Jay Z's Blueprint 2 (sampling sources)

By Kenton Rambsy

This post is part of our "Sampling & Signifying: The Music of Jay Z" series.

The Blueprint 2
Release Date: November 12, 2002

The Gift

1."A Dream" (Feat. The Notorious B.I.G & Faith Evans) (Runtime: 4:12)
Producer: Kanye West
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Stay” by Blackjack (1980)
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Total (1994)
Drums:
• “ The Rainmaker” by The 5th Dimension (1971)

2. "Hovi Baby" (Runtime: 4:21)
Producer: Just Blaze
Hook/Riff:
• “ Diggin' on You (L.A.'S Live Remix)” by TLC (1995)

3."The Watcher 2" (Feat. Dr. Dre, Rakim & Truth Hurts) (Runtime: 5:55)
Producer: Scott Storch & Dr. Dre
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ The Watcher” by Dr. Dre (1999)

4."'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (Feat. Beyonce) (Runtime: 3:25)
Producer: Kanye West
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ If I Was Your Girlfriend” by Prince (1987)
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Me and My Girlfriend ” by Makaveli (1996)

5. "Excuse Me Miss" (Runtime: 4:41)
Producer: The Neptunes
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Take You Out” by Luther Vandross (2001)
• “ Big Poppa” by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

Drums:
“Walk Don't Walk” by Prince (1991)

6. "What They Gonna Do" (Feat. Sean Paul) (Runtime: 4:54)
Producer: Darrell "Digga" Branch

7. "All Around The World" (Feat. LaToiya Williams) (Runtime: 3:52)
Producer: No I.D.
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Children Get Together” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers (1971)
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Sadie” by The Spinners (1974)

8. "Poppin' Tags" (Feat. Killer Mike, Big Boi & Twista) (Runtime: 6:00)
Producer: Kanye West
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ After All ” by The Marvelettes (1970)

9. "Fuck All Nite" (Runtime: 4:19)
Producer: The Neptunes
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ You Can't Stop the Reign ” by Shaquille O'Neal feat. The Notorious B.I.G. (1996)
• “ U Don't Have to Call” by Usher (2001)
• “ Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)” by Snoop Dogg feat. Nate Dogg, Kurupt and Warren G (1993)

10. "The Bounce" (Feat. Kanye West) (Runtime: 4:18)
Producer: Timbaland
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” by Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun (1993)
• “ Top Billin' ” by Audio Two (1987)

11. "I Did It My Way" (Runtime: 3:42)
Producer: Big Chuck, Jimi Kendrix
• “ My Way ” by Paul Anka (1974)

The Curse

1."Diamond Is Forever" (Runtime: 3:56)
Producer: Big Chuck, Ron "NEFF-U" Feemstar

2. "Guns & Roses" (Feat. Lenny Kravitz) (Runtime: 4:26)
Producer: Heavy D
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Arco Arena” by Cake (2001)

3. "U Don't Know (Remix)" (Feat. M.O.P.) (Runtime: 4:27)
Producer: Just Blaze

4. "Meet The Parents" (Runtime: 4:59)
Producer: Just Blaze

5. "Some How Some Way" (Feat. Scarface & Beanie Sigel) (Runtime: 5:37)
Producer: Just Blaze
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Castles of Sand” by Jermaine Jackson (1978)

6. "Some People Hate" (Runtime: 4:32)
Producer: Kanye West
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Word Called Love” by Brian Russell and Brenda Russell (1976)
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Ambitionz Az a Ridah” by 2Pac (1996)
Drums:
• “ Player's Ball (Extended Remix) ” by OutKast (1993)

7. "Blueprint2" (Runtime: 4:49)
Producer: Charlemagne
Hook/Riff:
• “ The Ecstasy of Gold ” by Ennio Morricone (1966)

8. "Nigga Please" (Feat. Young Chris) (Runtime: 4:38)
Producer: The Neptunes
9. "2 Many Hoes" (Runtime: 3:34)
Producer: Timbaland
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Lookin' at Me” by Mase feat. P. Diddy (1997)

10. "As One" (Feat Rell, Young Guns, Sparks, Peedi Crakk, Memphis Bleek & Freeway) (Runtime: 3:49)
Producer: Just Blaze
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ Fantasy” by Earth, Wind & Fire (1977)

11. "A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" (Runtime: 4:42)
Producer: The Neptunes
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ Survival of the Fittest ” by Mobb Deep (1995)

12. "Show You How (Hidden Track)" (Runtime: 2:59)
Producer: Just Blaze
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ La La La” by Jay Z (2003)

13. "Bitches & Sisters (Hidden Track)" (Runtime: 2:39)
Producer: Just Blaze
Instrumentation and Composition:
• “ When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” by Kim Weston (1970)
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ A Bitch Iz a Bitch” by N.W.A (1987)

14. "What They Gonna Do, Part II (Hidden Track)" (Runtime: 3:47)
Producer: Darrell "Digga" Branch
Vocals/Lyrics:
• “ What They Gonna Say to Me ” by Beanie Sigel (2007)

Related:
• The African American Literary Studies Lab