Hov spoke with PEOPLE about the landmark album during the premiere of HBO’s ‘JAŸ-Z in 8’

NEED TO KNOW

• Jay-Z is reflecting on 25 years of The Blueprint

• Hov spoke with PEOPLE about the landmark LP at the New York City premiere of HBO's JAŸ-Z in 8

• "It was a staple," Jay-Z says

Jay-Z is marking a quarter century of acknowledging the flow of the century.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, the decorated musician, 56, celebrated the premiere of his new eight-part HBO docuseries, JAŸ-Z in 8, which explores his catalog and arrives on the cusp of a string of anniversary shows to celebrate 30 years of his debut, Reasonable Doubt, and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint. The latter, he explains, left an undeniable mark on his own creative development.

"It was a staple," Hov tells PEOPLE of his landmark sixth studio album, which arrived on Sept. 11, 2001.

"It was one of those moments where, Reasonable Doubt, I didn't know the music business. So I didn't have aspirations of any goals. I was just making music to make music. And then, [In My Lifetime,] Vol. 1, I was trying. Then Vol. 2, I figured out songwriting."

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That sixth LP came with a different weight, he now says. "The Blueprint was like that moment where I was like, 'Aw, I'm here. I've arrived and I'm here to stay,'" Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, adds.

The Blueprint, which notably hit shelves on the same day as 9/11 and is widely considered by critics to be one of the greatest albums of all time, has been at the center of Jay-Z's recent album anniversary run in 2026. The record had its own dedicated show at Yankee Stadium on July 11, featuring guest appearances from collaborators Eminem, Pharrell Williams and Slick Rick.

Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart after its release, the LP spawned hits "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," Jay-Z's first solo single to crack the top 10 of the Hot 100 (No. 8).

Now three decades in the game, he's looking back at some of his most impactful songs alongside director Rick Rubin for JAŸ-Z in 8, which follows an intimate conversation between the two music heavyweights as they dissect a handful of album cuts and chart-toppers. The first two episodes arrive via HBO on Friday, Sept. 18.

"We didn't create this piece to come out at this time," Jay-Z told attendees at the Metropolitan Opera House on Sunday night. "We were just curious to have this conversation around music and writing. And we didn't know what we would do with it."

He added, "It's just an idea that we discussed, Rick and I. And I think what makes it really special is the love that we have of music. Rick is super curious about the world that a lot of us come from. And just in general, in life. So it took it in places that I don't think it normally would've went. And it's super fascinating, if I do say so myself. I hope you guys enjoy it. Thank you guys for this beautiful 30 years. I look forward to what's next."

JAŸ-Z in 8 premieres Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and its premiere episode will be immediately followed by episode two at 8:45 p.m. Both episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max at 8 p.m. ET with two new episodes debuting on Fridays to follow, concluding on Friday, Oct. 9.