... The follow-up album, 'In My Lifetime' was also successful but had several weak tracks, therefore I bought 'Hard Knock Life' not really knowing what to expect.
The album begins in fine style. After the intro track, 'Hand it down' (featuring Memphis Bleak), is 'Hard Knock Life' (Ghetto Anthem). ... Read review
...Intro-Hand It Down
2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3.I Should Die
4. Ride or Die
5.Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) - Big Jaz
6. Money, Cash, Hoes - DMX
7. Week Ago
8. Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
9. Can I Get A... - Amil
10. Paper Chase
11. Reservoir Dogs
12. It's Like That
13. It's Alright
14. Money Ain't a Thang - Jermaine Dupri
... ...one. It isn't Jay's best, for that, check out The Blueprint, Reasonable Doubt, and the Black Album. If you've listened to a bit of Jay and liked what you heard, give this a try. If you're starting from scratch, try one of the other three. There are several average tracks but no really weak ones, and plenty of really good ones. Nice one Hov!
Note: As with all Jay-Z albums it containt explicit lyrics, just incase anyone is easily offended. more
Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt catapulted him to the forefront of Hip-Hop's finest. The follow-up album, 'In My Lifetime' was also successful but had several weak tracks, therefore I bought 'Hard Knock Life' not really knowing what to expect.
The album begins in fine style. After the intro track, 'Hand it down' (featuring Memphis Bleak), is 'Hard Knock Life' (Ghetto Anthem). Jay raps about the hardship that he faced growing up in the Ghetto - but that he still made it big. The hook samples from the musical, 'Annie' - quite an unusual source to sample for a rap song but it works well, making this a catchy track.
"Hustling's still inside of me, and as far as progress You’d be hard-pressed, to find another rapper hot as me"
"If I should die" is an immediately likeable song featuring Wais and Half Dead. All 3 rappers are on top form as they talk about their legacy. Jay also raps about the legacy of Notorious B.I.G., who was his close friend before his tragic death in 1997. As well as interesting lyrics, it's got a really catchy hook as an added bonus!
"If I should die...I'd tell Big they're still hearin' his songs run into Pac ask him where we went wrong tell him life is miserable when ya dealin' in the physical form Is everything that's invisible gone?"
"Ride or Die" is the next track. Very much a 'gangsta' track. Jay is basically boasting about himself. Not a bad song - it failed to make much of an impression on me personally. "N---a what, N---a who?" is another gangsta track. It stands out due to Jay using double-time rapping, which he rarely does. It has a light but well chosen beat and this song is now one I listen to regularly.
Track 6 is 'Money Cash Hoes'. The first time you hear this it will stick in your mind. I try to imagine the look on Jay's face when he first heard this beat, it's very unusual but he does brilliant. DMX also features in his trademark style. This is my favourite track without a doubt. The next track, A Week Ago, continues this run of excellent tracks, and has a really nice mellow beat (Which stands out especially, seeing as it follows the wild Money Cash Hoes).
"Ever since Snoop came through and crushed the buildings I'm tryin to restore the feelings F--k the law keep dealing"
Track 8 is 'Coming of Age (the Sequel)' features Memphis Bleak and in many ways seems to be more his song then Jay's. Nethertheless, it's good. The two rappers interweave lines and the chemistry between them works well. It's followed by 'Can I Get A...'. This is a fairly good track - it's quite subdued, not bad but not great in my opinion. It seems to be trying to be a party track but never gets going enough to cut it.
Track 9, 'Paper Chase' featuring Foxxy Brown is another average track in my opinion. This part of the album is all fairly slow, but very listenable. The next track however is 'Reservoir Dogs', which is excellent! The beat will seem very familiar to anyone who's seen the film 'Shaft' - it's very similar to Isaac Hayes' theme. The actually song features a collection of rappers, but they all perform well. All in all, a very good track.
'It's like that' is another pretty good track, although again, it seems quite subdued. The beat isn’t particularly interesting - It didn't keep me coming back for more. However, it's followed by 'It's Alright' - another party-like track, which works well. It also features Memphis Bleak, who does well.
"Bounce if you wanna bounce, ball if you wanna ball Play if you wanna play, floss if you wanna floss It's Alright, you heard?, It's Alright, Holla back"
'Money aint a thing' is the final track, featuring Jermain Dupri. Now I don't really like JD, but I have to admit this song is pretty good. The subject, cash, isn’t exactly inspired, but it's an easily likeable track.
Just to put that in clearer order for you the track list is: 1. Intro-Hand It Down 2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) 3.I Should Die 4. Ride or Die 5.Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) - Big Jaz 6. Money, Cash, Hoes - DMX 7. Week Ago 8. Coming of Age (Da Sequel) 9. Can I Get A... - Amil 10. Paper Chase 11. Reservoir Dogs 12. It's Like That 13. It's Alright 14. Money Ain't a Thang - Jermaine Dupri
Overall, I’d say this album is a good one. It isn't Jay's best, for that, check out The Blueprint, Reasonable Doubt, and the Black Album. If you've listened to a bit of Jay and liked what you heard, give this a try. If you're starting from scratch, try one of the other three. There are several average tracks but no really weak ones, and plenty of really good ones. Nice one Hov!
Note: As with all Jay-Z albums it containt explicit lyrics, just incase anyone is easily offended.
Advantages: Bangers throughout Disadvantages: Nothing specific
“Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life” dropped in 1998 as the third album from the New York rapper Jay-Z, this one acted as his mainstream breakthrough release as he was finally able to take his underground Mafioso Rap up to a much wider audience with the hits from this album as he worked wit the likes of Swizz Beatz, Jermaine Dupri and DJ Premier. 1. “Hand It Down” (Intro) 2. “Hard Knock Life” The album gets underway with what was his biggest single up to ... ...it to modern times with hard Hip Hop beats to allow The L.O.X., Sauce Money, Beanie Sigel and Jigga to go hard on it with their Mafioso rhymes which really suit the beats which are given. **Five Stars** 12. “It’s Like That” Here kid Capri works with Jay-Z and so with it you see that thing are taken back somewhat as the beats take on a style which was much more prominent in the early nineties and earlier with the heavy drum loop dominating the tune ...
XICripZ 10.08.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hard Knock Life [PA] - Jay-Z
Advantages: Count Em... 3 Listenable Songs... A Few Good Beats Disadvantages: Materialistic and Commercial Subject Matter, Watered Down Lyricism, Awful Guest Appearances, Boring
...1998, entitled Volume 2 - Hard Knock Life. Anybody who considers this album anything CLOSE to being classic deserves to have their genitalia severed and fed introversly to them. Cluttered with some of the worst hip-hop music I have ever heard, this song is a travesty and slap in the face as to what hip-hop truly is. Track List & Rating 1. Intro / Hand It Down f/ Memphis Bleek (2 1/2 Stars) 2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (4 1/2 Stars) 3. If I ... ...Volume 2: Hard Knock Life kicks off with "Intro / Hand It Down", which finds the same Scarface-wannabe popping up to introduce the album. Fans who heard Jay-Z's first two albums should instantly recognize him. Immediately after, we are given an unbelievably ill beat produced by DJ Premier himself. However, instead of finding Jiggaman himself spitting over this ill beat, we're given a less than stellar rehashing known as Memphis Bleek. For those who ...
bigdiship-hop 08.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hard Knock Life [PA] - Jay-Z
Advantages: good beats, wicked lyrical flow. classic songs, songs very catchy. Disadvantages: few week songs, not much wrong with this album as it is too good.
...one of hip hops anthems Hard Knock Life. The best songs on this album are money cash hoes, ryde or die, hard knock life, nigga what nigga who, coming of age, can i get a. its alrite and money aint a thing. This album only has 14 songs i i think 8 songs are quality songs. Jay z always puts an album with catchy beats and his flow of lyrics is always the perfect combo as it has led to most of his albums going platnium. This album is no exeception to ...
lilro 30.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hard Knock Life [PA] - Jay-Z
Advantages: it is background chilling music Disadvantages: gone commercial slightly
...has made better albums. This is good, but not as amazing as what he normally gives us to listen to. Its good that although jay-z makes alot of money from his songs, he stays relatively un well known unlike other rappers, which completely loses their hard worked underground image. bernie. ...
bernie 20.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Hard Knock Life [PA] - Jay-Z
Advantages: Lots of good lyrics Disadvantages: um... not the best he has made
...- (featuring Memphis Bleek)
--2: Hard Knock Life - (Ghetto Anthem)
--3: If I Should Die - (featuring Da Ranjahz)
--4: Ride Or Die
--5: N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99) - (featuring Big Jaz)
--6: Money, Cash, H**s - (featuring DMX)
--7: Week Ago, A - (featuring Too Short)
--8: Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) - (featuring Memphis Bleek)
--9: Can I Get A... - (featuring Amil/Ja Rule)
--10: Paper Chase - (featuring Foxy Brown)
--11: Reservoir ... ...the music scene, his lyrics are special, each and everone of them!!
My favourite is Hard Knock life because I just love the tune! The lyrics are great, because it has his past and his present in it, i would advise all to listen to this album.... it's great! ...
moo_trendy_cow 14.07.2004 (15.07.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Hard Knock Life [PA] - Jay-Z
first roundknock out
Rock & Pop -StudioRecording - 1CD(s) -Label:Vigilante -Distr ...
Product Information for "Hard Knock Life [PA] - Jay-Z" »
Product details
Title
Hard Knock Life [PA]
Performer
Jay-Z
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
East Coast Rap
Release Date
04/09/2000
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1998
Label / Distributor
Northwestside / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
743216255528
Catalogue Number
74321625552
Additional notes
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Wais, Half Dead, Big Jaz, Amil, Liz (vocals); Steven Jordan, Lil' Rob (various instruments); Jake Carter, Mike (guitar); Kid Capri (programming); Memphis Bleek, Da Ranjahz, DMX, Too Short, Ja Rule, Amil, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, The Lox, Beenie Siegel, Sauce Money. Producers include: Premier, Mark 45, Swizz Beats, Steven Jordan, Timbaland. Engineers include: Eddie Sancho, Paul Falcon, Joe Quinde. VOL. 2 HARD KNOCK LIFE won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. "Hard Knock Life" was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. "Money Ain't A Thang" was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. Jay-Z is a rapper's rapper. He is the lyricist all other MCs want to be, and he has the beats over which every other MC wants to rhyme. His third album, VOL. 2 HARD KNOCK LIFE, further verifies Jay-Z's #1 status. Throughout his musical career, Jay-Z has shown that he has the skills to pay more than just the bills. Experimenting like few other rap artists have, Jay-Z uses the Broadway musical Annie's "Hard Knock Life" for his title track and first single. With its hardcore production, "Money, Cash, Hoes" allows Jay-Z to demonstrate his lyrical skill alongside DMX. "Paper Chase" features Foxy Brown and diversifies VOL. 2 with its Southern Timbaland-produced feel.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.77) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's." The Source (11/98, p.190) - 4.5 Mics (out of 5) - "...On his third try for the trophy, the mayor of Marcy Projects took time during the offseason to perfect his method..." Q (12/00, p.144) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Boasts Timbaland, DMX, Jermaine Dupri, Foxy Brown and an infectious title track sampling the musical Annie. It couldn't fail: the epitome of mainstream hip hop, and intentionally so."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Hand It Down - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
2.
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3.
If I Should Die
4.
Ride Or Die
5.
Nigga What Nigga Who (Originator 99) - Jay-Z & Big Jaz
6.
Money Cash Hoes - Jay-Z & DMX
7.
Week Ago - Jay-Z & Too $hort
8.
Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
9.
Can I Get A...
10.
Paper Chase - Jay-Z & Foxy Brown
11.
Reservoir Dogs
12.
It's Like That - Jay-Z & Kid Capri
13.
It's Alright - Jay-Z & Memphis Bleek
14.
Money Ain't A Thing - Jay-Z & Jermaine Dupri
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Listed on Ciao since
20/01/2001
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