Ironically, the album titled the turning point in the career of then 30-year-old Jay Z.  The Blueprint laid out the direction in which his already legend would become legendary.  The symbolic and iconic masterpiece was a defining moment in the genius of music.  The Blueprint, executively produced by Shawn “Jay Z” Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, oozes Roc-A-Fella epicness since September 11, 2001 until now.  The album also holds a sadden memory that day, the day of the 9/11 attacks that the world will never forget.  In Hip Hop, the album was the beginning of the end of a trilogy that will go down in the history books of greatest of all time.  The all-in-blue memento was perfectly written and stories were perfectly told.  Producing handles by some of the greats: Kanye West, Just Blaze, Trackmaster, Timbaland, Bink, and Eminem, who also lended a hand as the album’s solo guest contributor on one of the hardest tracks, “Renegade.”  The beat hits so hard as the vocals ring off in your ears and Jigga and Eminem’s bars flow so fluently together.

After hitting you so hard once it would only be appropriate that Jigga came through for the ladies on “Girls, Girls, Girls.”  On the track, Jay Z gets around the globe showing love to every type of woman there is.  He gives us tears with “Song Cry,” behind a hot melody and a brilliant storyline; “They say you can’t turn a bad girl good, but once a good girl’s gone bad, she’s gone forever…” The meaning runs deep, the feeling is real, and the the tone is raw in expression.  “Never Change” forever holds an authenticity that can never be denied, “I’ll never change, this is Jay all day…”

“The Takeover” is timeless and was done effortless in response to the famous beef at that moment in time; “Ask Nas, he don’t want it with Hov, nooo!”  Jay made the statement of all with “The Ruler’s Back” and shows there is no love with “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)”, later performed with Mary J. Blige.  “U Don’t Know” reigns as the greatest track on The Blueprint, “U don’t know what you do…”  “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” is the album’s anthem, “I can’t leave rap alone, the game needs me…”  The Blueprint is truly a classic, all 13 tracks included plus two bonus tracks, “Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise) and “Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix)”  To Hip Hop this spells legendary and the best Hov album in history; not to mention his very own closing remark in the thank you’s:

“To This Whole Fake Bulls**t Industry, Thanx 4 being so Fake and Keeping me on my Toes!!! I Love Ya’ll Holla Back!”

-Jay Z

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The post The Chronicles of Jay Z: Marking the 15th Anniversary of ‘The Blueprint’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Yo, yo dog, what’s the difference between a 4.0 and a 4.6?”

Like 30 to 40 grand c**ksucker beat it!

Jay-Z

Although Damon Dash and Jay-Z have always hogged the headlines when it came to Roc-A-fella Records, anybody who’s anybody knew who the guy was. That guy was, silent partner, Kareem “Biggs” Burke. Known for being silent in more ways than one — seriously, if you haven’t, check out Death of a Dynasty — Biggs was always, “that guy”. “When Dame was screaming and Jay was over there focused on the music, I was that guy people could come talk to.” Burke said on the Rap Radar podcast a few weeks ago, “So I didn’t burn any bridges.” That notion was challenged and confirmed Friday, June 24th as Burke opened up a pop up store in Los Angeles in celebration of Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z’s legendary debut album.

I had a chance to cover the historical event for RESPECT., which was being held at concept shop APT.4B in L.A. Burke and his Fourth of November team turned the place into an exact replica of Jay’s old apartment in the infamous Marcy projects. Upon entry into the shop, you were greeted by a vintage store front with a sign that read, “New Album: Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt” as well as DJ Franzen spinning on the turntables. Franzen was playing everything from early Jigga classics, to songs that were sampled for the RD project, the tone of the night was very 90s. After being let inside a door that was reminiscent of New Jack City scene — graffiti, stash camera, you name it — you reach the main part of the shop, aka Jigga’s old bedroom. The scene upon entry to this part, was a surreal hop into a time machine to the early 90’s. There were posters and pictures of all types of Hip-Hop legends on the wall including Raekwon, Mobb Deep (I know, I thought it was weird at first too), Grand Puba and more. Though the posters of Jay’s former foes were interesting — he also had multiple pictures of Tupac visible — it was the stash near the “stove” which caught most of my attention. Complete with the dope boy starter kit, the area was stocked with fake powder posed as coke — so we think — a scale, baking soda and a pot to cook. The small environment really took you back to a hungry young Jigga’s mindset as he was getting ready to sky rocket.

.@djkhaled just showed up to the Reasonable Doubt 20th Anniversary party #RD20 pic.twitter.com/eYg2x59OZC

— RESPECT. MAGAZINE (@RESPECTMAG) June 25, 2016

The place was also PACKED.

Everybody, their mom, AND their sister came out for this one, all in support of Biggs. There was even a surprise appearance from DJ Khaled. Newer fans might be confused on the importance of Biggs, but with others, his legacy is solidified. After shopping around a deal for Jay’s would be debut album to many labels, Jigga and Dame were beginning to be discouraged at the notion that nobody would give them a fair deal. Never to be screwed over, Dame decided to call on his former Harlem buddy, Biggs, to come in and partner up. Though Biggs, known for his money making prowess in the pharmaceutical game, was brought in to be an investor, he was much more than that. “Me bringing a lifestyle that Jay talked about, not to say Jay didn’t talk about his,” Biggs told RESPECT. during an interview at the event, “but a big part of that was me, Emory (Jones) and Tata bringing out the support.” Though interesting, this was far from an unknown fact. Stories like Biggs and co. buying out St. Thomas completely of Cristal have always swirled around the air, but it’s Biggs involvement with the creative side that at times went undervalued. “Well, I picked the beat for “Can’t Knock the Hustle“” He told me during the interview. As a Jigga stan — as I’m sure most of you reading this are — this blew my mind. “I think the sequence of the album, we all thought of that together,” he continued on his contribution to the creativity, “Also, pulling the photo shoot together, and just giving Jonathan Mannion a lot of reign, be we came together with the clothes and the lifestyle too.”

That lifestyle was on display this night.

Despite all the troubles that life brought to Biggs, including a prison sentence and the break up of his Rocafella empire, he was still able to reflect. “For me, it means the genesis,” Burke said on the importance of Reasonable Doubt to him, “It was the start of something that created businesses and an entrepreneurial, independent spirit in a lot of kids today. It’s something that just created artists, jobs and businesses in different industries.” One of those business is Fourth of November, a clothing line backed by Biggs. “I connected with an old friend of mine who had this denim brand,” Biggs says of the line, “It was hand made by the designer in his garage, and I love the story. It pays homage to a love story because his parents met in Ecuador at the address Fourth of November.”

“Reasonable Doubt” Gold Plaques courtesy of Roc-A-Fella’s first National Director of Radio Promotions @rayrae161! Thank you my brother! | Snapchat ? APT.4B | #ReasonableDoubt #APT4B #APT4BLA @fourthofnovember @apt4b.la

A video posted by APT.4B (@apt.4b) on Jun 23, 2016 at 10:06pm PDT

In all, it was a night to remember for not only the man of the hour, but also the attendees. Met with Reasonable Doubt themed cocktails from none other than D’usse, the event was an incredible experience for any fan of the Rocafella days. And for the man who inspired Jay’s bars about 4.6’s and stunting, it was the culmination of a 20 year climb to the top.

Check out the pictures from the event below and be sure to bump to Reasonable Doubt today for it’s birthday, specifically, “Friend or Foe.”

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The post Kareem “Biggs” Burke Reflects on 20 Years of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Brooklyn’s Finest,” Jay-Z is one of the greatest rappers of all time. His influence on hip-hop culture and lifestyle is beyond measurable and surely has made history. He made “The Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can,” made striped button-ups and throwbacks a “thing,” had everyone rockin’ platinum jewelry and brushin’ the dirt of their shoulders. Not to mention, Hip-Hop’s most beloved couple wouldn’t exist: Beyonce & Jay-Z. But, if it weren’t for the men who recognized his talent from the beginning, none of that would’ve occurred. With it being the 20th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, let’s learn more about the men who created Roc-A-Fella Records and history.

The post Dame Dash, Kareem “Biggs” Burke & Jay-Z: The Men Behind Roc-A-Fella Records appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Brooklyn…Brooklyn…Brooklyn..”…LA?

Brooklyn’s finest heads to LA to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Jay Z‘s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The pop-up shop celebrates fashion, hip-hop, and Big Homie, himself.

The shop acts as a time capsule, taking its visitors back 20 years to a replica of Jay Z’s former apartment. Check it out at the opening this Saturday, at 517 S. Fairfax Ave. in LA. The opening day lands on the 25th of June, and is exactly 20 years since Reasonable Doubt‘s release date. The shop will be open throughout July.

Most of the shop’s visitors will probably be too young to remember the release of the album, and yet Reasonable Doubt has resonated with the generations of hip-hop fans that came. Reasonable Doubt became timeless, with it’s mafiosa-inspired lyrics and instrumentals. The pop-up shop is sure to reflect its legacy.

The album featured Mary J. Blige and The Notorious B.I.G. Most publications and fans consider it to be Jay Z’s best work to date, as well as a milestone in hip-hop itself.

The shop is being opened by Roc-A-Fella Record’s Kareem “Biggs” Burke. Inside, you can find t-shirts, hats, posters, and cassettes — all in 90’s fashion.

Before Reasonable Doubt, Jay Z’s career had “High stakes, I got more at stake than Philly.” Now, there’s no doubt that even his pop-up shop will be a success. You can’t knock the hustle.

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The post ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Pop-Up Shop is Sure to Be Poppin’ in LA appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Roc-A-Fella Records  co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke pleaded guilty to drug charges yesterday that could have him facing up to 5 years in prison.The mostly discreet ex-partner of Roc-A-Fella’s  multi-million dollar empire may also have to give up his 2010 BMW and $675,000  in cash, including $15,000 seized from his home.

According to Courthouse News Service, the hip-hop mogul pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Remains of an in-house  weed operation used to grow the marijuana were reportedly found. This case is following a previous drug arrest with at least 50 others in late 2010. At least 10 of the arrested individuals, including Burke, have pleaded guilty. Burke  could face up to forty years in prison, with a minimum of 5 years after his hearing date  on March 18, 2012.

The post Roc-A-Fella Records Co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke Faces At Least 5 Years In Prison appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.