"I've never looked at myself and said that I need to be a certain way to be around a certain sort of people. I've always wanted to stay true to myself, and I've managed to do that. People have to accept that."
If there is one thing we have learned about JAY-Z throughout his career, it is that he has always been — for better or for worse — true to himself. Take a look at his prolific body of work, and even in his failures, Shawn Carter has always managed to do it with a style and aplomb only he's capable of. On every album, you hear his dedication to his story, his relentlessness to his brand, and his obsession as not only the best rapper in the game, but in all of history. JAY-Z has never cared about whether or not you like him — he already knows you do.
With the release of 4:44 — his 13th solo studio album (and 16th studio album overall) — coming this Friday, we took the time to listen to and rank every album ever released by JAY-Z.
"Allow me to re-introduce myself, my name is..."
Unfinished Business
JAY-Z & R. Kelly
Released: October 26, 2004
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / Jive
No. 15
Magna Carta... Holy Grail
JAY-Z
Released: July 4, 2013
Roc-A-Fella / Roc Nation / IDJMG
No. 14
Kingdom Come
JAY-Z
Released: November 21, 2006
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 13
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse
JAY-Z
Released: November 12, 2002
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 12
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
JAY-Z
Released: November 4, 1997
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
No. 11
The Blueprint 3
JAY-Z
Released: September 8, 2009
Atlantic / Roc-A-Fella
No. 10
The Best of Both Worlds
JAY-Z & R. Kelly
Released: March 19, 2002
Atlantic / Roc-A-Fella
No. 09
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
JAY-Z
Released: October 31, 2000
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 08
Vol. 3... The Life & Times of S. Carter
JAY-Z
Released: December 28, 1999
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 07
American Gangster
JAY-Z
Released: November 6, 2007
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 06
Watch The Throne
JAY-Z & Kanye West
Released: August 8, 2011
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / Roc Nation
No. 05
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
JAY-Z
Released: September 29, 1998
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
No. 04
The Black Album
JAY-Z
Released: November 14, 2003
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 03
Reasonable Doubt
JAY-Z
Released: June 25, 1996
Roc-A-Fella
No. 02
The Blueprint
JAY-Z
Released: September 11, 2001
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam / IDJMG
No. 01
