It was released on june 25, 1996, by rocafella records and priority records. Jayz rose to fame with his 1996 goldcertified single, aint no nga like the one i got, a duet with foxy brown. Exactly 20 years ago today, jay zs reasonable doubt first impacted at retail and promptly exploded across hiphop consciousness with the concussive force of an 800pound bomb. Jun 25, 2015 jay z released his debut album reasonable doubt in 1996. Jayz reasonable doubts smooth sounds, great lyrics, nice beats and jayz at his best.
Breaking down every contributor for jayzs reasonable doubt. Booking entertainment is the leading entertainment booking agency for booking jay z for events worldwide our jay z agent will be happy to help you get jay zs availability and booking fee, or the price and availability for any other alist entertainer, band, comedian or celebrity you may want for your corporate event, private party, wedding. I expected jay to be a bit flashier but he was really on the humble. It was released on june 25, 1996 on rocafellapriority records in the united states and on northwestside records in the united kingdom. It starts off with cant knock the hustle with mary j. I made notes in the book about certain parts i wanted to comment on so im going to go in order of those while adding in anything new i think of at the same time. After rocafella secured a deal with priority records for the distribution of their albums, jayz was ready to release his first record, reasonable doubt. Just a note that i didnt include any collaboration or live albums, so this list doesnt have projects like watch the throne or the best of both worlds. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Only hip hop facts lists 10 facts you probably didnt know about jay zs reasonable doubt. Jay when he explained the can i live lyrics in his book decoded. Reasonable doubt is the debut studio album by american rapper jayz.
In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend, jaz the originators and original flavor can i get open, and later scored an underground hit single with. Page 1 of jay z biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. Jay z is an american rapper, songwriter and producer who grew up in brooklyns druginfested marcy projects. Reasonable doubt is the first studio album by american rapper jay z. Jul 01, 2017 also, this week his debut album reasonable doubt turns 21 years old. He appeared on several hiphop artists records in the late 1980s. Unable to get a record deal, jayz initially sold records out of his car, before launching the independent rocafella records with damon dash and kareem biggs in 1995. In 1997 he had success outside of the us with singles like sunshine which peaked at number 25 in uk, 18 in germany and 22 in nz. Also, this week his debut album reasonable doubt turns 21 years old. Jay z and two friends founded their own company, rocafella records, to release his debut album, reasonable doubt 1996, which eventually sold more than a million copies in the united states. I am so fortunate to have reshot his album cover for reasonable doubt. So goes the story of reasonable doubt, anyway, a tale jay z has.
Charlamagne tha god discusses his book shook one, mental health and kanye. For jay to sample this particular nas line as the chorus to the first single off his debut album reasonable doubt meant that his purpose in rap was clear. Behindthescenes look at the creation of jayzs 1996 debut album reasonable doubt. The beat is perfect for the lyrics and jay drops bombs.
Jayz biography life, family, childhood, children, name. With no famous guest appearances nas stepped on the scene only 21 years old with perhaps the best, and most original sounding hiphop album of all time which. Jay z released his debut album reasonable doubt in 1996. The first time i ever met jay z was in the back of this downtown club during an eazy e tribute. Jayz rose to fame with his 1996 goldcertified single, ain t no nga like the one i got, a duet with foxy brown.
Booking agent book jay z for corporate events, private. G he first started releasing records in the late 1980s. Jay z reasonable doubt 20th anniversary mixtape mixed by dj. In june, forbes dubbed carter the first hiphop artist to become a billionaire. May 06, 2018 20th anniversary documentary on one of the greatest albums of all time. Ranking every song on jay zs reasonable doubt complex. To mark the 20th anniversary of jay zs classic debut lp reasonable doubt, our buddy dj matman has put together this fine mixtape featuring album tracks. Heres a trackbytrack take on the first chapter in a great american success story. Jayz is an american rapper, songwriter and producer who grew up in brooklyns druginfested marcy projects. While both albums are classic, illmatic is certainly better, and wins on originality. It was released as the first promotional single for jayzs debut album reasonable doubt, although it did not directly appear on the album. The first single on the album, holy grail, features justin timberlake singing in it.
There is nothing like the debut of jay z, a stroke of genius chronicling the. Jayz booking rap music artists corporate event booking agent. He used rap as an escape, appearing for the first time on yo. This track wasnt part of the original reasonable doubt, it was added as a bonus with the 1999 reissue. Released 20 years ago today june 25, 1996, the debut effort from the industrious brooklyn rapper born shawn carter is not the sound of an. Reasonable doubt is a purely mafioso and hood experience, but the truth of the matter is, there are points of relateability where everybody can enjoy, not to mention it contains some of jayzs bounciest and grooviest songs of his entire career. Jay z had been living that life since 1988 and many refer to reasonable doubt as the hustlers bible, so to speak. Jayz simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Originally, the album was called heir to the throne. So goes the story of reasonable doubt, anyway, a tale jay z has regaled us with at every opportunity since its. That night was the first time that mao heard the entire reasonable doubt album in sequence, but not his first exposure to jay z. June 25 marks the 20th anniversary of reasonable doubt, jay zs first album. Reasonable doubt is the debut studio album by american rapper jay z. Future has some controversial thoughts about jay zs first.
Jigga originally made the album to impress his friends and, allegedly, planned to never release an album again. In december 20 jayz was nominated for nine grammy awards. I remember supernatural performed and i set up this whole photo studio in the back of the club. The bulk of jay zs catalog is exclusive to tidal, so only. Skeptics whove never cared for jiggas crossover efforts should turn to his debut, reasonable doubt, as the deserving source of his legend. Future has some controversial thoughts about jay zs first album. Starting from his debut album reasonable doubt 1996, jay z had. The genius thing i did starting out in music business. Skeptics whove never cared for jiggas crossover efforts should turn to his debut, reasonable doubt, as. Before jay z fashioned himself into hiphops most notorious capitalist, he was a street hustler from the projects who rapped about what he knew and was very, very good at it. The first single, hawaiian sophie, is handled by dj jazzy jeff and the fresh princes producer and the innocuous romantic storytelling rhyme with its. Jay z reasonable doubt 20th anniversary mixtape mixed by dj matman by wax poetics published on 20160617t04. Features song lyrics for jay z s reasonable doubt album. Born and raised in new york city, jay z first began his musical career after founding the record label rocafella records in 1995, and subsequently released his debut studio album reasonable doubt in 1996.
Page 1 of jayz biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. The staff of headline booking group will work with you to produce a memorable event. Jayz and two friends founded their own company, rocafella records, to release his debut album, reasonable doubt 1996, which eventually sold more than a million copies in the united states. Admittedly, the album is titled reasonable doubt but the cd is not by jay z.
In honor of the recent 20th anniversary of jay zs debut album, reasonable doubt, were publishing a series of pieces looking at the rappers singular career. The singles discography of american rapper jayz consists of singles, featured singles, collaborative singles, and kraft singles the brooklyn native rapper jayz had success on the billboard hot 100 with singles from his debut studio album reasonable doubt. From reasonable doubt to magna carta holy grail, we rank jayzs first week album sales from best to worst. The oral history of jay zs reasonable doubt cover revolt. The album was released to widespread critical success, and solidified his standing in the music industry. Other rappers recognized his ability to rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. Born and raised in new york city, jayz first began his musical career after founding the record label rocafella records in 1995, and subsequently released his debut studio album reasonable doubt in 1996. Reasonable doubt by jayz 87748980399 vinyl lp barnes. A string of successful albums followed at a rate of at least one per year through 2003.
Jay z reasonable doubt 20th anniversary mixtape mixed by. Jayz has been one of the most influential figures in black american music since the midnineties. Jays first two albums, 1996s crucial reasonable doubt and its 1997 followup, in my. So i had a whole set of creative for that, but then a. To book jay z or another hip hop artist for your private party, corporate event, fundraiser or other function, please fill out our artist request form to quickly connect with one of our booking agents. Reasonable doubt, as we know it, was jay zs official entry into the rap game in 1996 and was considered one of hiphops. After several guest appearances in the early 1990s and the release of his first single in my lifetime in 1994, jayz released his debut album reasonable doubt on june 25, 1996 through his. Jayzs first album, 1996s reasonable doubt, became a hit, winning him a deal with def jam. Touted in many hip hop circles as his best work with some even going as far to say it is the definitive hip hop masterpiece. Jay zwho today, at 46, is the most influential figure on hiphops mount rushmorewas 26 when he released his debut album, reasonable doubt, in june of 1996, one of hiphops banner years. A street hustler with a distinct style of rapping, jayz worked his way up from poverty to become the. Is jayzs reasonable doubt a better album than nass. In june, 1996, jayz released reasonable doubt, a project that was supposed to be his first and last album.
Jun 24, 2016 that night was the first time that mao heard the entire reasonable doubt album in sequence, but not his first exposure to jay z. So i design the single cover and shortly thereafter, they were like how the album was going to come out and its called reasonable doubt. Incredible album some of the best word play ever produced, double meanings, hidden information, clever cyphers, and all this while battling his own demons between going straight or continuing hustling all portrayed in lyrics that only a top wordsmith could deliver with such intricate detail. Digitally remastered reissue of jayzs 1996 debut album. The album features production provided by dj premier, ski, knobody and clark kent, and also includes guest appearances from memphis bleek, mary j. So goes the story of reasonable doubt, anyway, a tale jay z has regaled us with at every opportunity since its release on a new and unproven independent label.
Packed with intriguing, informative interviews and commentary from various artists involved with the production of the music, the dvd definitely kept my attention. Before jayz fashioned himself into hiphops most notorious capitalist, he was a street hustler from the projects who rapped about what he knew and was very, very good at it. Jayzs classic debut is a compelling reflection on his. Initially as a performer racking up an incredibly successful string of hit singles and albums and latterly as an executive, having taken on the presidency of def jam. So i had a whole set of creative for that, but then a couple days later jay was like, nah switch that. Today marks the 20th anniversary of jay zs 1996 solo debut, reasonable doubt. Shawn corey carter was born on december 4, 1969 in brooklyn, new york city. Feb 29, 2012 while both albums are classic, illmatic is certainly better, and wins on originality. Jayz then steadily built on this success, releasing album after album and bringing through new artists on his label, as well as expanding into merchandising, clothing and other sources of revenue. It was the perfect clincher for the original version of reasonable doubt. Starting from his debut album reasonable doubt 1996, jayz had. Reasonable doubt is classic because of its complexityit represents underground rap at its finest, detailing the complex ethical dilemmas of being a street hustler. Features song lyrics for jayzs reasonable doubt album.
Vh1 delivers a classic recreation of the making of hiphop titan jayzs debut album reasonable doubt. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading reasonable doubt. Raised by a single mother in brooklyns rough marcy projects, shawn jayz carter hit the streets as a. After several guest appearances in the early 1990s and the release of his first single in my lifetime in 1994, jayz released his debut album reasonable doubt on june 25, 1996 through his rocafella records imprint with distribution from priority records. Rather than having fresh ears, you might say maos were hardened. To commemorate, were celebrating with jay z day in 1999, the. In the recording of this album, jayz was still immersed in street life enough to write about its gritty.
That song, and the entire album, foreshadows jayzs subsequent ascension to kingpin status. Ehe 1996 reasonable doubts erscheint, genoss shawn carter im new. He was unable to secure a contract and founded rocafella records. Decoded by jayz goodreads share book recommendations. Want to test your knowledge about his album reasonable doubt. Shawn jayz carter has had nothing short of a recordsetting career. Carter s nickname was jazzy, which eventually developed into his stage name, jayz.
Packed with intriguing, informative interviews and. The labels first single, dead presidents was a big hit as was his debut album, reasonable doubt. Then being credited as a songwriter on a jayz song does a lot for the songwriters. Aint no nigga might be the most shamelessly commercial track on jayzs debut, reasonable doubt.
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