>For example, Vol. 2 I believe actually dropped before both of
>DMX's albums 98. I think Vol. 2 is at least as responsible
>for defining that late-90s "Swizz Beats Era" as the Lox and
>DMX, which is different from saying he simply appropriated a
>hot sound. He wasn't the first to use that Swizz sound, but
>he definitely helped implement the trend.
>


It's Dark and Hell Is Hot - May 19, 1998

Jay-Z - Vol 2 - September 29, 1998


>Kind of the same thing for Timbaland. He had produced almost
>entirely R&B with the exception of Missy's first album and the
>album with Magoo. Were there a lot of rappers outside of
>Tim's immediate circle who were getting beats to rap on before
>Jay? I guess there were others doing it around the same time
>as Jay though...
>

Yea again, Jay is always like 2nd in line and usually that is when something is at it's peak. Something hits and gets hot and then everyone is looking for it and then Jay swoops in and capitalizes.


>I would argue that American Gangster was an interesting choice
>from him though. Although it obviously breaks no new ground
>sonically, it didn't sound like anything that was out at the
>time and certainly wasn't example of Jay trying to follow any
>trends or anything. I remember riding in a car with some
>friends and being forced to listen to the radio, and that was
>when the minimalist southern stuff was really, really
>prevalent, and hearing how much "Roc Boys" stood out from
>everything else that was out. You were hearing tracks with
>70bmp click tracks for drums with sparse bleeps and blips, and
>then all of a sudden you got this lush soulful beat with horns
>blaring all over the place and Jay actually rapping...that
>stood out at the time.
>

Yea I really liked American Gangster.


>Thats's kind of my issue with Watch the Throne. It sounds
>like a souped up version of everything else that is popping
>right now.
>

yea i agree.


>I don't disagree with your overall point though. I've grown
>to really wish he was a less calculating and would make some
>outside-the-box shit...