Track Listing

1. Hand It Down - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) - Jay-Z
3. If I Should Die - Jay-Z
4. Ride Or Die - Jay-Z
5. Nigga What Nigga Who (Originator 99) - Jay-Z & Big Jaz
6. Money Cash Hoes - Jay-Z & DMX
7. Week Ago - Jay-Z & Too $hort
8. Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
9. Can I Get A... - Jay-Z
10. Paper Chase - Jay-Z & Foxy Brown
11. Reservoir Dogs - Jay-Z
12. It's Like That - Jay-Z & Kid Capri
13. It's Alright - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
14. Money Ain't A Thing - Jay-Z & Jermaine Dupri

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15724 in Music
• Released on: 1998-09-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

CD Description
Jay-Z is a rapper's rapper. He is the lyricist all other MCs want to be, and he has the beats over which every other MCwants to rhyme. His third album, VOL. 2 HARD KNOCK LIFE, further verifies Jay-Z's #1 status. Throughout his musical career, Jay-Z has shown that he has the skills to pay more thanjust the bills. Experimenting like few other rap artists have, Jay-Z uses the Broadway musical Annie's "Hard Knock Life" for his title track and first single. With its hardcore production, "Money, Cash, Hoes" allows Jay-Z to demonstrate his lyrical skill alongside DMX. "Paper Chase" features Foxy Brown and diversifies VOL. 2 with its Southern Timbaland-produced feel.

Customer Reviews

5x platinum.
Since its launch this album has gone 5 times platinum. I think the main reason is for Hard knock life because an album like this shudn't go 5x. It is very good but lacks the usual special thing Jay adds. I would recommend buyin it but there is other better ones by the man. Blueprint, Roc La Familia, Black Album and Life and Times Vol 3 are all 5 star. I love Jay-z and once you listen to him alot (or abit) you would understand why.

H.O.V.A will never retire !!!!!!

ReCoMeNdEd
OK, yeah. I was a bit dubious about buyin this CD too after the title track, but hey, I'm glad I invested. The whole CD's full of boomin bass lines, guest appearances from the likes of DMX, Lox and Ja Rule, slick rhymin and slick rhymin. The album does have a few weaker tracks, but it's great to just ride to in your car, and easily better than Reasonable doubt and In my lifetime. And hey, 'Hard knock life' has even grown on me.

Vol 2. Another totally new sound from Jigga
Simply, this is a top album - you have to give it time, as at first I steered clear of "Hard Knock Life" and "A Week Ago", but these slow beats are the thing Jig is good at - "A Week Ago" tells a story which is described so well and gives such empathy that it can be imagined. These perceptions are why Jay-Z is one of the top artists. "Money Ain't A Thang" is another amazing song, with good old Jermaine Dupri, a class rhymer with a noticable, but effective voice. Tunes are generally good, although few weak songs, and if DMX is not your cup of tea, stay away from "Cash, Money, Hoes", as it is full of the dog barks from Dark Man X himself. Also very good performances from Ja Rule and Amil, Kid Capri and others - a top album, different from the slow, lights-dimmed romance sort of style in Vol 1, and the agressive truth of Reaonable Doubt (A MUST-HAVE), Mr Carter has produced a fine continuation to his stories (especially the second chapter of "Coming Of Age" with Memphis Bleek, amazing, even better than the original). Well worth purchasing if you like Jay-Z, and his slower, rythmic sick-style.