REASONABLE DOUBT
It always seems that a rapper - no matter how good - can never match the genius of his debut. A debut album is always released when the artist is at his purest, free from the pressures and influences of the music industry; free to write whatever he or she feels, to write exactly whatever he or she believes and wants to write. It's a trend that few artists escape: Nas will never top Illmatic; there will never be another Doggystyle; some fans say that 50 "Got Rich And Stopped Tryin'". Jay-Z - though he came close with 2001's The Blueprint - is the same, as the NY rapper was finest in 1996, when he released one of the top rap debuts ever, Reasonable Doubt.
To put it simply, Reasonable Doubt is Hov at his finest: humble and thoughtful about the streets, mixing a great flow with jazzy and chilled-out beats to create an outstanding atmosphere. From the very first track, "Can't Knock The Hustle", Jay establishes himself as a smart, laid-back hustler, and the persona is magnified as you go through the album. On "Brooklyn's Finest", Jay goes head-to-head with friend Notorious B.I.G. and puts together an outstanding track that combines the rhyming of two of the best in the business. On "Dead Presidents II", he uses a line from Nas's "The World Is Yours" as a chorus to help create one of the album's standout tracks. Yet despite all these examples of Jay at his best, perhaps the best showing of his talent is the freestyle "22 Two's", which shows just how well Hov (one of the few artists who doesn't write down his lyrics) can put together a verse.
The songs continue to roll by, and while they are mostly unspectacular certain songs ("D'evils" and "Coming Of Age" stand out), they are all strong showing by the young New York rapper. The album features numerous members of Roc-A-Fella, including Memphis Bleek, Sauce Money and Big Jaz, and even has radio duet with Foxy Brown, "Ain't No Nigga". In fact, the album has pretty all of the attributes required for a successful production, and when Jay closes things out with the quietly brooding "Regrets" and the jazzy "Can I Live II", he leaves behind many things, most of all a highly satisfying listening experience.
But the best thing about this album isn't the featuring artists, or the message. It's the atmosphere and the mixed up genres that Jay throws together. It's jazzy ("Cashmere Thoughts") with soul ("Can't Knock The Hustle"), quiet ("Regrets") and loud ("Ain't No Nigga") and explores so many subjects, themes and flows that it never fails to amaze. Reasonable Doubt may not be one of the best debuts ever released by a rapper, but it should certainly be in the discussion.
RAR Score: 8.8/10
To put it simply, Reasonable Doubt is Hov at his finest: humble and thoughtful about the streets, mixing a great flow with jazzy and chilled-out beats to create an outstanding atmosphere. From the very first track, "Can't Knock The Hustle", Jay establishes himself as a smart, laid-back hustler, and the persona is magnified as you go through the album. On "Brooklyn's Finest", Jay goes head-to-head with friend Notorious B.I.G. and puts together an outstanding track that combines the rhyming of two of the best in the business. On "Dead Presidents II", he uses a line from Nas's "The World Is Yours" as a chorus to help create one of the album's standout tracks. Yet despite all these examples of Jay at his best, perhaps the best showing of his talent is the freestyle "22 Two's", which shows just how well Hov (one of the few artists who doesn't write down his lyrics) can put together a verse.
The songs continue to roll by, and while they are mostly unspectacular certain songs ("D'evils" and "Coming Of Age" stand out), they are all strong showing by the young New York rapper. The album features numerous members of Roc-A-Fella, including Memphis Bleek, Sauce Money and Big Jaz, and even has radio duet with Foxy Brown, "Ain't No Nigga". In fact, the album has pretty all of the attributes required for a successful production, and when Jay closes things out with the quietly brooding "Regrets" and the jazzy "Can I Live II", he leaves behind many things, most of all a highly satisfying listening experience.
But the best thing about this album isn't the featuring artists, or the message. It's the atmosphere and the mixed up genres that Jay throws together. It's jazzy ("Cashmere Thoughts") with soul ("Can't Knock The Hustle"), quiet ("Regrets") and loud ("Ain't No Nigga") and explores so many subjects, themes and flows that it never fails to amaze. Reasonable Doubt may not be one of the best debuts ever released by a rapper, but it should certainly be in the discussion.
RAR Score: 8.8/10
Released: 1996
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: Mary J. Blige, Memphis Bleek, The Notorious B.I.G.
Notable Tracks: "Can't Knock The Hustle", "Dead Presidents II", "Brooklyn's Finest", "22 Two's"
Track List:
1) Can't Knock The Hustle (feat. Mary J. Blige)
2) Politics As Usual
3) Brooklyn's Finest (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)
4) Dead Presidents II
5) Feelin' It (feat. Mecca)
6) D'evils
7) 22 Two's
8) Can I Live
9) Ain't No Nigga (feat. Foxy Brown)
10) Friend Or Foe
11) Coming Of Age (feat. Memphis Bleek)
12) Cashmere Thoughts
13) Bring It On (feat. Big Jaz & Sauce Money)
14) Regrets
15) Can I Live II (feat. Memphis Bleek)
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: Mary J. Blige, Memphis Bleek, The Notorious B.I.G.
Notable Tracks: "Can't Knock The Hustle", "Dead Presidents II", "Brooklyn's Finest", "22 Two's"
Track List:
1) Can't Knock The Hustle (feat. Mary J. Blige)
2) Politics As Usual
3) Brooklyn's Finest (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)
4) Dead Presidents II
5) Feelin' It (feat. Mecca)
6) D'evils
7) 22 Two's
8) Can I Live
9) Ain't No Nigga (feat. Foxy Brown)
10) Friend Or Foe
11) Coming Of Age (feat. Memphis Bleek)
12) Cashmere Thoughts
13) Bring It On (feat. Big Jaz & Sauce Money)
14) Regrets
15) Can I Live II (feat. Memphis Bleek)
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
After Jay-z released the masterpiece Reasonable Doubt in 1996, fans and critics were buzzing, and the expectations for his 1997 album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 were high. And after the death of longtime friend Biggie Smalls (a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.), Jay-Z was propelled into a competition for New York's best with Nas. While Hov did not quite meet the lofty expectations set - and did not achieve the same type of lyrical brilliance he had on his debut - he still found vast commercial success, though In My Lifetime's more glossy production and beats left some hardcore Jay-Z fans disappointed. Despite this, Jay still managed to put together a strong collection of beats and did not fall of the table after his stunning debut.
In My Lifetime opens with an intro comprised of an intro and two songs: "A Million And One Questions" and "Rhyme No More". While neither track received much attention, they're both strong songs. The next song - "The City Is Mine" - is an obvious example of how Jay has changed since his innocent debut, using a chorus from Glenn Frey's "You Belong To The City". However, Jay exhibits some great flow on this song, setting high expectations for the next song, "I Know What Girls Like". Despite featuring Puff Daddy and LIl' Kim, the track failed to impress. Yet In My Lifetime features a few tracks where Jay is at his best, like the sequel to the '96 hit "Friend Or Foe", "Friend Or Foe '98", or the thumping piano-driven "Who You Wit". It is on songs like these where Jay-Z further solidifies his place on the top of the New York rap scene.
In My Lifetime isn't a one -sided album; it showcases JIgga in his hard-core street mode ("Streets Is watching", "Friend Or Foe '98") and in his softer mode, "Lucky Me" and two mediocre remixes of "Wishing On a Star". And even though Jay-Z raps quite well on the soft tracks - mainly "Lucky Me", it is on his hard-knock tracks where he is at his best and in his zone. Foxy Brown, who featured on Jay's hit song "Ain't No Nigga" on his debut album makes an appearance on another attempt to get the kind of success "Ain't No Nigga" got, in "(Always Be My) Sunshine". Needless to say, he doesn't quite reach the same level, but the song is good nonetheless.
There is a certain level of pop on In My Lifetime, mostly due to the productions of Puff Daddy, but Jay generally brings things back to hip-hop with his rhyming which may be what separates the album from being simply mediocre and makes it a standout record. Overall, Jay doesn't reach the level he had in Reasonable Doubt despite the flashy production, but In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 remains one of the top albums Hov has released.
RAR Score: 7.6/10
In My Lifetime opens with an intro comprised of an intro and two songs: "A Million And One Questions" and "Rhyme No More". While neither track received much attention, they're both strong songs. The next song - "The City Is Mine" - is an obvious example of how Jay has changed since his innocent debut, using a chorus from Glenn Frey's "You Belong To The City". However, Jay exhibits some great flow on this song, setting high expectations for the next song, "I Know What Girls Like". Despite featuring Puff Daddy and LIl' Kim, the track failed to impress. Yet In My Lifetime features a few tracks where Jay is at his best, like the sequel to the '96 hit "Friend Or Foe", "Friend Or Foe '98", or the thumping piano-driven "Who You Wit". It is on songs like these where Jay-Z further solidifies his place on the top of the New York rap scene.
In My Lifetime isn't a one -sided album; it showcases JIgga in his hard-core street mode ("Streets Is watching", "Friend Or Foe '98") and in his softer mode, "Lucky Me" and two mediocre remixes of "Wishing On a Star". And even though Jay-Z raps quite well on the soft tracks - mainly "Lucky Me", it is on his hard-knock tracks where he is at his best and in his zone. Foxy Brown, who featured on Jay's hit song "Ain't No Nigga" on his debut album makes an appearance on another attempt to get the kind of success "Ain't No Nigga" got, in "(Always Be My) Sunshine". Needless to say, he doesn't quite reach the same level, but the song is good nonetheless.
There is a certain level of pop on In My Lifetime, mostly due to the productions of Puff Daddy, but Jay generally brings things back to hip-hop with his rhyming which may be what separates the album from being simply mediocre and makes it a standout record. Overall, Jay doesn't reach the level he had in Reasonable Doubt despite the flashy production, but In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 remains one of the top albums Hov has released.
RAR Score: 7.6/10
Released: 1997
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: Foxy Brown, Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim
Notable Tracks: "The City Is Mine", "Who You Wit", "Streets Is Watchings", "Friend Or Foe '98"
Track List:
1) Intro/A Million And One Questions/Rhyme No More
2) The City Is Mine
3) I Know What Girls Like (feat.Puff Daddy & Lil Kim)
4) Imaginary Player
5) Streets Is Watching
6) Friend Or Foe '98
7) Lucky Me
8) (Always Be My) Sunshine (feat. Babyface & Foxy Brown)
9) Who You Wit
10) Face Off (feat. Sauce Money)
11) Real Niggaz (feat. Too $hort)
12) Rap Game/Crack Game
13) Where I'm From
14) You Must Love Me
15) Wishing On A Star (D Influence Remix)
16) Wishing On A Star (Track Masters Remix)
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: Foxy Brown, Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim
Notable Tracks: "The City Is Mine", "Who You Wit", "Streets Is Watchings", "Friend Or Foe '98"
Track List:
1) Intro/A Million And One Questions/Rhyme No More
2) The City Is Mine
3) I Know What Girls Like (feat.Puff Daddy & Lil Kim)
4) Imaginary Player
5) Streets Is Watching
6) Friend Or Foe '98
7) Lucky Me
8) (Always Be My) Sunshine (feat. Babyface & Foxy Brown)
9) Who You Wit
10) Face Off (feat. Sauce Money)
11) Real Niggaz (feat. Too $hort)
12) Rap Game/Crack Game
13) Where I'm From
14) You Must Love Me
15) Wishing On A Star (D Influence Remix)
16) Wishing On A Star (Track Masters Remix)
Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life
If Jay-Z's In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 was commercial, then his third album, Vol. 2: Hard-Knock Life is a Hollywood production with lots of special effects and all the big names. That doesn't stop it from being a very solid production. Once more, he dominated with his flow and rhyming, and put together a group of the biggest producers in the game - Timbaland, DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz - to reach new heights and further his claim to the throne of NY. The sounds are different, but this is a good thing, as it seems that with every album Jay-Z improves a little bit, in many ways.
The first - and biggest - highlight of this 14-song CD is the second song, "Hard Knock Album (Ghetto Anthem). The title track of the album, it samples "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway musical Annie. Jay is slower on this song than some of the others, but his flow is nothing short of genius, and a simple, thumping beat is exactly what the song needs (it gets just that). "Ride Or Die" is another good, hard track, and is followed up by the fast-paced "NIgga What Nigga Who" (or "Jigga What Jigga Who" on the clean version) one of the highlights of the album. Another quick hit is right after, in "Money,Cash, Hoes" featuring another East-Coast kingpin, DMX. Memphis Bleek makes three appearances on Vol. 2, one of which is on "Coming Of Age (Da Sequel)" a follow-up to the hit from Hov's debut, Reasonable Doubt.
One thing about Vol. 2: Hard-Knock Life is that the whole album follows the theme of the title. Jay's songs are more ghetto and harder than the tracks on his first two albums. His lyrics are decent at the worst, brilliant at the best and the guests he invites on certain songs (mostly Roc-Nation friends, like Bleek) hand in strong performances while at the same time not stealing the spotlight from Jigga. Afterall, it was for a reason that Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 100 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. It is not as fundamentally strong as Reasonable Doubt but it cements Jay as one of the rap greats, putting his name along with names like the late legends 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. as one of the premier MC's in the game.
RAR Score: 7.8/10
The first - and biggest - highlight of this 14-song CD is the second song, "Hard Knock Album (Ghetto Anthem). The title track of the album, it samples "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway musical Annie. Jay is slower on this song than some of the others, but his flow is nothing short of genius, and a simple, thumping beat is exactly what the song needs (it gets just that). "Ride Or Die" is another good, hard track, and is followed up by the fast-paced "NIgga What Nigga Who" (or "Jigga What Jigga Who" on the clean version) one of the highlights of the album. Another quick hit is right after, in "Money,Cash, Hoes" featuring another East-Coast kingpin, DMX. Memphis Bleek makes three appearances on Vol. 2, one of which is on "Coming Of Age (Da Sequel)" a follow-up to the hit from Hov's debut, Reasonable Doubt.
One thing about Vol. 2: Hard-Knock Life is that the whole album follows the theme of the title. Jay's songs are more ghetto and harder than the tracks on his first two albums. His lyrics are decent at the worst, brilliant at the best and the guests he invites on certain songs (mostly Roc-Nation friends, like Bleek) hand in strong performances while at the same time not stealing the spotlight from Jigga. Afterall, it was for a reason that Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 100 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. It is not as fundamentally strong as Reasonable Doubt but it cements Jay as one of the rap greats, putting his name along with names like the late legends 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. as one of the premier MC's in the game.
RAR Score: 7.8/10
Released: 1999
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: DMX, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri
Notable Tracks: "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", "Nigga What Nigga Who", "Money, Cash, Hoes", "Ride Or Die"
Track List:
1) Hand It Down (Intro) (feat. Memphis Bleek)
2) Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3) If I Should Die
4) Ride Or Die
5) Nigga What Nigga Who (feat. Amil & Big Jaz)
6) Money, Cash Hoes (feat. DMX)
7) A Week Ago (feat. Too $hort)
8) Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) (feat. Memphis Bleek)
9) Can I Get A... (feat. Amil & Ja Rule)
10) Paper Chase (feat. Foxy Brown)
11) Reservoir Dogs (feat. The LOX, Beanie SIgel & Sauce Money)
12) It's Like That
13) It's Alright (feat. Memphis Bleek)
14) Money Ain't A Thang (feat. Jermaine Dupri)
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: DMX, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri
Notable Tracks: "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", "Nigga What Nigga Who", "Money, Cash, Hoes", "Ride Or Die"
Track List:
1) Hand It Down (Intro) (feat. Memphis Bleek)
2) Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3) If I Should Die
4) Ride Or Die
5) Nigga What Nigga Who (feat. Amil & Big Jaz)
6) Money, Cash Hoes (feat. DMX)
7) A Week Ago (feat. Too $hort)
8) Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) (feat. Memphis Bleek)
9) Can I Get A... (feat. Amil & Ja Rule)
10) Paper Chase (feat. Foxy Brown)
11) Reservoir Dogs (feat. The LOX, Beanie SIgel & Sauce Money)
12) It's Like That
13) It's Alright (feat. Memphis Bleek)
14) Money Ain't A Thang (feat. Jermaine Dupri)
Vol. 3: The Life And Times Of S. Carter
Before the release of Vol. 3: The Life And Times Of S. Carter (which is actually the fourth album released by Hov), Jay-Z had already released three highly successful albums, so the expectations were high. Unfortunately, Jay could not meet the lofty expectations; despite releasing a strong CD in Vol. 3, he failed to match both the lyrical brilliance and successful production that he had on his first three productions: Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life. Despite that, Vol. 3 was still a highlight of 1999 and was certified triple-platinum.
Perhaps the first thing that jumps out at the listener is that the jazzy sound Jay had been gradually whittling down in his music in pretty much gone; however, the album is for the most part not mainstream, with a few exceptions ("Things U Do" featuring Mariah Carey and "Big Pimpin'" featuring UGK). The standout tracks are easily discernible, as they rise out of a list of mediocre-to-good songs: "So Ghetto" - the second song on the album and a DJ Premier production - "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)" and "Snoopy Track" - both produced by Timbaland - and "Big Pimpin'", the most popular song on the album and one of the tracks that established Jay as a rap juggernaut.
For the most part, Vol. 3 is a solo effort, more so than Hard Knock Life. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and Amil all reappear, Mariah Carey features, and UGK collaborates on "Big Pimpin'". Apart from that, it is all about Hov, and even on the collaboration tracks, he doesn't allow his guest to overshadow them yet still have them deliver a strong performance. His lyricism is not as good as on previous productions (except for a handful of songs, like "Big Pimpin'"), but remains one of the best around and he evens does a brief rock-rap thing, in "NYMP", a track identifiable by it's guitar-driven beat.
Vol. 3 is Jay's worst album, but that's not saying much. It continues his legacy as one of rap's best, and the small improvements here and there are good enough for it not to seem that Jay is running in place yet remaining on top.
RAR Score: 7.0/10
Perhaps the first thing that jumps out at the listener is that the jazzy sound Jay had been gradually whittling down in his music in pretty much gone; however, the album is for the most part not mainstream, with a few exceptions ("Things U Do" featuring Mariah Carey and "Big Pimpin'" featuring UGK). The standout tracks are easily discernible, as they rise out of a list of mediocre-to-good songs: "So Ghetto" - the second song on the album and a DJ Premier production - "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)" and "Snoopy Track" - both produced by Timbaland - and "Big Pimpin'", the most popular song on the album and one of the tracks that established Jay as a rap juggernaut.
For the most part, Vol. 3 is a solo effort, more so than Hard Knock Life. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and Amil all reappear, Mariah Carey features, and UGK collaborates on "Big Pimpin'". Apart from that, it is all about Hov, and even on the collaboration tracks, he doesn't allow his guest to overshadow them yet still have them deliver a strong performance. His lyricism is not as good as on previous productions (except for a handful of songs, like "Big Pimpin'"), but remains one of the best around and he evens does a brief rock-rap thing, in "NYMP", a track identifiable by it's guitar-driven beat.
Vol. 3 is Jay's worst album, but that's not saying much. It continues his legacy as one of rap's best, and the small improvements here and there are good enough for it not to seem that Jay is running in place yet remaining on top.
RAR Score: 7.0/10
Released: 1999
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: UGK; Timbaland, Mariah Carey
Notable Tracks: "So Ghetto", "Snoopy Track", "It's Hot (Some LIke It Hot)", ""Big Pimpin'"
Track List:
1) Hova Song - Intro
2) So Ghetto
3) Do It Again (Put Your Hands Up) (feat. Amil & Beanie SIgel)
4) Dope Man (Video Unavailable)
5) Things That U Do (feat. Mariah Carey)
6) It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)
7) Snoopy Track
8) S "Dot" Carter (feat. Amil) (Video Unavailable)
9) Pop 4 Roc (feat. Amil, Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek) (Video Unavailable)
10) Hova Interlude
11) Big Pimpin' (feat. UGK)
12) There's Been A Murder
13) Come And Get Me
14) NYMP (Video Unavailable)
15) Hova Song - Outro
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: UGK; Timbaland, Mariah Carey
Notable Tracks: "So Ghetto", "Snoopy Track", "It's Hot (Some LIke It Hot)", ""Big Pimpin'"
Track List:
1) Hova Song - Intro
2) So Ghetto
3) Do It Again (Put Your Hands Up) (feat. Amil & Beanie SIgel)
4) Dope Man (Video Unavailable)
5) Things That U Do (feat. Mariah Carey)
6) It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)
7) Snoopy Track
8) S "Dot" Carter (feat. Amil) (Video Unavailable)
9) Pop 4 Roc (feat. Amil, Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek) (Video Unavailable)
10) Hova Interlude
11) Big Pimpin' (feat. UGK)
12) There's Been A Murder
13) Come And Get Me
14) NYMP (Video Unavailable)
15) Hova Song - Outro
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
Reasonable Doubt was excellent, Vol. 1 was good, Vol. 2 was very strong and Vol. 3 was decent. So what about Jay-Z's fifth studio album, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia in which Hov - releasing his first album of the new millennium - spends a lot of time establishing the cred of some of his disciples, among those Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel and Freeway. It is by far Jay's least solo production; only two songs do not feature a guest, and big names like Snoop Dogg, Scarface and R. Kelly are present as well. Of course, as with any album that features a lot of albums, the question is how the original artist - and the man who's supposed to be in charge - handles the collaborations and whether he can hold his own or not. Jay mostly does that, but while the album has a few gems it is less impressive than Hova's first four productions, causing some fans to perhaps wonder if Jay-Z - like his NY peer Nas - is beginning to decline.
Intro out of the way, Jay opens with an impressive song that does a good job of setting the tone for the rest of tracks. "Change The Game" uses a particularly catchy beat, and not only does Jay tear up the mic but the job gets done by Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel and as well. The third track is one of the defining ones of Jay's career: the monster hit "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" reached Number 11 on the Billboard 100, joining 1999's "Big Pimpin'" as two of Jay-Z's most successful singles. That's followed up by a sequel to 1997's "Streets Is Watching", "Streets Is Talking" which is decent but not as solid as the original. A series of unspectacular tracks follow, with two guest stars - Snoop Dogg and Scarface - featuring, as well as more appearances from the Roc family. "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" with R. Kelly is one of the standout tracks, with a catchy radio beat and "Parking Lot Pimpin'" is the second best song on the album; a case where Sigel and Bleek add their own catchy rhymes instead of piggybacking on Jay's rhymes. Sadly, the good music ends there as the last six songs are all lacking in both beat and lyricism, and the album ends with a lousy track dominated by bad rapping by Sigel.
So, with all the extra people Hov brought on to show how much of a "dynasty" Roc Nation is, how does the main man fair? Well, Jay is generally strong on the mic. His beats are - at times - weaker than on his previous albums but he did his fair share of production advertising by featuring productions by The Neptunes, Kanye West and Just Blaze, all of whom are now established producers. Beanie Sigel doesn't do badly and neither does Bleek. But they seem to simply be add-ons, and the big names like Snoop really don't explore any new ground or do anything special on their respective appearances. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia is not a bad album, but it's definitely worse than Jigga's previous efforts and seems like more of a Roc-A-Fella mixtape than a Jay-Z album.
RAR Score: 6.5/10
Intro out of the way, Jay opens with an impressive song that does a good job of setting the tone for the rest of tracks. "Change The Game" uses a particularly catchy beat, and not only does Jay tear up the mic but the job gets done by Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel and as well. The third track is one of the defining ones of Jay's career: the monster hit "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" reached Number 11 on the Billboard 100, joining 1999's "Big Pimpin'" as two of Jay-Z's most successful singles. That's followed up by a sequel to 1997's "Streets Is Watching", "Streets Is Talking" which is decent but not as solid as the original. A series of unspectacular tracks follow, with two guest stars - Snoop Dogg and Scarface - featuring, as well as more appearances from the Roc family. "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" with R. Kelly is one of the standout tracks, with a catchy radio beat and "Parking Lot Pimpin'" is the second best song on the album; a case where Sigel and Bleek add their own catchy rhymes instead of piggybacking on Jay's rhymes. Sadly, the good music ends there as the last six songs are all lacking in both beat and lyricism, and the album ends with a lousy track dominated by bad rapping by Sigel.
So, with all the extra people Hov brought on to show how much of a "dynasty" Roc Nation is, how does the main man fair? Well, Jay is generally strong on the mic. His beats are - at times - weaker than on his previous albums but he did his fair share of production advertising by featuring productions by The Neptunes, Kanye West and Just Blaze, all of whom are now established producers. Beanie Sigel doesn't do badly and neither does Bleek. But they seem to simply be add-ons, and the big names like Snoop really don't explore any new ground or do anything special on their respective appearances. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia is not a bad album, but it's definitely worse than Jigga's previous efforts and seems like more of a Roc-A-Fella mixtape than a Jay-Z album.
RAR Score: 6.5/10
Released: 2000
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Scarface
Notable Tracks: "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)", "Parking Lot Pimpin'", "Guilty Until Proven Innocent", "Change The Game"
Track List:
1) Intro
2) Change The Game (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek)
3) I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
4) Streets Is Talking (feat. Beanie Sigel)
5) This Can't Be Life (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)
6) Get Your Mind Right Mami (feat. Snoop Dogg & Memphis Bleek)
7) Stick 2 The Script (feat. Beanie Sigel)
8) You, Me, Him And Her (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Amil)
9) Guilty Until Proven Innocent (feat. R. Kelly)
10) Parking Lot Pimpin'" (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek)
11) Holla (feat. Memphis Bleek) (Video Unavailable)
12) 1-900-HUSTLER (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Freeway)
13) The R.O.C. (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek) (Video Unavailable)
14) Soon You'll Understand
15) Squeeze 1st
16) Where Have You Been (feat. Beanie Sigel)
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Notable Guests: Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Scarface
Notable Tracks: "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)", "Parking Lot Pimpin'", "Guilty Until Proven Innocent", "Change The Game"
Track List:
1) Intro
2) Change The Game (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek)
3) I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
4) Streets Is Talking (feat. Beanie Sigel)
5) This Can't Be Life (feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)
6) Get Your Mind Right Mami (feat. Snoop Dogg & Memphis Bleek)
7) Stick 2 The Script (feat. Beanie Sigel)
8) You, Me, Him And Her (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Amil)
9) Guilty Until Proven Innocent (feat. R. Kelly)
10) Parking Lot Pimpin'" (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek)
11) Holla (feat. Memphis Bleek) (Video Unavailable)
12) 1-900-HUSTLER (feat. Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek & Freeway)
13) The R.O.C. (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek) (Video Unavailable)
14) Soon You'll Understand
15) Squeeze 1st
16) Where Have You Been (feat. Beanie Sigel)