JAY-Z has revealed his pick for the “most important” album in his catalog.
Speaking to Gayle King as part of an extensive interview with CBS Mornings, Hov explained how his third album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, was a turning point in his career.
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“This is the album that’s the most important album because it was the album where I honed my craft as a songwriter and that balance of creating exactly what I want,” he said.
“And just as a writer, a technical song-maker. Song-making skills with real stories is when it all came together on this album.”
https://youtu.be/y81N008Qyw4?si=UZxQwb41dN1vStH1
Released in September 1998, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life solidified JAY-Z as a mainstream star, becoming his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 after selling over 350,000 copies in its first week. It stayed atop the chart for five consecutive weeks.
The project, which boasted appearances from the likes of DMX, Ja Rule, The LOX, Jermaine Dupri and Too $hort, also won Best Rap Album at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards and remains Hov’s highest-selling album at 6x platinum.
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The album’s success was powered by the hit single “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Can I Get A…” also cracked the top 20.
“It was an instant, instant record that went right to radio,” DJ Enuff told Grantland of the Annie-sampling smash. “Some records need to be worked, some records need to be researched, some records need to be tested. That was one of the records that went right in, like, ‘Bang.'”
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“‘Hard Knock Life’ opened the door for everything Jay has. Everything he is known for, that was the door opener right there,” added Kid Capri, who actually had the beat first before giving it to the Brooklyn rapper.
While ranking his own albums back in 2013, JAY-Z placed Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life at No. 4, calling it one of his four “classic” records.
“1. Reasonable Doubt (Classic) 2. The Blueprint (Classic) 3. The Black Album (Classic) 4. Vol. 2 (Classic),” he wrote alongside a photo of his CDs in the same order.
“5. American Gangster (4 1/2, cohesive) 6. Magna Carta (Fuckwit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail). 7. Vol. 1 (Sunshine kills this album…fuck… Streets, Where I’m from, You Must Love Me…) 8. BP3 (Sorry critics, it’s good. Empire (Gave Frank a run for his money).
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“9. Dynasty (Intro alone…) 10. Vol. 3 (Pimp C verse alone… oh, So Ghetto) 11. BP2 (Too many songs. Fucking Guru and Hip Hop, ha) 12. Kingdom Come (First game back, don’t shoot me).”
The only album not on the list is 4:44, which was released in 2017.
Revisit Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life below:
