Episode 2: Politics As Usual | Brooklyn's Finest: The Making of Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z

In our second episode, we look at the process of making the Reasonable Doubt album, the internal struggles, signing to Payday Records, Roc-A-Fella Records renting their first office space, and finding a recording home at D & D Studios.

Featuring in order of appearance: Dart Adams, Ski, Rob Markman, Abdul Malik Abbott, David Lotwin, Joe Quinde, Jaz-O, SK Vibemaker, Pain In Da Ass, DJ Clark Kent, DJ Shortee Blitz and Sean Kantrowitz.

Chris on Roc-A-Fella signing with Payday Records (0:56)
Sumit on Roc-A-Fella renting their first office space and starting to record Reasonable Doubt (1:21)
Dart Adams on the demand for Ski’s production and his influence on Jay-Z’s music (1:51)
Ski Beatz on the crew making music for Jay-Z and the difference in his sound (2:34)
Rob Markman on becoming a fan of Jay-Z's writing ability (3:17)
Ski Beatz on discovering the sample for the Dead Presidents beat (4:27)
Abdul Malik Abbott on taking the photo that became the cover art for the Dead Presidents single (5:47)
Abdul Malik Abbott on the Dead Presidents video being inspired by the film, Heat (6:23)
Abdul Malik Abbott on the roundtable scene at the end of the Dead Presidents video (7:19)
David Lotwin on watching Jay-Z record the album at D & D (8:33)
Joe Quinde on the vibe at D & D and recording Ain't No Nigga (9:48)
Jaz-O on the challenges he faced when producing the Ain't No Nigga beat (10:44)
Jaz-O on his working relationship with Khadejia Bass (12:11)
Jaz-O on singing the hook for Ain't No Nigga (12:42)
David Lotwin on the success of Ain't No Nigga (13:12)
Abdul Malik Abbott on filming the Ain't No Nigga video in Miami (13:48)
Abdul Malik Abbott on Jay-Z becoming comfortable in front of the camera (14:49)
Abdul Malik Abbott on Biggie's guest appearance in the Ain't No Nigga video and the bad weather in Miami (15:08)
SK Vibemaker on the first impression the Ain't No Nigga video had on him as a young Hip Hop fan (16:17)
Pain In The Ass on being asked to feature on Reasonable Doubt (17:23)
Dart Adams on Can't Knock The Hustle becoming a part of the Hip Hop lexicon (20:43)
Rob Markman on Mary J Blige's feature on Can't Knock The Hustle (21:24)
Pain In The Ass on the original version of Can't Knock The Hustle with different lyrics (22:00)
Ski Beatz on hearing Hurry Up This Way Again by The Stylistics and sampling the track to create the beat for Politics As Usual (23:13)
Ski Beatz on producing Luchini for Camp Lo after they heard Politics As Usual (24:15)
DJ Clark Kent on him and Ski sampling the same song used for Politics As Usual without knowing the other had it (24:46)
Pain In The Ass on most of Reasonable Doubt being a demo (25:06)
DJ Shortee Blitz on receiving Jay-Z promo items from Freeze Records (25:31)
Pain In The Ass on Brooklyn's Finest originally being a Jay-Z solo track (25:51)
DJ Clark Kent on using Jay-Z to push Biggie to become a better emcee (26:42)
Sean Kantrowitz on the impact of Brooklyn's Finest (28:18)
Rob Markman on the hometown pride that Brooklyn's Finest made him feel (28:37)
DJ Clark Kent on the original version of Brooklyn's Finest, Biggie coming to the studio to record and Jay-Z writing new verses (29:36)
DJ Clark Kent on Biggie appearing in the Dead Presidents video just days after recording Brooklyn's Finest (30:56)
Pain In The Ass on the key differences between the original version of Dead Presidents and the sequel (31:23)
Ski Beatz on producing Feelin' It for his solo album and Jay-Z buying the beat and hook from him (32:46)

Produced by Sumit Sharma and Chris Mitchell
Mixed and mastered by Dave Walker
Original artwork designed by Adrien Vargas (R.I.P.)
Updated artwork designed by Jason Wheeler

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