Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life [Parental Advisory]

Rating

Album: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Intro - Hand It Down (Feat. Memphis Bleek)	More Info...	0:03
2)	Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)	More Info...	0:04
3)	If I Should Die (Feat. Da Ranjahz)	More Info...	0:05
4)	Ride Or Die	More Info...	0:04
5)	Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) [feat. Big Jaz]	More Info...	0:04
6)	Money, Cash, Hoes (Feat. DMX)	More Info...	0:04
7)	A Week Ago (Feat. Too $hort)	More Info...	0:05
8)	Coming of Age (Da Sequel) [feat. Memphis Bleek]	More Info...	0:04
9)	Can I Get A... (Feat. Amil & Ja Rule)	More Info...	0:05
10)	Paper Chase (Feat. Foxy Brown)	More Info...	0:04
11)	Reservoir Dogs (Feat. The LOX, Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money)	More Info...	0:05
12)	It's Like That (Feat. Kid Capri)	More Info...	0:03
13)	It's Alright (Feat. Memphis Bleek)	More Info...	0:04
14)	Money Ain't a Thang (Feat. Jermaine Dupri)	More Info...	0:04

Album: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Intro - Hand It Down (Feat. Memphis Bleek)	More Info...	0:03
2)	Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)	More Info...	0:04
3)	If I Should Die (Feat. Da Ranjahz)	More Info...	0:05
4)	Ride Or Die	More Info...	0:04
5)	Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) [feat. Big Jaz]	More Info...	0:04
6)	Money, Cash, Hoes (Feat. DMX)	More Info...	0:04
7)	A Week Ago (Feat. Too $hort)	More Info...	0:05
8)	Coming of Age (Da Sequel) [feat. Memphis Bleek]	More Info...	0:04
9)	Can I Get A... (Feat. Amil & Ja Rule)	More Info...	0:05
10)	Paper Chase (Feat. Foxy Brown)	More Info...	0:04
11)	Reservoir Dogs (Feat. The LOX, Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money)	More Info...	0:05
12)	It's Like That (Feat. Kid Capri)	More Info...	0:03
13)	It's Alright (Feat. Memphis Bleek)	More Info...	0:04
14)	Money Ain't a Thang (Feat. Jermaine Dupri)	More Info...	0:04

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Wais, Half Dead, Big Jaz, Amil, Liz (vocals); Steven Jordan, Lil' Rob (various instruments); Jake Carter, Mike (guitar); Kid Capri (programming); Memphis Bleek, Da Ranjahz, DMX, Too Short, Ja Rule, Amil, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, The Lox, Beenie Siegel, Sauce Money.
Producers include: Premier, Mark 45, Swizz Beats, Steven Jordan, Timbaland.
Engineers include: Eddie Sancho, Paul Falcon, Joe Quinde.
VOL. 2 HARD KNOCK LIFE won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
"Hard Knock Life" was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. "Money Ain't A Thang" was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group.
Jay-Z is a rapper's rapper. He is the lyricist all other MCs want to be, and he has the beats over which every other MC wants to rhyme. His third album, VOL. 2 HARD KNOCK LIFE, further verifies Jay-Z's #1 status. Throughout his musical career, Jay-Z has shown that he has the skills to pay more than just the bills. Experimenting like few other rap artists have, Jay-Z uses the Broadway musical Annie's "Hard Knock Life" for his title track and first single. With its hardcore production, "Money, Cash, Hoes" allows Jay-Z to demonstrate his lyrical skill alongside DMX. "Paper Chase" features Foxy Brown and diversifies VOL. 2 with its Southern Timbaland-produced feel.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.77) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."

Q (12/00, p.144) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Boasts Timbaland, DMX, Jermaine Dupri, Foxy Brown and an infectious title track sampling the musical Annie. It couldn't fail: the epitome of mainstream hip hop, and intentionally so."

The Source (11/98, p.190) - 4.5 Mics (out of 5) - "...On his third try for the trophy, the mayor of Marcy Projects took time during the offseason to perfect his method..."