Today marks an important milestone in hip-hop history -- the release of Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt, an instant classic that sparked the career of the greatest rapper of all time. At least, one of the strongest contenders, if not the surefire pick. For many who hold to that school of thought, Reasonable Doubt plays a pivotal role in that assessment. Even twenty-four years removed from its initial drop, when Jay-Z was a budding emcee looking to earn his place at the table, the project retains every bit of golden-era quality we've come to remember.
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In celebration of the album's birthday, Kareem "Biggs" Burke, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, took a moment to reflect on the triumphant day. Heavily involved in the album's creation, Biggs shared a few snapshots destined to spark waves of nostalgia. Especially the first two slides, which feature the Reasonable Doubt cassette tape and a suave Roc-A-Fella chain.
"24 yrs ago we dropped a tape," writes Burke, in the accompanying caption. "The rest is history!!! Happy Birthday Reasonable Doubt." We'd like to echo those birthday wishes, and reiterate our own sentiment as made last year -- one year later, the hustle has yet to be knocked. It stands to reason that hip-hop will be celebrating this timeless classic for generations.