Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

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Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Jay-z-vol-2-hard-knock-life.jpg
Studio album by Jay-Z
Released September 29, 1998
Recorded 1998
Genre East Coast hip hop
Length 61:43
Label Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Producer Swizz Beatz, DJ Premier, The 45 King, Timbaland, Stevie J, Irv Gotti, Erick Sermon, Kid Capri, Damon Dash, Jermaine Dupri, J-Runnah, Lil' Rob, Darold Trotter, Mahogany Music
Jay-Z chronology
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
(1997)In My Lifetime, Vol. 11997		 Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
(1998)		 Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
(1999)Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter1999
Singles from Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
  1. "Can I Get A..."
    Released: September 1, 1998
  2. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
    Released: October 27, 1998
  3. "Money, Cash, Hoes"
    Released: February 23, 1999
  4. "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)"
    Released: March 1, 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3.5/5 stars[1]
The A.V. Club (favorable)[2]
Robert Christgau (3-star Honorable Mention)[3]
IGN (8.3/10)[4]
Los Angeles Times 3.5/4 stars[5]
NME (6/10)[6]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[7]
The Source 4.5/5 stars[8]
Yahoo! Music (favorable)[9]
Washington Post (favorable)[10]

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 29, 1998, on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States.

In the liner notes of the album, Jay-Z gives his thoughts on various tracks. The lyrics to the fast paced "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" are also included.

Background

Speaking in December 1998 to noted UK urban writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Jay described the background to the album's lyrical themes: "Primarily I see myself as so much more than a rapper. I really believe I'm the voice for a lot of people who don't have that microphone or who can't rap. So I wanted to represent and tell the story of everybody who's been through what I've been through, or knows somebody that has. I also wanted to speak about our lifestyle to people who - though they may live, say, in the suburbs and not be part of that world - still want to know about it and understand it."[11]

Commercial success

It is Jay-Z's best selling album as of 2013 and was certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA in 2000 and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 350,000 copies in its first week,[12] and also went to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking the first of nine consecutive chart-topping albums on both charts to date from Jay-Z, excluding collaboration albums. Upon its release, the album received generally mixed to positive reviews from most music critics, while hip hop purists felt his aims to be a crossover success had compromised the quality and complexity of his music. As of 2013, the album has sold 5,400,000 copies in the United States.[13]

The album ranked #46 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Albums Of The 90's."[14]

Music

Several tracks in this feature a rougher sound than the glossier Bad Boy production on In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, most notably the three tracks produced by Ruff Ryders beatmaker Swizz Beatz. With the exception of Stevie J on "Ride or Die," Bad Boy producers play no role in Vol. 2, though Jay-Z enlisted Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, and Irv Gotti for a more pop-oriented sound on three of the albums' singles. This would also be Jay-Z's last album to feature his mentor Big Jaz.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, and featured rappers. 

No. Title Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro - Hand It Down" (performed by Memphis Bleek) DJ Premier 2:56
2. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"   The 45 King 3:58
3. "If I Should Die" (featuring Da Ranjahz) Swizz Beatz 4:55
4. "Ride or Die"   Steven "Stevie J" Jordan of The Hitmen 4:48
5. "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (featuring Amil & Big Jaz) Timbaland 3:53
6. "Money, Cash, Hoes" (featuring DMX) Swizz Beatz 4:46
7. "A Week Ago" (featuring Too $hort) J-Runnah 5:00
8. "Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" (featuring Memphis Bleek) Swizz Beatz 4:21
9. "Can I Get A..." (featuring Amil & Ja Rule) Irv Gotti, Lil Rob 5:09
10. "Paper Chase" (featuring Foxy Brown) Timbaland 4:34
11. "Reservoir Dogs" (featuring The LOX, Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money) Erick Sermon, Darold "POP" Trotter*; Rockwilder** 5:19
12. "It's Like That" (featuring Kid Capri & Liz Leite) Kid Capri 3:45
13. "It's Alright [Bonus Track]" (featuring Memphis Bleek) Damon Dash, Mahogany Music 4:01
14. "Money Ain't a Thang [Bonus Track]" (featuring Jermaine Dupri) Jermaine Dupri 4:13

* Indicates co-producer
** Ghost produced by Rockwilder

Sample credits

Intro (Hand It Down)

Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

  • "It's The Hard Knock Life" from Annie

A Week Ago

Reservoir Dogs

  • "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
  • "24- Carat Black (Theme)" by 24 Carat Black
  • "Know How" by Young MC

It's Like That

It's Alright

Money Ain't a Thang

Chart history

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Platinum 100,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Silver 60,000
United States (RIAA)[18] 5× Platinum 5,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
Chart procession and succession
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
October 17, 1998 – November 20, 1998		 Succeeded by
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
by Alanis Morissette

See also

References

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External links

  1. ↑ Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life at AllMusic
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  9. ↑ [1][dead link]
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  11. ↑ Lewis, Pete. Jay-Z: A B&S classic interview December 1998, Blues & Soul
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/the-50-best-selling-rap-albums/jay-z-vol-2-hard-knock-life
  14. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/jay-z-vol-2-hard-knock-life-20110505
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  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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