How Jay-Z’s ‘Vol. 3’ Explained Rap Music in 1999—and Predicted Its Future

[DontEemTry]

I didn't like Vol 3.

Jay was riding that Ruff Ryder sound too much during this time.

''Things That You Do''

Can't front on the lyrics to that syrupy sweet beat though...

You know I move like an ounce
Bottled up like crack
Thats how I make you bounce like that
Defy Websters words they cant pronounce like that
Thats why no other rapper got a sound like that
Trap, trap of my life
Flashback, kill nikkaz
Rap skills unmatched, Jigga man baby
I cant entertain it sometimes I cant explain it
God given, guess it was all for hard living
Far be it from me to question Allahs wisdom
Couldve been lost in the system
Instead Im involved with the rhythm
I dodged prison, came out unscathed from car collisions
I know I must be part of some mission
shyt I used take it for granted
Why they placed me on this planet
I would ask myself while writin raps to myself
But right there under my nose
Was the flow of all flows
Not a demon but a rose in the cement, come on

 

[Jacaveli The Don]

'Journalists' writing about that wack piece of shyt

I remember buying this around Xmas '99 and thats probably the last time I heard it in its entirety because of how shyt it was

Only 'So Ghetto', 'Big Pimping' and 'Is That Yo' bytch' were the bangers on the album

 

[oO J Smooth Oo]

classic album and the best of the 3 volumes

 

[Judas]

Why isn’t watch me on Vol3 on Apple Music??

 

[Trot LaRoc]

Vol 3 was all over the place quality wise and he was kinda wave ridin wuth his features but it had some fukkin tunes and it gotta a lotta play in the clubs even down south

These songs are good
Do it Again
Dopeman
NYMP
Come n Get Me
So Ghetto
Big Pimpin
Is That Yo bytch
Hova Song is one of my favorite intros

Things You Do is still pure ....that shyt was awful
Pop 4 Roc, S.Carter, it's hot, snoopy track is all ok filler

 

[Love Sosa]

I love this album. The mixing is clean af and Hov’s verses are nasty. Dynasty had better songs but doesn’t sound as fresh as this one.

 

[Rhyme 4 Rhyme]

The Ringer is a joke. Bill Simmons writing about anyhting other than basketball is embarrassing.

 

[a1pacino]

Classic album and cover

 

[re'up]

For the most part, my favorites are the same, I used to like Dopeman more, but my favorites were always

There's Been a Murder
NYMP

And probably Come & Get Me. It's a lesser Jay album to me, 20 years later, and for the duration of that time. The grasps at contemporary hits (the Juvie feature, the Dre feature, the Mariah song) weren't bad, but they lacked the feel of other, better work, from those same collaborators, the same year. Still DRE, and Heartbreaker. I was only a fan of Big Pimpin to catch glimpses of Gloria Velez's beauty, and skipped that track 9/10. I loved So Ghetto, but years later, it feels somewhat flatter than it did. "Do It Again" was special to hear Sigel, who was just a grimy spitter who suddenly was everywhere, all at once. The video helped too. The section of the album from say track 4 to 12 is weak to me. Vol. 2 was glossy, but more consistent, and the highs were much higher, the lows, not so glaring. This is where Jay really transitioned from "streets to fame', winded his appeal, and doubled down on the larger than life persona. But, my favorite Jay album was always Vol. 1, despite that I didn't hear in until 98.

 

[DMGAINGREEN]

Vol 3/Dynasty era Jay was him at his apex lyrically

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Vol 3/Dynasty era Jay was him at his apex lyrically

Daps but to me it's hard to call it between the BP2/TBA era and the RD/Vol1 era. It's personal preference. All can be argued as him at his apex. for different reasons.

 

[Trot LaRoc]

"Lyrically" RD is his pinnacle....over time he simplified it in order to gain mass appeal. Not hating on him but his lyrics were denser on that album....he was still sharp on the Vols and Blueprint as well

 

[Cadillac]

album is a let down for being the final in the Vol trilogy

Vol 1 imo is the best out of all 3

 

[-DMP-]

One of my most favorite Jay albums to recite along with. Not his best album overall but one of his best from a pure spiting , bravado stand point. Hov was versatile as fukk.

 

[OfTheCross]

Daps but to me it's hard to call it between the BP2/TBA era and the RD/Vol1 era. It's personal preference. All can be argued as him at his apex. for different reasons.

Jigga had at least 3 peaks