In fact, his Source review opens with a slightly patronizing reference to 'Hawaiian Sophie,' the comically bad Jaz-O single whose features a very young Jay Z in 1989: Who would have thought that the short kid with the high-top fade and a boom box would ever grow up to be an emcee kingpin with a hit? Braxton had a ritual before reviewing albums: 'Turn off the lights, close my eyes, put on my earphones, and listen through it five times.' (As opposed to: hear a few 30-second snippets and spit out a definitive take on Twitter.) His first impression of Reasonable Doubt was not an uncommon opinion of Jay Z at the time: here was an undeniably compelling MC who was hampered by his material - the drug-kingpin fantasies that were de rigueur in mid-’90s rap and the subject of heavy backlash on prominent ’96 releases like the Fugees’ The Score and De La Soul’s Stakes Is High. 'I knew Jay Z, initially, from his connection to Jaz,' says Braxton, referring to Jay’s Marcy Projects mentor. In 1996, Jay Z was a New York indie artist worth critical attention, but without the national buzz of 1994’s famed rookie class of Nas and Biggie. But though Braxton grew up in the Deep South (and never left), he considered himself an expert on East Coast hip-hop. 'Fresh ears' presumably meant those belonging to someone from outside the echo chamber of NYC. 'I think Selwyn wanted someone with fresh ears,' Braxton says now. So when Source editor-in-chief Selwyn Seyfu Hinds asked Braxton to write about Reasonable Doubt, it was both an opportunity and a challenge. In ’96, the magazine was the undisputed rap bible - its reviews section, the gospel. He had already been published in hip-hop publications like Rap Pages and 4080 in his other life, he wrote and performed poetry. At 34, Braxton was hardly a writing novice. Braxton’s review of the record would be his first byline in The Source. The beat is perfect for the lyrics and Jay drops bombs.įor its recipient, Charlie Braxton, Jay Z’s 1996 debut would also represent a personal milestone. It starts off with 'Can't Knock the Hustle' with Mary J. Jay-Z had been living that life since 1988 and many refer to Reasonable Doubt as the Hustler's Bible, so to speak. 'Reasonable Doubt' was carefully handwritten on the label. Jay Z, the Sidekick Turned Kingpin The dubbed cassette arrived at his Mississippi home via FedEx from New York. June 25 marks the 20th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, Jay Z’s first album. Where Jay Z was an early evolver from the turntables-and-microphone era. We also get Dead Presidents II, from Jay Z's 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. Jay Z – review 3 / 5 stars 3 out of 5.With the release of his sixth album The Blueprint, Jay Z, who said this is his “most personal album since Reasonable Doubt” has brought the flavor back into his lyrics and not just the beats.
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