Less than a year after his In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Jay-Z released his third album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, which would become his highest-selling album. Beyond its immense popularity, this album marks a turning point for Jay-Z. Over some of the most accessible and pop-sounding tracks he had rapped on until this point, he successfully condensed his formerly intricate rhymes, into shorter witty lines that sounded natural over the beats. And the album is full of big, booming beats-it's almost as if each track's producer is trying to outdo the others. Gone are the samples, in favor of heavy bass and synthesizers. Against this soundscape, Jay-Z is now larger than life, not the sharp, slightly paranoid hustler who emerged in 1996. Gone is the caution and subtlety in favor of big singles with catchy hooks all designed to showcase that Jay-Z is simply the biggest and best rapper on the block. Any plea for acceptance exuded on his earlier albums is gone, replaced with the brash expectation that we have already accepted him, even if we do not know it yet. Many of Jay-Z's talents are on display, though none so noteworthy as his ability to rap over a dizzying variety of tracks without the attendant records sounding forced. From rapid-fire triple-cadence rhymes on "Nigga What, Nigga Who" to deceptively simple raps over heavy bass, "Hard Knock Life," Jay-Z has vastly improved his flow, as well as his ability to pick catchy and innovative beats.
Download
Track Listing:
1) Hand It Down (Intro)
2) Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3) If I Should Die
4) Ride or Die
5) Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
6) Money, Cash, Hoes
7) A Week Ago
8) Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
9) Can I Get A...
10) Paper Chase
11) Reservoir Dogs
12) It's Like That
13) It's Alright
14) Money Ain't A Thang
No comments:
Post a Comment