Reviews
Ranked #7 in Vibe's "Top 10 rap albums" - "...Cinematic yet introspective...capturing the zeitgeist of the post-Native Tongue, pre-bling-bling era...", "...It's not what he says, but how he says it--with an irresistible confidence, a voice that exudes tough-guy authenticity, and unadorned but suitably militant beats..." - Rating: B+, "...Jay-Z has definitely come with something dope in his debut album....His hypnotic flow becomes the focal point of the album....REASONABLE DOUBT represents a culmination of style and innovation...", "There is nothing like the debut of Jay Z, a stroke of genius chronicling the life of a 26-year-old drug kingpin from the Marcy Houses with a love for craft unrivaled elsewhere in his work.", 4 Mics - Slammin' - "...Jay-Z moves from hip-hop sidekick to Mafia-style front man, blowing up the spot with vivid tales about the economic reality fueling what's left of contemporary ghetto politics....His lyrics create cuttingly clever rhymes that ride bomb tracks..."