Review Summary: No one has any "Reasonable Doubts" against this album.
This album, is one of the best, most essential hip-hop albums of all time. The only album after this album that beats it is Life After Death by Notorious B.I.G. There are plenty of topics here, such as the how much hustle he has, and how hustle can negatively effect the mind, there really isn't anything Jay-Z couldn't rhyme about, and he proves it with this album. He has a steady, flawless flow, and humor that very few can defeat. Another thing he does perfectly, is grab the listeners attention. With this album, he made east coast history, and came out in a year full of heavy-weight releases that are great, such as 2Pacs All Eyez On Me, The Score by The Fugees, Outkasts ATLiens, but none of them beat Reasonable Doubt. Now let's get started with the track by track review.
1. Can't Knock The Hustle: This album opens with one of the best songs of Jay-Z's career. This song has a nice drum beat, and a great Mary J Blige chorus. A classic hip-hop track, with a great sample of I Know You Got Soul by Eric B And Rakim. 5/5
2. Politics As Usual: This is one of the weakest songs on the album, but don't think that it's poor, it's still a classic track, with great storytelling, and great metaphors. 5/5
3. Brooklyn's Finest: A classic song that features Notorious B.I.G, who steals the show, and has the better spot on the song, and has them going back and forth over a great beat. This song even contains a sample of Brooklyn Zoo by Ol Dirty Bastard. 5/5
4. Dead Presidents II: The best song on the album, and the best album by Jay-Z overall. This song has Jay-Z kicking some of the illest rhymes hip-hop has ever heard, and has samples of songs such as The World Is Yours by Nas, and Oh My God by A Tribe Called Quest. This song has been sampled in Shopping Bags (She Got From You) by De La Soul, and other songs. 5/5
5. Feelin It: Classic hip-hop track, with a great beat, and a great chorus. 5/5
6. D'Evils: One of the best songs of Jay-Zs career, this one talks about how hustling can negatively effect the mind. This song has samples of songs such as, I Shot Ya by LL Cool J with the vocals by Prodigy, Lil Ghetto Boy by Dr Dre, and Murder Was The Case by Snoop Dogg. This song has a great beat by DJ Premier. 5/5
7. 22 Two's: A legendary song where Jay-Z says the number 2, 22 times, in an amazing way. This song has a sample of Can I Kick It by A Tribe Called Quest. 5/5
8. Can I Live: A classic song, with a great beat. 5/5
9. Ain't No N****: A classic song, with a great beat. This song has a great guest appearance by Foxy Brown. This song has been sampled on Yesh Yesh Ya'll by Redman, and other songs. 5/5
10. Friend Or Foe: A great song, with a great beat by DJ Premier. 5/5
11. Coming Of Age: This song is a classic song, with a good guest appearance by Memphis Bleek. 5/5
12. Cashmere Thoughts: A great song, with a great beat. 5/5
13. Bring It On: A classic song, with a great beat by DJ Premier. 5/5
14. Regrets: A great song with a great beat, a great way to end the album. 5/5
Pros:
Phenomenal lyrics
Phenomenal guest appearances
Phenomenal production
No cons
Bottom line, is that this is one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.
3 best songs:
1. Dead Presidents II
2. Can't Knock the Hustle
3. Bring It On
3 weakest songs:
1. Politics As Usual
2. Ain't No N***a
3. Cashmere Thoughts
