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Description

Parental Advisory
Format
CD (1)
Release Date
9/29/1998
Original Release Date
1998
Genre
East Coast Rap
Label
Def Jam (USA)
Studio/Live
Studio
Mono/Stereo
Stereo

Tracks

  • 1. Intro-Hand It Down - (featuring Memphis Bleek)
  • 2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
  • 3. If I Should Die - (featuring Da Ranjahz)
  • 4. Ride or Die
  • 5. Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) - (featuring Big Jaz)
  • 6. Money, Cash, Hoes - (featuring DMX)
  • 7. Week Ago, A - (featuring Too $hort)
  • 8. Coming of Age (Da Sequel) - (featuring Memphis Bleek)
  • 9. Can I Get A... - (featuring Amil/Ja Rule)
  • 10. Paper Chase - (featuring Foxy Brown)
  • 11. Reservoir Dogs - (featuring The Lox/Beanie Sigel/Sauce Money)
  • 12. It's Like That - (featuring Kid Capri)
  • 13. It's Alright - (bonus track, featuring Memphis Bleek)
  • 14. Money Ain't a Thang - (bonus track, featuring Jermaine Dupri)

Reviews (7)

5 star:
 
 (1)
4 star:
 
 (4)
3 star:
 
 (2)
2 star:
 
 (0)
1 star:
 
 (0)

Most Helpful Positive Review:

this cd rocks from begining to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5 star rating
by korkster from New York,long island on November 6, 2009 at Best Buy
"this cd rocks from begining to end i love every album jay z has made this cd rocks from begining to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
2 people found this review helpful.

Most Helpful Negative Review:

Pretty good, but nothing more3 star rating
by MRMAYE from Richmond, VA on September 27, 2007 at Best Buy
"So much has been said about this album, that Jay-Z was "completely in a zone, focused and creative" during the making of this album. After getting a few years of perspective on this album, how can ANYONE say that this album is EXCELLENT or BORDERLINE CLASSIC? How? This album might have sold many units, but top notch records sales DO NOT equal a classic album. Vol.2 Hard Knock Life was hailed by critics and fans alike as some of Jay-Z's best material. I "respectfully" disagree. Here's the COMPLETE review:
Album Highlights: Hard Knock Life, A Week Ago, Money,Cash,Hoes(w/DMX), and N**** What N**** Who. Every other song on this album is ABSOLUTE filler and it's not worth your time in listening to it.

Production: Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards down. Not the best production in the world. Timbaland and Swizz made the best tracks, Everything else is either poorly composed or mediocre at best(check Kid Capri's track).

Lyrics and Subject Matter: Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards down. Jigga represents on the tracks mentioned in the album highlights section. On everything else, lyrically, is not material to gloat about.

Originality: Thumbs WAY down. If Jay-Z would have done this album in a way like The Blueprint, it would have been better, but since NEARLY every song features another artist, this album loses SERIOUS points with me.

The Last Word: Not too much to say here that I haven't said already. Is this album worth buying for the four best songs? Certainly not. Jay-Z didn't slip up with In My Lifetime Vol.1. He slipped up here, and it shows. Overall, I can't seriously recommend this album. But if you consider this a must have of any type, be prepared to be disappointed. Otherwise, don't even bother."

Reviews sorted by helpfulness:

  • Pretty Good4 star rating
    by CallawayMan from Grand Forks, ND on December 3, 2008 at Best Buy
    "Has a few awesome songs but not all of them are great like his cd's are usually like."
  • NOW HE IN THE ZONE4 star rating
    by Juno from LOS ANGELES on October 21, 2007 at Best Buy
    "THIS ALBUM SHOWED JAY Z AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME...BROOKLYN!!EVERY TRACK ON HERE ROCKS..I FEEL AND UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S COMING FROM..HE BRINGS IT IN SO SKILLFULLY AND WITH CLASS..HOV!!"
  • Pretty good, but nothing more3 star rating
    by MRMAYE from Richmond, VA on September 27, 2007 at Best Buy
    "So much has been said about this album, that Jay-Z was "completely in a zone, focused and creative" during the making of this album. After getting a few years of perspective on this album, how can ANYONE say that this album is EXCELLENT or BORDERLINE CLASSIC? How? This album might have sold many units, but top notch records sales DO NOT equal a classic album. Vol.2 Hard Knock Life was hailed by critics and fans alike as some of Jay-Z's best material. I "respectfully" disagree. Here's the COMPLETE review:Album Highlights: Hard Knock Life, A Week Ago, Money,Cash,Hoes(w/DMX), and N**** What N**** Who. Every other song on this album is ABSOLUTE filler and it's not worth your time in listening to it.Production: Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards down. Not the best production in the world. Timbaland and Swizz made the best tracks, Everything else is either poorly composed or mediocre at best(check Kid Capri's track).Lyrics and Subject Matter: Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards down. Jigga represents on the tracks mentioned in the album highlights section. On everything else, lyrically, is not material to gloat about.Originality: Thumbs WAY down. If Jay-Z would have done this album in a way like The Blueprint, it would have been better, but since NEARLY every song features another artist, this album loses SERIOUS points with me.The Last Word: Not too much to say here that I haven't said already. Is this album worth buying for the four best songs? Certainly not. Jay-Z didn't slip up with In My Lifetime Vol.1. He slipped up here, and it shows. Overall, I can't seriously recommend this album. But if you consider this a must have of any type, be prepared to be disappointed. Otherwise, don't even bother."
  • Pretty Good4 star rating
    by CallawayMan from Grand Forks, ND on December 3, 2008 at Best Buy
    "Has a few awesome songs but not all of them are great like his cd's are usually like."
  • NOW HE IN THE ZONE4 star rating
    by Juno from LOS ANGELES on October 21, 2007 at Best Buy
    "THIS ALBUM SHOWED JAY Z AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME...BROOKLYN!!EVERY TRACK ON HERE ROCKS..I FEEL AND UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S COMING FROM..HE BRINGS IT IN SO SKILLFULLY AND WITH CLASS..HOV!!"