Jay-Z

“You know it’s hell when I come through, the life and times of Shawn Carter n***a, volume two. Y’all n***as get ready…Hard Knock Life.” That’s right. Get ready for dazzling lyrical acrobatics, stunning verbal versatility and fierce, driving beats featured on the highly anticipate third solo release from hip hop phenomenon Jay-Z, Vol. 2. . . Hard Knock Life. “With this album, I was in a real zone creatively,” says an enthusiastic Jay-Z about Hard Knock Life, “I was so happy making this album, I was like, ‘Feed me beats!’”

The outcome of this creativity is a superb collection of tracks featuring Jay-Z’s signature lyrical prowess and his ability to weave vivid tales of urban life with clarity, depth, and precision. Combined with multi-layered production from some of the industry’s most cutting edge talent, Hard Knock Life will surely be regarded as a classic. Making classic records is nothing new for “Brooklyn’s Finest.” In 1990, he burst on the music scene with an unshared quicksilver deliverance, lacing tracks for Big Jaz (“The Originator’s”) and Original Flavor (“Can I Get Open”). But after witnessing his friend Jaz’s troubles with his record label and scrambling for a deal himself, Jay decided to take matter’s into his own hands. Along with entrepreneur Damon Dash and a third partner Kareem “Biggs” Burke, he formed Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996 and the result: the luminous debut, Reasonable Doubt. Doubt spawned the gold single “Ain’t No N**a,” featuring Foxy Brown, which immediately transported Jigga to the fore front of the rap game. “Can’t Knock the Hustle” and “Feelin It” quickly established Jay-Z as one the most innovative and influential artists in hip-hop. Within a year of Reasonable Doubt’s release, fans were fiending for a new Jay-Z joint. Jigga supplied the demand with the platinum-selling, In My Lifetime, Volume I.

The album, which followed the untimely death of Jay-Z’s friend and collaborator, The Notorious B.I.G., was more personal in content and included the sweeping single’s “You Must Love Me,” the bleak “Where I’m From,” as well as the underground smash “Streets Is Watching.” The first commercial single released from the disc, “Sunshine,” featured Foxy Brown with production credits going to producer extraordinaire, Babyface Edmonds. The collaboration proved to be an instant smash at radio and retail and re-established Jay – Z as a lyrical genius, better known to many as, “The King of New York.” “In My Lifetime was very emotional to me because there were a lot of things going on at that time,” explains Jay-Z. “That album . . .that was me. That was Jay-Z right there.”Keeping with the personal theme of In My Lifetime, in 1998, Jay-Z portrayed himself in the semi-autobiographical short film, Streets Is Watching, a film he wrote, produced, and directed along with Roc-A-Fella partner Damon Dash. In addition to the film, he also released Streets Is Watching: The Soundtrack, which included the hit single “It’s Alright,” and introduced fans to some of Roc-a-Fella’s brightest new rising stars, including Memphis Bleek, Rell, Diamonds in the Rough, and the Ranjahz. Now, Jigga returns with Volume 2. . .Hard Knock Life. Recorded in only a month, it features Jay-Z at the top of his game. Because of the time constraints, Jay-Z veered from his usual production team of Ski and DJ Premier and brought on new talent, including Timbaland, and Swiss from the Ruff Ryders camp. The new sounds and styles that these producers brought was a welcome challenge for Jay-Z. “I can change up my flow depending on the beat,” he says. “If it’s hot, I’ll rhyme over it. If you notice, I rhyme differently on each track.”

The album also features a host of guest artists, including DMX on the hard-hitting “Money, Cash, Hoes,” Too Short on “A Week Ago” and Foxy Brown on “Paper Chase.” Memphis Bleek, who rapped alongside Jigga on Reasonable Doubt’s “Coming of Age,” also turns up on one of Jay-Z’s personal favorite’s, the intense “Coming of Age, Da Sequel.” The track paints a dramatic picture of a meeting between two hustlers, one established, one on his way up. “One of the reasons I love this track is because it’s so mental,” he says. “The whole first verse is an interaction that takes place in 30 seconds.” Timbaland furnishes the album with two remarkable tracks; the danceable “N**a What,” and the bouncy “Paper Chase.” DJ Mark the 45 King resurfaces with the title track, which incorporates the chorus from “It’s a Hard Knock life,” from the Broadway musical, Annie. “Kid Capri played the track on tour and I had to have it,” Jay-Z says smiling. “It’s a real ghetto anthem.”