In My Lifetime, Vol. 1

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Studio album by Jay-Z
Released November 4, 1997
Recorded 1996–1997
Genre Hip hop
Length 58:00
Label Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Producer Jay-Z (exec.), Damon Dash (co-exec.), Kareem "Biggs" Burke (co-exec.), The Hitmen, Teddy Riley, DJ Premier, Chad Hugo, Ski, Buckwild, Poke and Tone, Big Jaz, Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool
Jay-Z chronology
Reasonable Doubt
(1996)		 In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
(1997)		 Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
(1998)
Singles from In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
  1. "Who You Wit"
    Released: May 20, 1997
  2. "(Always Be My) Sunshine"
    Released: October 14, 1997
  3. "The City Is Mine"
    Released: February 3, 1998
  4. "A Million and One Questions"
    Released: February 24, 1998
  5. "Wishing on a Star"
    Released: March 11, 1998
  6. "Imaginary Player"
    Released: May 11, 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
The Source4/5[7]
Spin5/10[8]
USA Today[9]

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 is the second studio album by American rapper Jay Z, released on November 4, 1997 by Roc-A-Fella Records. The album debuted at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Music

The album features guest contributions by Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Babyface, Blackstreet, Teddy Riley, Too $hort, and Puff Daddy.[10][11] Producers for Reasonable Doubt such as DJ Premier and Ski contribute to a limited number of beats on this album, though the majority of the production is handled by beatmakers from Puff Daddy's Bad Boy label, giving the album a generally glossier sound than its predecessor. It displayed a shift from the mafioso rap themes of his first effort to the so-called "jiggy" era of late 90's hip-hop, often credited to videos and albums from Puff Daddy and his Bad Boy record label's roster of artists including Notorious B.I.G. (the first two singles from his second album were both huge pop hits) and Mase.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, Steve Jones of USA Today called In My Lifetime "a rock-solid set with both street and pop appeal".[9] Chicago Tribune critic Soren Baker believed Jay-Z's lyrics "contain a finesse and insight few can articulate as succinctly", while writing that "his use of pop producers Teddy Riley and Sean 'Puffy' Combs will alienate listeners, even as Jay-Z establishes himself as that rare underground rhymer with commercial appeal".[2] Robert Christgau gave the album a two-star honorable mention in his 2000 Consumer Guide book,[3] indicating a "likable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well enjoy".[12] He named "(Always Be My) Sunshine" and "Real Niggaz" as highlights while calling Jay-Z "arrogant yet diffident, ruthless yet cute--a scary original".[3] Chris Norris from Spin said Jay-Z's raps are often "in search of meaty ideas or distinctive charm—skills without pleasure", and was also critical of the production. "Without one sure, guiding vision," Norris wrote, "the Combs blueprint comes off as either mundane or embarrassing".[8]

AllMusic editor John Bush wrote in a retrospective review, "Though the productions are just a bit flashier and more commercial than on his debut, Jay-Z remained the tough street rapper, and even improved a bit on his flow". According to Bush, he "struts the line between project poet and up-and-coming player" while balancing "both personas with the best rapping heard in the rap game since the deaths of 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.".[1]

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "Intro / A Million And One Questions / Rhyme No More"  DJ Premier 3:21
2. "The City Is Mine" (featuring Blackstreet)Teddy Riley, Chad Hugo 4:02
3. "I Know What Girls Like" (featuring Lil' Kim & Puff Daddy)Sean "Puffy" Combs, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence for The Hitmen 4:50
4. "Imaginary Player"  Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool for The Hitmen 3:57
5. "Streets Is Watching"  Ski 3:58
6. "Friend or Foe '98"  DJ Premier 2:09
7. "Lucky Me"  Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen, Buckwild for D.I.T.C. 5:00
8. "(Always Be My) Sunshine" (featuring Foxy Brown & Babyface)Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool for The Hitmen 4:43
9. "Who You Wit II"  Ski 4:29
10. "Face Off" (featuring Sauce Money)Poke and Tone for Trackmasters 3:31
11. "Real Niggaz" (featuring Too $hort)Anthony Dent 5:07
12. "Rap Game / Crack Game"  Big Jaz 2:40
13. "Where I'm From"  Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence for The Hitmen 4:26
14. "You Must Love Me" (featuring Kelly Price)Nashiem Myrick for The Hitmen 5:47

Sample credits

"Intro: A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More"

"The City Is Mine"

"I Know What Girls Like"

"Imaginary Player"

"Streets Is Watching"

"Friend or Foe '98"

"(Always Be My) Sunshine"

"Who You Wit II"

"Face Off"

"Rap Game/Crack Game"

"Where I'm From"

"You Must Love Me"

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1997) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart 78
US Billboard 200 3
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 2

Singles

Year Song Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1997 "Who You Wit" #84 #25 #18
"(Always Be My) Sunshine" #95 #37 #16
1998 "The City Is Mine" #52 #37 #14

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. 1 2 Bush, John. Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-02-05.
  2. 1 2 Baker, Soren. "Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1". Chicago Tribune: 29. December 26, 1997. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  3. 1 2 3 Christgau, Robert (February 1998). Robert Christgau: CG: Jay-Z. Christgau's Consumer Guide. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Jay-Z". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0857125958.
  5. ↑ Ehrlich, Dimitri. Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2010-02-05.
  6. ↑ Caramanica, Jon. "Jay-Z" in Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.) 2004. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster.
  7. ↑ "Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. The Source: 180. December 1997.
  8. 1 2 Norris, Chris. "Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1". Spin: 105–106. February 1998.
  9. 1 2 Jones, Steve. "Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1". USA Today: 08.D. November 18, 1997. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  10. ↑ Shuster, Fred. "Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1". Los Angeles Daily News: November 21, 1997.
  11. ↑ Harrington, Richard. "Review: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1". The Washington Post: B.07. November 26, 1997.
  12. ↑ Christgau, Robert (October 15, 2000). Robert Christgau: CG 90s: Key to Icons. Robert Christgau. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  13. ↑ "American album certifications – JAY Z – In My Lifetime, Vol. 1". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

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