9781422276235

Chapter 1:

Jay-Z’s Greatest Moments

Jay-Z’s Rap Career Takes Off R easonable D oubt (Released June 25, 1996) Jay-Z’s debut album started at number twenty-three on the Billboard Top 200 Chart at its release, staying on it for eighteen weeks, and peaked at number three on the Billboard 's R&B Album Chart. R easonable D oubt was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after it sold over a million copies. Can’t Knock the Hustle , a single released on August 29, 1996, is one of the most well-known tracks from the album. Another hit single, Dead Presidents , was released February 20, 1996, as the first promotional track, but a second version of the song actually appeared on the album. The title Dead Presidents is a slang term for money because pictures of dead presidents appear on printed United States currency. The RIAA certified the single Gold after it sold 500,000 copies.

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HIP HOP & R&B JAY-Z

JAY-Z