Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

by Jay-Z

Overview

Coming on the heels of two strong records that revealed the extent of Jay-Z's talents, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (it may be titled Vol. 2, but it's his third album, arguably his fourth if you count the Streets Is Watching soundtrack) is a little bit of a relative disappointment. Jay-Z had established himself as a savvy, street-smart rapper on those two records, but with Hard Knock Life he decides to shoot for crossover territory, for better and for worse. At his best, he shows no fear -- witness how the title track shamelessly works a Broadway showstopper from Annie into a raging ghetto cry, yet keeps it smooth enough for radio. It's a stunning single, but unfortunately, it promises more than the rest of the album can deliver. Jay-Z remains a first-rate lyricist and MC, but too often his subjects are tired, especially since he winds up with no new revelations. Unfortunately, the same could be said for his music. For every "Hard Knock Life," there are a couple of standard post-gangsta jams that don't catch hold -- and that's really too bad, because the best moments (including several tracks produced by such stars as Timbaland, Kid Capri, and Jermaine Dupri) are state-of-the-art, R&B-inflected mainstream hip-hop. And that's the problem -- before, Jay-Z wasn't trying to play by the rules of the mainstream, but here he's trying to co-opt them. At times he does, but the times that fall flat have less strength or integrity than their predecessors, and that's what makes the entire record not quite as effective, despite its numerous high points. [Shortly after its initial release, Hard Knock Life was reissued with a pair of bonus tracks: "It's Alright," pulled from the Streets Is Watching soundtrack, and "Money Ain't a Thang," a catchy collabo single from Jermaine Dupri's Life in 1472 album.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/1998
Label:	Def Jam / Ims / Island/Def Jam / Jay-Z / Roc Nation / Roc-A-Fella / Universal Music
UPC:	0731455890228

Tracks

1. Hand It Down (Intro)
2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3. If I Should Die
4. Ride or Die
5. Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
6. Money, Cash, Hoes
7. A Week Ago
8. Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
9. Can I Get A...
10. Paper Chase
11. Reservoir Dogs
12. It's Like That
13. It's Alright
14. Money Ain't a Thang

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jay-Z   Primary Artist
Memphis Bleek   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Kid Capri   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Too $hort   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Ranjahz   Primary Artist
Sauce Money   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Beanie Sigel   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
The LOX   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Amil   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Ja Rule   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Rap,Vocals
The Jaz   Guest Artist
Da Ranjahz   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Foxy Brown   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Jermaine Dupri   Featured Artist
DMX   Featured Artist,Guest Artist
Big Jaz   Featured Artist
JD   Featured Artist
Jake Carter   Guitar

Technical Credits

Sauce Money   Performer
Sean Jacobs   Composer
Jeffrey Atkins   Composer
Jimmy Douglass   Mixing,Engineer
DJ Premier   Composer
Too $hort   Composer,Performer
Dwight Grant   Composer
Isley Jasper Isley   Composer
Charles Carter   Composer
Malik Cox   Composer
Buddy L. Hank   Composer
Imsomie Leeper   Composer
Christopher Franz   Composer
Malcolm Selwyn Byer   Composer
Nigel Leguerre   Composer
Jasper Isley   Composer
Jerald Stoute   Composer
Roger Parker   Composer
Jason Phillips   Composer
Styles   Composer
Jonathan Burks   Composer
Chris Martin   Composer
Buddy Hank   Composer
Mark James   Composer
Steve Arington   Composer
Ronald Isley   Composer
Robin Mays   Composer
Jermaine Dupri   Composer,Producer,Performer
Jerry Harrison   Composer
Rudolph Isley   Composer
Marvin Isley   Composer
Memphis Bleek   Performer
Mike Rew   Engineer
M. James   Composer
Shawn Carter   Composer,Executive Producer
Tony Gillis   Mastering
Todd Gaither   Composer
Patrick Viala   Engineer
Amil   Performer
Steve Arrington   Composer
Martin Charnin   Composer
Big Jaz   Performer
Kevin Crouse   Mixing
Irving Lorenzo   Composer
Isaac Hayes   Composer
J.T. Burks   Composer
Ja Rule   Performer
Frank Friedman   Composer
Eddie Sancho   Mixing,Engineer
David Styles   Composer
Tony Black   Mixing,Engineer
David Byrne   Composer
Doug Wilson   Engineer
Ernie Isley   Composer
Joe Quinde   Mixing,Engineer
Jay-Z   Composer
O'Kelly Isley   Composer
Kasseem Dean   Composer
Tina Weymouth   Composer
Damon Dash   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Timothy Mosley   Composer
Timbaland   Composer
Todd Shaw   Composer
Brian Eno   Composer
DMX   Composer,Performer
Steven Jordan   Composer
Kid Capri   Composer,Performer
Irv Gotti   Composer
Chris Jasper   Composer
J.C. Phillips   Composer
Foxy Brown   Performer
Erick Sermon   Composer,Producer
Charles Strouse   Composer
S. Jordan   Composer