Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt

Jay-Z’s first album Reasonable Doubt was released in 1996. This is noted as Jay-Z’s best album and also one of the best albums in the history of hip-hop music. Although it did not receive this kind of recognition when first released, Jay-Z still managed to change the game of hip-hop. One of the things that I like most about this album is Jay-Z’s lyricism. The metaphors and entendres within this album are some of the greatest. The second reason why I love this album is because of Jay-Z’s producers’ use of samples. Each song samples either an old R&B, jazz, or hip-hop song and features rewording of some of the lyrics.

“Can’t Knock the Hustle”

Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt begins with a monologue from the 1983 gangster film Scarface giving a mafioso vibe to the first track “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” Through his lyrics Jay-Z speaks of the perks of money, jewelry, luxury vehicles, nice clothing, fine wine, and women. Since the song begins with a scene from Scarface, it is presumed that Jay-Z has acquired these nice things from selling cocaine, which he did do before the success of his music. With a hook sung by Mary J. Blige sampling Meli’sa Morgan’s “Fool’s Paradise,” “Can’t Knock the Hustle” is delivering the message that one should not fault another for making a living in whatever avenue he sees fit. “Can’t knock” is an informal way of saying “respect” so the theme of the song is to show respect to those who are trying to make money no matter what he or she may be doing to make that money.

“Politics as Usual”

Reasonable Doubt’s second track, “Politics as Usual,” samples “Hurry Up This Way” by The Stylistics. When Jay-Z speaks of politics, he’s referencing his “body politic” as a drug dealer, which consists of his suppliers, his customers, law enforcement, and competing drug dealers. Metaphorically, Jay-Z is also speaking of his music and the politics of the rap game. Within the song, he describes some of the challenges he experiences as a dealer and expresses his dislike for the circumstances he finds himself under but his need to continuously grind through the circumstances.

“Brooklyn’s Finest”

“Brooklyn’s Finest” is a trade of bars between Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls. The combination of a sample of “Ecstasy” by Ohio Players and the intricate musicality of DJ Clark Kent makes this beat appropriate for two of Hip-Hop’s greatest. The track, filled with clever lyrics and entendres, showed the skills of Jay-Z and Biggie as they competed against one another and bragged about their greatness. While challenging each other, they declared themselves as Brooklyn’s finest rappers and challenged rappers from other regions.

“Dead Presidents II”

The hook of Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents” samples a line from Nas’s “The World is Yours.” The line “I’m out for dead presidents to represent me” includes the slang term “dead presidents” (meaning money) and it signifies that his desire is for his money to represent his wealth. The song is all about making money and telling other rapper that they will never be on his level.

“Feelin It”

“Feelin It” samples “Pastures” by jazz musician Ahmad Jamal and features Mecca singing the hook. The verses of the song are Jay-Z’s reflection of his life before his music career and declaration of how he’s living now. The phrase “feelin’ it” can symbolize one feeling liquor or drugs in his system, which he references within the song, but it can also refer to someone feeling his music.

“D’Evils”

This song samples Allen Toussaint’s “Go Back Home” with lines from Snoop Dogg’s “Murder Was the Case” and Prodigy’s verse on “I Shot Ya Remix” serving as the hook. The underlying message of the song is how the desire of money corrupts the mind. D’Evils, pronounced “da evils,” is spelled like “devils.” Jay-Z decided to spell the title “D’Evils” to emphasize the satanic temptation of money and the faustian bargains people make for money.

“22 Two’s”

“22 Two’s” samples a snippet of “Blue Wind” by John Kaizan Neptune and references “Can I Kick It” by a Tribe Called Quest. This song was one of the most defining moments of Reasonable Doubt. “22 Two’s” was a concept record and within the song Jay-Z used the word to/too/two twenty-two times.  The track was a showcase of Jay-Z’s lyrical talent while paying homage to an iconic hip-hop group.

“Can I Live”

This song is one of my favorite songs form Jay-Z and it samples Isaac Hayes’s “The Look of Love.” In this song Jay-Z poses the simple question: “Can I live?” At the beginning of the song, Jay-Z is expressing his awareness of the harm he is doing to himself and to the people surrounding him and as the song continues, he becomes more conscious of the things around him. The theme of this song is to live life purposefully and do everything whole-heartedly.

“Ain’t No Nigga”

“Ain’t No Nigga” samples “Seven Minutes of Funk” by The Whole Darn Family and the hook is the rewording of the song “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I Got) by Four Tops. The track features Foxy Brown who was sixteen years old at the time. “Ain’t No Nigga” is Jay-Z telling his woman that there’s no need for her to find another man because he gives her everything she asks or but he still desires to “mess around” with other women. Foxy Brown’s verse is a response to Jay-Z’s verses stating that she doesn’t care what he does with other women as long as he continues to shower her with the finer things and keep in mine that she is the “main chick.”

“Friend or Foe”

“Friend or Foe” samples “Hey What’s That You Say” by Wood, Brass, and Steel. The sample is perfect because he sets the mood of the track and allows the listener to imagine a mafioso setting. “Friend of Foe” is a one-sided conversation that Jay-Z is having with a dealer who is threatening to take over his territory.

“Coming of Age”

This song samples “Inside You” by Eddie Henderson and features young rapper Memphis Bleek, introducing him as Jay-Z’s protégé. The first verse of “Coming of Age” is Jay-Z telling someone about the potential that his protégé has and the second verse is Memphis telling Jay-Z about his desire to move further up in drug dealing. The last verse is a conversation between the two where Jay-Z gives Memphis Bleek advice and Bleek still aims to convince Jay-Z that he has what it takes to work with him. In the end, Jay-Z takes Bleek under his wing.

“Cashmere Thoughts”

“Cashmere Thoughts” samples  “Save Their Souls” by Hamilton Bohannon.  Cashmere is Jay-Z’s alter ego and this is a short track of Jay-Z/Cashmere describing how amazing he is lyrically (which he is). He also gives advice to the listener telling him to “play hard and stick hard.” The quote supports Jay-Z’s mindset of doing his best in the time allowed.

“Bring It On”

The last track on the album is “Bring it On” featuring Jaz-O and Sauce Money. With a hook sampling D&D Allstars “1, 2, Pass It,” “Bring It On” consists of all three rappers speaking on their focus of money and their lack of care for what is being said about them on the streets. Each rapper speaks of how he earns his money in Jay-Z’s verse, he notes that his rough upbringing and his life now have provided him with both suffering and success.

            As a writer, Reasonable Doubt is appealing to me lyrically and as a musician, this album is appealing in its composition. Reasonable Doubt is not just any ordinary hip-hop album; it is a respectable piece of art and is nothing short of greatness.