JAY-Z’s 2001 classic The Blueprint is heading to the Library of Congress.
On Wednesday (March 20), the Library named 25 audio recordings to be inducted to the Registry. The Blueprint album made the list along with songs by Earth Wind & Fire, music from the movie “Super Fly,” and a recording of Robert F. Kennedy announcing that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been killed, CBS reported.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who happens to be the first woman and the first African American to hold the post, explained this year’s additions in a statement. “The National Recording Registry honors the music that enriches our souls, the voices that tell our stories, and the sounds that mirror our lives,” she said. “The Library of Congress and its many collaborators are working to preserve these sounds and moments in time, which reflect our past, present and future.”
JAY’s sixth album dropped on Sept. 11, 2001 to rave reviews. Unfortunately, the timing of the release coincided with the 9/11 attacks in New York City. The Blueprint sold over 427,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The album, which has gone double platinum since then, remains highly regarded by fans and critics alike as one of the most prolific albums in JAY’s discography.
In December 2013, JAY shared his own ranking of his works over the years on his official website. The Blueprint held steady at No. 2 right behind his debut, 1996’s Reasonable Doubt. He also regarded the album as a “classic.” His 2006 comeback album, Kingdom Come, ranked dead last. “First game back, don’t shoot me,” he joked at the time.
On Tuesday (March 20), it was announced that the TIDAL co-owner will headline the 50th anniversary of Woodstock along with Chance The Rapper. Fingers crossed to hear hits from The Blueprint including “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Song Cry” when the festival kicks off in Watkins Glen, New York on Aug. 16-18.