Track Listing

1. Can't Knock The Hustle - Jay-Z & Mary J. Blige
2. Politics As Usual
3. Brooklyn's Finest - Jay-Z & Notorious BIG
4. Dead Presidents II
5. Feeling It - Jay-Z & Mecca
6. D'evils
7. 22 Two's
8. Can I Live
9. Ain't No Nigga - Jay-Z & Foxy Brown
10. Friend Or Foe
11. Coming Of Age - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
12. Cashmere Thoughts
13. Bring It On - Jay-Z & Big Jaz/Sauce Money
14. Regrets
15. Can't Knock The Hustle (2) - Jay-Z & Meli'sa Morgan

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8373 in Music
• Released on: 1999-05-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
Best-known--and reviled, by many hardcore headz--as the man who set a rap to a tune from Annie, that notorious tale of life in the 'hood ("Hard Knock Life"), Jay-Z clearly decided some time ago that amassing the Benjamins came before keeping it real, in the greater scheme of things. Still, even his harshest critics might be somewhat placated by the re-issue of this, his first album, which sees a tougher, more worldly MC than on anything that followed it. The late Notorious B.I.G. guests on "Brooklyn's Finest"--a torrent of lazy, boastful braggadocio--while Foxy Brown, feisty as ever, lends her distinctive presence to "Ain't No Nigga". And while his sleepy, monotonal vocal style will never place him within the first rank of MCs, his eye for detail is often surprisingly acute, lending many of these vignettes a chilling verisimilitude. --Andrew McGuire

CD Description
In the past few years, the hip-hop community has embraced alot of rappers who falsify their identity with hard-rock gangster images, and created superstars out of average MCs. But where others proclaim, Brooklyn, New York native Jay-Z lyrically illustrates that he knows first hand what he is talking about. Jay-Z mixes original concepts with an imperative rhyming style, showing his versatility on cuts like "22 Two's" and "Friend Or Foe", while still managing to school youngsters on tracks like "Can I Live" and "Regrets", teaching them to learn from his mistakes.
Not only is REASONABLE DOUBT heads above other rap albums lyrically, it's a musical gemas well, with production that ranges from the R&B flavour of DJ Clark Kent to the rugged beats of the flawless DJ Premier. As rap's premier underground MCs begin to emerge above ground, Jay-Z's debut album sounds like the next classic.

Customer Reviews

jay-z's finest hour
ironically like nas, jay-z produced his best on debut. His rapping is better then on any of his later albums, 22-twos shows lyrical genius. Sadly i dont know who is responsible for most of the production (premier does a good job on d'evils), but it is in some ways the beats that make the album. BIG puts in a great performance on brooklins finest, can i live and bring it on are other killer tracks.

Jay-Z: Reasonable Doubt
Like a lot of people I heard "Izzo (H.O.V.A)" and "Girls, Girls, Girls" and they just didn't appeal to me. Then I saw an interview with Jay-Z on MTV and they played a snippet of the video for "Dead Presidents" and I was suprised by how much I liked it. When I saw the price of the CD, I had no problem paying out for it.
I'm under no illusions that the best tracks on the album are "Can't Knock the Hustle","Dead Presidents" and "Ain't no.." with Foxxy Brown, but I made the error of basically listening to these three tracks on loop on the first four months of having this album. It was only when I listened to the entire album that I began to appreciate how good the CD actually is. In my opinion tracks 1 through 9 are all brilliant then perhaps it slows down a bit but comes back in a big way for the brilliant "Regrets".
I can't say anything that hasn't been said, even if you don't like Jay-Z's current persona you will enjoy this album.

They say he turned pop, but before that happened...
Reasonable Doubt is the only Jay-Z album i own so i cannot say judge on whether he turned pop, but this album certainly is NOT pop. It is one of the smoothest and well put together albums in rap history. Jigga sounds great with the late Biggie Smalls on Brooklyn's Finest and combines well with Mary J. on Can't Knock The Hustle. Whether he turned pop on our a$$es or not, there's no argueing this album is great.