As a dude that bought this album in June 96 and couldn't get cats in Atlanta to listen, I know around my way RD was just another good New York album. Now as Jay's status in the game continued to grow, RD eventually became classic but lets not pretend that people were mentioning it among the other top albums of 96. Ain't No Nigga helped the album get some crossover love and go gold but those who were there at the time know RD was not head of the class. It was overshadowed by plenty of albums that year. Y'all are going back and giving classic status after the fact like The Source around here. Speaking of The Source

classic album review
http://pressrewind.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/nas_source494.jpg

a very solid album review
http://ifihavent.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/classic-reviews-reasonable-doubt-in-the-source-1996/

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

Obvs you couldn't knock Can't Knock the Hustle but all the other shit nah

it was revisionist that it became so classic I agree

And I knew folks who were into Wu, Tribe, Gangstarr, even though most were on WC, Pac, Snoop, Warren at the time.

I think most of us got into it a few years later. Vol. 2 is the first Jay album that HIT out here. I'd even say "I am" was the first Nas album I heard everybody bumpin heavy, as for the commercial heads or hood niggs. Those Westside Hip Hop heads were always different.

------------------------------

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Removed from all the goings on of the time (I first really knew who Jay was after Hard Knock Life), Reasonable Doubt just instantly felt classical to me. So much polish, every beat immaculate, great rhymes throughout. I can't ever understand what it's symptoms were, other than I guess people wanted to listen to the one best thing more often than all the other equally best things in that era. If it's 1996 and I had to spend $14 on Reasonable Doubt or ATLiens or Ridin' Dirty or Ironman...yea, Reasonable Doubt maybe isn't THAT album THEN, but removed from all that?


I just struggle to see what's wrong with it other than Friend or Foe/Ain't No Nigga, and both songs are fine. Cashmere Thoughts is the only other song on there that's not in some kind of personal pantheon.


~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

everyone had/bumped this album


<< Started From The Bottom

guess Chamblee got better taste in music



<================================
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/raysnill1/2012falcons.jpg

-------------------------
�Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.�-- Warren Coolidge

There are countless examples of albums, movies, books, artworks, etc. that didn't make a huge splash when they were released but grew significantly in stature over time.

Hitchock's VERTIGO flopped at the box office and got lukewarm reviews, and now 60 years later a lot of high-brow movie heads consider it one of the single greatest films ever made. More or less the same is true of CITIZEN KANE, though that was at least nominated for an Oscar (but lost).

Point being, I guess, that it's probably more important to stand the test of time than to be an instant classic that may or may not hold up.

It's been open season on Jay for the last few weeks, and for perfectly good reason, but it's still more revisionist to act like Reasonable Doubt isn't a fucking exceptional album than to act like it is. It will pretty much get listened to by people checking for mid-90s N.Y. hip hop for as long as people are checking for mid-90s N.Y. hip hop.

----

it was a classic. OB4CL, same thing. RD wasn't on that level back then. RD got classic status once Jay remained at the top during his 98-03 run. Open season or not, the truth is the truth. RD wasn't a classic during it's initial run.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

>it was a classic. OB4CL, same thing. RD wasn't on that level
>back then. RD got classic status once Jay remained at the top
>during his 98-03 run. Open season or not, the truth is the
>truth. RD wasn't a classic during it's initial run.

My point was it doesn't matter if it wasn't a classic right out the gates because it deservedly grew into a classic. This is not a new phenomenon and Reasonable Doubt isn't the only album that this has ever happened to. And music isn't the only place where this happens, which is why I gave some examples of similar arcs (in terms of things "growing into" classics) in movies.

You mentioned a few instant classics (Illmatic, OB4CL) that stayed classics, but there are also plenty of albums that came out to tons of praise but then dwindled over the years. For example, when Paul McCartney put out Tug of War after John Lennon died, Rolling Stone gave it 5/5 and opened the review with "This is the masterpiece we all knew Paul McCartney could make" but now no one checks for that album and you'll never see it on any greatest albums lists. I also don't think presently most people hold The College Dropout in anywhere near the same esteem as when it first came out, for another example.

Again, point being, that something being a "classic during it's initial run" isn't as important as how it's perceived over a longer period of time.

----

That big artists gets work re-evaluated is very common of course (however, it's also worth pointing out that Hitchcock and Welles had classic *and* successful movies out before those ones you mentioned EDIT:I actually know Welles didn't. Change it to "after" for him; they don't *need* those movies to be legendary directors even if they are the icing on the cake-especially for Welles).

What I remember here however was that during the tedious Jay-Z/Nas beef, where people was choosing sides and the general consensus was that especially Nas career was somewhat spotty, still, people brought up "Illmatic" as a classic, one that is difficult to counter.

The counterargument then for the Jay-fans was that "RD" was his classic and to me at least (and yes, I live in sweden and blah-blah; still, I had the internet and read magazines), that came out of the blue, as if Jay-Z's significant fanbase kind of *forced* the album unto classic status while ignoring a more "general" consensus.

Of course, you could argue that since Jay-z's fanbase was so big, it kind of equals general consensus anyways but that's where the issue of revisionism comes in:Many of those fans got into Jay along the way and were not there as fans when "RD" dropped (if they were, that album would have been huge) and their opinions were thus deemed revisionist.

Whatever... Personally, I like the album but I never thought of it as one of the best 5 or so albums in '96 and I still don't. (EDIT:It's MUCH better than"It was written" though!!!) Of course, that doesn't mean that it can't be great but it wouldn't have been one of my favourites in 95 either and I think there is something of an inflation in terms of records that gets the status "Classic".

Then again, the same could be said about many genres and contrary to what many think, the situation in Hip-Hop is actually better than many other genres because there seems to be at least some general consensus amongst the critics and fans alike about the records that are deemed as classic; lists don't have to be broken down unto sub-sub-genre level to make sense even if I guess Hip-Hop is going there too...

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

definitely not a singular phenomenon. this is a silly debate.

___

low end crazy, eastside crazy, wild hunnids crazy, englewood crazy.

who gives a fuck if it wasn't being hailed a classic in 96. it stood the test of time and is a great rap album. if you want to attribute that to the rise of Jay's status, that's fine.

i loved the album in 96 and it was one of my favorites back then as well

>who gives a fuck if it wasn't being hailed a classic in 96.
>it stood the test of time and is a great rap album. if you
>want to attribute that to the rise of Jay's status, that's
>fine.
>
>i loved the album in 96 and it was one of my favorites back
>then as well

i loved the album in 96 as well and I know that some albums become classic over time but debates about the history of the album can't be changed. Is it a classic now, yes. Was it kinda lost in the shuffle at the time of release, yes. Its kinda similar to the love Paul's Boutique and Hear, My Dear get now as opposed to when they were released. You know who was around when the album dropped because they can tell you how it was received upon release.

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“So back we go to these questions — friendship, character… ethics.”

it got bumped regularly in dorm room ciphers that fall

the consensus was that this guy Jay Z was the only one really doing that big money/mafia shit the right way, edpecially compared to Nas, who just looked kinda silly tryna ride that wave...IWW got little to no play in the same circle

other big records around that time: wrath, illadelph, hell on earth, atliens, muddy waters, ironman...

________________________________________________________________
whenever you did these things to the least of my brothers you did them to me

I personally still don't think it's a classic and I love that album. I copped first day and been a fan from the early years. As disappointing as It Was Written was I play it more than Reasonable Doubt. But what do I know, in my book Stress: The Extinction Agenda is a classic.

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^^^^^^^^^^^^


Early on, at least....It took some years for Jay to get that classic stamp on RD...

But early on, it was seen as a "good" New York rap album....Nothing more, nothing less....

GOAT of his era......long live Prince.....God is alive....

There was never a time that Reasonable Doubt was not a classic. Every now and then someone gets the bright idea that they want to be a contrarian. You are not being original or edgy and you are not revealing anything noteworthy.

www.anwarmorse.com
https://www.instagram.com/thereal_anwarmorse99/

And I say that as someone who has never been enamored with "Reasonable Doubt."

It wasn't accepted as a GREAT album when it dropped, but it definitely wasn't lost in the shuffle as "just another album" as some assert. "Ain't No..." was huge. "Can't Knock the Hustle" wasn't pretty damn big too.

I also don't buy the idea that people only started LOVING Reasonable Doubt after "Blueprint" dropped. Certainly by the time "Vol. 1" dropped, Jay was a pretty huge deal, and people were already speaking pretty reverently of RD.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

to check out RD. Once I heard 'Politics As Usual' I was sold.

Streets Is Watching Soundtrack was the life preserver and then Vol 2
dropped. We all know the story after that.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

Vol. 1 Put him on the video channels more but I didn't even buy that album when it first dropped and I was steady singing praises for RD. Streets Is Watching put him back on the right track.

I'd say RD was a 4 mic album and there's nothing wrong with that. It's really good to great, but not on the level of OB4CL, illmatic, or Cube first album.

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Look at this link http://rateyourmusic.com/list/diction/the_top_150_hip_hop_albums_of_1995/

By the time 1996 rolled around, we were sitting on so much classic material it was ridiculous. Just look at 95. Heck, *I* forgot all that came out. If you add what was dropped in '96
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/diction/the_top_125_hip_hop_albums_of_1996/1/
you get a mountain of not just bonafide classics, but regional classics, personal classics, and good to great albums. RD fell in the cracks of bonafide/regional classics, but time eventually pushed it to where it needed to be.

I think also what was promoted on it affected how it was received as well. When 'Criminology' and 'Shook Ones' are being dropped as radio singles, it's easy to believe that an album with 'Ain't No Nigga' as the jump off radio single might lack a little of the grit that proven artists like Raekwon and Redman will provide. Even 'Can't Knock The Hustle' has a 'silkiness' to it that made me kind of weary to check it out.

Jay-Z never was an in-your-face artist, but all it really took for most people (including me) was one dedicated listen to realize he had the goods. Of course we see it now, since he outlasted everyone.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

___

low end crazy, eastside crazy, wild hunnids crazy, englewood crazy.

classics but not for regional east coast albums to be?

If I said UGK's Ridin' Dirty wasn't a classic some people on here would lose their mind.

That album got no burn in NYC. Nobody up here would consider it a classic but it still is.

The fact of the matter is Jay-Z, I mean Ja�-Z, was all over New York radio when Reasonable Doubt dropped.

Dead Presidents = airplay, in rotation
Ain't No = heavy airplay, in rotation
Can't Knock The Hustle = heavy airplay, in rotation
Brooklyn's Finest (not even a single) = heavy airplay, in rotation

And that's not to mention him being on the Horace Brown and Shai remixes, which also got a lot of burn.

RD was popular and running neck to neck with other popular albums of the time in NYC.

As far as it being a classic people were saying that when it dropped. I remember NY DJ's being on the air saying it was the album of the year.

I mean, he got his deal with Def Jam on the strength of RD being so successful and revered.

Just because the album wasn't popular in Texas or St. Louis doesn't mean it's not a classic.

mind
--------
matter

had pretty much this exact same discussion a few wks back (guy tried to tell me ridin' dirty and ball / mjg's early albums were classics but the co flow album and doomsday weren't)

i remember posting a while back praising some of the "new" nyc acts (bronson, eXquire, zombies, pro era, underachievers, etc)

same cats in the post steady telling me "none of those guys matter, nobody knows them outside the internet" are the ones who stay slurping any p4k / fader approved southern underground acts.

etc etc

shit's comical

___

low end crazy, eastside crazy, wild hunnids crazy, englewood crazy.

most of the albums we consider classics in the south are regional classics here on OKP. Group Home's Livin' Proof album would win a poll against Ridin' Dirty here. East coast bias is strong here.

******************************************
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Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

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"F you Im better in tune with the Infinite"

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=12096007&mesg_id=12096007&listing_type=search#12097766

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is a regional East Coast classic.

and because he dumbed down his lyrics significantly afterwards.

No one called it a classic in 96 and just because the standards are shit now doesn't make it a classic. Thats like saying Kenny G is classic because Jazz standards are smooth jazz channels.

<----

Soundcloud.com/aquil84

(HIP HOP)
http://aquil.bandcamp.com

rap writing has changed so much since those days. it makes me wonder how many of us were actually reading what the writers wrote instead of running to the crew on some "yo, so and so got so many mics".

makes me think we're too harsh on contemporary music writers

either way anybody want to find the reviews for OB4CL, Aquemini, Moment of Truth, Liquid Swords, ect

that'd be cool.

LOL

parts of it are still great, most of it sounds so trapped in time and borderline corny

intro

hard knock life

if i should die

nigga what nigga who

a week ago

can i get a (you know you and your girl knew this song from front to back, esp when it came on in the club)

reservoir dogs

its like that

all bangers

also that jay track with the oliver sample...i think it was on vol 2 iirc

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

i only dug 5 of the songs you listed and i like a bunch of shit in the club when women are dancing. it serves its purpose. doesn't make it good though.

******************************************
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Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

.

<----

Soundcloud.com/aquil84

(HIP HOP)
http://aquil.bandcamp.com

>As a dude that bought this album in June 96 and couldn't get
>cats in Atlanta to listen, I know around my way RD was just
>another good New York album. Now as Jay's status in the game
>continued to grow, RD eventually became classic but lets not
>pretend that people were mentioning it among the other top
>albums of 96. Ain't No Nigga helped the album get some
>crossover love and go gold but those who were there at the
>time know RD was not head of the class. It was overshadowed by
>plenty of albums that year. Y'all are going back and giving
>classic status after the fact like The Source around here.
>Speaking of The Source
>
>classic album review
>http://pressrewind.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/nas_source494.jpg
>
>a very solid album review
>http://ifihavent.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/classic-reviews-reasonable-doubt-in-the-source-1996/

Reasonable Doubt is so far off my radar, I thought you were talking about Rising Down.

There you go!

LOL

-------------------------
�Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.�-- Warren Coolidge

...It's a classic...his best LP front to back, classic beats, slick lines...basically bangers front to back....

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

________________________________________
who gonna check me boo?!

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Primo did Memory Lane and not Large Pro right?

----------------------------------------

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----------
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There's a lot of revisionist history that goes on. RD is a great album by any standard, but it was what Jay-Z accomplished long after RD that cemented its status as a classic (for some people). He has a legacy now, so people put a positive spin on everything he's done since the start.

Now, if Jay-Z had stopped recording after Vol. 1? Nowhere near as many people would be calling RD a classic in 2013.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Think for me and what I peeped.. RD became a classic during the streets is watching era... I do think in 96 it was lost in the shuffle but continued to grow 97 on. Vol.1 (besides like 3 songs) is a strong ass album and the "folklore" of Jay-z was solidified with Streets Is Watching

Double 0
DJ/Producer/Artist
Producer in Kidz In The Hall
-------------------------------------------
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....unless it was deemed a classic back when it first dropped. Do you cats who think this way even know the meaning of the word "classic"?



Since 1976

>....unless it was deemed a classic back when it first
>dropped. Do you cats who think this way even know the meaning
>of the word "classic"?
>
>
>
>Since 1976

i never said it wasn't a classic. i said it wasn't always considered a classic and some people here like to rewrite history but facts are facts. never said it wasn't a classic though.

******************************************
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Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

I see where I misunderstood you. You're basically saying some folks are revising how the album was received back when. I was thinking you were saying since it wasn't hailed as a classic back in '96, then it's not a true classic now. My fault. I've seen so many examples of what my original post was talking about that I figured you were saying the same thing.



Since 1976

that is evident in popular rap music.

Its not a classic.

<----

Soundcloud.com/aquil84

(HIP HOP)
http://aquil.bandcamp.com

There are albums that are considered classic by heads that I think are blah, even against the lower standards in today's music. An album like "All Balls Don't Bounce" is a good example of a supposedly dope album that I think is dull. If today's lower standards affected my tastes regarding albums of yesteryear, I should be all over an album that heads consider classic, with ease. If the supposedly classic album of yesteryear gets no burn, even against today's lower standards, then I wouldn't have a problem discerning whether the supposedly non classic album of yesteryear is considered a classic by me on its own merits or not. In this case, the album is classic to me because it actually withstood the test of time. Not because of today's lower standards in music.



Since 1976

Of course it's legend grew as Jay grew to be bigger and bigger but when that shit dropped it was definitely one of the most buzzed about albums of 96. I remember Jay being on the Wake up show and the big hype surrounding the album and how he was the next MC and could challenge BIG for King of NY status. That's when everyone started the "Biggie, Jay or Nas" talk so let's not act like that album didn't move the meter big time because it did.

when was this? guess we missed that down south because nobody was comparing him to Biggie or Nas.

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Going toe to toe with Biggie had everyone buzzing about Jay and how NY was officially back and this is the next great MC and now Jay finally has his shot after years of being kind of behind the scenes. I think I have an old ass tape somewhere of Sway from the Wake Up Show interviewing him and one of the questions he asked was what does it feel like to be compared to the greats. This was also around the time that Big said that jigga was the only MC he ever recorded with that scared him (in terms of being outshinned by him on a track). 22's, Brooklyn's Finest, D'evils..those songs had people proclaiming him the next great Brooklyn MC carrying the torch from Kane to Biggie to now Jay. I personally didn't see it at the time and it took me some years before I personally admitted ok this dude is not just another good NY MC but I heard plenty of people talking about how great the album was and how Jay was that next dude.

Yes...cat had huge buzz, at a time when true talent on the mic created anticipation/hype...everyone just knew he was next, and was gonna be a threat in the game...

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

Can I Live, 22 Twos, Dead Presidents and Brooklyns Finest were all on mixtapes before the album dropped

I loved it but it wasn't on the same level as the top tier NYC albums. Can I Live got mad love.

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it was a classic in NY, period.

-------------------------
�Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.�-- Warren Coolidge

If it was so you wouldn't need to campaign for it. 36 chambers never needed a campaign so why does this album?

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http://img.pandawhale.com/32238-Beating-Dead-Horse-gif-7zfM.gif

when we were like 13 walking home from school. This one cat was SICK about that Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt, thought that shit was wack, only song really bubblin was Ain't No Nigga..and the Goodie Mob was hittin at the time..

So my friend was like "Shiiit I'll let you get this Goodie for that Jay then."

We all was like "Man What the hell are you doing!?" I remember my boy was like "Yo man Jay be talking that talk.." He cold"..

Man fast forward to now and being where Jay is currently he reminds us all the time that he has that feather in his hat that he predicted at 13 years old that Jay was going to be one of the all time greats..lol

#PicABeat Audio Photo series. Where the beat is inspired by the photo.
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“I love these bitches, man. I really do.”
- Andre 3000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXfgKbp9ncQ

the film and its participants claim that one of the reasons that this album is a classic is that before this album came out no one was talking about what jay was talking about on RD: the "honest" way in which jay recalls his hustling days, the vivid imagery, the mastery of language, etc.; and no one was doing so like jay was

what does the lesson think of this claim? i think it's complete nonsense but i didn't actually hear RD in its entirety until the early 2000s so my opinion may be null and void on this subject

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4uXKjdSZcK8/USJ6BkbNFQI/AAAAAAAACxw/qs6UO_QinxI/s1600/Nas_-_Illmatic_Front.jpeg

I think they had completely different focuses.

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yep. nas' war reporter vs jay z's soldier

------------------------------

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I remember loving it when it dropped. It was a dope album. I was playing Dead Presidents 1 for a while before it came out.

Tracks 1-8 were certified bangers.

With that said, it was in fact just another album in 1996 which was the most prolific year in hip-hop in my opinion.

There were just so many good albums that were on its level or better.

I really don't remember comparing him to Big and Nas.

He wasn't the 3rd MC in that group at the time.

Raekwon, Prodigy, AZ, Meth, Redman...there were others people listed before him.

The thing Jay did was manipulate his audience. That's what he's best at. He started all of this "I'm going to say I'm the best until they believe it" shit.

He was Big's AZ but the difference is, on Vol 1 he started saying "who's the best MCs, Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas"

So then people started comparing them.

See, Jay understands that the people are sheep.

Fast forward to Blueprint and then he starts saying Reasonable Doubt is a classic on the same level as the other great albums.

Truth is that it isn't.

It's not Illmatic.

It's not Ready To Die.

It's not Cuban Linx.

It's not Infamous.

It was never on the level of those albums.

Not to mention is wasnt as good as albums dropped the same year by Kast, Roots, Ghost, Red, and De La to name a few nor was I as big as either Pac album to drop that year.

That doesn't take anything from it though. It's a great album and that Source ranking is accurate.

Aside from an Outkast or Big? Is that he learned to walk that FINE LINE between being "Hip Hop" and commercial, or even "commercial-enough" music, that appealed.

And as a "fine line walker" myself? I can even say that listening back now, RD has more appeal than most of those 1996 albums...possibly more than all of the East Coast artists listed, and only behind Outkast for those that are seen as classics.

That's one reason RD is seen as classics. Aside from the single...the songs on there just have the appeal to more than just the Hip Hop heads. I can play a "Politics as usual" for folks who aren't even Jay fans, or are fans that never heard it, and they are like "whoaaa, what is this??" The other albums appeal HEAVY to fans of that sound...but De La obviously had way more success with a "Buddy" and "Me, myself, and I" than a "Stakes is high" type track.

He somehow made an album that would have worked GREAT for a major commercial artist at the time, just that he wasn't there yet. And he arguably took a few steps back afterwards, because he knew he had to go a bit harder on the commercial side to grab those commercial heads in. But when he did, they were able to look back at RD, along with Hip Hop heads who may not have paid as much attention, and they can say "wow, this album is classic" solely off of the quality and listenability of it, not because it actually was a classic then or today.

------------------------------

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he manipulated people into buying his CDs...



<================================
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/raysnill1/2012falcons.jpg

.

...totally disagree...cats around my way at the time were blown away...brother had the slick lyrics, hot beats...the package...To me, that LP is on par with "Cuban Links" and "Ready to Die"....It's that dope...

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

>...totally disagree...cats around my way at the time were
>blown away...brother had the slick lyrics, hot beats...the
>package...To me, that LP is on par with "Cuban Links" and
>"Ready to Die"....It's that dope...


<================================
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/raysnill1/2012falcons.jpg

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�Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.�-- Warren Coolidge

>I remember loving it when it dropped. It was a dope album.
>I was playing Dead Presidents 1 for a while before it came
>out.
>
>Tracks 1-8 were certified bangers.
>
>With that said, it was in fact just another album in 1996
>which was the most prolific year in hip-hop in my opinion.
>
>There were just so many good albums that were on its level or
>better.
>
>I really don't remember comparing him to Big and Nas.
>
>He wasn't the 3rd MC in that group at the time.
>
>Raekwon, Prodigy, AZ, Meth, Redman...there were others people
>listed before him.
>
>The thing Jay did was manipulate his audience. That's what
>he's best at. He started all of this "I'm going to say I'm
>the best until they believe it" shit.
>
>He was Big's AZ but the difference is, on Vol 1 he started
>saying "who's the best MCs, Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas"
>
>So then people started comparing them.
>
>See, Jay understands that the people are sheep.
>
>Fast forward to Blueprint and then he starts saying Reasonable
>Doubt is a classic on the same level as the other great
>albums.
>
>Truth is that it isn't.
>
>It's not Illmatic.
>
>It's not Ready To Die.
>
>It's not Cuban Linx.
>
>It's not Infamous.
>
>It was never on the level of those albums.
>
>Not to mention is wasnt as good as albums dropped the same
>year by Kast, Roots, Ghost, Red, and De La to name a few nor
>was I as big as either Pac album to drop that year.
>
>That doesn't take anything from it though. It's a great album
>and that Source ranking is accurate.

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nothing is a classic out the gate; thats counter intuitive to the very definition of classic.
it may not have been HYPED as much as other albums in arguably the greatest class of hiphop ever.
however it is as classic as anything else.
if Jay would have retired, would that prevent RD from being heralded? of course not.

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�Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.�-- Warren Coolidge

out west where i am it wasn't matter of fact Jay didn't get no real love on the west until 98/99 Can I Get A" was the cut that changed his roll out here.

Hardknock Life" got him that cross over love and Juice.


RD was seen as cool, however not a must have and he certainly wasn't a threat on the food chain back in 96.

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

Miami Heat, New York Yankees,buffalo bills

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signature pose.

you fool. i don't give a fuck who you knew in ATL or wherever else that didn't fuck wit RD, but they probably don't fuck wit a lotta other classic raw shit.

this shit is a joke.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

was seeing it ranked #1 on tower's Pulse magazine back in 96.

i was thinking about all the dope rap records in 96...and that one was #1 in their eyes.

not that Pulse was a hip hop authority or anything, but that kinda caught me off guard.

Happy 50th D’Angelo: https://chrisp.bandcamp.com/track/d-50