Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

Infobox Album
Name = Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Type = Studio
Artist = Jay-Z


Released = September 29, 1998 (US)
Recorded = 1997-1998
Genre = East Coast hip hop
Length =
Label = Roc-A-Fella Records
Def Jam Recordings
Producer = Swizz Beatz, DJ Premier, The 45 King, Timbaland, Stevie J, Irv Gotti, Erick Sermon, Kid Capri, Damon Dash, Jermaine Dupri, J-Runnah, Lil' Rob, Darold Trotter, Mahogany
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jg3gtq9zmu46 link]
*Entertainment Weekly (B+)
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|hm3 [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=jay-z link]
*"The Source" Rating|4.5|5
Last album = "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1"
(1997)
This album = "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life"
(1998)
Next album = "Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter"
(1999)
Misc = Singles
Name = Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Type = studio
single 1 = Money Ain't a Thang
single 1 date = April 1998
single 2 = It's Alright
single 2 date = July 21 1998
single 3 = Can I Get A...
single 3 date = September 1 1998
single 4 = Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
single 4 date = October 20 1998
single 5 = Money, Cash, Hoes
single 5 date = February 23 1999
single 6 = Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
single 6 date = November 30 1999

"Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" is the third album released by rapper Jay-Z. The success of the singles pushed the album to sell over 5 million copies in the U.S. and over 8 million worldwide. The album propelled Jay-Z into superstar status and cemented him as a household name. It also helped him emerge as an extremely dominant force in the post Biggie/Tupac era of hip-hop.

Despite its title as Jay-Z's most commercially successful album, it received lukewarm reviews from critics and hip-hop purists who felt his aims to be a crossover success had compromised the quality and complexity of his music. It was also criticized for its numerous guest appearances.

Several tracks on this album feature a rougher sound than the glossier Bad Boy production on "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1", most notably the three tracks produced by Ruff Ryders beatmaker Swizz Beatz. With the exception of Stevie J on "Ride or Die," Bad Boy producers play no role in "Vol. 2", though Jay-Z enlisted Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, and Irv Gotti for a more pop-oriented sound on three of the albums' singles.

Track listing

# "Intro - Hand It Down" (featuring Memphis Bleek) (Produced by DJ Premier)
# "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" (Produced by The 45 King)
# "If I Should Die" (featuring Da Ranjahz) (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
# "Ride or Die" (Produced by Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen)
# "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (featuring Amil & Big Jaz) (Produced by Timbaland)
# "Money, Cash, Hoes" (featuring DMX) (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
# "A Week Ago" (featuring Too Short) (Produced by J-Runnah)
# "Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" (featuring Memphis Bleek) (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
# "Can I Get A..." (featuring Amil & Ja Rule) (Produced by Irv Gotti & Lil’ Rob) (also on "Def Jam's Rush Hour Soundtrack")
# "Paper Chase" (featuring Foxy Brown) (Produced by Timbaland)
# "Reservoir Dogs" (featuring The LOX, Sauce Money & Beanie Sigel) (Produced by Erick Sermon; Co-produced by Darold Trotter)
# "It's Like That" (featuring Kid Capri & Liz Leite) (Produced by Kid Capri)
# "It's Alright" (featuring Memphis Bleek) (Produced by Damon Dash & Mahogany) (also on "Streets Is Watching (Soundtrack)")
# "Money Ain't a Thang" (featuring Jermaine Dupri) (Produced by Jermaine Dupri) (also on Jermaine Dupri's Life in 1472)

amples

Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
*"It's a Hard Knock Life" from "Annie"A Week Ago
*"Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" by The Isley BrothersReservoir Dogs
*"Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
*"24- Carat Black (Theme)" by 24 Carat Black
*"Know How" by Young MCIt's Like That
*"Beggar's Song" by Wet WillieIt's Alright
*"The Hall of Mirrors" by Kraftwerk
*"Once In a Lifetime" by Talking HeadsMoney Ain't a Thang
*"Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington

Chart positions

Album

ingles