1. "I feel like, if you were around and felt he was riding coattails at the ..." In response to Reply # 0 Sat Jul-01-17 12:11 PM by Nodima
Most likely you still feel that way now. As I've grown older and seen more discussion around this album I've come to realize just how uncommon that opinion is.
But you don't really hear it from people in my age group, a decade or so younger who came to Jay-Z first through MTV music videos, and then their first full album from him was likely The Blueprint or Black Album, and then you likely skipped his jiggy era completely to hear Reasonable Doubt because by that point 1996 in general had been so lionized you had to go all the way back and move forward from there.
For most people I know my age, it's practically a flip of the coin whether Blueprint or Reasonable Doubt is better with Black Album a not-so-dark horse third candidate. I think it'd be just about a perfect album without "Ain't No", though that song now sounds so dated its almost notalgically great, but I was likely partially conditioned to feel that way by the times in which it came into my life.
I think it's kind of great that Reasonable Doubt is lowkey one of the more divisive "classics" in the hip-hop canon, though.
>For most people I know my age, it's practically a flip of the >coin whether Blueprint or Reasonable Doubt is better with >Black Album a not-so-dark horse third candidate.
1. Blueprint 2. Reasonable Doubt 3. Black Album
I used to put BA above RD for a few years after BA dropped but RD is just too consistent in tone and sound.
2. "I'm sorry I watched that" In response to Reply # 0
If they gave OKPs Tiger Woods or BrooklynWHAT a Kanye channel, this is what it would sound like.
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
5. "Yeah, I like Murs but I struggled to make it through that" In response to Reply # 0
The first five minutes was listing a bunch of irrelevant shit to determine whether it was overrated or not. Once I got to "let's compare this to other albums of the era," I was done.
Only time he was close to having a point was the "flow is dated" thing, but even then, I disagree.
8. "RE: yes, it's overrated. didn't make a dent in 96. " In response to Reply # 6 Mon Jul-03-17 11:17 PM by DredScott
>
it's true.
most cats i knew were like "who's this cat with b.i.g. and az in his video?"
i felt the same although, my main question was why does this dude have those dots (umlauts) in his name?
he got alotta play on rap city and yo! with the o.g. dead presidents vid then with ain't no nigga but '96 was such an ill year for hip-hop than he got lost in the mix...the nutty professor placement is pretty much what saved his career. dude was slated for slept-on "what coulda been" status and going back to hustling if that shit didn't blow up imo.
in retrospect, it's a great album (not classic imo but it's close) and I slept hard but shit most ppl did cause of all the iller and more impactful east coast shit that dropped that year.
--------------------------------------- Some words of wisdom to the idiotic okayplayers...
It Is Better To Be Thought Of As A Fool, Than To Open Your Mouth And Remove All Doubt.
69. "IWW had Primo, L.E.S., Havoc, Live Squad and Dr. Dre" In response to Reply # 60
Trackmasters had the singles but they were pretty dope. That album remains one of the best examples of hip-hop albums that have something for everybody. The next two albums, especially Nastradamus, are where things went wrong, but Nastradamus is pretty much all L.E.S. and Dame Grease.
70. "I never understood the hate for that album" In response to Reply # 69
Maybe...maybe the "heads" wanted a replication of Illmatic as far as production but that album was mostly loved by everyone and remains his best selling album.
I really don't see the "glossy" production either. Maybe the singles but those were dope. Most of the album is darker.
7. "An even bigger lol at" In response to Reply # 0
Mentioning jigga that nigga, hola hovito and renegade for proof that the blueprint is dope. He just skipped all over the meat of the album. Murs needs to stop doing these. It's not a good look for him.
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11. "Outside of Ain't No...I agree" In response to Reply # 10
And I don't dislike Aint No but it doesn't really fit stylistically.
And then a few of the tracks towards the end, Friend Or Foe, Coming of Age and Cashmere Thoughts...while all good...sequences together makes the album appear to have a bit of a dip in quality starting from Aint No.
Ain't No needed to be follow d by a few of the bangers in the beginning to bring it back up to 100.
14. "RE: Side two of the album is a lot slower and darker." In response to Reply # 11
But that run from 'Friend or Foe' through 'Regrets' is what always made the album so good for me. Those beats, especially considering they're essentially just loops, are so lush and melodic.
os·ti·na·to /ˌästəˈnädō/ noun a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm
28. "Bring It On and Regrets... " In response to Reply # 19
I don't want to say save the second half because I like the whole album but those two to me are on the same level as the first half of the album whereas I believe 9-12 is a slight dip.
66. "that Hoagy Carmichael samp on Bring It On though" In response to Reply # 28
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
>And I don't dislike Aint No but it doesn't really fit >stylistically. > >And then a few of the tracks towards the end, Friend Or Foe, >Coming of Age and Cashmere Thoughts...while all >good...sequences together makes the album appear to have a bit >of a dip in quality starting from Aint No. > >Ain't No needed to be follow d by a few of the bangers in the >beginning to bring it back up to 100. >
27. "His corny 2nd album has elevated Reasonable Doubt in hindsight" In response to Reply # 0
It did not have much impact at the time. The album is solid but that Foxy single is laughably bad, but not nearly as bad as Sunshine or I know what girls like or girls, girls, girls. His songs with women or about male-female relations are definitely a weak spot in his catalogue.
47. "I'm the dumbass not answering quests tho u never answered mine" In response to Reply # 46
I do not have a hard time avoiding songs like these not as a result of applying a rigid moral standard, but from just not wanting to hear bad songs. Girls, Girls, Girls is just a continuous run of doltish, offensive stereotypes. The song is attempting to be cheeky, but since the lyrics are so dull, it comes off as offensive and unfunny. Great rapper, terrible song. I didn't know there were still people who rode hard for this song.
55. "Stop embarrassing yourself" In response to Reply # 52
I already explained why I don't like it. You keep on searching for alternative explanations, and it really isn't that complicated. Grow up, people like different stuff for different reasons. It's going to be alright.
62. "See #47, I know it's a little more nuanced than your binary view of art" In response to Reply # 57
but reflect on it, maybe you'll move beyond such a formulaic perspective. Or not. You obviously really like, "Girls, Girls, Girls," and that may could be a sign of underdevelopment. In that case, I apologize for not being more empathetic. Onward and upward, friend.
31. "RE: His corny 2nd album has elevated Reasonable Doubt in hindsight" In response to Reply # 27
A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More Imaginary Players Streets Is Watching Friend or Foe 98 Lucky Me Who You With Real N Rap Game/Crack Game Where I'm From You Must Love Me
>A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More >Imaginary Players >Streets Is Watching >Friend or Foe 98 >Lucky Me >Who You With >Real N >Rap Game/Crack Game >Where I'm From >You Must Love Me > >LOL @ corny > >Sure...IKWGL is corny. Sunshine is corny... > >Fuck it...I like City Is Mine > >Face Off is whatever.
Yep. Exactly. City of Mine is dope for what it is, for sure.
35. "Lucky Me is not a good song and neither is Face Off" In response to Reply # 31
Neither is rap game/crack game, 2 verses of explicitly tying rap to selling crack...'let them test the produce, give 'em a promo show"...come on. I would never waste my time listening to Real N or City is Mine...both tired in my opinion. Who you wit, 'I sink this ball in your hole, I'm Tiger Woods!"...stop. There are four songs that I listen to on that album. It was weak when it dropped and it's still weak. Obviously you appreciate those works of art.
38. "He is one of my favorite rappers so not sure what you're saying here" In response to Reply # 37
I don't like those songs and presented reasons why. You like the premise of rap game/crack game, cool, the metaphorical imagery of Tiger sinking a putt is clever and speaks to you, rock on.
We only have so much time so when choosing which music to listen to, those songs are not making the cut for me. Four songs that I return to out of 15 translates to a weak album in my opinion. Every rapper/artist has them. You feel differently; you can own it without calling me salty.
63. "I like Babyface on the hook. The shiny suit pushback was in effect" In response to Reply # 53
by late 1997, so timing-wise, the single and video (that rubik's cube wall) did not work out in hi favor. Fortunately, he didn't hit the dustbin after this release.
59. "The album is greatly overrated" In response to Reply # 0
But, I don't know if it is for the reasons Murs mentioned?
You're such pests...now, what is it you want? In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want? Well, whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. - Orson Welles
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