Check Out: Brooklyn's Finest

Jay-Z is one of the most well known rap artists in the game, and arguably the most popular east coast rapper in the past decade. His first big break was being featured on a Big Daddy Kane track in 1994 and was featured on a few other songs before the release of his first album in 1996. That year (June 25th) he released "Reasonable Doubt" under Priority distribution and Roc-A-Fella records. The album featured production by DJ Clark Kent, DJ Premier, DJ Ski and more and also featured the Notorious B.I.G. This was the beginning of Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.'s positive relationship.

Lyrically, Reasonable Doubt depicted the life of a hustler, which was way more prominent in hip-hop in the mid to late nineties. Making money by all means necessary. Sean Carter's lyrics venture heavily into the street life - drug distribution, gun talk, women. Critic Steve Huey quotes "writing some of the most acrobatic rhymes heard in quite some time." Example? "My dough flip like Taek-won" & "I make you and your whack mans fold like bad hands" (Dead Presidents II), "Like short sleeves I bare arms" (Brooklyn's Finest), and...

"Yo, I'm making short term goals, when the weather folds / just put away the leathers and put the ice on the gold / chilly with enough bail money to free a big willy / high stakes, I got more estate than Philly / shopping sprees, coping three / deuce fever IS's fully loaded, ah yes / boucing like Lex Luger, tires smoke like buddha."

-Can't Knock the Hustle

Aside from astounding lyrics referencing the gritty realism of growing up in the projects of Brooklyn the production value of Reasonable Doubt raised the bar in hip-hop during the mid nineties. Clark Kent, Premier and Ski were all heavyweight producers at the time. There was also production by Irv Gotti, the Hitmen, Big Jaz, Peter Panic and K-Rob while some of the samples come from Isaac Hayes, Marcus Miller, Snoop Dog, O.D.B., NaS and The Ohio Players. Notably, Jay-Z was only known through the buzz he created in the underground rap scene. Needless to say, Jay-Z stepped up to the plate and impressed producers and the public alike.

Reasonable Doubt did not achieve immediate commercial success, however, it was acclaimed as an instant banger by critics. The Source and Blender claim it as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time and Rolling Stone magazine placed it as the 248th best album of all time. Jay-Z managed to live up to the hype. He rose from the New York City underground rap scene and hopped onto to Billboard with one of the best achievements of his career. The success of Reasonable Doubt and Jay-Z's passion and talent led to a contract with Def Jam, which earned him a spot as president on the label.

Singles from Reasonable Doubt:

Ain't No N*gga

Can't Knock The Hustle

Feelin' It

I also recommend:

Dead Presidents II

Brooklyn's Finest