Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Studio album by Jay-Z
Released	September 29, 1998
Recorded	1998
Genre	East Coast Hip Hop
Length	61:43
Label	Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
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 Music
Jay-Z chronology
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997) Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998) Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999)
Singles from Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
"Can I Get A..." Released: September 1, 1998 "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" Released: October 27, 1998 "Money, Cash, Hoes" Released: February 23, 1999 "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" Released: March 1, 1999

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
The A.V. Club	(favorable) link
Robert Christgau	link
IGN	(8.3/10) link
Los Angeles Times	link
NME	(6/10) link
Rolling Stone	link
RapReviews.com	link
The Source link	Washington Post (favorable) link
Yahoo! Music	(favorable) link

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 29, 1998, on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. The album propelled Jay-Z into superstar status and cemented him as a household name in the post Biggie/Tupac Shakur era of hip hop. It is Jay-Z's best selling album as of 2013^[update] and was certified 5X Platinum by the RIAA in 2000 and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 350,000 copies in its first week,^[1] and also went to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking the first of nine consecutive chart-topping albums on both charts to date from Jay-Z, excluding collaboration albums. Upon its release, the album received generally mixed to positive reviews from most music critics, while hip hop purists felt his aims to be a crossover success had compromised the quality and complexity of his music.

In the liner notes of the album, Jay-Z gives his thoughts on various tracks. The lyrics to the fast paced "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" are also included.

Background [edit]

Speaking in December 1998 to noted UK urban writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Jay described the background to the album's lyrical themes: "Primarily I see myself as so much more than a rapper. I really believe I'm the voice for a lot of people who don't have that microphone or who can't rap. So I wanted to represent and tell the story of everybody who's been through what I've been through, or knows somebody that has. I also wanted to speak about our lifestyle to people who - though they may live, say, in the suburbs and not be part of that world - still want to know about it and understand it."^[2]

Music [edit]

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. This would also be Jay-Z's last album to feature his mentor Big Jaz.

Track listing [edit]

All lyrics written by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, and featured rappers. 

^* indicates co-producer
^** Ghost produced by Rockwilder

Sample credits [edit]

Intro (Hand It Down)

• "Are You Man Enough" by The Four Tops
• "Contains lyrics from "Coming Of Age" by Jay-Z ft Memphis Bleek

Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

• "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie

A Week Ago

• "Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" by The Isley Brothers

Reservoir Dogs

• "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
• "24- Carat Black (Theme)" by 24 Carat Black
• "Know How" by Young MC

It's Like That

• "Beggar's Song" by Wet Willie

It's Alright

• "The Hall of Mirrors" by Kraftwerk
• "Once In a Lifetime" by Talking Heads

Money Ain't a Thang

• "Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington

Chart history [edit]

Chart procession and succession

See also [edit]

• List of number-one albums of 1998 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B albums of 1998 (U.S.)

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Samplin' Annie at Vibe
• Jay-Z interview at Blues & Soul
• Cipha Sounds interview at Complex