Chapter One: Greatest Hits [PA]

Performer: Jay-Z
Artist: Foxy Brown; Lil' Kim; Mary J. Blige; DMX; Jermaine Dupri
Distributor: MSI Music Distribution

Notes: CHAPTER ONE: GREATEST HITS collects early successes by rapper Jay-Z. Personnel: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Mary J. Blige, Babyface (vocals); Foxy Brown , Ja Rule, Jermaine Dupri, Lil' Kim, Puff Daddy (rap vocals). A greatest-hits compilation was inevitable, but possibly too soon. Taking things up to right before 1999's Life and Times of S. Carter, this compiles all of the earliest Jay-Z anthems onto one disc, quite possibly to ride off of the success of the Blueprint and Unplugged releases. These tracks are infectious and wildly pop-savvy hip-hop masterpieces that laid the groundwork for the R&B/hip-hop charts for the past decade, and they show Jay-Z in some of the finest moments of his career. It's a smart idea, but the album could have been much stronger had more recent material been included in place of remixes as bonus tracks. That said, fans unfamiliar with his classic early work should start here. Die-hard loyalists most likely have everything noteworthy already. ~ Rob Theakston

Considered one of the best lyricists to emerge in the wake of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac's deaths, Jay-Z has since carried the flag of hip-hop narrative skill. His Roc-A-Fella family had already created a solid reputation based on Jay-Z's 1997 debut. As his fame has grown, so has his tendency to bring more R&B production elements into his work, creating a club-friendly, danceable version of east coast gangsta hip-hop that hasn't diminished his reputation as a preeminent force in rap. Perhaps even more importantly, Jay-Z has become a powerful musica impresario. In his role as president/CEO of Def Jam in the early 2000s, he fostered the careers of popular R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo, and enjoyed a high profile as a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team. His long relationship and eventual marriage to superstar Beyonce has further endeared him to fans.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25