Reasonable Doubt

Review:

This was the debut album by Jay-Z.

This is one of the pinnacle Mafioso Rap albums in the hip-hop community. The album gave a grim picture of a hustler's life which Jay-Z had been through in his youth days.

Production was by established producers like Ski, DJ Premier & Clark Kent and the sound definitely suit the atmosphere of being a Mafia. Tales like making grands, drinking expensive wines, women etc.

In terms of lyrics, this was certainly his most honest projection of his "Hustler State of Mind" in the life he was living in the mid 90s.

Instant classics like Dead Presidents, Can't Knock the Hustle, D'evils, Bring It On are my track picks for the album.

The smooth sound of Dead Presidents can make you bump the track whenever you are driving in the night in the city.

Although the sound may be raw and unpolished compared to his later albums like the critically acclaimed The Blueprint which was also consider his best record in the 2000s. I consider this to be Jay-Z's best record in his career.

This is certainly the album to add to any Jay-Z or hip-hop fans collection and being one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.

Rating: 5/5( Timeless Classic)