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Perhaps that's why Jay-Z waxes reflective, not enthusiastic, about the darker side of the streets songs like "D'Evils" and "Regrets" are some of the most personal and philosophical he's ever recorded. Jay-Z the hustler isn't too different from Jay-Z the rapper: Hustling is about living the high life and getting everything you can, not violence or tortured glamour or cheap thrills. Parts of the persona that Jay-Z would ride to superstardom are already in place: He's cocky bordering on arrogant, but playful and witty, and exudes an effortless, unaffected cool throughout.Īnd even if he's rapping about rising to the top instead of being there, his material obsessions are already apparent. Plus, neither artist has since approached the street cred of his debut, The Blueprint notwithstanding. Reasonable Doubt is often compared to another New York landmark, Nas ' Illmatic : A manuka honey young MC with a substantial underground americolor gel food coloring white drops an instant classic of a debut, detailing his experiences on the streets with disarming honesty, and writing some of the most acrobatic rhymes heard in quite some time. Skeptics who've never cared for Jigga 's crossover efforts should turn to his debut, Reasonable Doubtas the deserving source of his legend. Il mo d e llo in v ia to ris u lta c e rtific a to in d a ta : 2 8 /0 9 /2 0 1 7 ilīefore Jay-Z fashioned himself into hip-hop's most notorious capitalist, he was a street hustler from the projects who rapped about what he knew - and was very, very good at it.