The 50 Greatest Hip-hop Albums Ever - #48...

[Twentytwofifty]

Jay-Z  – Reasonable Doubt (1996)


    Before Jay-Z fashioned himself into hip-hop's most notorious capitalist, he was a street hustler from the projects who rapped about what he knew — and was very, very good at it. Skeptics who've never cared for Jay-Z crossover efforts should turn to his debut, Reasonable Doubt, as the deserving source of his legend. Reasonable Doubt is often compared to another New York landmark, Nas’ Illmatic A hungry young MC with a substantial underground buzz, detailing his experiences on the streets with disarming honesty, and writing some of the most acrobatic rhymes heard in quite some time. Parts of the persona that Jay-Z would ride to superstardom are already in place: He's cocky bordering on arrogant, but playful and witty, and exudes an effortless, unaffected cool throughout. And even if he's rapping about rising to the top instead of being there, his material obsessions are already apparent. Jay-Z the hustler isn't too different from Jay-Z the rapper: Hustling is about living the high life and getting everything you can, not violence or tortured glamour or cheap thrills. In that sense, the album's defining cut might not be one of the better-known singles — "Can't Knock the Hustle," "Dead Presidents" "Feelin' It," or "Ain't No Nigga." It just might be the brief "22 Two's," which not only demonstrates Jay-Z's extraordinary talent as a pure freestyle rapper, but also preaches a subtle message through its club hostess: Bad behavior gets in the way of making money. Perhaps that's why Jay-Z waxes reflective, not enthusiastic, about the darker side of the streets; songs like "D'Evils" and "Regrets" are some of the most personal and philosophical he's ever recorded. “Politics as Usual" makes the duality of Mr. Carter's life clear when he raps, "Y'all feel a nigga's struggle, y'all think a nigga love to hustle behind the wheel, tryin to escape my trouble." Clearly, as much as he enjoys the fruits of his labors he feels success is itself a trap - an issue he addresses in even greater detail on the chilling Primo produced track "D'Evils":

"This shit is wicked on these mean streets
None of my friends speak, we're all tryin to win
But then again; maybe it's for the best though
Cause when they seein too much, you know they tryin to get you touched
Whoever said illegal was the easy way out
Couldn't understand the mechanics
And the workings of the underworld, granted
Nine to five is how to survive, I ain't tryin to survive
I'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot
Life ills, poison my body - and used to say 'fuck mic skills'
I never prayed to God, I prayed to Gotti
That's right, it's wicked, that's life, I live it
Ain't askin for forgiveness for my sins.."

    Weaving together street politics, hustler rhymes, a mind that laced complex poetic structures together effortlessly and a smattering of the best song crafters in New York created an album that can truly be called cinematic. From the yin of the good life on "Feelin' It" to the yang of a life of tragedy and mistakes on "Regrets".  Jay-Z covers all of the bases and seems to score a run each time he comes to bat.  It's that depth that helps Reasonable Doubt rank as one of the finest albums of New York's hip-hop renaissance of the '90s.


50. Dr. Dre – 2001 (1999)
49. Outkast – Southernplayalisticaddilacmuzik (1994)
48. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996)

[white Boy]

awesome album, i think i like 2001 more tho...

[Spicemuthafuc*in1]

pretty average album

[The Watcher]

you must have some SMOKIN albums in your top 10 if this is #48 and 2001 is #50

[Caution2006]

i dont think we need 50 threads

[Don Jacob]

50 and 49 are better

[Minkaveli]

good album

[Twentytwofifty]

you must have some SMOKIN albums in your top 10 if this is #48 and 2001 is #50

My top 10 is unfuckwittable, that I know for sure.

i dont think we need 50 threads

Too bad, it's gonna happen.

[Leggy Hendrix]

this should be higher imo but props, dope album...

[Spicemuthafuc*in1]

your top 10 is unfucwitable
highly doubt it

[Elevz]

I agree, this album is about as good as 2001... I'm just wondering, how the hell can you find 47 hiphop albums better than this 

You already got me curious as hell, what's in the top 10 

It'll take months before you get that far 

Props coming your way

[Capo Di Tutti I Capi]

2001 is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better then Reasonable Doubt

[Lord Funk]

i dont think we need 50 threads

Too bad, it's gonna happen.

lol

Good album, but I never thought it was classic like most people seem to. Lyrically it's his best shit, but some of the production isn't up there with the rhymes and delivery for me. 

[Shahizzle]

the original chronic is better than reasonable dougt, in my opinion ... and 2001 was better than the chronic..

whoever made this list has no clue

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

2001 was better than the Chronic???/