| Reasonable Doubt | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Jay-Z | |
|
Released |
25 June 1996 |
|
Recorded |
August 1995 - January 1996 |
|
Studio |
D&D Studios (New York City, New York) |
|
Genre(s) | |
|
Length |
55:28 |
|
Label | |
|
Producer(s) |
Big Jaz, Kareem "Biggs" Burke (exec.), Sean Cane, Clark Kent, Dahoud, Dame Dash (also exec.), DJ Irv, DJ Premier, Jay-Z (exec.), Knobody, Peter Panic, Ski |
| Jay-Z chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Next |
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997) |
Reasonable Doubt is the debut album by American rapper Jay-Z, released in June 25, 1996 on Roc-A-Fella Records and Priority Records. It features production work by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and guest appearances from Memphis Bleek, Mary J. Blige and The Notorious B.I.G., among others. Reasonable Doubt features mafioso rap themes and gritty lyrics about the "hustler" lifestyle and material obsessions.
The album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200, on which it charted for eighteen weeks. It was promoted with four singles, including the Hot 100-charting "Ain't No Nigga" and "Can't Knock the Hustle". Well recevied by critics upon its release, the album has since been heralded by music writers as Jay-Z's "crowning achievement", and appears on numerous best album lists by music publications. Reasonable Doubt has been certified platinum by the Record Industry Association of America and has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States as of 2006.
Track listing
Edit
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can't Knock the Hustle" | Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige | Carter, Foster, Millar | Knobody, Dahoud (co.), Sean Cane (co.) | 5:17 |
| 2. | "Politics as Usual" | Jay-Z | Biggs, Carter, Willis | Ski | 3:41 |
| 3. | "Brooklyn's Finest" | Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G. | Bonner, Carter, Franklin, Jones, Middlebrooks, Morrison, Noland, Pierce, Wallace, Webster | Clark Kent, Dame Dash (co.) | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Dead Presidents II" | Jay-Z | Carter, Jones, Phillips, Smith, Willis | Ski | 4:27 |
| 5. | "Feelin' It" | Jay-Z, Mecca | Carter, Willis | Ski | 3:48 |
| 6. | "D'Evils" | Jay-Z | Carter, Martin | DJ Premier | 3:31 |
| 7. | "22 Two's" | Jay-Z | Carter, Willis | Ski | 3:29 |
| 8. | "Can I Live" | Jay-Z | Bacharach, Carter, Davis, Lorenzo | DJ Irv | 4:10 |
| 9. | "Ain't No Nigga" | Jay-Z, Foxy Brown | Burks, Carter, Lampert, Marchano, Moon, Potter, Thomas | Big Jaz | 4:03 |
| 10. | "Friend or Foe" | Jay-Z | Carter, Martin | DJ Premier | 1:49 |
| 11. | "Coming of Age" | Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek | Carter, Franklin, Mtume | Clark Kent | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Cashmere Thoughts" | Jay-Z | Bohannon, Carter, Emanuel, Franklin, Ragin | Clark Kent | 2:56 |
| 13. | "Bring It On" | Jay-Z, Sauce Money, Big Jaz | Burks, Carter, Gaither, Martin | DJ Premier | 5:01 |
| 14. | "Regrets" | Jay-Z | Carter, Di Pasquale | Peter Panic | 4:34 |
