Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 29, 1998 | |||
Recorded | December 1997 – August 1998 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 61:43 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Jay-Z chronology | ||||
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Singles from Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life | ||||
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Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third
Background
Jay described the background to the album's lyrical themes in a December 1998 interview with Blues & Soul, saying, "Primarily I see myself as so much more than a rapper. I really believe I'm the voice for a lot of people who don't have that microphone or who can't rap. So I wanted to represent and tell the story of everybody who's been through what I've been through, or knows somebody that has. I also wanted to speak about our lifestyle to people who – though they may live, say, in the suburbs and not be part of that world – still want to know about it and understand it."[1] Jay told MTV News that Vol. 2 was going to be his final album, but he later walked that statement back.
Production
Several tracks in this feature a rougher sound than the glossier
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
IGN | 8.3/10[6] |
Los Angeles Times | [7] |
NME | 6/10[8] |
Q | [9] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
The Source | 4.5/5[11] |
In a contemporary review for
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life was later ranked number 46 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums from the 1990s.[14]
Commercial performance
Vol. 2... became Jay-Z's first album to debut at #1 on the
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro – Hand It Down" (featuring Memphis Bleek) | DJ Premier | 2:56 | |
2. | "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" | The 45 King | 3:58 | |
3. | "If I Should Die" (featuring Da Ranjahz) |
| Swizz Beatz | 4:55 |
4. | "Ride or Die" |
| Stevie J | 4:48 |
5. | "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (featuring Big Jaz) |
| Timbaland | 3:53 |
6. | "Money, Cash, Hoes" (featuring DMX) |
| Swizz Beatz | 4:46 |
7. | "A Week Ago" (featuring Too $hort) |
| J-Runnah | 5:00 |
8. | "Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" (featuring Memphis Bleek) |
| Swizz Beatz | 4:21 |
9. | "Can I Get A..." (featuring Ja Rule and Amil) |
|
| 5:09 |
10. | "Paper Chase" (featuring Foxy Brown) |
| Timbaland | 4:34 |
11. | "Reservoir Dogs" (featuring The LOX, Beanie Sigel and Sauce Money) |
| 5:19 | |
12. | "It's Like That" (featuring Kid Capri) |
| Kid Capri | 3:45 |
13. | "It's Alright" (featuring Memphis Bleek) |
|
| 4:01 |
14. | "Money Ain't a Thang" (featuring Jermaine Dupri) |
| Jermaine Dupri | 4:13 |
Notes
- ^[a] – co-producer
- ^[b] – uncredited co-producer
- "If I Should Die" features additional vocals by Wais and Half Dead.
- "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" features additional vocals by Amil.
- "It's Like That" features additional vocals by Liz.
Sample credits
Intro (Hand It Down)
- "Are You Man Enough" by The Four Tops
- Contains lyrics from "Coming of Age" by Jay-Z feat. Memphis Bleek
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
- "It's The Hard Knock Life" from Annie
Money, Cash, Hoes
- "Theme of Thief" from Tohru Nakabayashi & Y. "Dolphin" Takada (from the Golden Axe soundtrack)
A Week Ago
- "Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" by The Isley Brothers
Reservoir Dogs
- "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
- "24- Carat Black (Theme)" by 24 Carat Black
- "Know How" by Young MC
It's Like That
- "Beggar's Song" by Wet Willie
It's Alright
- "The Hall of Mirrors" by Kraftwerk
- "Once In a Lifetime" by Talking Heads
Money Ain't a Thang
- "Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington
Charts
Weekly charts
Singles
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[32] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[34] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- List of number-one albums of 1998 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1998 (U.S.)
References
- ^ Lewis, Pete. Jay Z: A B&S classic interview December 1998, Blues & Soul
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life – Jay-Z". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ Considine, J. D. (November 12, 1998). "Jay-Z: Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life (Rockafella/Def Jam 314 558 902)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0312245602.
- ISBN 978-0857125958.
- ^ Spence D. (November 12, 2003). "Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life". IGN. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ Baker, Soren (October 10, 1998). "Jay-Z Offers Intense Tales of 'Life' and the Street". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ Crysell, Andy (November 12, 1998). "Jay-Z – Volume 2... Hard Knock Life". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ a b "Jay-Z: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life". Q. No. 171. December 2000. p. 144.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Rodriguez, Carlito (November 1998). "Jay-Z: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life". The Source. No. 110. p. 190.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (November 1998). "Beck, Jay Z". Playboy. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
- ^ Rabin, Nathan (March 29, 2002). "Jay-Z: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "100 Best Albums of the Nineties". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
- ^ "Jay-Z". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Reiss, Randy (October 14, 1998). "Jay Z's New Hard Knock Life Has A Golden Week".
- ^ Boehlert, Eric (October 21, 1998). "Dylan Breaks Top 40, Jay-Z Stays at No. 1". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ "JAY-Z HOLDS OFF DRU HILL, R.E.M. ON ALBUM CHART". Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "The 50 Best Selling Rap Albums of All Time18. Jay Z Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998)". In 2023, the album was officially certified 6x platinum in the United States.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jay-Z – Chart history". www.billboard.com. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Jay-Z – Chart history". www.billboard.com. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Jay-Z – Chart history". www.billboard.com. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "1998 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-50. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – JAY Z – Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life". Music Canada.
- ^ "British album certifications – JAY Z – Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – JAY-Z – HARD KNOCK LIFE". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
External links
- Samplin' Annie at Vibe
- Jay Z interview at Blues & Soul
- Cipha Sounds interview at Complex