Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt"

Posted on 01.25.1996

Jay-Z
Album: Reasonable Doubt
Release Date: January 25, 1996
Label: Priority Records

Review:

Jay-Z’s classic debut is a compelling reflection on his life as a hustler. It’s invested with an uncommon complexity and candor that has noticeably faded in his later material. Armed with clever phrasing and sly deadpan wit, Jay-Z navigates indulgent romps ("Can’t Knock the Hustle"), thought-provoking introspection ("Regrets"), and devastating street-corner soliloquies ("Friend or Foe") with savvy composure. The beats on Reasonable Doubt, provided by the likes of DJ Premier & Ski, are as irresistibly slick as his persona. "Brooklyn’s Finest," his mic-passing session with his friend Notorious B.I.G., takes on a torch-passing significance in the wake of Biggie’s death. That song, and the entire album, foreshadows Jay-Z’s subsequent ascension to kingpin status.

Track Listings:
1. Can’t Knock the Hustle
2. Politics as Usual
3. Brooklyn’s Finest
4. Dead Presidents II [New Lyrics]
5. Feelin’ It
6. D’evils
7. 22 Two’s
8. Can I Live
9. Ain’t No *****
10. Friend or Foe
11. Coming of Age
12. Cashmere Thoughts
13. Bring It On - Big Jaz
14. Regrets
15. Can I Live II [*]