If you condense ‘Reasonable Doubt’ down to an ‘Illmatic’ size track list … what tracks would you take off and would it be better than Illmatic?

[⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

Before the stans come out of the woodworks; First thing we must consider is we are comparing lyrical work of a 17 year old versus a 26 year old who may of been highly-influenced by the work of the 17 year old


Second thing we must consider is that we are comparing the production of a signed artist working a production dream team to the product of an self-financed independent artist


Now as I go through the track list


D’Evils
22 Two’s
Coming of Age
Cashmere Thoughts

Am I really gonna pull THESE tracks off?



I think this proves Reasonable Doubt is better than Illmatic


What do you stanleys think?

 

[Pop123]

Not partaking but lyrically you can probably argue it’s better than Illmatic, .

Musically tho, like all-around, it doesn’t matter what you cut, or add for that matter lol, it’s not even close to Illmatic. Imo of course

 

[28 Gramz]

Before the stans come out of the woodworks; First thing we must consider is we are comparing lyrical work of a 17 year old versus a 26 year old who may of been highly-influenced by the work of the 17 year old


Second thing we must consider is that we are comparing the production of a signed artist working a production dream team to the product of an self-financed independent artist


Now as I go through the track list


D’Evils
22 Two’s
Coming of Age
Cashmere Thoughts

Am I really gonna pull THESE tracks off?



I think this proves Reasonable Doubt is better than Illmatic


What do you stanleys think?

Cashmere Thoughts, 22 Twos and Aint No nikka can go. Mid tracks.

D'evils is probably the best Hov song ever.

 

[the elastic]

 

[Consigliere]

Before the stans come out of the woodworks

You are the Stan, Stanley.

 

[⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

You are the Stan, Stanley.

How so?

 

[Controversy]

No, it wouldn't be better

RD is a product of revisionist history...classic albums are received as that in real time...if Jigga had a brighter star at the time, I think RD would be as revered in real time and after like OB4CL...but the fact is Jigga was an afterthought when he dropped

Objectively, the 9 best songs on RD are: D'Evils, Dead Presidents, Feelin It, Can I Live, Politics As Usual, Can't Knock The Hustle, Friend or Foe, 22 Twos & Bring It On

No, that's not better than Illmatic...Nas style birthed RD

 

[Lurkio]

Not partaking but lyrically you can probably argue it’s better than Illmatic, .

Musically tho, like all-around, it doesn’t matter what you cut, or add for that matter lol, it’s not even close to Illmatic. Imo of course

It’s opposite for me…lyrically illmatic takes it

Musically I give it RD…might be the album that’s aged the best all time imo

 

[Consigliere]

You are the Stan, Stanley.

Because you woke up with a 27 year old album on your brain.

Time is beating you Disco Stu mofos into a predictable pattern of irrelevance.

 

[Lurkio]

Cashmere Thoughts, 22 Twos and Aint No nikka can go. Mid tracks.

D'evils is probably the best Hov song ever.

Nah 22 twos stays but just remove that skit from it

 

[⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

No, it wouldn't be better

RD is a product of revisionist history...classic albums are received as that in real time...if Jigga had a brighter star at the time, I think RD would be as revered in real time and after like OB4CL...but the fact is Jigga was an afterthought when he dropped

Objectively, the 9 best songs on RD are: D'Evils, Dead Presidents, Feelin It, Can I Live, Politics As Usual, Can't Knock The Hustle, Friend or Foe, 22 Twos & Bring It On

No, that's not better than Illmatic...Nas style birthed RD

Cases could be made for both of these statement and since we are talking about “classics” rather than perfect albums it is fair to say that the word classic should denote something notable of the time

Looking back 100 years from now it’s likely we would see all of Jay Z’s career as one era

And although as much as Jay Z would like to … during his era he was never the top guy outside of an industry perspective


And truthfully …. Neither was Nas despite having album of the year in 1994 he was not bigger than Biggie or Tupac who were both on an entirely different level that made the impact of their music verge on pop star levels

 

[ORDER_66]

​

 

[Pop123]

It’s opposite for me…lyrically illmatic takes it

Musically I give it RD…might be the album that’s aged the best all time imo

Damn, what?! Lol, I respect it tho, salute…couldn’t disagree more tho, Illmatic is so much better than RD imo

 

[⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

Because you woke up with a 27 year old album on your brain.

Time is beating you Disco Stu mofos into a predictable pattern of irrelevance.

Bomb Second (Consigliere’s Second Reply)

 

[papa pimp]

RD is simple too narrow in subject matter with ehhh production to compete with Illmatic even if you cut out the filler.