = Already Home

| note11 = featuring Kid Cudi

| writer11 = {{hlist|Carter|West|Wilson|Scott Mescudi|Harry Mudie}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.{{ref|b|[b]}}|Bhasker{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length11 = 4:29

| title12 = Hate

| note12 = featuring Kanye West

| writer12 = {{hlist|Carter|West|Bhasker}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker}}

| length12 = 2:31

| title13 = Reminder

| writer13 = {{hlist|Carter|Mosley|Harmon|Karin Briscoe}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Timbaland|JRoc}}

| length13 = 4:18

| title14 = So Ambitious

| note14 = featuring Pharrell

| writer14 = {{hlist|Carter|Pharrell Williams}}

| extra14 = The Neptunes

| length14 = 4:12

| title15 = Young Forever

| note15 = featuring Mr Hudson

| writer15 = {{hlist|Carter|West|Marian Gold|Bernhard Lloyd|Frank Mertens}}

| extra15 = West

| length15 = 4:13

}}

Notes

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies a co-producer.
• ^{{{note|b|[b]}}} signifies an additional producer.
• "A Star Is Born" features additional vocals by Tony Williams.
• "Venus vs. Mars" features additional vocals by Beyoncé.
• "Reminder" features additional vocals by K. Briscoe.

Sample credits

• "What We Talkin' About" contains a sample of "Spirit", by Frédéric Mercier.
• "Thank You" contains excerpts from "Ele E Ela" as performed by Marcos Valle.
• "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" contains elements of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam and also contains a sample of "In the Space" by Janko Nilović & Dave Sucky.
• "Run This Town" contains samples of "Someday In Athens" by The 4 Levels of Existence.
• "Empire State of Mind" contains samples of "Love on a Two Way Street" performed by The Moments.
• "On to the Next One" contains samples of "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice.
• "A Star Is Born" contains samples of "Touch Me" by The Mother Freedom Band.
• "Already Home" contains a sample of "Mad Mad Ivy" by Gladstone Anderson and the Mudies All-Stars.
• "Young Forever" contains a sample of "Forever Young" by Alphaville.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Artists

• Jay-Z – primary artist (all tracks), executive producer
• Luke Steele – featured artist (track 1)
• Kanye West – featured artist (tracks 4, 12)
• Rihanna – featured artist (track 4)
• Alicia Keys – featured artist (track 5)
• Young Jeezy – featured artist (track 6)
• Swizz Beatz – featured artist (track 7)
• Drake – featured artist (track 8)
• J. Cole – featured artist (track 9)
• Kid Cudi – featured artist (track 11)
• Pharrell – featured artist (track 14)
• Mr Hudson – featured artist (track 15)
• Cassie – background artist (track 10)
• Beyoncé – background artist (track 10)
• K. Briscoe – background artist (track 13)

Technical

• Tony Dawsey – mastering
• Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton – mixing (tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 15), recording (tracks 1–12, 14, 15)
• Ken "Duro" Ifill – mixing (track 5)
• Chris Godbey – mixing, recording (tracks 8, 10, 13)
• Fabian Marasciulloet – mixing (track 14)
• Andrew Dawson – recording (tracks 1, 2, 9, 11, 12, 15)
• Marcos Tovar – recording (track 4)
• Karl Helbron – recording (track 6,8,)
• Miki Tsutsumi – recording (track 7)
• Andrew Coleman – recording, digital editing and arrangement (track 14)
• Luke Steele – recording (track 1, Steele's vocals)
• Ann Mincieli – recording (track 5, Keys' vocals)
• Dom Monteleone – engineer (track 1)
• Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – mixing assistant (track 5)
• Ramon Rivas – mixing assistant (track 14)
• Hart Gunther – digital editing and arrangement assistant (track 14)
• Jason Wilkie – digital editing and arrangement assistant (track 14)

{{col-2}}

Production

• Kanye West – production (tracks 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 12, 15), executive producer
• No I.D. – production (tracks 1–4, 9), additional production (track 11)
• Shux – production (track 5)
• The Neptunes – production (track 14)
• Pharrell Williams – production (track 14)
• Chad Hugo – production (track 14)
• Angela Hunte – co-production (track 5)
• Jane't "Jnay" Sewell Ulepic – co-production (track 5)
• Kenoe – additional production (track 9)
• Jeff Bhasker – keys (tracks 1, 2, 9, 11, 12, 15), additional production (track 11)
• Kevin Randolph – keys (track 1)

Additional personnel

• The Carter Administration – A&R
• Lanre Gaba – A&R administration
• Fabienne Leys – A&R administration
• Roc Nation – marketing
• Eric Wong – marketing
• Jana Fleishman – publicity
• Sheila Richman – publicity
• Roc Nation Management – management
• Greg Gigendad Burke – creative direction & design
• Dan Tobin Smith – photography
• Michael Guido – legal council
• Jennifer Justice – legal council
• Renee Karalian – legal council

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{Col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=The Blueprint 3|artist=Jay-Z|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=The Blueprint 3|artist=Jay-Z|award=Platinum|relyear=2009}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|title=The Blueprint 3|artist=Jay-Z|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2010|source=archive}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|type=album|title=The Blueprint 3|artist=Jay-Z|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2009}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Jay-Z|title=The Blueprint 3|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2024|id=13500|access-date=November 5, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=The Blueprint 3|artist=Jay-Z|award=Platinum|relyear=2009|id=8505-1475-2|salesamount=396,018|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ed-sheeran-remains-at-no-1-and-now-has-more-weeks-at-the-top-than-his-previous-albums/069158|title=Official Charts Analysis: Ed Sheeran remains at No.1 and now has more weeks at the top than his previous albums|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=July 14, 2017|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|access-date=July 14, 2017}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Blueprint 3|artist=Jay-Z|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2009|certyear=2023|access-date=July 12, 2023|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2009
• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2009

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/Jay-Z-The-Blueprint-3/master/181678 The Blueprint 3] at Discogs
• [https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/jayz/blueprint3 The Blueprint 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209072326/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/jayz/blueprint3 |date=February 9, 2010 }} at Metacritic
• [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/09/a-first-listen-liveblog-of-jayzs-blueprint-3-.html First Listen: The Blueprint 3] at Los Angeles Times
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/arts/music/13pare.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 Jay-Z's New Album: Nothing Old About It] at The New York Times
• [https://www.spin.com/2009/09/jay-zs-blueprint-3-track-track-review/ A Track by Track Review: The Blueprint 3] at Spin

{{Jay-Z}}

{{Jay-Z songs}}

{{BET Hip Hop Award for Album of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blueprint 3, The}}

Category:2009 albums

Category:Jay-Z albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Roc Nation albums

Category:Sequel albums

Category:Albums produced by Al Shux

Category:Albums produced by the Inkredibles

Category:Albums produced by Jeff Bhasker

Category:Albums produced by Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon

Category:Albums produced by Kanye West

Category:Albums produced by the Neptunes

Category:Albums produced by No I.D.

Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz

Category:Albums produced by Timbaland

Category:Albums recorded at Westlake Recording Studios