Take Two #3: Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt" (1996)

We continue our Take Two miniseries and looking at two albums from an iconic artist. This time, it's Jay-Z and his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt. This marks the first time we're talking about a Hova album in depth and we discuss why that may be, Jay's features before this album dropped, and what the future of New York rap and Jigga's career might have looked like if Biggie was still with us.
More on Reasonable Doubt
Jay Z's 'Reasonable Doubt' at 20: Classic Track-by-Track Album Look-Back (Billboard)
The oral history of Jay Z’s 'Reasonable Doubt' cover (Revolt)
Breaking Down Every Contributor For JAY-Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt’ (Tidal)
Show tracklisting (all songs from Reasonable Doubt unless otherwise indicated):
Bring It On
Ain't No N****
The Jaz: It's That Simple
Jay-Z: In My Lifetime (Remix)
Can I Live II
Feelin' It
Ain't No N****
The Whole Darn Family: Seven Minutes of Funk
Ain't No N****
The Ohio Platers: Ecstasy
Brooklyn's Finest
D'Evils
Allen Toussaint: Go Back Home
D'Evils
Junior M.A.F.I.A: Player's Anthem (Remix)
Can't Knock the Hustle
Brooklyn's Finest
Coming of Age
Dead Presidents II
Politics As Usual
Brooklyn's Finest
De La Soul: Dog Eat Dog
Foxy Brown: Ill Na Na
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there.
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!