“A Look Inside…”
GENERAL By TSSCrew on March 21, 2008 at 8:28 pmWords By David D.
Ten years ago, who would have thought that VH1, not MTV or BET, would be the epicenter for some of the most compelling documentaries on Hip-Hop?
Well, that seems to be the case, as VH1 is churning out fascinating looks into pivotal moments in Hip-Hop.
Just a couple of days ago, I Amazon’ed “Classic Album: Reasonable Doubt” and have since developed a newfound love for the amazing album. The documentary takes a microscope and truly delves into the making of Reasonable Doubt from the viewpoint of the producers, collaborators, famous fans, and Jay himself.
Too often we see Jay as the businessman, entertainer, ex-drup dealer, etc. However, this feature allows us to see Jay-Z the MC; the man who constructs images and metaphors in a way few can even imagine. Nine of the albums songs are deconstructed (literally, as producers strip the beat down to their samples and create the song again before our eyes) and put back together with Jigga as your guide. It’s really fun to see Jay nod his head and become fascinated again at his own work.
Some of the best moments come when Jay and the song’s producers sit next to each other and just talk about the mental processes involved in each line. The two contributors are just asked to listen to each song and discuss the most poignant moments. Quite frankly, there were some metaphors I missed that Jay really made a little clearer for me.
There is also some vintage footage of Jay-Z performing in hole in the wall clubs. It’s almost unbelievable to play this footage and then watch Fade to Black. The change in crowds over the course of only ten years is amazing.
The highlight of the DVD for me is the in-depth look into my favorite Jay-Z song, “D’Evils.” We start by looking at Premo’s masterful method of transforming the song from gospel into one of the most haunting songs on the album. This religious background only adds to the religious undertones of the album and chilling final lines. Then Jay, almost giddy at the song’s lyricism, explains the vast metaphorical strands touched on and maintained throughout the verses. The insight into this song is worth the price of the DVD on its own.
The documentary is not perfect, though. There are a few minor qualms. The first is the fact that “Brooklyn’s Finest” is not given as much time and insight as I would have liked. Granted, a major collaborator is absent, but I would love to see more discussion about the two MC’s interaction. There’s inexplicably more time given to Clark Kent’s hook on the song. My final complaint comes from some of the comments made by New Jack City writer, Barry Michael Cooper. Obviously he never heard of Raekwon and Only Built For Cuban Linx as he credits Jay-Z for starting a lot of things Rae and Ghost had already covered by the time Reasonable Doubt came out (cerebral portrayal of the gangster, emotional tales of inner conflict, etc.).
These problems do not at all deter “Classic Album: Reasonable Doubt” from being a phenomenal look into the creation of one of Hip-Hop’s most pivotal albums.
Posted in GENERAL, MUSIC, REVIEWS, SMOKE BREAK, VIDEO
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41 Comments
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HP1BXGTD
I’m technically first
Yeah, I never get to be “first” lol.
Was I the only one that caught this joint on VH1 last December? I still have this saved on my TiVo. It’s never getting erased my dude.
links not working G.
What was the link for Gotty? Whatever it is… its gone now! LOL
- link’s working. i snagged it. thx gotty.
Holy Shit Thx…!!!!!
this album stays in my weekly rotation
Caught this joint on VH1 when it first ran. Makes You wonder why Jay stopped effing with Ski & Premo. Still, great documentary for a classic album. The XXL piece on the making of Reasonable Doubt is the perfect compliment.
Good looks….Gotty!!!
Yeah, the link is definitely good. Just checked it.
Yeah… I dunno why it would come up the first time… its working now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170203795779
^^^ that is an auction for a pair of Send Helps from my homie, all $$$ earned from the sale will go directly to the march of dimes to help children.
everyone shits on Preem after they blow… n even if they do get another track down the line (2nd Childhood style), no one ever goes back to him on the reg.
he’s birthed many careers in my eye’s.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE THIS FUCKING SITE
Reasonable Doubt
the album’s name should be synonymous with hip-hop
this documentary is gonna be something to watch
Is it me or is it that VH1 has done more for hip-hop, since BET and MTV and MTV2 fell off. I mean the VH1 award show for hip-hop is 10x better than that bs BET tries every year. Just thought though.
respects on this…
tss is too dope…
reasonable doubt is one of the classic hip-hop albums of all time…absolutely love the shit (22 2’s are you fuckin kidding me??)…also, did i hear somethin about a tss fitted??? gotty, u need to go head and see about that shit…reserve an 8 for ya big-headed boy, tho…and you might wanna think about the SS logo…cats might think we’re nazis lol
AZ ft. Consequence – “Heavy in Da Game
http://www.zshare.net/audio/9300180757bcf5/
shit is fiyah
Madvillain – Original Samples
http://www.mediafire.com/?zzim6vnnxnm
spread love
Yeah, I still listen to my original copy I bought about 5 years ago. “Politics as Usual” is still on rotation in the ride. I haven’t even gotten around to ripping it for the ipod.
Ima have to check out the documentary but as far as the album its always been a classic 2 me except when i first first coped it the day it droped…i was a lil salty he jacked tribes hook on 22 2s but as i matured i realized what he was doing…I think ima pop this in on my ride back 2mmorrow after being disapointed at this N.E.R.D. show being canceled 2night…
my fellow smoking section heads and REAL MUSIC LOVERS in general::
it is my pleasure to present to you all a mixtape done by one of my closest pals for the past 16 years. he goes by the name of Applejac and the joint is called “Obscurely Familiar”. trust me, you’re gonna love it. the title pretty much speaks for itself and once you finish listening to it and downloading it, holla at him at myspace.com/applejac to let him know how much you dug it…
sendspace.com/file/8d8×4k
there it tiz shawty…
like the boy Sherm says if theres a hat save me a 7.5 i’ll shell out the cash for it
@ Sherm
that AZ is smoooooooooth!
nice drop….been wantin to watch that
High Amazing! http://www.spymac.com/details/?2353155
Dope piece and thanks Gotty!!
See Gotty, I told you cats would be on those TSS or the RMF fitteds.
I’m sure P could whip up a fresh design with ease.
If you thought the RMF tees sold, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Jaÿ legendary Z ! Obviously!
Fade To Black DVD .:;!? DAMNNNN
thx in ad first of all / link. Please if someone aveh
Peace Yall!
Method Man -dvd! too… ‘live from the sunset strip’
Rick Ross -dvd – M.I.Yayo (the movie) … bye
Where da f@*k can you find the dvd if you wanna buy it besides amazon.com?
^ Douglas Howser, you were the only one to catch it on VH1.
LOL !!!! doug
lol
ItS at BEST BUY
if you want to do a hat or another shirt holla at me Gotty…I was talking to my boy just the other day about the shirts we talked about a while ago. He’s down to do the logo…..
check a small portion of dude’s works here…
http://www.sensei23.com/
His painting’s are Dope and his work with a spraycan is even more Dope!!
Anyone having problems playing this on Mac. I can’t figure it out :|
@JC,
I have a Mac and it only plays audio not video not sure whats up with that. Makes no sense. I have quicktime and windows player. I didn’t think it was my Mac cause I’ve never had a problem before. I wonder if it played for anyone?
Of course, I’ve heard of Rae, and if you want to get deeper than that, I believe the Magna Carter was really influenced by CL Smooth and his imagery on “Ghettos Of The Mind” from the classic Pete Rock/CL Smooth, “Mecca And The Soul Brother”. I said what I said about Jay because more than anyone else with the possible exceptions of Biggie, Pac, Scarface, and maybe Eminem, Jigga paints cinematic pictures. Not saying Rae and even Tony Starks don’t because they do…Jay’s imagery resonates with me because he speaks like the scramblin’ kids I copped dimes and 20s of fishscale from on 126th between 8th and St. Nick, the same kids who walked really fast with the brown paper shopping bags from A&P and Sloans filled with money, dreams, and death.
…and “Mecca And The Soul Brother” was released in 1992, so it was long before Rae, T. Starks, and the Jigganational recorded any of their “Cashmere Thoughts” about the conflicts gaining the whole world and losing one’s own soul with an eighth of perico, new deck of Ace playing cards, bonita, and a triple beam scale…
while y’all are talkin about fitteds…can we get some love for cats with locs? i was wearing an 8 BEFORE i grew my locs
a visor or a skully would be dope…