Reasonable Doubt

“See, I’m a hustler’s hope, I’m not his pipe dreams. So when they speak of success, I’m what they might mean” — Jay-Z

Jay-Z is definitely my favorite artist of all time. And, Reasonable Doubt, his first album, is probably my favorite album of all time. It’s one of the earliest albums I remember listening too. Jay-Z released his first album at 26 years old, elderly for the Rap — the young man’s game.

Reasonable Doubt is sublime because it resonates at any age. It resonates because it is the quintessential rap album. It is capitalistic while maintaining connections with the 99%, vulnerable without being soft, philosophical without being ponderous.

It’s a hustler’s soundtrack, and the hustle is what you make of it.