Jay-Z explains 'Blueprint' trilogy

Jay-Z has revealed his reasons for adding a third volume to the Blueprint series.

The hip-hop superstar, who has sold over 1.5 million copies of his eleventh studio album, said that after two albums based on his influences he felt that it was "fitting" to release a third instalment in the Blueprint series at the peak of his career.

Speaking to Billboard, Jay-Z said: "I wanted the Blueprint series to be a trilogy because of what it represented.

"The first Blueprint was the soul samples I grew up on, my blueprint. Then The Blueprint 2 was me searching for all the different types of music I like.

"But I ain't have a reason to do the third one, so I didn't do it for a while. But it was just fitting right now where I am in my career for me to set the Blueprint for my next journey."