The Blueprint of a Jay-Z Album: What BP3 Could’ve Been

With the leak of two Timbo-produced joints from The Blueprint 3 confirming the tracklisting that made its way to the Internets last week, Jay-Z stans everywhere have been up in arms when faced with the reality that a follow-up to the ‘01 original will lack production from the likes of Just Blaze (or Bink! for that matter), while also featuring newcomers such as KiD CuDi and Mr. Hudson. In a perfect world, here’s what the tracklisting to the feverishly anticipated album would look like:

1. Hand It Down Part 2 (Featuring Pain In Da Ass and J. Cole) (Produced by DJ Premier)

If President Obama was the hip-hop fan he claims to be, he’d pass a law mandating that every Jay-Z album begin with Pain In Da Ass doing his best Tony Montana impression, with a beat provided by Premo.

Jay also seems intent on letting J. Cole get some shine seeing as homey got on BP3 with only one mixtape to his name. At least this way, he’d do it in classic style. Hell, Jay wouldn’t even have to write his verses.

2. D.O.A. [Death of All Y'all] (Featuring T-Pain) (Produced by No I.D.)

The OG joint had Jay biting his tongue a bit too much. T-Pain on the hook would serve notice to everyone except for the rapper-turnt-sanga to kill that Auto-Tune’d noise. And then Hov could slip Pain one of his trademark build-you-up-and-break-you-down subliminals, kinda like what he did to mixtape Weezy.

After going at Auto-Tune, Jay could turn his attention to Jaz’s bum ass once again, as well as the always disrespectful Game (their new Hov diss is heat rocks, btw).

3. Run This Town (Featuring Beyonce) (Produced by Rich Harrison)

Forget Rihanna and her attempts at singing. Hov should’ve got at B, so she can be all up in the video (I’m thinking something along the lines of “Single Ladies” here) for this surefire radio single meant for z100.

And remember how go-go was supposed to be the next big thing in hip-hop? It didn’t quite pan out that way, but Jay can take another stab at it–after “Jockin’ Jay-Z” failed to get more spins–by recruiting the man best suited for bringing the sound (Harrison), thus rekindling the musical magic between Hov and his wifey.

4. Empire State of Mind (Featuring Nas) (Produced by L.E.S. and Wyldfyer)

Ms. Keys is cool and all, but early reports had the Lil’ Homey on the track instead. L.E.S. and Wyldfyer should handle the beat, as they’ve already been responsible for two of the dopest collabos between the two formerly feuding emcees. And it’s always entertaining to hear Nas continue to throw shots at Jay even when they’re on the same track.

5. Off That (Featuring Drake) (Produced by Timbaland)

This track is actually not that bad. Here, Jay gets all the money talk out of his system, all the while tapping into the Lil Wayne demographic with Drake’s cameo (i.e. the high school chicks who actually throw down on tix to see the “America’s Most Wanted Tour”). Oh, and Timbo spazzed on this beat.

6. U Don’t Know Part 3 (Featuring M.O.P. and DMX) (Produced by Just Blaze)

It’s the only series of songs to make the first two BPs, so why not the third one? Adding Crackhead Earl to the mix should up the ante (no pun intended), even if Danze and Fame ripped the beat to shreds already. This shit right here, though, would really make cats wan’ go and commit felonies.

7. Hate (Featuring Kanye West) (Produced by Kanye West)

Going by the title at least, this joint seems eerily similar to that cut from BP2 when a hungry Hov was rapping like he “got a chip on [his] shoulder the size of the Golden Nugget in Vegas.”

8. Real As It Gets (Featuring Young Jeezy) (Produced by Don Cannon)

Another actual cut from BP3, Don Cannon should be behind the boards for this instead of The Incredibles. Cannon usually brings out the best in Jeezy. Not to mention, he’s like a poor man’s version of Just Blaze so this would sorta help to fill the necessary Justin Smith quota for a Jay album.

9. Guess Who’s Back Again (Featuring Scarface and Beanie Sigel) (Produced by Kanye West)

“This Can’t Be Life.” “Guess Who’s Back.” “Some How, Some Way.”

10. Another Murder (Hidden Guest Verse) (Produced by Just Blaze)

“Back to Shawn Carter the hustler, Jay-Z is dead.”

Building on the theme from the Volume 3 standout, it’s the perfect way to end the Blueprint series, as Jay shifts roles from artist to robber baron executive.

So, naturally he’d have to pass the torch to someone right? J. Cole seems the right business move being a Roc Nation artist, but the natural heir is someone with actual Rocafella pedigree who isn’t best suited for weedcarrying duties (or in Hov’s case, washing his Jay-Z blue Lex bubble Maybach). Hence, Young Chris to close out the show.

And Just would have to produce this last track, after crafting the perfect sendoff for Jay with “My 1st Song.”

So yes, only ten tracks. Isn’t the GOAT album the true hip-hop blueprint, anyway?