Personnel: Debra Killings (vocals, bass guitar); Christy Love, Stephanie Miller, Michelle Rosario, Michele Mills, Josey Scott, Keon Bryce, LaToiya Williams, Q-Tip, Raje Shwari, Sleepy Brown, Biz Markie (vocals); Mike Elizondo (guitar, keyboards); Scott Storch (Fender Rhodes piano); Victor Flowers (organ); Camara Kambon (keyboards); DJ Head (drum programming); Just Blaze (scratches).

Audio Mixers: John Frye; Jason Goldstein; Doug Wilson; Eminem; Jimmy Douglas; Lenny Kravitz; Patrick Viala; Richard Travali.

Recording information: Baseline Studios, New York, NY; Encore Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Manhattan Center, New York, NY; Master Sound Studios, VA; Record One Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; The Boiler Room.

Photographers: Albert Watson; Albert Watson; Rebecca Meek; Jonathan Mannion.

Issued to coincide with the 2009 third volume of his epic trinity (plus?), THE BLUEPRINT: COLLECTOR'S EDITION serves as both a chance for newer fans to catch up with Jay-Z's masterwork, and a snazzy shelf piece for the serious Jay-Z fan. The packaging contains the critically hailed first two volumes (three cds) of the series in a sharp silver box, with a poster, and room for the third disc.

This box set from Def Jam landed after Jay-Z had split from the label, and as smooth marketing would have it, the same day as the rapper's debut for Live Nation was released. With his first post-Def Jam release being titled The Blueprint 3, this box -- featuring just the first two volumes on three CDs along with "a space to complete your collection" -- seems entirely necessary, but the trilogy barely hangs in hindsight as it goes from a fully realized hip-hop masterpiece to a radically different, two-CD release with more pop, and then finally to a record somewhere between the two. It also covers a pivotal time in the rapper's career, with releases in 2001, 2002, and 2009 and, with albums like The Black Album and American Gangster showing up between volumes one and two, it seems The Blueprint could be the name of choice for Jay-Z's less conceptual pieces. Plus there is the 2.1 problem -- 2003's one-disc shortening of The Bluepint 2 -- but you can't deny that the empty space for that other label's Blueprint is clever, and that the two volumes found here have more than their fair share of highlights. This is also an easy way for newcomers to catch up on the Blueprint saga, and with an attractive design, plus a poster added as a bonus, the tag of "Collector Edition" is validated. ~ David Jeffries