For the past two decades, music critics have endlessly lauded Jay Z for his debut album Reasonable Doubt. In a discussion shared by esteemed marketing executive Steve Stoute alongside Future, LeBron James, Steve Stoute, James Harden and Hot 97’s Ebro Darden, Jay’s “I Got The Keys” collaborator said the Brooklyn rapper’s first album “wasn’t hot” when it first came out in 1996.
“Jay Z wasn’t great when Tupac and Biggie was alive,” said the Atlanta MC. “It was Biggie, Tupac, Ice Cube… [Reasonable Doubt] wasn’t hot until [Tupac and Biggie] died.”
Future further explained that there was no malice on his end. He later reiterated how Jay’s first album was overlooked and under-appreciated, considering he was competing against reputable artists who were already established like Tupac and Biggie.
“I’m saying at that time, [it wasn’t hot]. They always go back for your classic album. When Nas dropped his first album, it was great then,” he added. “When “[If] I Ruled The World” came out, it was the best then. You have to go back and listen to Reasonable Doubt and [think] this the best sh-t ever.”
Jay Z’s debut album boasted several enduring favorites like “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” “Dead Presidents,” “Can I Live,” “Feelin’ It,” and “Ain’t No N—ga”. Earlier this year, Future and Jay Z collaborated on DJ Khaled‘s “I Got the Keys,” which peaked at No. 30 on the Hot 100.
Check out the short clip below of Future explaining his POV below.
Future talks about the top 5 of all time and says Jay Z “Reasonable Doubt” wasn’t hot when it first came out . FACTS or FICTION? pic.twitter.com/pKgwyV3CYp
— DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) December 14, 2016