V2 was the number one Album in the country 4 weeks in a row before this single even came out which is crazy
On this day 25 years ago Jay Z releases the 2nd single for Volume 2, Hard Knock Life(Ghetto Anthem)
- Thread starter Street Knowledge
- Start date
V2 was the number one Album in the country 4 weeks in a row before this single even came out which is crazy
He was very smart, knew he would make no money off the song because of the sample, but for the long run would make him a star
Controversy
Superstar
In hindsight, this is not a classic song
However, in real time, ppl loved this song, including the MTV crowd
Jigga had hella singles on Vol 2, but this was the biggest
However, in real time, ppl loved this song, including the MTV crowd
Jigga had hella singles on Vol 2, but this was the biggest
RIP 45 king
Dope song for the moment
But song and album has aged poorly..
But song and album has aged poorly..
funny...was bumping this on the way to work today lol
MajesticLion
Veteran
This became what they'd originally hoped Sunshine would have been.
Whips-n-Chains
Chi
For those that weren't cognizant of that era, this Song was fukking HUGE in 98...like Country Grammar level, but not quite In Da Club level
Never played a album more
Th momentum of this album was a marketing masterclass, and also just luck, timing, and context
Rush Hour dropped in September 1998, which I saw in theaters as a 12 year old, maybe even for my birthday with two of my boys
Then the album dropped, then Hard Knock Life probably brought a whole new audience to purchase it the next month. I think I had that JD album too.
of course it's my age, and nostalgia, but this winter of 1998 was like my initiation into hip hop in real time, I was listening in 1997 and 1998, but by late 98, I was buying my own cd singles and going to movies with my homies, we were living it. Trying to buy little silver chains from the mall. Playing ball before school talking about rap. Hearing Money Aint A Thang on the radio, back to back with Can I Get A. It was an unforgettable era.
In retrospect, in contrast to now, it was pretty adult music. Jay didn't really pander to the kids, mainstream, sure, but a lot of the bars on Hard Knock Life were going over by head at age 12.
Rush Hour dropped in September 1998, which I saw in theaters as a 12 year old, maybe even for my birthday with two of my boys
Then the album dropped, then Hard Knock Life probably brought a whole new audience to purchase it the next month. I think I had that JD album too.
of course it's my age, and nostalgia, but this winter of 1998 was like my initiation into hip hop in real time, I was listening in 1997 and 1998, but by late 98, I was buying my own cd singles and going to movies with my homies, we were living it. Trying to buy little silver chains from the mall. Playing ball before school talking about rap. Hearing Money Aint A Thang on the radio, back to back with Can I Get A. It was an unforgettable era.
In retrospect, in contrast to now, it was pretty adult music. Jay didn't really pander to the kids, mainstream, sure, but a lot of the bars on Hard Knock Life were going over by head at age 12.
Hearing the unedited version of Can I Get A for the first time was a whoa.....what the fukk moment for us too
we only had the vaguest idea of what the song was about and all the sexual references, Kim and Foxy were out, but they weren't as mainstream as this song in the later 90's. Amil was talking sexually as fukk lol
we only had the vaguest idea of what the song was about and all the sexual references, Kim and Foxy were out, but they weren't as mainstream as this song in the later 90's. Amil was talking sexually as fukk lol
That’s what a lot of guys did. fukk owning the song, just use it to make you a bigger star and make dough off of touring. Like Puffy with I’ll Be Missing You.
But the fact that a lot of artists DONT see it like this is why a lot of guys complain about getting screwed in their contracts years after they fall off.
Rev Leon Lonnie Love
damned mine eyes, DAMNED mine eyes!!
I liked it when I first heard it. 
but its got poor replay value
but its got poor replay value