The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z , released on September 11, 2001, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings . Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging . Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan Center Studios and Baseline Studios in New York City . Contrasting the radio-friendly sound of Jay-Z's previous work, The Blueprint features soul -based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West , Just Blaze , and Bink , as well as Timbaland , Trackmasters , and Eminem , who also contributes the album's sole guest feature.