Reasonable Doubt

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.com
Jay-Z's classic debut is a compelling reflection on his life as a hustler. It's invested with an uncommon complexity and candor that has noticeably faded in his later material. Armed with clever phrasing and sly deadpan wit, Jay-Z navigates indulgent romps ("Can't Knock the Hustle"), thought-provoking introspection ("Regrets"), and devastating street-corner soliloquies ("Friend or Foe") with savvy composure. The beats on Reasonable Doubt, provided by the likes of DJ Premier & Ski, are as irresistibly slick as his persona. "Brooklyn's Finest," his mic-passing session with his friend Notorious B.I.G., takes on a torch-passing significance in the wake of Biggie's death. That song, and the entire album, foreshadows Jay-Z's subsequent ascension to kingpin status. --Del. F. Cowie

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-12-23 rating:
"trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot"
Jay Z should be ashamed of himself. He has dumbed down his flow for mass consumption.He hasn't created anything this good since! He really owes it to biggie to really push the envelope and be more creative lyrically. it isn't what you say. It's how you say it.The verse in the title is from my favorite track on the album,D'Evils.Push it to the limit,Jay.You can do better than that American gangster trash.

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review by: date: 2008-12-16 rating:
Best J-Z
Honestly, I am not a J-Z fan but I will say that his debut was a classic when it was released. I don't particularly like his reference to women in his later releases;eventhough, many of them have been hits with incredible tracks. However, I will give him credit for creating some head nodding hip-hop songs. I do not consider him a rapper but a street oriented hip-hop artist. His lyrical style always sounds the same and as if he has something in his mouth.

I will give him props for marrying Beyonce. That was the smartest decision he has ever made and I know he knows it. I am sure he is still trying to figure out how he won her over. She is incredibly talented, humble and has the class that will take him a lifetime to live up to.
Hopefully he will do the smart thing and not smother or try to inhibit her creatively ro he could be replaced.

I congratulate him.

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review by: date: 2008-05-15 rating:
Jay Z Reasonable Doubt
If you don't have this one you should get it. This is HOVA in his raw'est form, and if you are a fan of pure hip hop before the dirty south mess'ed it up then you must get this cd.

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review by: date: 2008-02-08 rating:
Light years ahead of its time!
BOTTOM LINE:

Flows so futuristic, that it took nearly a decade for others to catch on and push this past platinum status. So far ahead of its time in terms of lyrics, content, flow and delivery - that The Source had to apologize years later and give it 5 Mics! Songs like 'Dead Presidents', 'Brooklyn's Finest' and 'Can't Knock the Hustle' are now considered all-time anthems.

That pretty much says it all.

A+ another hiphop Essential


review by: Nick J date: 2008-01-16 rating:
Old Jay-Z
nowadays jay-z has established himself as very mainstream rapper. But I know a lot of people who listen to jay and haven't even heard of this album. 'Big Pimpin' 'Hard Knock Life' '99 problems' are all OK songs, but this album is where he really shines. to really understand an artist you have to dig deep and go beyond their famous hits. this was way back when jay-z was fresh in the game. a lot can change in a rapper over the course of 10 years.

this album flows like no other jay-z album. the beats and the lyrics go together perfectly. the hooks are better than any of his other albums. all the songs have a unique feel. this is old, authentic hip-hop from '96. probably the best song is 'Coming of Age'. jay raps with young memphis bleek and schools him on the world of crime and drugs. bleek is jay's protege is this song. they go back and forth rapping off each other. jay and memphis bleek are one of the best rap combo's i think, and this is their first song together. everything about it is tight. other great songs on here are: 'Politics As Usual' 'Feelin It' 'Friend or Foe' 'D'evils' etc.

HOWEVER: if u are into jay-z and only listen to his popular new stuff this may not be for you. it's old and sounds dated (that doesn't bother me, but some people don't like it). but still, this is one of the only true good jay-z albums and it remains that way

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