American Gangster (2007)
The "unofficial musical companion" to the film of the same name, this, with a Jay-Z consciously trying to get more complexity in his material, follows the rise-and-fall arc of an American gangster just like the film.
The Blueprint, Vol. 2, The Gift and the Curse (2002)
This "White album" of rap is a double-disc of strong songwriting and party hits.
The Blueprint 3 (2009)
Jay-Z's 11th #1 album (the most of any artist ever), which contains the hits "Run This Town" and "Empire State of Mind."