in no other genre of an would an independently produced/major-distributed album (that went platinum within a year or so of its release anyway) be so assailed for 'not being a classic when it dropped' or not capturing the zeitgeist of 1996 enough to warrant being regarded as a classic 20 years after it's release when its still finding new fans every year.

Nobody cares how poorly Velvet Underground's debut sold or whether Herman's Hermits were bigger than the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967.

Ultimately all that 'this just proves how Jay tricked everybody' rap is just barber-shop-boxing argument shit that sounds sillier with each passing year.

Folks need to just say they don't like Jay-Z & keep it moving or start being funny about the hate rather than mad.

To pretend Reasonable Doubt is somehow unworthy of mere mention or comparison amongst the other 'elite New York solo MC' debuts of the mid-90s is tired nonsense at this point and nobody cares whether 'Feelin It' was hot in your hood back when Kris Kross was popping off.

All of y'all need to get over it.

We grew up, so did the legacy of Reasonable Doubt as an album.

Deal with it or risk sounding short-sighted and bitter on the subject for the rest of your life.