. 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
era of hip hop. This album also won the Grammy award for Best Rap Album in 1999.
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. However, it received a near-perfect 4.5(out of 5)mics from The Source.
. With the exception of Stevie J on "Ride or Die," Bad Boy producers play no role in
| # |
Title |
Length |
Producer(s) |
Featured guest(s) |
| 1 |
"Intro: Hand It Down" |
2:56 |
DJ Premier Christopher Edward Martin , better known as DJ Premier, is an American record producer and DJ, and the instrumental half of the duo Gang Starr, together with vocalist Guru. Originally from Houston, he has lived in Brooklyn, New York, for much of his professional career...
|
Memphis Bleek Malik Thuston Cox, better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek or "Memphis Grillz" , is a New York rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-A-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records...
(only) |
| 2 |
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) "Hard Knock Life " is a single from rapper Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It samples the song of the same name from the Broadway musical Annie. The song was produced by The 45 King and at the time of its release, was the most commercially successful Jay-Z single. The RIAA certified...
" |
3:59 |
The 45 King |
| 3 |
"If I Should Die" |
4:55 |
Swizz Beatz Kasseem Dean better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer and rapper. Swizz, wife R&B singer Mashonda, and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records.-Personal life:...
|
Da Ranjahz |
| 4 |
"Ride or Die" |
4:48 |
Steven "Stevie J" Jordan Stevie J. is an American record producer and songwriter. As a multi talented musician and freat vocalist, he poses as a threat to the music industry He was the leader of the Bad Boy Entertainment Hitmen roster of in-house producers and writers during the 90s and thus worked often with the label's...
of The HitmenThe Hitmen is a production team formed by Sean "Diddy" Combs to produce hip hop and R&B records for his Bad Boy label's recording artists. Because of its great success, the group has also been hired for projects outside of Bad Boy Records....
|
| 5 |
"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) "Nigga What, Nigga Who " is the final single from rapper Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life. The song is produced by Timbaland and features two artists: Big Jaz, who raps one verse and Amil, who sings the track's chorus. It's a popular track among fans, and is a great showcase for Jay-Z's...
" |
3:53 |
Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, singer and rapper. Timbaland has produced albums and singles for a number of artists from the mid-1990s to the present day..Timbaland's first full credit production work was in...
|
Amil Amil Whitehead more commonly known by her stage name Amil, is a American female rapper and singer from New York City. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protegé, most notably on the single "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour soundtrack.-Early life:Amil was born September 19, 1978 in...
& Big Jaz |
| 6 |
"Money, Cash, Hoes "Money, Cash, Hoes" is a song featured on Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It features rapper DMX and production by Swizz Beatz. Its beat features a heavy use of descending synthesizers.- Remix single :...
" |
4:46 |
Swizz Beatz Kasseem Dean better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer and rapper. Swizz, wife R&B singer Mashonda, and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records.-Personal life:...
|
DMX Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is an American entertainer who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name stands for Dog Man X, the name he used when he first started rapping in 1990. To date, his best-selling album is his 1999 album ...And Then There Was X, which featured...
|
| 7 |
"A Week Ago" |
5:01 |
J-Runnah |
Too Short |
| 8 |
"Coming of Age (Da Sequel)" |
4:21 |
Swizz Beatz Kasseem Dean better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer and rapper. Swizz, wife R&B singer Mashonda, and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records.-Personal life:...
|
Memphis Bleek Malik Thuston Cox, better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek or "Memphis Grillz" , is a New York rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-A-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records...
|
| 9 |
"Can I Get A... "Can I Get A..." is a 1998 single by rapper Jay-Z that features Amil and Ja Rule. It was released on Def Jam's Rush Hour Soundtrack in promotion of the film Rush Hour, but also appears on Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. The song is produced by Irv Gotti and Lil' Rob...
" |
5:10 |
Irv Gotti & Lil’ Rob |
Amil Amil Whitehead more commonly known by her stage name Amil, is a American female rapper and singer from New York City. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protegé, most notably on the single "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour soundtrack.-Early life:Amil was born September 19, 1978 in...
& Ja RuleJeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American recording artist and actor signed to The Inc. and Universal Records, formerly of Def Jam Recordings. A Hollis, New York native, Ja Rule has released six albums.-Early life:Atkins was born in Queens, New York...
|
| 10 |
"Paper Chase" |
4:35 |
Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, singer and rapper. Timbaland has produced albums and singles for a number of artists from the mid-1990s to the present day..Timbaland's first full credit production work was in...
|
Foxy Brown |
| 11 |
"Reservoir Dogs" |
5:19 |
Erick Sermon Erick Sermon, also known as Erick Onassis, is an American rapper, musician, and producer. Sermon is best known as half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for production work. He currently resides in Hauppauge, New York. - Career :"The Green Eyed Bandit" has also made multiple solo...
; Co-produced by Darold Trotter |
The Lox, Beanie Sigel Dwight Grant , also known as Beanie Sigel, is a American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records who has formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the roster...
, & Sauce MoneySauce Money is a rapper.He was featured on Jay-Z's debut, Reasonable Doubt, on the DJ Premier-produced "Bring it On", and on Jay's third album, Vol...
|
| 12 |
"It's Like That" |
3:45 |
Kid Capri Kid Capri is an American musician.He was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.He is the son of Prudence Centorino, a Home Health Aide and David Love Sr., a Musician/Singer....
|
Kid Capri Kid Capri is an American musician.He was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.He is the son of Prudence Centorino, a Home Health Aide and David Love Sr., a Musician/Singer....
|
| 13 |
"It's Alright" |
4:02 |
Damon DashDamon Dash is an American label executive; the co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Kareem "Biggs" Burke...
& MahoganyThe name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-coloured hardwood, it is an American Indian word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany. Mahogany it was next equally applied to the wood of Swietenia macrophylla,...
|
Memphis Bleek Malik Thuston Cox, better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek or "Memphis Grillz" , is a New York rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-A-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records...
|
| 14 |
"Money Ain't a Thang "Money Ain't a Thang" is the second single from rapper Jermaine Dupri's 1998 album Life in 1472. It features rapper Jay-Z and appears as a bonus track on his album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It is produced by Dupri, who samples "Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington for the track's beat...
" |
4:14 |
Jermaine Dupri Jermaine Dupri Maulidin , better known by his stage name Jermaine Dupri or J.D., is an American record producer, rapper and Grammy winning songwriter.-Music industry:...
|
Jermaine Dupri Jermaine Dupri Maulidin , better known by his stage name Jermaine Dupri or J.D., is an American record producer, rapper and Grammy winning songwriter.-Music industry:...
|