Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hard knock life no longer, November 6, 2005
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Case of a Flawless Mainstream Release!, June 6, 2005
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!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard life, December 4, 2006
Many people will diagree with me, but out of all the albums Jay has done this album is the hardest for me to listen to. Because he has to many people on this album. Jay does not need a person breathing on a album with him more or less having other people on the album. Yes, I know he was introducing Beans and others on this album. The Best Song is Hard Knock Life, and that's because he is on the record by himself. I have never liked this album as much as the rest because of all the people on the album. However, numbers do not lie, and many platinum sales later who care what I think, and opinions are like butt's everyone has one. But in my humble opinion the best parts of this album is whenever Jay spits other than that I skip the rest.
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