On this episode we're discussing one of the greatest albums in hip hop history, JAY-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, on its 30th anniversary. Before the album dropped in 1996, Jay was building his name through early collabs with Jaz-O (“Hawaiian Sophie,” “The Originators”) Big Daddy Kane (“Show & Prove”) and Original Flavor (“Can I Get Open?”) as well as his own singles (“In My Lifetime,” “In My Lifetime” Remix, “I Can’t Get Wid Dat” and “Dead Presidents”).

We get into how these songs helped to shape his sound, talk about our favorite songs from Reasonable Doubt, discuss how the production helped to set the tone of the album, touch on who JAY-Z was at the time, and how it differs from the JAY-Z we would come to know in later years.

Pre-Reasonable Doubt 1:25

What these early tracks tell us 3:40

Early guest verses 4:26

Thoughts on early songs 6:19

Which of the early tracks feel closest to Reasonable Doubt? 7:28

Would you have predicted this guy to be a GOAT contender in the future? 8:05

Reasonable Doubt 9:31

Who is the JAY-Z that we hear on this album? 9:49

Do you hear ambition or caution in his stories? 14:10

Would you cut any songs from the album? 16:15

Does anything feel dated or does it hold up in 2026? 18:38

Favorite tracks from the album 20:17

First impression of JAY-Z 24:48

What stands out when listening today? 25:42

How did the production shape the storytelling and atmosphere? 29:08

Which song best captures the identity of Reasonable Doubt? 30:55

How does Reasonable Doubt compare to JAY-Z’s later works? 32:12

Describe Reasonable Doubt in one sentence 34:29

Which moment makes you feel the most like you’re inside Jay’s world? 35:12

What does Reasonable Doubt mean to JAY-Z’s story? 36:28

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On this episode, we’re revisiting a couple of classic albums we somehow never listened to in full, whether by choice or just because we never around to them. So this week, we finally pressed play on a few and we're here to present our findings, discuss what we learned and figure out if these albums live up to the hype. We each chose two, and here are the albums that we listened to:

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Miss E...So Addictive (2000) 0:57

Sade - Love Deluxe (1992) 8:16

Clipse - Lord Willin' (2001) 15:30

Mobb Deep - Hell on Earth (1996) 23:52

If you're enjoying the content that we're making and you're looking for ways to support our independent podcast, here's a little something that you can do:

• Check out all things TROY at troypodcast.com.
• Leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or Podchaser. Feedback boosts our visibility in algorithms, helps attract new listeners!
• Check out our store Nuthin' But A Tee Thang at teethang.com. You can cop tees, hoodies, hats, mugs and more.
• Spread the word to your family, friends and coworkers. A simple share on social media or a casual mention to a friend grows our audience faster than anything else.
• Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Liner Notes.

No matter how you choose to support, know that it is greatly appreciated.🫡

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On this episode we’re discussing someone who is probably one of the most important people in hip hop history, Warren G. Without this man, a lot of important moments in hip hop probably don’t happen. So, we’re gonna take a look at his debut album, Regulate...G Funk Era, that moved him from the background at Death Row and into the spotlight at Def Jam. We'll also be getting into some of our favorite Warren G tracks from his other albums as well.

Intro 0:38

First impressions after hearing "Indo Smoke" and "Ain't No Fun." 3:20

When you heard Regulate... G Funk Era for the fist time. 4:42

What is it about Warren G's style that separates him from other west coast artists? 9:28

Describe the first spin of this album to someone who wasn't there. 11:44

Is this a no-skip album? 12:58

Pick 3, 4 of your favorite albums cuts. 20:12

Put together a 5 song deep cut playlist from his discography. 21:00

Album cuts that capture the G-Funk vibe more than the singles. 22:26

Do you this of Warren G as a rapper or producer first? 23:25

Compare your first listen of Regulate... G-Funk Era to now. 27:20

Where does Regulate... G-Funk Era rank on your all-time list? 29:53

If you're enjoying the content that we're making and you're looking for ways to support our independent podcast, here's a little something that you can do:

• Check out all things TROY at troypodcast.com.
• Leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or Podchaser. Feedback boosts our visibility in algorithms, helps attract new listeners!
• Check out our store Nuthin' But A Tee Thang at teethang.com. You can cop tees, hoodies, hats, mugs and more.
• Spread the word to your family, friends and coworkers. A simple share on social media or a casual mention to a friend grows our audience faster than anything else.
• Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Liner Notes.

No matter how you choose to support, know that it is greatly appreciated.🫡

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.