Jay-Z Album: “Reasonable Doubt”

Jay-Z reveals his true genius in this album. I was hooked on Jay-Z after hearing Volume 1 in a friend's car back in 1997, which is actually an underrated album. I didn't listen to Reasonable Doubt until 2000, and the funny thing is, I didn't realize how great it was until about a year later, after listening to it over and over. The songs are dark and deep. This is a strangely innovative album, because of the production. For example, 22 Two's is nothing I have ever heard before, and overall the piano dominated beats are so different from what you'll usually hear on a hip-hop record. The lyrics are amazing. There are many themes that run throughout the album, including focus, determination, and justice.

In my opinion, the best tracks are (in this order): 1) D'evils, 2) Can I Live (the first verse is incredible), 3) Bring it on (Jay's verse is abstract), 4) Brooklyn's Finest, 5) Can't Knock the Hustle, 6) 22 Twos (the first verse is awesome), 7) Coming of Age (the Jay/Bleek exchange is very original and effective), and then 8) Can I live II. 9) Dead Presidents.

The reason why D'evils is a classic is because of the message, and because of the piano. The message is that if you wish to be successful in any endeavor, you should be willing to do whatever it takes, including lie. A secondary theme in that song is that friends grow apart due to disparity in success. But what makes that song great is how the message is delivered - the rhymes that he chooses.

If you are a music fan (not necessariy a hip-hop fan, but a music fan), or a lover of language and expression, get this album.

This is real unlike g-unit,eminem,chingy,lil jon and the other losers today here is the top 5

1.Brooklyn's Finest feat. Biggie (CLASSIC!!)

2.Aint No (...)feat. Foxy Brown And Jaz-O

3.Cant Knock The Hustle

4.Dead Presidents

5.Coming Of Age

this is a true hip-hop classic every song is great and NO! need to press the skip button! just keep playing every song is great

Forget all you know about Jay-Z/Jigga that you have come to know over the past 8 years. Reasonable Doubt shows a younger more focused Jay-Z, yet lyrically still at his peak he returned to in later years. The more street focused album sounds similar in a lot of ways to Nas's Illmatic (though it never quite reaches the same genius).

The album starts off with the Scarface adapted monologue, into "Can't Knock the Hustle". An excellent track as Jay-Z shows from the beginning his talent. You should know that you're not going to hear anything on this album that sound remotely like a radio or club hit. "Polictics As Usual" as well as "Brooklyn's Finest" are literally just lyrical showcases, the latter with Notorious B.I.G. "Brooklyn's Finest" is a classic track that's really forgotten even in Biggie's death. How could you forget his playful jab at his longtime enemy "Me and Gutter had two spots/ The two for five dollar hits, the blue tops/ Gotta go, Coolio mean it's gettin `Too Hot'/ If Faith had twins, she'd probably have two Pacs/ Get it? ...Tu-pac's". Follow this track up with Dead Presedents II (the single was revised for the album) which the Nas sample was later referenced in their heated beef ("Yeah I sampled your voice, you was using it wrong/ You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song").

Feelin' it is good laid back track about Jay-Z just trying to enjoy life. It's interested how much life has changed for him, as now this same concept ends up being "Big Pimpin". "D'Evils" is excellently produced by DJ Premier who also handles "Friend or Foe" & "Bring it On". Through Jay-Z's career he seems to shine the best on a Primo beat, and on this album is no exception, "D'Evils" in particular is one of the albums best tracks. "22 Two's" is another ridiculous lesson in rhyming by Jay (using to or too or 2 - 22 times). "Can I Live", perhaps the best on here, uses an Isaac Hayes sample from "The Look of Love". The sample isn't just 5 seconds repeated over and over again, Jay-Z takes advantage of Haye's powerful score and matches them with solid lyrics.

The album is solid all around, with no real filler. Even Memphis Bleek sounds promising on "Coming of Age" & "Can I Live II" (rare for him!). "Ain't No" gets the most recognition of this album, as it was a hit from the Nutty Professor Soundtrack, but it's really overshadowed by every track on here. Even tracks you don't normally hear mention of are excellent. "Cashmere Thoughts" which nobody ever talks about was actually a Hip-Hop Quotable in the Source, if you listen to it you'll know why. "Regrets" closes out the album and is about as deep as Jay-Z gets personally in his career, until The Black Album.

This album rides on the strength that each track is strong in it's own way. This is a classic, and would recommend it highly for people who HATE Jay-Z. Trust me and others, he's a completely different rapper here. In fact I would almost hesitate to recommend this to "fans" of Jay-Z who's favorite tracks are "Can I Get A", "Izzo", "Excuse Me Miss", anything he's done with R. Kelly, or any other singles. Sorry you won't find those here. All you're gonna get is Jay lyrically going off over some classic NY production, just worrying about making music. Ironic how Jay-Z even admits this was his best effort and yet the people that seem to love him most ignore this classic. Since soon (maybe) we won't have any more new Jay-Z material it's about time to go back and get his best yet.

Reasonable Doubt quite simply put, is one of hip-hop's finest masterpieces by one of its greatest artists. This album dropped back in the mid 90s when artists actually HAD to have talent in order to get respect. If you're a new fan (one that caught on after Hard Knock Life), then you should go back and hear his early material starting with this. 1996 was hip-hop's last truly incredible year. This album and Outkast's ATLiens were the premiere albums of that year. There's so much to say about this LP but amazon only allows 1,000 words so I'll try to keep it short.

The album is centered around the theme of hustling and the life of a hustler. Jay-Z had been living that life since 1988 and many refer to Reasonable Doubt as the Hustler's Bible, so to speak. It starts off with "Can't Knock the Hustle" with Mary J. Blige. The beat is perfect for the lyrics and Jay drops bombs. "Brooklyn's Finest" with BIG is one of hip-hop's greatest collaborations. Jay and BIG go back and forth and just tear the track to shreds. They come hard with metaphors, punchlines, and their sick flows. The beat is produced by Clark Kent. Now, my favorite track "Dead Presidents II" is just unbelievable. The production on this track by Ski is some of the best you'll ever hear. It samples Lonnie Liston Smith's "Dreams of Tomorrow" and compliments Jay's style perfectly. I would say this song is one of hip-hop's best (almost on the level of TROY). As for the lyrics go, it's basically about getting your money and going against all odds in order to acquire it. Another highlight for the LP is the Premo produced "D'Evils". Lyrically, this track is one of Jay's best ever. At the end of Jay's verse he says: "And even if Jehova Witness bet he'll never testify", need I say more? It would probably take several listens to understand all of the underlying lessons in this track. Basically put though, it's telling you to that you must be willing to do anything to accomplish your goals and dreams. Whether it be fame, wealth, or whatever. On "22 Two's", Jay-Z spits straight fire throughout the Ski-produced beat and if you pay attention you'll realize that Jay uses the word two/too/to 22 times on the song. Pretty clever. Another track I love is "Cashmere Thoughts". Some fans criticize the beat on this song but it's dope to me. Jay spits his verses in his laid back, smooth, mafia style flow. Check the lyrics: Eroll Flynn, hot like heroine/young pimps is thorough when I pimp through your borough and/I gotta keep your tricks in tact, cause I walk like a pimp, talk like a mack. "Bring it On" features Jay's mentor Jaz-O and fellow Brooklyn mc Sauce Money. The beat is amazing and is done by none other than DJ Premier. Listen to the verses on this song and prepare to be amazed. "Regrets" is a sort of melancholy track and Jay talks about that you have to learn to live with regrets when you live this lifestyle. The beat was an excellent match for the mood. It was the perfect clincher for the original version of Reasonable Doubt. The album ended on a perfect note. I can't think of many that ended better.

The only downside of the album is "Can I Live II". This track wasn't part of the original Reasonable Doubt, it was added as a bonus with the 1999 reissue. The song isn't bad but I just feel that "Regrets" ended the album perfectly and "Can I Live II" just ruins the vibe of it. It seems out of place and you can tell that it's not truly a part of Reasonable Doubt.

Bottom line: Many artists had touched on hustling before Reasonable Doubt but none went this deep into the subject. Jay really brought you the soul of a hustler on this LP and it is without a doubt his best work. It plays out like the musical version of a Scarface/Godfather type movie. Even an artist of Jay's caliber can't meet or exceed the quality of this LP again. It has a combination of great production AND lyrics unlike most of today's music which often has one or the other. This is one of hip-hop's masterpieces and I recommend it to everyone. Even the casual hip-hop listeners.

Before I heard "Reasonable Doubt", you couldn't pay me enough to listen to a Jay-Z album, mainly because I was a strictly Nas type of person (being from Queens and all). After hearing "The Black Album" last year, I started growing on to Hov. But it wasn't until I copped "Reasonable Doubt" that I realized who exactly I had been sleeping on. Every song plays out like a day in the life of this man from the projects: his dreams of cash, cars, and the high life ("Feelin' It" and "Dead Presidents pt II") and the struggle it contains, be it former friends (D'Evils), shady deals ("Friend or Foe"), or living with mistakes ("Regrets"). Lryically, this ties evenly with "Illmatic". Don't let the glitz fool you, his skill is that of a scholar. Cases in point, the caniballistic "22 Two's" and his timeless collabo with the late, great Frank White (Biggie for those who don't know), "Brooklyn's Finest". As far as the beats, they provide a perfect back drop for the pains of the hustle in the projects under a gray sky. I recomend this album for anyone who wants to peep true emceeing at work.