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

[mortuus est]

not my favorite jigga album but some of the songs and flows still stand out

 

[Renegade47]

whats the article about?

And dopeman is one of my favorite Jay-Z songs. Probably top two favorite(other one Can I live).

That song is so epic, subject matter crazy. Epic beat.

I still get goosebumps listening to that joint just like I did on the first day.

Right hand on the Bible, left hand in the air
Before I spoke one word, made sure my throat was clear
A-hem, I'm a prisoner of circumstance
Frail nikka, I couldn't much work with my hands
But my mind was strong, I grew where you hold your blacks up
Trap us, expect us not to pick gats up
Where you drop your cracks off by the Mack trucks
Destroy our dreams of lawyers and actors
Keep us spiralin', goin' backwards
At age nine, saw my first hate crime
Blindfolded, expected to walk a straight line
Mind molded, taught to love you and hate mine
Climbed over it, at a early age, Jay shined
fukk the system at Lady Justice I blaze nine
Your Honor, I no longer kill my people, I raise mine
The soul of Mumia in this modern day time

one of jays worst albums (heavily due to the production) but this might be top 3 when it comes to bar quality.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

99 was THAT year for me, I was a Jr in High School and I pretty much learned that my Gear wasnt Correct after my First two years and I stepped it up, plus The Parties me and the Neighborhood Homies hit up and Vol 3 along wit:

Guerilla Warfare
And Then There Was X
2001
I Am
Slim Shady LP
Chopper City In The Ghetto
Ruff Ryders Vol 1
NL Top Dogg
Tha Eastsidaz
Coming Of Age
Blackout!
Streetz Iz A Mutha
Black On Both Sides

Just soo much Piff that dropped that Year

 

[mobbinfms]

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.

Jay on RD is far and away his best performance.

 

[FlyRy]

I don't like this album. Has some of his absolute worst songs

 

[jaguar paw]

That article is fukking trash.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Jay on RD is far and away his best performance.

It's my favorite too. But mentally I sort of have that album set off to the side like I do with nas and Illmatic. I don't even compare the rest of Jay and Nas' discographies to their 1st albums that much. So to me if you sort of set aside Reasonable Doubt and compare the rest of his albums then most Jay fans and fair critics would say the two best Jay flow/delivery eras are 1999/2000 (Vol.3 and Dynasty) and 2002/2003 (Blueprint 2 and Black Album).

Even Jay has admitted that 2001/Blueprint is some of his weakest lyrics/delivery despite being his 2nd best album in his eyes and in most people's eyes.

I thought in 02/03 he was just in another zone. he was all over the place o tracks. In the pocket, behind it, ahead of it, weaving in and out of it. Lots of double entrendes (don't even ask me how) and was so comfortable just flexing on everyone. He has moments of that (ie. Dynasty Intro and the 2nd verse on Squeeze 1st) where he's sort of floating above the beat and isn't in one particular groove or pocket. But he really mastered that style on BP2 and TBA.

In 99/00 he was still sort of hungry and making his claim to be the best. So I think he sounds a little hungrier on Vol. 3 and Dynasty and embracing his spot up at the top, but on BP2 and TBA he's looking at himself way above everyone else in the game and that comes across in the delivery to me.

Depending on the mood I prefer one or the other. recently I've been listening to more Vol. 3 and Dynasty era Jay.

 

[CrimsonTider]

Jay on RD is far and away his best performance.

BP2

 

[Ku$h Parker]

In 99/00 he was still sort of hungry and making his claim to be the best. So I think he sounds a little hungrier on Vol. 3 and Dynasty and embracing his spot up at the top,

Plus the Un Stabbing Case did add some "Edge" to the Rollout along wit X and Ja blowing up but I think the Rollout for Blueprint wit Summerjam 01 was when Hov was at that Peak tho

 

[Harry B]

For the real fans, it has some of his most classic low-key cuts
So Ghetto, Its Hot and Come and get me

 

[Regular_P]

He was now above the competition—in his home borough, in New York City, and in hip-hop. By the time Vol. 3 dropped in late December, Jay-Z was rap’s undisputed ruler.

This is absolute horse shyt. DMX was hands down the biggest artist in 1998-99 and then Eminem was the top dog once MMLP dropped. Jay was never the biggest artist in rap for a single year and I hate how his stans always try to paint it like he was.

 

[Harry B]

This is absolute horse shyt. DMX was hands down the biggest artist in 1998-99 and then Eminem was the top dog once MMLP dropped. Jay was never the biggest artist in rap for a single year and I hate how his stans always try to paint it like he was.

Vol 2 moved as many units as It's Dark.. and Flesh of.. combined. And DMX opened for him on his tour, plus Eminem has nothing to do with New York as that article says.

Jay was the top dude when he released Vol 3, DMX was big too perhaps bigger AFTER he dropped his "Vol 2" with ...and then there was x, which did the same units and that was also when he started challenging Jay on the radio. But that was going into 2000.

 

[Alvin]

Jay had no identity on vol.3 he was doing WHATEVER was poppin at the time...smh

he did the same on vol. 1

 

[Regular_P]

Vol 2 moved as many units as It's Dark.. and Flesh of.. combined. And DMX opened for him, plus Eminem has nothing to do with New York as that article says.

Vol 2 is 5x platinum; Dark is 4x by itself and Flesh is 3x. They sold about 8 million between them.

The article said New York AND hip-hop so Eminem is going to be included; Nelly as well.

 

[mobbinfms]

This is absolute horse shyt. DMX was hands down the biggest artist in 1998-99 and then Eminem was the top dog once MMLP dropped. Jay was never the biggest artist in rap for a single year and I hate how his stans always try to paint it like he was.

Vol 2 outsold IDAHIH. At that point, Jay was bigger.
You could argue X took it back with that huge first week for Flesh, but the album didn’t have legs like IDAHIH did and Jay had the bigger song on the RR compilation.

When they dropped their albums in December 99 and X went 5x platinum and Jay stalled at three, I would give it to X.