Review of the Jay-Z CD Volume 2 Hard Knock Life

The exceptionally talented Rap artist Jay-Z has released him CD entitled Volume 2 Hard Knock Life. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Jay-Z fans, and Rap fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Volume 2 Hard Knock Life Jay-Z’s artistic excellence is on full display as Jay-Z has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Rap music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Jay-Z on several of the tracks. Artists like Jermaine Dupri and Kid Capri just to name a couple.

Listen to this CD and I believe you’ll find there's not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and Jay-Z is clearly in top form. So much so that if you're even mildly into Rap music you'll enjoy this CD.

While the entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 2 - Hard Knock Life, track 8 - Coming Of Age, and track 14 - Money Ain’t A Thang.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Intro-Hand It Down. What a nice track!

Volume 2 Hard Knock Life Release Notes:

Jay-Z originally released Volume 2 Hard Knock Life on September 29, 1998 on the Def Jam label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Intro-Hand It Down - (featuring Memphis Bleek) 2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) 3. If I Should Die - (featuring Da Ranjahz) 4. Ride Or Die 5. Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) - (featuring Big Jaz) 6. Money, Cash, Hoes - (featuring DMX) 7. Week Ago, A - (featuring Too Short) 8. Coming Of Age (Da Sequel) - (featuring Memphis Bleek) 9. Can I Get A... - (featuring Amil/Ja Rule) 10. Paper Chase - (featuring Foxy Brown) 11. Reservoir Dogs - (featuring The Lox/Beanie Sigel/Sauce Money) 12. It's Like That - (featuring Kid Capri) 13. It's Alright - (bonus track, featuring Memphis Bleek) 14. Money Ain't A Thang - (bonus track, featuring Jermaine Dupri)

Personnel includes: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Wais, Half Dead, Big Jaz, Amil, Liz (vocals); Steven Jordan, Lil' Rob (various instruments); Jake Carter, Mike (guitar); Kid Capri (programming); Memphis Bleek, Da Ranjahz, DMX, Too Short, Ja Rule, Amil, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, The Lox, Beenie Siegel, Sauce Money. Producers include: Premier, Mark 45, Swizz Beats, Steven Jordan, Timbaland.

Engineers include: Eddie Sancho, Paul Falcon, Joe Quinde.

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