Jay-Z's "Vol. 2.... Hard Knock Life" Outsells "Watch The Throne" As His Highest Selling Album

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2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH - Inside
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: Jay-Z attends 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
"Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" is officially 6x platinum.

Jay-Z has a catalog that spans back nearly 30 years. From the release of Reasonable Doubt to 4:44, Hov has delivered bodies of work that have served as the soundtracks of our lives. Of course, projects like The Blueprint and The Black Album were deemed instant classics but they aren’t necessarily his highest-sellers. For a long time, his collaborative effort with Kanye West, Watch The Throne, had the highest sales in his catalog but now, but that’s now been overtaken by one of his most underrated projects of all time.

The RIAA has officially updated Jay-Z’s page to name Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life as his largest-selling album of all time. Moving 6M copies to date, the album has officially sold more than Watch The Throne, which is only 5x platinum. It’s an incredible feat that speaks volumes about the timeless music he created. Though Vol. 2 isn’t necessarily the most celebrated album in his catalog, it undoubtedly boasted some of his most iconic hits, from “Money Cash Hoes” ft DMX to “Hard Knock Life” and “N***a What, N***a Who (Originator 99).”

Jay-Z’s “Vol. 2” Is Officially 6x Platinum

Hov’s latest RIAA update comes days after The Blueprint reached a new milestone in its 20+ year history. The album officially finally reached triple platinum status but it took roughly two decades to reach this achievement. The Blueprint previously hit the double platinum mark on May 1st, 2002. However, that was also at a time when you actually needed to buy CDs, rather than subscribe to Spotify or Apple Music. Nonetheless, it’s clear that there are fans, both old and new, revisiting the iconic album. 

Hopefully, the recent certification indicates what’s in store for Jay-Z’s upcoming surprise performance in Paris. The Brooklyn-born star announced that he’ll be performing a celebration concert as part of the Basquiat x Warhol Exhibit by Foundation Louis Vuitton. The intimate setting will certainly allow fans to witness Jay perform his biggest hits but perhaps, that might include a few deep cuts from Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. The rapper will hit the stage on April 14th, marking his first performance in France’s capital since the On The Run II tour with Beyoncé.

About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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