![]() It has a very DMX sounding beat and it adds the roughness and aggression Jay needs after the musical escapade we got in the previous track. What brings this whole track together though, is really Swizz on production. I also think featuring Da Ranjahz was a good choice too. Jay's lyrics are great on this track and, not only do I love his flow, delivery and overall lyrics, but I appreciate the mention of BIG and Pac. I gave you prophecy on my first joint and y'all lamed out/ĭidn't really appreciate it til the second one came out/" "You'd be hard pressed to find another rapper hot as me/ The vocals taken from Annie and the orphans is so complimentary to Jay's rapping that it's no surprise this became a hit across all demographics. The incorporation of the Broadway musical "Annie" worked in Jay's favor and since the story of orphan Annie seems to parallel that of Jay's, it works. ![]() ![]() The (unintended) lead single on the entire album and the first taste of the mainstream aspect of this album. Let's take a closer look at the album Jay released in what would be his prime. Jay would give us a whole lot of features, many bangers, dozens of notable verses and some of the best beat productions yet. ![]() I saw all of these tracks performed live, DMX was there (along with Red, Meth and Busta), but after that moment, the album was more than a CD, I had a profound appreciation for this. For me, this holds a special place because it was after the release of this album that Jay went on his "Hard Knock Life Tour", which would be the first rap concert I ever went to. 2: Hard Knock Life" released in 1998 just one year after BIG had passed away. The albums were an immense success and suddenly Jigga was a household name. Jay had managed to penetrate the commercial side of hip hop perfectly. 2: Hard Knock Life" and wrapped it up with "Vol. He started the trilogy off with "In My Lifetime Vol. After his debut, Jay released a trilogy of albums that focused around his "life" and was divided into "volumes" and while Jay was taking the fans through his life, he also focused more on the commercial side of the industry (compared to his debut). ![]() Personally, I think it was a bit of all of that. Many believe it was the death of BIG that contributed to Jay's success while others believe it was his range of concepts, his variation from album to album and his networking and feature appearances that gained him his popularity. In fact, the success of "Reasonable Doubt" wasn't felt until years later, but that didn't stop Jay from becoming a hip hop powerhouse and what some would consider a "God MC". While this was true with Jay-Z, his debut wasn't as appreciated until years later. It's the first exposure, the first real catalog of work that turns an audience into a fanbase. Usually an artist's debut is their best work. ![]()
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