The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse

Untitled

The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse is rapper Jay-Z's seventh studio album released in 2002. Parts of the album were later reissued as The Blueprint 2.1 in 2003.

This album, like Jay-Z's previous four, debuted at #1 with over 545,000 units shipped in its first week of sales, and eventually sold 2 million in the U.S. The album was criticized for its more pop-oriented sound as well as its plethora of guests, while The Blueprint had been almost devoid of guest appearances.

Though the album has no strict concept in view, the first disc The Gift generally has more upbeat, party tracks, including the hit singles "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Excuse Me Miss." The Curse has a somewhat darker tone, including fewer guest appearances, disses to Nas, and Jay-Z's former mentor Jaz-O on "Blueprint²" and a dramatic street tale on "Meet the Parents."

Track listing

Disc one: The Gift

#	Title	Producer(s)	Samples	Length
1	"A Dream" (feat. Faith Evans & The Notorious B.I.G.)	Kanye West	"Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G. "Stay" by Blackjack	4:12
2	"Hovi Baby"	Just Blaze	"Diggin' On You (Live)" by TLC	4:21
3	"The Watcher 2" (feat. Dr. Dre, Rakim & Truth Hurts)	Dr. Dre	"The Watcher" by Dr. Dre	5:57
4	"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (feat. Beyoncé)	Kanye West	"Me and My Girlfriend" by Makaveli Interpolation of "If I Was Your Girlfriend" by Prince	3:26
5	"Excuse Me Miss"	The Neptunes		4:41
6	"What They Gonna Do" (feat. Sean Paul)	Timbaland		4:54
7	"All Around The World" (feat. LaToiya Williams)	No I.D.	Interpolation of "Sadie" by B. Hawes "Brooklyn's Finest" by Jay-Z "Theme From The Black Hole" by George Clinton "Children Get Together" by Ed Hawkins "Same Song" by Digital Underground	3:53
8	"Poppin' Tags" (feat. Big Boi, Killer Mike & Twista)	Kanye West	"After All" by The Marvelettes	6:00
9	"Fuck All Nite"	The Neptunes	Interpolation of "U Don't Have To Call" by Usher	4:19
10	"The Bounce" (feat. Kanye West)	Timbaland		4:19
11	"I Did It My Way"	Jimmy Kendrix, Big Chuck	"My Way" by Paul Anka	3:42

Disc two: The Curse

#	Title	Producer(s)	Samples	Length
1	"Diamond Is Forever"	Big Chuck, Ron Feemster		3:56
2	"Guns & Roses" (feat. Lenny Kravitz)	Heavy D	"Arco Arena" by Cake	4:26
3	"U Don't Know (Remix)" (feat. M.O.P.)	Just Blaze	"I'm Not to Blame" by Bobby Byrd	4:27
4	"Meet the Parents"	Just Blaze		4:59
5	"Some How Some Way" (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)	Just Blaze	"Castles of Sand" by Jermaine Jackson	5:38
6	"Some People Hate"	Kanye West	"A Word Called Love" by Brian & Brenda Russell	4:32
7	"Blueprint²"	Charlemagne	"The Ecstasy of Gold" by Ennio Morricone	4:49
8	"Nigga Please" (feat. Young Chris)	The Neptunes		4:38
9	"2 Many Hoes"	Timbaland		3:34
10	"As One" (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Sparks & Rell)	Just Blaze	"Fantasy" by Earth, Wind & Fire	3:49
11	"A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier"	The Neptunes		4:42
12*	"Show You How"	Just Blaze		2:59
13*	"Bitches & Sisters"	Just Blaze	"When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" by Kim Weston "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" by N.W.A.	2:39
14*	"What They Gonna Do Part II"	Darrell "Digga" Branch		3:47

(*) denotes bonus tracks. Unlike Jay-Z other albums, these three tracks are listed on the album and have their own separate track.

Chart history

Album

Chart (2002)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	1
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums	1
Canadian Albums Chart	8

Singles

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
2002	"'03 Bonnie & Clyde"	4	5	2
	"Hovi Baby"	-	76	-
2003	"Excuse Me Miss"	8	1	2

Chart procession and succession

External links

• The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse at Discogs