Jay-Z was a nobody in 1996

[NO-BadAzz]

But …nowhere else mattered back then

That’s like saying outside of Broadway no one saw your play ….or a few years ago saying ‘outside of the SEC they were the best football team’

It’s completely revisionist. No one gave a fukk about those regions as a whole, let alone individual artists

The west coast—-hell not even the whole coast, just Compton and Long Beach—-were the only exception. And even that was a bit segregated and media favored NY

Breh, I'ma say this and I want you to read it slowly, Crucial Conflict's Hay was bigger than anything Jay-Z put out on the radio in 1996

 

[vino]

smell like old ass new york in here.

 

[NO-BadAzz]

From Detroit, and it’s been my fav album since my cousin came through with the cassette in 96.

Album got major play around my way, along with The Hall Of Game, The Ice Cream Man, Ridin’ Dirty, Hell On Earth, and All Eyez/7 Day Theory.

Ok, that's you and your crew. Jay-Z was not that guy. Like I told the other breh.

Crucial Conflict's Hay was bigger than anything Jay-Z put on in 1996

 

[NO-BadAzz]

Po Pimp - Do You Wanna Ride was bigger than any Jay-Z single he put out in 1996.

As we go through with this topic again, your favorite artist wasn't even the biggest in his own backyard in 1996 let alone in that region. Let's calm down and let the folks who were actually listening to rap music in 1996 tell how life was.

 

[Yecht]

Can’t even respond to overly emotional boys

But then you IMMEDIATELY responded in the next post

Lyrically you’re hard pressed to find a better 6 track start to an album ever. If you don’t remember listening to these tracks in 1996 with the

Can’t Knock The Hustle
Politics As Usual
Brooklyn’s Finest
Dead Presidents II
Feelin’ It
D’evils


It didn’t take me years to realize what a remarkable album this was. The Source gave this album 4 Mics when it released but The Source was notorious for being stingy on giving out mics. Ready To Die 4.5 mics, OB4CL 4.5 mics, Liquid Swords 4 mics. All clearly universally praised as classic 5 mic albums. Reasonable Doubt just the same as The Source revised the review and gave the album 5 Mics years later. What I’m telling you is that REAL heads was praising Reasonable Doubt as a crazy album and lyrically elite right off the bat. Period.

I bet you still believe Bleek is 1 hit away don't you

 

[NO-BadAzz]

Lyrically you’re hard pressed to find a better 6 track start to an album ever. If you don’t remember listening to these tracks in 1996 with the

Can’t Knock The Hustle
Politics As Usual
Brooklyn’s Finest
Dead Presidents II
Feelin’ It
D’evils


It didn’t take me years to realize what a remarkable album this was. The Source gave this album 4 Mics when it released but The Source was notorious for being stingy on giving out mics. Ready To Die 4.5 mics, OB4CL 4.5 mics, Liquid Swords 4 mics. All clearly universally praised as classic 5 mic albums. Reasonable Doubt just the same as The Source revised the review and gave the album 5 Mics years later. What I’m telling you is that REAL heads was praising Reasonable Doubt as a crazy album and lyrically elite right off the bat. Period.

Breh, those singles didn't hit nobody's Top 5 rap radio countdown outside of the Tri-state area.

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Going gold was not an achievement in 96. I think LA The Darkman went gold too. Jay was Foxys side kick and a regional act.

Redman and Mobb Deep "only" went gold too, and they're on the marquee with him. Were they nobodies too?

All albums that "only" went gold. Back then only rap superstars were going platinum, it wasn't until 97/98 where cats were moonwalking into platinum plaques

 

[JayBaldacci]

Threads like these end up going off script both ways...

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Breh, those singles didn't hit nobody's Top 5 rap radio countdown outside of the Tri-state area.

He's not talking about the singles, holy shyt why can't y'all fukking read????

He's saying quality wise, real hip-hop heads knew it was dope, and you're sitting here talking about some damn radio hits. Only 3 of the songs he listed were even singles to begin with

And even beside that point, you've exposed yourself numerous times for thinking your little New Orleans bubble speaks for every region outside of the tri-State

 

[Yecht]

He's not talking about the singles, holy shyt why can't y'all fukking read????

He's saying quality wise, real hip-hop heads knew it was dope, and you're sitting here talking about some damn radio hits. Only 3 of the songs he listed were even singles to begin with

And even beside that point, you've exposed yourself numerous times for thinking your little New Orleans bubble speaks for every region outside of the tri-State

Why the fukk is your slow ass spending all day arguing on behalf of what another poster means??? @Heavy_Handz come get your boyfriend

Shouldn't you be practicing your colors and your shapes somewhere

 

[seemorecizzy]

Reasonable is a classic album but no one cared about that shyt in 96. Tupac biggie and others were running the East. And Even Mase had next up After biggie died.

No matter what people say, it woulda been very difficult for Jay-z to blow up if it wasnt for biggie and pac's death. At his very best, the fans just didn't love him like that. He outlasted his peers by being smart with who he aligned himself with and by not taking any breaks.

 

[TheJet]

Reasonable is a classic album but no one cared about that shyt in 96. Tupac biggie and others were running the East. And Even Mase had next up After biggie died.

No matter what people say, it woulda been very difficult for Jay-z to blow up if it wasnt for biggie and pac's death. At his very best, the fans just didn't love him like that. He outlasted his peers by being smart with who he aligned himself with and by not taking any breaks.

Yup

 

[Midwest]

This is a great case study on how these 8 cert having mothafukkas don’t even attempt to read. Completely ignored the premise of the post. Bravo OP for exposing what we already knew!

 

[NO-BadAzz]

He's not talking about the singles, holy shyt why can't y'all fukking read????

He's saying quality wise, real hip-hop heads knew it was dope, and you're sitting here talking about some damn radio hits. Only 3 of the songs he listed were even singles to begin with

And even beside that point, you've exposed yourself numerous times for thinking your little New Orleans bubble speaks for every region outside of the tri-State

Unlike many on this site, I traveled and lived in many parts of the region and roam in black spaces and in these regions, the masses did not bump no fukkin Jay Z in 1996

In 1996 singles were the force behind how one was huge around the world.
Stop thinking like it's 2024.

1996 and 2024 rap scene operated different and if your shyt wasn't played in black spaces, nikka you wasn't huge and Jay Z shyt wasn't played in those regions I named.

 

[NO-BadAzz]

He's not talking about the singles, holy shyt why can't y'all fukking read????

He's saying quality wise, real hip-hop heads knew it was dope, and you're sitting here talking about some damn radio hits. Only 3 of the songs he listed were even singles to begin with

And even beside that point, you've exposed yourself numerous times for thinking your little New Orleans bubble speaks for every region outside of the tri-State

Tell me this, in these regions where are dudes, because women in 1996 was not checking for Jay Z

What dudes outside of the tri-state area and DMV were playing Jay Z whole album?

Where? Where were west coast, Midwest, down south nikkas playing this nikka music?

Breh in 1996 these regions had their own music and own artist who were bigger playing in their spaces nikka