Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt

Given that Jay-Z will be headlining John Paul Jones Arena in a few days, it seems appropriate to revisit the career of one of mainstream rap’s most ubiquitous talents. These days, Billboard chart toppers such as “99 Problems” and “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” are the cornerstones of Jay-Z’s reputation. However, it was 1996’s Reasonable Doubt that served as the stone-cold classic debut upon which Jay-Z built his initial reputation. A world away from his later work, Reasonable Doubt showcases a young Jay-Z supremely confident in his skills even before he burst into our society’s collective consciousness.

Before he earned his name as one of hip-hop’s most notorious businessmen, Jay-Z was a hustler on the streets of New York. He rapped about what he knew — drugs, crime, law, poverty — and he was very, very good at it. Despite his talent, major labels were uninterested in signing such a little-known artist. In an early example of his entrepreneurial flair, Jay-Z responded by founding Roc-A-Fella Records with friends Dame Dash and Kareem Biggs. He proceeded to round up some of the most notable East Coast producers to work on his beats and even scored a guest verse from fellow New Yorker Notorious B.I.G. The resulting album was a hip-hop landmark and perhaps the finest of Jay-Z’s career.

In many ways, Jay-Z’s first album showcases the same traits we’ve grown to love from him — his cool confidence, his wittiness and wordplay, his sense of class and character, his raw ambition and disarming honesty. Nevertheless, the street-wise subject matter and emotional gravitas of Reasonable Doubt is worlds away from the plush money raps that would characterize his later work. Reasonable Doubt is an engaging portrayal of Jay-Z’s life in the Marcy housing projects of New York. The music is a mess of his complex sentiments — dark yet celebratory, playful yet somber, gritty yet luxurious. “Dead Presidents II” and “Regrets” are among the most affecting songs he has ever recorded, yet “22 Two’s” and “Friend or Foe” have a playful, tongue-in-cheek vibe.


Jay-Z - "Dead Presidents"
Jay-Z’s observations of the drug trade are sharp and clever. He is constantly aware of the dangers and complications inherent to his line of work, yet his desire to live large presents him with no other options. As he proclaims on the triumphant “Can I Live,” “I’d rather die enormous than live dormant.” Ultimately, Jay-Z’s ruminations on the drug biz are less enthusiastic or arrogant than they are nuanced and analytical.

As mentioned earlier, production was handled by some of the best East Coast’s finest beatsmiths at the time – notably, the roster included such talents as Ski, DJ Premier and Clark Kent. The overall sound is one heavily influenced by soul, funk and jazz, creating a vibe of both indulgence and relaxation. Particularly notable are the beats for “Dead Presidents II” and “Regrets,” somber tracks that greatly heighten the emotional content of Jay-Z’s lyrics.

Reasonable Doubt may be the lowest-charting Jay-Z album to date, but it’s his most influential and perhaps his greatest — only 2001’s fantastic The Blueprint can rival his debut. Before seeing Jay-Z Saturday, it’s definitely worth doing your homework and giving this classic a close listen.

Originally written for the Cavalier Daily:
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/news/2008/oct/23/beyond-a-reasonable-doubt/