Jay-Z - Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
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- Store sticker dated at or near release (owner-attested; transcription and photo pending)
About the album
Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life is Jay-Z’s third studio album and the record that expanded his audience without abandoning New York rap’s competitive center. The title song samples the Annie musical, turning its chorus into a hard-edged hook. Around it, Jay-Z moves through ambition, money, danger, and loyalty on songs such as “Can I Get A…,” “Money, Cash, Hoes,” and “A Week Ago.” The production comes from a broad group including DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Erick Sermon, and The 45 King. Roc-A-Fella issued the album in 1998. Its fourteen-track CD is busy by design, reflecting a label growing quickly and an artist learning how much range a mainstream rap album could hold.
Worth knowing
- Jay-Z released the album in 1998.
- The title track samples Annie.
- DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and The 45 King are credited producers.
- The standard CD has fourteen tracks; a limited edition added a bonus disc with eight more tracks.
Credits
- producer
- Damon Dash
- producer
- Darold Trotter
- producer
- DJ Premier
- producer
- Erick Sermon
- producer
- Irv Gotti
- producer
- J‐Runnah
- producer
- Jermaine Dupri
- producer, programming
- Kid Capri
- producer
- Lil Rob
- producer
- Mahogany
- producer, mix
- Stevie J
- producer
- Swizz Beatz
- producer
- The 45 King
- producer
- Timbaland
Tracklist
- 1.Intro – Hand It Down
- 2.Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
- 3.If I Should Die
- 4.Ride or Die
- 5.Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
- 6.Money, Cash, Hoes
- 7.A Week Ago
- 8.Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
- 9.Can I Get A…
- 10.Paper Chase
- 11.Reservoir Dogs
- 12.It’s Like That
- 13.It’s Alright
- 14.Money Ain’t a Thang
Listen
Streaming and YouTube sources are listening references; they are not necessarily the same mastering as this sealed disc.