Jay Z Says That His Missteps On His Album Vol. 1 Haunt Him. Where Do U Rank Vol. 1 In Jay’s Catalog?

[@RIDGEMATIC]

No lie I randomly felt the need to bump vol 1 a few weeks ago. Real talk that shit was HARD!!!

[@xararogers3186]

I love this album including “Sunshine.” All the songs can’t be hardcore and gully. I thoroughly enjoy that he showed us a softer side so early on, along with the street stuff.

[@koutlaw30]

We always give Jay a hard time for "Sunshine", but let's not act like Nas didn't create a song that wasn't trash

[@romaretaylor9953]

Nas got several trash songs

[@McStrokeAvision]

You owe me corny like sunshine.

[@rubski-ds9yc]

@@McStrokeAvision that was 3 albums layer. Not on it was written.

[@lethaljones3814]

Volume 1 is one of his best albums. It’s definitely better than volume 2

[@jknumber5138]

Str8 bugging. Vol2 changed the game in 1998 and you know it💯

[@skinnypippen9580]

Volume 2 wasn't that good!

[@jamaaldavis7907]

@@jknumber5138 I disagree..vol.2 is meh

[@Aaron.McNair]

That’s a fact

[@jknumber5138]

Stillmatic sounds better to my ears now than in 2001🎼🎵🎶🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤. They equal now🤜🏽🤛🏽💯

[@juliusrutherford5123]

Vol 1 is a pretty solid album 🔥

[@jknumber5138]

🤜🏽🤛🏽

[@naps5697]

I love lucky me its not always about bars he was getting deep on that one. just my opinion. Love that album. Sunshine sucked lol

[@LuckySosa44]

2:59 he perform imaginary players in Tidal B Sides 1, amazing show.

[@adrielgreen6746]

Lil Wayne got a verse from Lucky Me tatted on him

[@chrisjohnson4272]

Funny thing is vol.1 is some of his best work there were a couple songs on there that could've got scrapped but that's a classic

[@jamaaldavis7907]

Sunshine n know what girls like ....only 2 trcks I hate...his most introspective cd in career

[@bravedave90]

JAY-Z has it right because Volume 1 should haunt him. He was trying to fill the void after BIGGIE'S death with Puffy and the R&B collabs. So, that was the formula back then. But, the Sunshine record was the most egregious effort to that effemct imo because it looked so cheesy. From the shiny suits dancers to Dame dancing in the video. It was direct visual reference to the Nas line in Ether..."Is he Dame Diddy Dame daddy or, Dame dummy". As far as Blueprint being better than Stillmatic I can't go there. I'm like Coop when talking about the MC. There's NOTHING on Blueprint that's the LYRICAL equivalent to "Rewind", " 2nd Childhood" or, " What Goes Around Comes Around" The hook alone washes everything on Blueprint lyrically speaking. Its not even close, not one damn bar! 'Ectasy coke they say its love, it is poison, schools where I learn they should be burned it is Poison! "Physicians prescription us medicine that is poison"! I really shouldn't have to go any further bro? However, Mike makes a one solid point about "u dont Know" Stillmatic doesn't have anything comparable to that record. The way that hits and the beat Nas could never do that. And I'm a proud NAS stan.

[@McStrokeAvision]

You’re right they’re different artist both with strengths and weaknesses that make them both great. Nas probably never makes a you don’t know but Jay never makes a rewind, one mic, 2nd childhood, fetus etc. Nas is just a more creative artist and lyrically better but Jay has his pulse on trends and what’s current. Nas music will last way longer...

[@bravedave90]

@@McStrokeAvision exactly, and it needs to be said again. Jay-Z has NOTHING in his catalog the lyrical equivalent to "Rewind", "I gave your Power", or, even "One Love". But, in fairness, nobody does. Honestly, Jay-Z doesn't have anything lyrically matching Nas Dj Clue mixtape freestyles either. Jay-Z rhymes don't have the raw authentic feel of the street as a Nas records do.. Arguably, some might say Jay-Zs most lyrical exploits would be his 22 two's and that doesn't even sound like it fits that album. It's actuallly somewhat dated sonically imo but, the rhymes were there. However, I can also admit that the closest Nas could come to Jay-Z on a anthem like record would be " Made you Look" and you can't do that record without Jadakiss and the rewritten verse. And after that it's a wash.

[@jamaaldavis7907]

@@bravedave90 nas lyrically better den jay..not new news...but Jay does alot of other thangs betta den nas

[@animebrospodcast4577]

@@bravedave90I disagree . Jay z lyricism is superior than anything nas has ever written

[@lovehate8286]

Lucky me is 🔥🔥🔥

[@massdagod]

I loved Vol. 1

[@SoulOfTheSouth]

He performed those songs on his B-side concerts. Ya’ll haven’t seen it?

[@skinnypippen9580]

Sunshine and I know what Girls like are the only two! Although I loved Sunshine video due to Foxy

[@enlighten1863]

Blueprint aged 100 times better than stillmatic and the world knows…

[@sonnyjason2]

Hell nah

[@jamaaldavis7907]

100 times better..no sir

[@Platinumfam]

Stillmatic is definitely better than Blueprint. Nothing on Blueprint is better than Rewind. Ether is better than Takeover. The story telling is way better on Stillmatic. Lyrically Nas is better than Jay on Blueprint.

[@WO2411]

I don’t care what nobody say Vol 3 was the greatest Jay Z album 💯

[@johnsondailysports1341]

Vol 3 was lit

[@ferrarstokes7115]

Really? I always felt vol 3 was on the back end of his catalog. I gotta go back and check it out. I did love do it again with him and Sigel tho.

[@mrkey201]

The LOX- We Are The Streets is a classic it's not on the great sophomore efforts

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Alotta that shit on there didn't age well at all. Some of Swizz tracks age like bananas. I dare you to try to play songs on there like "Bring it On"; "U Told Me" and that "If You Know" joint with Eve and Drag-on in 2022 lol. To be fair, Swizz did have some joints on there that stood the test of time. Styles P reminded me of how dope "Felony Niggas" was last year during Verzuz, when he was sonning Juelz on stage 😂😂😂

[@jamaaldavis7907]

@@SD-vf1er we are the streets is trash ....cmon bruh🤣🤣

[@i.m.6758]

The Blueprint is 100 percent better than Stillmatic.

[@enlighten1863]

I agree, not even close..

[@mmind2295]

Lay off the crack one mic rewind Ether second child hood ur da man poison

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

@@mmind2295 you smoking mescaline and peyote

[@jknumber5138]

Stillmatic aged better than the Blueprint💯(both still classics)

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

@@jknumber5138 you smoking opium mixed with DMT

[@Peace1dy]

I went back and listened to his first four albums. I don’t really know what to say. They all had some good songs on them.

[@skinnypippen9580]

Blueprint cannot compare to Stillmatic! Rewind, One Mic, The Flyest

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

You smoking sherm stick and k2

[@xavierlogistics4057]

"You gotta learn to live with regrets"

[@brianlarkins4250]

Jayz vol 1 to me is Jayz top 5 album 1. Blueprint 2. Reasonable doubt 3. Black album 4. Vol 1 5. American gangster

[@KCGainz]

Yeaaa true. Hola hovito coulda been on vol 3 and been just fine

[@Yoda35421]

City is Mine is dope to me. Lucky Me I could go either way. Girls like, sunshine, friend or foe 98 holds it back. A million Streets is watching Where I’m from Imaginary player Rap game crack game You must love me All classic

[@kay-uw5lt]

Before i even watch this I'll give my opinion on the album, He raps better, on this in terms of mastering flow, delivery, and versatility. Reasonable doubt still beats it though, because it is more lyrical has more content, and is so raw..

[@lorenzoburton3974]

Vol 1 is a classic EP. Those shiny suit songs 🤮

[@crossnight7930]

You're the man frm stillmatic is better than 90 per cent of Jay's songs.

[@michaeloparah5438]

Is it crack? Is it crack that you smoke?

[@enlighten1863]

@@michaeloparah5438 He definitely drinking fluid 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@jamaaldavis7907]

You're a nas fanboy with that asinine statement

[@mamba4817]

you don't know isn't better then One Mic

[@ibz_56]

I hope you do a discussion on vol 2 that is the most overrated album from jay

[@jamaaldavis7907]

I agree....vol.2 wasn't all that......dumb down his lyrics n double the dollars started wit vol.2

[@enlighten1863]

Blueprint is better than stillmatic…

[@bobt9705]

Nah. Stillmatic is better than BP. IWW is also better than RD.

[@bundydachosen1]

Naw man ….

[@nadia.k519]

As much as I hate to admit it. Ur right

[@lethaljones3814]

You’re speaking the truth sir

[@McStrokeAvision]

I have them even but I can see it.

[@jackinralph1]

Mike D is super trippin in a side-by-side battle The Blueprint vs Stillmatic taking the best 13 songs (because Stillmatic has 16 songs) Stillmatic smokes Blueprint. Oh and I hated Izzo when it came out to me the hook and the beat was super corny

[@michaeloparah5438]

Blueprint over Stillmatic. Both of them classics tho.

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

This black guy in Vegas is smoking opium and horse tranquilizer

[@jackinralph1]

​@@michaeloparah5438 Did you look at the tracklisting when you replied or are speaking from knowing both albums track for track? If you walked up to me and said which was better I would have easily said Blueprint no question but If am looking at the tracklisting song for song 13 off BP vs the 13 out of 16 on Stillmatic I would not say the math would be on BP side. I am a fan of them both and know all of their music

[@jackinralph1]

@@ArtisanWindchimes Respectfully I will ask you the same thing.Did you look at the tracklisting when you replied with such a slanderous but funny statement or are speaking from knowing both albums track for track? Again without looking, I would tell you BP was better but looking having heard every song and lining them up 13 against 13 are you sure? and that's is coming from a big fan of them both who has heard all of their music before

[@michaeloparah5438]

@@jackinralph1 Outside of 2nd Childhood I would bump most songs off of The Blueprint before I bumped a single song off of stillmatic! 'Jigga That N gga' is a straight up abomination!!! A plague upon the earth!!! 'Stillmatic (intro)' is massively underrated! ("Blood of a Slave, Heart of a King") 'Takeover' is the better overall song even though 'Ether' is the 3rd greatest diss song of all time!!! 2nd Childhood may be the greatest hip hop song of the '00s (Honorable mention goes to Exhibit C) Both albums are Classics!!!

[@1zuponatime262]

That album is not good 🤷🏽‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@jamaaldavis7907]

U crazed

[@5hyamg]

Vol 1 is jay at his best. It is his hov at his peak! RD is jay tryin to jack Nas and Raekwon. After vol 1, he fell off. Tried to recapture it on American Gangster.

[@michaeloparah5438]

Who really jacked who? Talking bout bitten NaS, n gga I did every bit of crime that I writ in mine/ ran so much coke I could sh t a dime/ and this was way back when, way before your bullsh t was signed - Hov 'Reasonable Doubt' release date: June 25, 1996 'It was written' release date: July 2, 1996

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

@@michaeloparah5438 Tell him again. “Never sold aspirin how you Escobar?”

[@jknumber5138]

Jay changed the game in 98 with Vol2

[@jamaaldavis7907]

@@jknumber5138dmx was bigger den jay in '98...it's dark n hell is hot n flesh of my flesh either > vol.2 .... in '98

[@jknumber5138]

@@jamaaldavis7907 People played both. X still didn't have a bigger single than HKL. X was even on Jays album

[@stevenstrong3278]

He performed "A million and one" and "Streets is watching" at his B side concert a few years ago

[@infamousp5608]

I think Vol 1 is Jay Z best album

[@johnsondailysports1341]

No way lol.

[@crossnight7930]

Stillmatic intro is better than half of Jay's songs

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

A Million And One Questions and Dynasty Intro > Stillmatic Intro

[@Taj_Rahine]

Jay-Z used to say Imaginary Player was his favorite song before he made Allure, after that he said Allure was his favorite

[@daminharris3879]

Hmmm Sorry Hov lol Imaginary Player>>>>>>Allure

[@RIDGEMATIC]

Allure probably is his best song that beat was RIDICULOUS

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Both are arguably top 10 songs in his catalogue. I could make the case for both on any given day as Jay's dopest b-side.

[@jamaaldavis7907]

@@RIDGEMATIC nah..

[@Aaron.McNair]

Imaginary players greatest Jay-a song.. perfect… then seeing the video knowing who he was talking bout classic

[@jermanecrumbley2662]

2nd childhood iz 🔥

[@Justice098]

Volume 1 is the best volume to me.

[@jamaaldavis7907]

By far💯💯

[@MusicJunkiePlus]

One reason why Jay might’ve mentioned Vol. 1 is this year is it’s 25th anniversary year. Maybe they’ll re-release it on vinyl or whatever

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Interesting. I find that plausible. Jay's very calculated, and hy per aware of his legacy is. That's why he called T.I. a couple years ago after TI had the "audacity" to rank 2Pac ahead of him.

[@guttaone]

I love lucky me one of my favorite Jay songs Great rapping on that one

[@rometrz1037]

the mase diss on vol 1 was better than the mase diss on vol 2. the fish eye lens also didnt serve him well, birthed the joe camel moniker that never left i think thats what haunts him the most

[@rustyie_winnin3279]

Vol 1 is fire 🔥

[@therealreal7206]

Premier laced him on this album

[@lorenzoburton3974]

He’s turning Vol. 1 into a art piece.

[@dmercy8477]

Love this channel but I just wanna hear your opinion on Vol 1 not this Blueprint Vs. Stillmatic dynamic. Save that for another video. Vol 1 could of been better if he cut some songs like I know what girls like or sunshine. It's not as bad as Vol 3 but it's isn't as good as Vol 2.

[@KCGainz]

He performed imaginary players at his b sides concert

[@edgestar2470]

LIKE 50 CENT SAID, JAY-Z IS OBSESSED WITH NAS!!!

[@edgestar2470]

JAY-Z IS TRYING TO CREATE AN ORA LIKE ILLMATIC THATS ALL...

[@enlighten1863]

Coop gotta stop tryna change the narrative, if you feel like jay music didn’t age well that’s your opinion but don’t try to persuade other people to agree with you..

[@KCGainz]

Whoaaa! I woulda took out face off before i took off lucky me.

[@InMyMinistry]

JAY is just upset that he couldn’t get “Wishing on A Star” cleared for this album.

[@mamba4817]

I like Vol 1 and 3 better then 2

[@nykareem2001]

Same

[@jefriefultonii3666]

I like Wishing on a Star which is on the European version of Vol 1. The video is on KZbin and should’ve been on the album like Silent Murder from Nas.

[@jermanecrumbley2662]

He needs to go back 2 premier!

[@jknumber5138]

Vol1 is better than his 🖤Album(Sunshine n all)💯

[@mamba4817]

renegade is an outstanding song.

[@jimmycharlotin7050]

to me this is what I'm trying to stress to all hip hop fans he is a hustler disguised as a rapper because he was going out of his element buy going with that puffy hit man production instead riding that reasonable doubt wave

[@jimmycharlotin7050]

@@SD-vf1er I don't be getting ya'll sometimes bro why all the animosity towards someone who literally carried rocafella on his shoulder bro are you kidding me? you don't have to like him to respect this nigga ask kanye where would be his career path be without hov nigga I'm pretty sure you listened to big brother stop hating on hov man

[@romaretaylor9953]

@@SD-vf1er fine I’ll leave money out of it since it’s not fair to your broke ass, explain to me how one of the greatest rappers in hip hop history with classic hits, albums and collaborations is a failed rapper.

[@romaretaylor9953]

@@SD-vf1er okay cheesehead

[@_unclecharles_]

i talked about this the other day in another post. "Sunshine" was not a bad song like if u listen to it him and Foxy have that same synergy they had on "Aint No Nigga" they really was talking they shit. the video was a reach with the colors and the dancers and all that shit and u can tell they was tryna make it like a puff and mase video. It was see thru as fuck

[@skinnypippen9580]

I had a buddy in the states who flew to THE Bahamas his hometown to buy Volume 1 from me and visit his family also for how difficult it was to find and was missing from his collection

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

I saw these tweets. Interesting discussion, although people like Questlove are clearly Jay-Z meat riders, and just weirdos. Nigga said I Know What Girls Like and Sunshine "went over peoples' heads" lol. Nah. Some of us were alive and old enough to be outside when Volume 1 dropped. The truth is, it's a 3 and 1/2 mic album, that's all. Some of Jay's dopest songs from his catalogue are on that project, along with those trash Bad Boy Hitmen/Teddy Riley joints, alongside just ok songs like Faceoff, Rap Game/Crack Game and Real Niggas. This is an attempt at revisionist history to try to claim that Volume 1 issa "classic." Jay-Z was clearly chasing the radio, and tryna latch on to that Bad Boy/shiny suit wave that was dominating in that era. He was obviously still tryna find his "voice" and lane during that era, where elites like Pac, Nas and Biggie found that balance between making commercial records, alongside critically acclaimed albums that the streets f'd with. It wasn't until Hard Knock Life that Jay put all the pieces to the puzzle together.

[@romaretaylor9953]

I’d give it a 4. There’s like 3 bad songs on there, the city is mine is the best single off that album and everything else ranged from dope to classic

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

@@romaretaylor9953 I give it 4 and a half. Only song I don’t like is I Know What Girls Like. And Face off was aight.

[@McStrokeAvision]

Yea I’d give it a 4 but I can see 3.5. You hit the nail on the head with most the songs though. Some of his best work in on this joint though but it’s definitely a nice amount of garbage as well

[@jackinralph1]

Vol 1 was not a horrible album at all I have at least 5 or 6 cuts on this album are dope. Mike D I was living DC when " Who You Wit" dropped that rang off in the clubs you wasnt outside lol. Coop was on point with the mid songs 100% As a life Jay Z fan the album I f'ing hated more than any other album was The Dynasty La Roc Familia I haaaaaaaaate that album. Whomever says it did age well is off because "Where Im From" is still crazy

[@mamba4817]

Some jays best verses on Dynasty.

[@mamba4817]

The intro is fire

[@dfwherbie8814]

Stillmatic > Blueprint. You’re the man is better than every song on blueprint

[@romaretaylor9953]

No way HELL NO! You don’t know is better than that song

[@michaeloparah5438]

'You're the man' isn't even a top 3 song on stillmatic! Dudes get on the internet and say anything...

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

Herbie smoking heron mixed with gorilla glue