Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 set for 11 September release

Jay-Z: ready to return.
Jay-Z: ready to return.

Jay-Z seems set to release The Blueprint 3, his long-awaited new album, on 11 September.

The news is expected to be confirmed on Sunday, but has already leaked out via various sources. Although the record will be released on Jay-Z's new Roc Nation label, reports suggest that distribution will be handled by Atlantic Records.

The star, who bought out the remainder of his contract with Def Jam last month, is believed to have been working with a variety of big names on the album, notably Kanye West. He last week described The Blueprint 3 as 'anti Auto-Tune' - the plug-in hasn't been used on any of it, apparently.

The new record will be Jay-Z's first since 2007's American Gangster.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.