What is the most single significant song in Jay Z's career?

[aneed123]

Hard knock life it introduced him to other regions.

 

[FlightKing]

Hard Knock Life made him the top NY rapper but Big Pimpin took him to a level he hasn't left yet.

 

[Busta Carmichael]

Came in to say hard knock life

See others beat me to it.

 

[StoneColdMikey]

Did anyone say Hard knock life?

 

[AP21]

Hard Knock Life.

I was young and still remember ber that being played in New Orleans. My mom took me Circuit City so I can buy that album. First time I spent my money on music

Circuit City in the east?

that used to be my place

 

[Lou Cypher]

I was pretty young, but I think hard knock life was his first huge single. I remember as a little kid hearing that all the time. Then big pimpin was played ALL THE TIME. I think big pimpin was the song that solidified jay as a star beyond hip hop even though it was just a hip hop song

 

[Lou Cypher]

Hard Knock Life made him the top NY rapper but Big Pimpin took him to a level he hasn't left yet.

^^ this is what I meant with my post above

 

[soul rattler]

One question, and I'm not downplaying the significance of Hard Knock Life at all...

Would it have been as big as it was if it dropped in 1996 on Reasonable Doubt?

 

[BenjaminE]

One question, and I'm not downplaying the significance of Hard Knock Life at all...

Would it have been as big as it was if it dropped in 1996 on Reasonable Doubt?

Not possible... Biggie was still alive...

 

[THE_R_]

PSA

 

[nex gin]

Hard Knock Life easy. The mainstream wasn't checking for Jay before that joint.

 

[aneed123]

One question, and I'm not downplaying the significance of Hard Knock Life at all...

Would it have been as big as it was if it dropped in 1996 on Reasonable Doubt?

Big and Pac died this really helped 2. In 96 it wouldn't have had the same impact and he slowed his flow down

 

[5th Letter]

Ain't No Nigga put Jay on the map in hip hop circles, but Hardknock Life made Jay a household name.

 

[CashmoneyDux]

Honestly I didn't think you was serious. Hence why I clicked the troll button. To say Jay ain't ever been a number 1 rapper is just ridiculous. Both in terms of lyrics and popularity. Nigga swagger jacked but all the rappers you named guilty of that one form or another.

And Mase, really?

Where were you? Mase was selling more than Jay bruh take the penis out ya mouth

 

[NoCompetition]

Ain't No Nigga put Jay on the map in hip hop circles, but Hardknock Life made Jay a household name.

Yeah I can agree with this. I actually think for Jay z its about the consistency you cant really point to one song cause he's had so many. Im thinking it was the ones off of Reasonable doubt the most though. They may not have been his biggest but they gave him that solid start that made people pay attention.

 

[trendsetta1030]

No hardknock life?

I started to put Hard Knock Life on there but that song doesn't exist without Dead Presidents existing first.

What? You need to explain this dumb shit cuz Hard Knock Life was one of if not Jay's biggest singles ever

In my lifetime is Jay's first single

Can I get made that cd sell goofy boy it was on a movie n all

 

[trendsetta1030]

In my lifetime is Jay's first single

Can't get wit that

 

[themadlionsfan]

Hard Knock Life made him the top NY rapper but Big Pimpin took him to a level he hasn't left yet.

Vol.2 sold more than vol.3

 

[vageneral08]

Are we talking the most significant or the most successful???

 

[BlackAX410]

In my lifetime is Jay's first single

That track is criminally underrated. But to answer the thread, hard knock life, NY state of mind shoulda been an option too but I like the premise of the thread, should do that with more 90's rappers instead of rehashing old beefs and region beef fuckery