Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 Gets a Release Date: September 11

On September 11, 2001, Jay-Z released The Blueprint, his sixth studio album and arguably his best--arguably being the key word, as this is the guy who also made Reasonable Doubt. Anyway now, eight years later--and six after Blueprint 2, Jay's not-nearly-as-good follow-up--the long-rumored Blueprint 3 finally has a release date, and it is...September 11, 2009. Billboard cites a bunch of sources saying the record will come out on Roc Nation, the imprint Jay-Z formed for himself out of buying his way out of his own Def Jam contract, with distribution through Atlantic Records--meaning Sony, who had been rumored to be in the running, lost out on what may well have been a colossal bidding war. The official announcement is apparently to come at this weekend's Hot 97 Summer Jam, which would seem suggest at least one major, unannounced guest will be in the building at Giants Stadium come Sunday.

Jay-Z To Release 'Blueprint 3' On Sept. 11 [Billboard]