Jay-Z was recently reminded in an interview with MTV News that Vol. 2 … Hard Knock Life turned 14 years old on Saturday (September 29), causing the Hip Hop superstar to reflect on what made the album such a hit.
“It was just so pure,” said Jay, who explained that during the recording of the album was the time when he met a then-teenage Swizz Beatz.
“I wanted Dame Grease, ’cause he was workin’ on the DMX album [It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot]. I was like, ‘Where’s the guy that’s making all of those songs?'”
Darrin “Dee” Dean, Co-CEO of DMX’s label, suggested that Hov work with Swizz instead, but Jay was skeptical. “I’m like, ‘Nah don’t try and play me with the nephew.'”
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It turned out that the meeting was a fortuitous one. “He came in, he played those songs. We went from my office to the studio, we made four records … From there, the body of the album was in place.”
Watch the interview below:
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