He returned in 2006 with Kingdom Come, and followed it with heavy output, including 2017’s lauded 4:44. JAY crafted his initial farewell statement on 2003’s The Black Album-with production from the soon-to-break-out Kanye West -but couldn’t stay away. Carter), proving his acumen for the charts.
From Lil Wayne to Max B to Nicki Minaj, a look at the best free downloads.Ģ Hard Knock Life) and “Big Pimpin’” (from 1999’s Vol. JAY's debut album, 1996's Reasonable Doubt, established his hustler attitude. If ever there were a reasonable doubt that JAY-Z didn't have the chops to thrive in. He went on to amass further hits like “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” (from 1998’s Vol. JAY’s debut album, 1996’s Reasonable Doubt, established his hustler attitude.
He rose from a tough childhood in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects to earn over 20 Grammys and sell over 100 million albums, all the while perfecting the frank NYC flow established by predecessors like Biggie Smalls. If ever there were a reasonable doubt that JAY-Z didn’t have the chops to thrive in hip-hop, his modern mogul status proves otherwise.
