Originally issued on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam in 1998, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life is omnipresent 19-time Grammy award winning rapper/producer/entrepreneur Jay-Z's third studio album following Reasonable Doubt (1996) and In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997). Hard Knock Life marked the first of Jay-Z's nine consecutive chart-topping albums and at 5-times platinum it stands as his biggest selling record to date. The 1999 Grammy-winner for Best Rap Album is home to the singles "Can I Get A...," "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)," "Money, Cash, Hoes" and "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" and features guest appearances by Too $hort, DMX, Ja Rule, Foxy Brown and Jermaine Dupri along with production work from DJ Premier, Timbaland and Erick Sermon. In 2013, Jay-Z ranked Hard Knock Life as a classic and his fourth best behind Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint and The Black Album.
Track Listing:
LP 1
1. Hand It Down (Intro)
2. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
3. If I Should Die
4. Ride or Die
5. Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
6. Money, Cash, Hoes
7. A Week Ago
LP 2
1. Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
2. Can I Get A...
3. Paper Chase
4. Reservoir Dogs
5. It's Like That
6. It's Alright
7. Money Ain't A Thang