By the time The Blueprint was released in September 2001, Jay-Z was the king of New York rap. On the disc, he ridiculed Nas, which caused bad blood to boil between the two. Also featured on the disc was "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," a track that became a huge hit and crossed over to the pop charts. Many critics called it the best album of his career.

The prolific rapper then released two albums early in 2002, MTV Unplugged and Best of Both Worlds (a collaboration with R. Kelly). Ignoring the criticism, Jay-Z's next release, Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse performed well selling 550,000 copies in its first week of release on its way to moving nearly two million copies in the U.S.

The rapper shifted his focus to other areas in the entertainment realm. He opened the 40-40 Club in New York City, an upscale sports bar that the rapper has said he intends to haunt frequently.

Many wonder whether he is trying to cement his legacy while he is alive, similar to the way in which Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. saw their album sales soar after their untimely deaths. His final release, The Black Album hit store shelves on November 14 to great acclaim. Those who accused the rapper of recent mediocre efforts have indicated that this album is a return to form for Jay-Z.