With the wisdom that comes from growing a year older (happy 44th birthday!) and living one full day as a vegan, Jay Z has ranked his own discography. HOV approaches the task with a fair amount of self-criticism, noting that “Sunshine” keeps In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 from placing higher, and asking forgiveness for Kingdom Come. But he also knows that his top four records are classics, and gives American Gangster his own CoS Top Star grade. So where does his latest, Magna Carta Holy Grail, rank? Check out the scoreboard and explanations below.
1. Reasonable Doubt (Classic)
2. The Blueprint (Classic)
3. The Black Album (Classic)
4. Vol. 2 (Classic)
5. American Gangster (4 1/2, cohesive)
6. Magna Carta (Fuckwit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail)
7. Vol. 1 (Sunshine kills this album…fuck… Streets, Where I’m from, You Must Love Me…)
8. BP3 (Sorry critics, it’s good. Empire (Gave Frank a run for his money))
9. Dynasty (Intro alone…)
10. Vol. 3 (Pimp C verse alone… oh, So Ghetto)
11. BP2 (Too many songs. Fucking Guru and Hip Hop, ha)
12. Kingdom Come (First game back, don’t shoot me)”
