From the projects to the stage to the boardroom, hip hop performer and entreprenuer extraordinaire Shawn Carter – alias Jay-Z – has established himself through 10 (soon to be 11) albums as perhaps the greatest hip hop artist of all time. He is now almost a charicature of himself so it is easy to forget just how good this guy actually is. It’s our job here at 100b to remind you.

100best: Jay-Z.

Out.

aDawgg:

Eight years on, The Blueprint is a classic for good reason. Released at a dramatic time in U.S. history (9/11/01), the double platinum album broke in two uber-producers (Kanye West, Just Blaze), cracked the stranglehold Timbaland had on the genre, and helped return sampling as a cornerstone of hip hop production. Even the notoriously negative Bitchfork lauded it as the #2 album of 2001. “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” is a testament to the ability of Jay-Z to remain commercially successful without losing relevance and credibility in a genre that shakes off fakes with ease.

Bean:

My choice was based purely on gut – no Jay-Z song packs a punch as hard as “99 Problems”. The opening line and beat busting out of the speakers hit you right in the guts. And although his singles are usually damn catchy, I’ve never really been taken by Jay-Z’s lyrical style. “99 Problems” is different – it’s the first time I’ve really wanted to listen to him. Plus, that beat is incredible: part fuzzy guitars, part raw industrial drums. It doesn’t so much pop as explode, and gives Jay-Z a raw power I’ve never heard in him before.

Tamboosh:

I’ve had a crush on the man since I don’t know when, so picking a favorite had to be easy as pie, right? No pie. Jay-Z’s songs can be rated by impact, entertainment value, and pure lyrical wizardry. Every category has multiple contenders; which surpasses all of them? The instant impact “99 problems”, “Jockin’ Jay-Z” or “Roc Boyz” have? The incredible lyrics on “Dead Presidents”, “What More Can I Say” and “d’Evils”? Or the boombastic fun that’s “Big Pimpin’” and “Dust Your Shoulders Off”? The one that checks all the boxes for me is the unstoppable “Heart Of The City”.