Customer Reviews

Vol. 2, Hard Knock Life [Edited Version]

5 star:		(302)
4 star:		(62)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(47)

 

 

There is a lot of hate around this album, mainly because it was the one that brought Jay-Z into the mainstream circuit.
It isn't as good as his previous 2 releases, Reasonable Doubt being certified classic by just about everyone who has heard it, and In My Lifetime being the most underrated album in the last decade, but it certainly does not disappoint.
'Hard Knock Life', the title track, won Jay-Z critical acclaim and heavy airplay all over America. It samples the chorus from the musical Annie, and with Jay-Z over the top of a simple drum and bass beat, it is an instant classic.

The next 2 songs, 'Ride Or Die' and 'If I Should Die' take it back to his hustling days, but give it a more mainstream feel than what he produced on his debut. The only criticism here is the theme of death being done twice in a row, but both songs are tight and produced well.

'Nigga What, Nigga Who' takes Jay-Z way back to his very early days when he used to rap as fast as Busta Rhymes, a style we virtually never see on his released work. The lyrics are great, delivered fast, and the collabo with Jaz O is a nice touch. Overall, a very underrated single, definitely deserved to perform better.

The next song, 'Money Cash Hoes', is definitely the beginning of the new Jay-Z focus. In later music, he enjoys flexing his masoginistic muscles, as well as flaunting the fact he is extremely rich. He got a lot of criticism over this song, and despite that and the theme of the song, it is still solid, and keeping in with Jay-Z's changing lifestyle. Good verse from DMX on there too.

The rest of the album is extremely solid. 'A Week Ago' showcases Jay-Z's storytelling ability, which we don't see enough anymore, 'Can I Get A...' is a great song, in which Jay expresses his dislike for gold diggers, and the bonus track, 'Money Ain't A Thang' is one of the best songs on the album.

Sure, Jay-Z has changed from rapping exclusively about hustling and snitching, but he is only trying to keep it real, and at the moment, what's real in Jay-Z's life is money, bitches and fame. Doesn't deserve any criticism, a great release.

Jay-Z began his career off with Reasonable Doubt sounding somewhat underground [which he actually was] and blazing rhymes/lyrics. If the game is the NBA and each album is a player then Reasonable Doubt was definitely "Rookie of the Year." In My Lifetime Vol. 1 signalled Jay-Z attempting to go a bit more mainstream but keeping it street and still in the gutter. It was a great mix.

Hard Knock Life Vol. 2 is, in my eyes, the best overall mainstream attempt by an originally underground artist. He uses the likes of producers from MANY backgrounds to give a very diverse sound that always sounds the right pitch in my ears. His first two albums were introducing one of the greats and Hard Knock Life signalled that Jay was here to stay.

This album was for sure the first to give Jay MAJOR air and video play. It was through this album that I was introduced to Jay and his unique sound and for many others, I'm SURE.

Intro f/ Memphis Bleek: Nice bad-ass intro making Jay appear to be some supreme gangster that can't be touched. Bleek [Jay's protege] rides the Primo beat very well in his first return on a Jay album since Reasonable Doubt [he was, like what, 15 when he debuted on that].

Hard Knock Life: I would have thought that using the theme from Annie would be corny and useless but, in a strange way, he uses it to make his hot lyrics and delivery much harder. His 1st signle is a sure-shot-hit that will stick in your head.

If I Should Die f/ Da Ranjahz: Hot song produced by Swizz Beats. Jay provied a classic and Da Ranjahz, whoever they are, are tight as well. They talk about what it would be like if they died and how to leave their legacies going. One of my favorites from the album.

Ride Or Die: One of the very few average songs. Still nice... it's like Jay can take any beat and sound ill over it no matter what.

*iggawhat, *iggawho f/ Big Jaz-O & Amil: One of Timbo's BEST BEST tracks ever. Sometimes I wonder how the hell he can come up with tracks like this. Jay raps faster than normal as does Jaz-O and they both tear up this track probably better than any other. Another favorite.

Money, Cash, Hoes f/ DMX: More Swizz Beats... hot track and DMX outshines Jay on his own sh*t only because D is one of the best as well. Peep the remix with Bleek and Beanie--even hotter and one of the crew's best!

A Week Ago f/ Too $hort: Great track that tells a story of Jay and a friend upon which one gets locked up and how their relationship develops. Chill beat but hard at the same time. Too $hort gives only the chorus but just that contribution is tight alone. Good example of how all the collabos are relevant and none are useless or bad. Definitely one of my favs.

Coming of Age Pt. 2 f/ Memphis Bleek: Another Swizz track that BANGS. Tight narration of Jay and his protege in the drug game and how he wants more power to overthrow his mentor. They occasionally switch off between the hot chorus only to tear it up! Outshined pt. 1 which is hard to do because the track off Reasonable Doubt was flawless as well--same story too. First album favorite and one of the all-time contenders for Jay's best song.

Can I Get A... f/ Ja Rule & Amil: Wow... one of the hottest songs ever recorded! Production surprisingly by Irv Gotti from Murder Inc. definitely a stand-out and Irv's best beat. Amil is hot over it as is Ja Rule [this was actually Ja's first appearance on a major track--ever!] Introduced Ja to the world for the first time. Another fav!

Paper Chase f/ Foxy Brown: Hot song which sounds a lot like Foxy's Bonnie & Clyde Pt. 2 from Chyna Doll. Timbo gives his other ill-contribution here. Foxy does well teaming up wit her boy HOVA.

Resevoir Dogs f/ Sauce Money, Beanie Sigel & the LOX: Hot song surprisingly produced by E-Dub [Erick Sermon]. Different choice but WORKS! The LOX rip it up with Beanie and Jay but I think it is Sauce $$$ that takes the track! No real chorus so it's just a tight-ass crew track.

It's Like That f/ & produced by Kid Capri: I've heard this sample before... tight beat ha ha! Chiller than normal and Kid Capri adds to this. Jay stays consistent and provides tight lyrics as normal. Nice chorus.

It's Alright f/ Memphis Bleek: Hmmm... one of the weirdest beats I've ever heard [maybe that's cuz Dame Dash produced it and he's just good for running the biz and crap like that?...] Curious to hear another from Dame. Jay and Bleek do hot like normal and ride the weird beat pretty good. The weakest song on the cd--still nice though.

Money Ain't A Thang f/ & produced by Jermaine Dupri: HOT HOT HOT song by Jay & JD. The way mainstream sh*t should be. One of the hottest beats I've ever heard which is kinda weird cuz it's rather simple. But that can be explained by JD being behind the boards. Another great fav!

This album brought Jay to the masses! This is my favorite album of his though I know it isn't his best ~ the Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt etc. No matter what, it is some of the HOTTEST stuff I've ever heard. I'm a real hip-hop fan who appreciates everything the game has to offer so finding such a mainstream release to be so TIGHT is a miracle of God and H.O.V.A.! Cop it!

It seems like a lot of reviewers are idiots and just want to bash Jay-Z.

Jay-Z's third album Hard Knock life was a boost in his commercial sucess. More money, more cash, more hoes...and what not comming to him. Ironically, he decides to take a dive in the subject on the song "Money, Cash, Hoes". His second single "Hard Knock Life" was a rememberable song, because it was played on the radio. No problem with that, but it was stuck in my head. "N***a What?, N***a Who?" (or Jigga What? Jigga Who?) is a fast paced song featuring Jaz-O and Amil. I have the edited version of this CD, and for some reason they took out the entire hook to the song, so I'm just left with blank spots as the chorus and Amil comming in as the song fades out. One of my favorite tracks is "Reservoir Dogs" with The Lox, Beanie Sigel, and Sauce Money. Another favorite track is "It's Alright" with Memphis Bleek, rapping decent, but the beat makes the song more enjoyable.

There are a few skippable tracks though. "Comming Of Age (Da Sequel)" is okay, but I like the first one on the Reasonable Doubt album. "Ride Or Die" and "If I Should Die" both sounds dry and slapped together. "Paper Chase" isn't all that good because Foxy Brown spits some trashy rhymes in the beginning. The well known hit "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour OST. I have the radio edited version of this album, but I've also heard the explicit version to the song and it sounds trashy because of it's heavy vulgarity (mostly comming from Amil).

Those are the only flaws on this album. Other than that, if you love Jay-Z or mainstream 1998 rap music, I recommend this to you.

Lyrics: B
Production: B+
Guest Appearances: C+

Fav Tracks: Hand It Down, Hard Knock Life, Jigga What..., Money Cash Hoes, A Week Ago, Reservoir Dogs, It's Alright, Money Ain't A Thang

P.S.- To the reviewer below me: If you hate rap and Jay-Z so much, why did you buy this album?

Jay-Z's career really took off (in multi-platinum style no less) with this third album. Here Jay-Z dropped the fearsome four, singles that kept him in solid rotation for nearly a year on MTV, BET and major radio. "Hard Knock Life" is a triumphant hood anthem that can appeal to anyone with its Broadway background, "Nigga What, Nigga Who" is a dynamic reunion with his mentor Jaz-O over a priceless Timbaland beat, "Money, Cash, Hoes" flourishes with a DMX hook and ill flow and "Can I Get A..." has now-forgotten Amil and the (at the time) rising Ja Rule giving Jigga an assist on a club banger. Aside from the singles, 3 heavy tracks carry the burden of ensuring this album is well-remembered by fans. The haunting "Its Like That", the posse cut "Reservoir Dogs" and the witty "Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) add merit to the effort, overshadowing missteps like "Paper Chase" and "Ride Or Die".

While not Hova's best work it is second only to Reasonable Doubt.....a must have for any Jay-Z fan..while i have read other reviews i have found that there is a distinct pattern when stating the flaws of this CD that kept it from being the Embodiement of Rap...Too often was stated that the hook was corny or the beat wasnt a Timbaland beat so it wasnt a banger....have we forgotten what makes a cd a good cd?...i believe so..LYRICS ARE THE FOCAL POINT of any good cd..you might be able to getaway with a couple of tracks with thick Neptune and Timbaland beats by saying a nursery rhyme but it all should come down to substance and style....Jay-Z consistently tells street stories and life stories with vivid images of a no-nonsense pimp with heart and respect..IF YOU LISTEN he will settle any and all disputes as to who is the best rapper ever... forget the beats and the hook they only compliment the song once you have listened to what he has talked about and most of all Understood what it is he is trying to say...The thing about Jay-Z is his flawless flow that doesnt have to be gritty to be felt his words are from the heart and from the head...he is a professional story teller ...bling bling is the message but if you listen to the words he uses to describe his SHINY ACCESSORIES and WOMEN .....you would be like suprised by the comparisons he makes and how true they are and the fact that you hadnt thought about it that way.....im not going to analyze the cd track by track because thats what your supposed to do when you by a cd...sit down listen to it all the way through not just the hooks or beats but the words...and if you do that with any of Jay-Z's songs i bet you will at least listen to his verse on every song....Let it be known that JAY-Z is in no way fly by night...he is a monument of what rap has always been...if you doubt his songs on this cd you have to ask yourself...why does he get so much respect from the rap community?...cuz he earns it....no one wants beef with JAY-Z...listen to hard knock life, if i should die, or A week ago...and you will see what defines the legend known as JAY-Z

This is the only album of his that I OWN, and I don't know why. After recieving it in the mail, I listened to his two newer albums, and they are the albums to buy. I will get them off some friends, but for now I'm stuck with this overated album...

But don't despair; it ain't all bad. Vol. 2 can give a good listening experience for a while, but it will scarcely pop up after that. The best tracks are as follows:

2)Hard Knock Life- OK, so the chorus is pretty corny for Jigga. But I can kinda see what he says in the booklet, "They just sayin, Yo, its a hard life and we live with it". Overall, a relaxed song with some good lyrics.

3)If I Should Die- A song with a played-out theme, but Jigga makes the most of it with a great beat and a catchy chorus.

5)Nigga What, Nigga Who- Best track on here, IMHO. Timbaland almost always drops hot beats, and this is a great example. The song is somewhat short, but the creative way the lyrics meld with the beat makes it the best.

6)Money, Cash, Hoes- A track that Swizz produced and it was one of his "succesive" hit songs during that period. The beat is tight, but DarkManX is better here than on his entire third ALBUM (which I own).

9)Can I Get A...- The album's most famous single. Irv Gotti produced it, and he is one of the hottest producers out now, along with artist Ja Rule (Irv produced most of Ja's debut album). This track has a ill beat with good flows by especially Ja Rule.

Well, thats the end of it right there; 5 tracks out of 14, which is a low number to start with, and thats with TWO bonus tracks! Jay must of slipped here, or he's been flossin too much ice ... . Buy his earlier or later albums and skip the middle one, please, for ya sake, ha ha :-).

Jay-Z's third LP was the defining album which made him an international hip-hop superstar. Since it's been out, I've heard about 5 or 6 of the 14 tracks on the radio. And while they ARE addictive, that doesn't mean that the entire CD is anything spectacular. But as I've said, Hard Knock Life is the album which made Jay-Z an icon in the rap industry. Everyone had to have it, and it blasted out of car windows for almost 2 consecutive years. So whether you like it or not, Jigga's 3rd album will become a classic in about 10 years.

I certainly don't agree that it's actual classic material; for a rap album to be labeled as a classic, there must be NO filler tracks. The listener has to be able to listen to the entire album throughout without ever getting bored or wanting to hit the skip button. And now that I think about it, in the 3 years I've had this CD, I don't think I've ever listened to it all the way through without skipping a track mid-way.

As far as Jay-Z's lyrics go, he does phrase his words with sharp wit and cleverness. I used to like DMX better, but now I find that Jay-Z has better rhyming skills and actually makes sense most of the time (unlike DMX). One of the downsides to Jay-Z's flow is his horrible rapping voice. There is nothing strong or menacing about it. To all you Jay-Z fans, you know it's true. The other downside (and I think everyone will agree with me here) is the limited subject matter. All Jay-Z seems to ever rap about most of the time is his fame, money and girls. This seems to be a contageous trend in the hip-hop community these days. So what makes Jay-Z so much better than the majority of rap artists? I already told you. He's just clever.

It is a good CD, but it's kind of overrated. If I had to live with only one Jay-Z album, it'd probably have to be his new Dynasty one. Why? He actually talks about more than money and girls on it. Hard Knock Life is a good buy if you've succumbed to the whole "bling-bling" era. And if you have, this might just be one of the best rap albums you've ever heard in your life. As for me, I think I'll stick with my Tupac albums.

PEACE

This album is a near classic. Every song is good. You don't have to skip over the bad songs, cuz there aren't any! Jay is the bomb! I just got the new album and it's the bomb too! Can't wait for Jay's next hit.

Since the King of New York has died,(R.I.P. Christopher Wallace)there have been many good rap albums. But Jay-Z's" Vol. 2.... Hard Knock Life", is clearly the best rap album of 1998. From the intro to the radio friendly "Money Ain't A Thang" Jay-Z has created what the people want, which is a little variety while staying true to hip hop. "Hard Knock Life" deals with Jay-Z telling stories about life and everyday troubles. "If I Should Die" (featuring Da Ranjahz) tells Jay Z's fans to celebrate and be proud of his accomplishments, if something should happen to him one day. "Money, Cash, H...." f/DMX is a song that describes Jay- Z at his best: braggin about what he used to get, still has, and is still getting, while you and your crew only dream about having it. With DMX on the last verse of the Swizz Beats' track, I don't know what else you could ask for. Now imagine Timbaland with one of those slow, haunting beats playing and Jay-Z rapping as fast as someone from Bone Thugs N Harmony. On N..... What, N..... Who(Originator 99), Jay-Z and Big Jaz embark on that journey to give you one of the best songs on the album. This is the variety I am talking about. For some reason, rappers are afraid to branch out. They want to make an album with the same material and content everytime they come out. If you are not the Def Squad or The Wu-Tang Clan you can not do that. Redman's "Doc's Da Name 2000" and Method Man's "Tical 2000" are also 5 star albums. Most other artist's can not come out with the same material everytime. These two artists and their respective camps can. To conclude, Jay-Z, along with Memphis Bleek, The LOX and others have brought you the best album since "Life After Death". Hopefully, this won't be the last Jay-Z album.

I play this today, this is a great collection. Every song is great. "N*gga What" is what entised me to this CD. A friend let me borrow it and ended up letting me keep it. God Bless him cuz this is a great CD!