'' The Blueprint '' received universal acclaim from music critics , with praise being directed at Jay-Z 's lyricism and the production . It is considered one of his best albums and has also been labeled as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time . Despite its release coinciding with the September 11 attacks , it sold over 427,000 copies in its opening week and debuted at number one in the US , holding the spot for three weeks . It was later certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
The Blueprint