The Blueprint to the Throne
Follow Jay-Z’s path to success over the last decade.
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September 11, 2001, is not only an extremely important date in our nation's history but it also marks the date Jay-Z dropped The Blueprint, the first installment in the BP trilogy. Since its release, Jay-Z has gone from well-respected rapper to one of the most financially successful hip hop artists ever. BET.com takes a moment to acknowledge the trail that J blazed since dropping the classic album. \r\r(Photo: Def Jam)
Photo By Photo: Courtesy Roc-A-Fella Records
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Jay-Z vs. Nas Beef\r - The ongoing feud between Nas and Jay-Z has gone down in hip hop history as one of the most epic rap battles. Although the two men generally ignored the comments flung back and forth between their respective crews, the classic diss tracks "The Takeover" and "Ether," in addition to many blatant disrespectful comments in interviews, ultimately resulted. The beef, apparently over business issues, didn't end until four years later when Jigga brought out Nas as his special surprise guest at his 2005 I Declare War tour. Nas would later sign on with Def Jam Records, where Jay presided as president at the time.\r(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)
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"The Takeover" — Jay-Z Disses Nas at 2001 Summer Jam\r - Jay-Z holds the distinction of firing the first shot in one of the most closely watched rap beefs in hip hop history. Jay chose New York's 2001 Summer Jam stage to make the first public acknowledgement of the feud when he performed "Takeover," the first single for his upcoming album The Blueprint, which dissed Nas and ended with the line "Ask Nas, he don't want it with Hov. No!"\r(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)J
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The Black Album \r - At the opening of his 40/40 night club in New York, Jay announced that his next album, The Black Album, would be his last. His eighth studio effort, which spawned the hits "Change Clothes," "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems," was released on November 14, 2003. Although Jay-Z threw himself a huge retirement party and concert at Madison Square Garden before settling into his position as President of Def Jam, he wouldn't be absent from the studio for long. \r\r(Photo: Island Def Jam)
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Releases S. Dot Carter Collection With Reebok - In 2003 Hov became the first non-athlete to establish a shoe collection with Reebook. The "S. Carter Collection" flew off the shelves becoming the fastest-selling shoe in the company's 108-year history. (Photo: Reebok)
Photo By Photo: Reebok
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Jay-Z's "Retirement Party" at Madison Square Garden\r - In celebration of the end of his career as a rapper, Jay-Z threw a huge retirement party and concert at Madison Square Garden on November 25, 2003. The event, which was documented for his film Fade to Black, was attended by special guests The Roots, Missy Elliott, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Twista, Ghostface Killah, Foxy Brown, Pharrell and R. Kelly.\r(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
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Roc-A-Fella Records Splits Up\r - After reportedly not being able to agree on the future direction of Roc-A-Fella records, all three partners, Jay, Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke sold their stages in the company relinquishing all power to the parent company, Def Jam Records, and its newly announced president, Jay-Z, in 2004. The highly publicized split with his business partners and friends came after nine years of business and forever changed Jay's course as a businessman.\r(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)
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Jay-Z Named President of Def Jam Records \r - When Jay-Z decided to retire, he did so from rap but not the work force altogether. Instead, Jay headed to the boardroom in 2004 in his new position as president of Def Jam Recordings.
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Beef With Jim Jones\r - Jim Jones hasn't been a fan of Jigga in a while. Beginning in 2006 when Jones openly criticized Jay-Z's performance as president of Def Jam and continuing years afterward. Back then Jay responded with "Brooklyn High," a diss track over Jones' "We Fly High" beat, but then he learned to simply ignore the Harlem rapper. \r\r(Photos, left to right: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup, Andrew Marks/PictureGroup)
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Jay-Z's HP Commercial \r - One of Jay-Z's first major endorsements, a commercial for computer company Hewlett Packard debuted on June 8, 2006, during the NBA finals. Speaking to how highly recognizable his voice had become, the 60-second TV ad featured his voice and body from the neck down only. \r\r(Photo: HP)
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