Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

Untitled

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 29, 1998, on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. The album propelled Jay-Z into superstar status and cemented him as a household name in the post Biggie/Tupac era of hip hop. This album also won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and also went to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. (This marks the first of nine consecutive chart-topping albums on both charts to date from Jay-Z, not counting the collaboration albums with R. Kelly or Kanye West.) Upon its release, the album received generally mixed to positive reviews from most music critics, while hip hop purists felt his aims to be a crossover success had compromised the quality and complexity of his music.

In the liner notes of the album, Jay-Z gives his thoughts on various tracks. The lyrics to the fast paced "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" are also included.

Background

Speaking in December 1998 to noted UK urban writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Jay described the background to the album's lyrical themes: "Primarily I see myself as so much more than a rapper. I really believe I'm the voice for a lot of people who don't have that microphone or who can't rap. So I wanted to represent and tell the story of everybody who's been through what I've been through, or knows somebody that has. I also wanted to speak about our lifestyle to people who - though they may live, say, in the suburbs and not be part of that world - still want to know about it and understand it."

Music

Several tracks on this album feature a rougher sound than the glossier Bad Boy production on In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, most notably the three tracks produced by Ruff Ryders beatmaker Swizz Beatz. With the exception of Stevie J on "Ride or Die," Bad Boy producers play no role in Vol. 2, though Jay-Z enlisted Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland and Irv Gotti for a more pop-oriented sound on three of the albums' singles. This would also be Jay-Z's last album to feature his mentor Big Jaz.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, and featured rappers

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Hand It Down" (Intro, featuring Memphis Bleek)	DJ Premier	2:56
2.	"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"	The 45 King	3:58
3.	"If I Should Die" (featuring Da Ranjahz)	Swizz Beatz	4:55
4.	"Ride or Die"	Steven "Stevie J" Jordan of The Hitmen	4:48
5.	"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (featuring Amil & Big Jaz)	Timbaland	3:53
6.	"Money, Cash, Hoes" (featuring DMX)	Swizz Beatz	4:46
7.	"A Week Ago" (featuring Too $hort)	J-Runnah	5:00
8.	"Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" (featuring Memphis Bleek)	Swizz Beatz	4:21
9.	"Can I Get A..." (featuring Amil & Ja Rule)	Irv Gotti, Lil Rob	5:09
10.	"Paper Chase" (featuring Foxy Brown)	Timbaland	4:34
11.	"Reservoir Dogs" (featuring The LOX, Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money)	Erick Sermon, Darold Trotter*; Rockwilder**	5:19
12.	"It's Like That" (featuring Kid Capri)	Kid Capri	3:45
13.	"It's Alright" (featuring Memphis Bleek)	Damon Dash, Mahogany Music	4:01
14.	"Money Ain't a Thang" (featuring Jermaine Dupri)	Jermaine Dupri	4:13

^* indicates co-producer
^** Ghost produced by Rockwilder

Sample credits

Intro (Hand It Down)

• "Are You Man Enough" by The Four Tops
• "Contains lyrics from "Coming Of Age" by Jay-Z ft Memphis Bleek

Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

• "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie

A Week Ago

• "Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" by The Isley Brothers

Reservoir Dogs

• "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
• "24- Carat Black (Theme)" by 24 Carat Black
• "Know How" by Young MC

It's Like That

• "Beggar's Song" by Wet Willie

It's Alright

• "The Hall of Mirrors" by Kraftwerk
• "Once In a Lifetime" by Talking Heads

Money Ain't a Thang

• "Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington

Chart history

Album

Chart (1998)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	1
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums	1
Canadian Albums Chart	20

End of decade charts

Chart (1990-1999)	Position
U.S. Billboard 200	62

Singles

Year	Song	Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1998	"Can I Get A..."	19	6	22
	"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"	15	10	2
1999	"Money, Cash, Hoes"	116	36	19
	"Jigga What, Jigga Who"	84	23	19

Chart procession and succession

Reception

Niggas loved that shit son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
The A.V. Club	(favorable) link
Robert Christgau	link
IGN	(9.3/10) link
Los Angeles Times	link
NME	(9/10) link
Rolling Stone	link
RapReviews.com	link
The Source link	Washington Post (favorable) link
Yahoo! Music	(favorable) link

See also

• List of number-one albums of 1998 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B albums of 1998 (U.S.)

External links

• Samplin' Annie at Vibe
• Jay-Z interview at Blues & Soul
• Cipha Sounds interview at Complex