Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life
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Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life is the 1998 music album release by East Coast hip hop artist Jay-Z. It was the success of title track, "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" that made Jay-Z a dominant hip-hop superstar to emerge in the post Biggie/Tupac era. It went on to sell 5 million records in the US, and it is the highest selling Jay-Z album to date.
Despite its status as Jay-Z's most commercially successful album, it received lukewarm reviews from critics who thought that in his aims to be a crossover success, he had compromised the quality and complexity of his music. In the track "Moment of Clarity" from his final solo album The Black Album, Jay-Z addresses such critics, admitting in the lyrics that he did water down his lyricism in albums such as Hard Knock Life, but justifying it based on the fact that his phenomenal success allowed him to give back to the community.
Track listing
- "Hand It Down (Intro)" (Produced by DJ Premier) - 2:56
- "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" (Produced by The 45 King) - 3:58
- "If I Should Die" (Produced by Swizz Beatz) - 4:55
- "Ride or Die" (Produced by Stevie J) - 4:48
- "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (featuring Amil and Big Jaz) (Produced by Timbaland) - 3:53
- "Money, Cash, Hoes" (ft. DMX) (Produced by Swizz Beatz) - 4:46
- "A Week Ago" (Produced by J-Runnah) - 5:00
- "Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" (Produced by Swizz Beatz) - 4:21
- "Can I Get A..." (featuring Amil and Ja Rule) (Produced by Irv Gotti) - 5:09
- "Paper Chase" (featuring Foxy Brown) (Produced by Timbaland) - 4:34
- "Reservoir Dogs" (Produced by Erick Sermon) - 5:19
- "It's Like That" (Produced by Kid Capri) - 3:45
- "It's Alright [*]" (featuring Memphis Bleek) (Produced by Mahogany) - 4:01
- "Money Ain't a Thang [*]" (featuring Jermaine Dupri) (Produced by Jermaine Dupri) - 4:13
| Jay-Z |
| Albums, Compilations and Collaborative studio albums |
|---|
| Reasonable Doubt | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | ' | ' | ' | The Blueprint | Unplugged | The Best of Both Worlds | ' | The Black Album | Unfinished Business | Collision Course |
| Singles |
| Can't Knock the Hustle | Ain't No Nigga/Dead Presidents | Feelin' It | Who You Wit | Sunshine | The City Is Mine | Wishing on a Star | Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) | Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) | Money, Cash, Hoes | Can I Get A... | Money Ain't a Thing | Big Pimpin | Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up) | Jigga My Nigga | Girl's Best Friend | I Just Wanna Luv U (Give It 2 Me) | Change the Game | Guilty Until Proven Innocent | Izzo (H.O.V.A.) | Girls, Girls, Girls | Jigga That Nigga | Song Cry | '03 Bonnie & Clyde | Excuse Me Miss | Change Clothes | Dirt Off Your Shoulder | Encore | 99 Problems | Big Chips
|
| Collaborative Singles |
| Frontin | Crazy in Love |
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