: The title track, "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)," is the album's crown jewel. By sampling the 1977 musical Annie , producer The 45 King helped Jay-Z create an anthem that blended Broadway optimism with raw street narratives.
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life was a commercial juggernaut. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999 (though Jay-Z famously boycotted the ceremony due to DMX’s snub). jay z vol 2 hard knock life zip