A commercial peak of crossover hits and street craft. Polished and huge. A breakthrough. Released in 1998, it's a key entry in Jay-Z's run.
On vinyl: Vinyl can be scarcer than the CD from this era, so it's worth looking for a recent repressing.
Add it to the collection
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More from Jay-Z — where to go next
If you have Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, these are the Jay-Z records worth reaching for next.
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1
Reasonable Doubt1996 · Hip-HopStart here
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2
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life1998 · you're viewing this oneClassic
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3
The Blueprint2001 · Hip-HopClassic
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4
The Black Album2003 · Hip-HopClassic
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5
4:442017 · Hip-HopClassic
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Moment of TruthGang Starr
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AqueminiOutKast
2001Dr. Dre