Thank you for steppin in wit that true knowledge BUT,you are sleepin or dead if you wait until the black album to peep jay.Reasonable Doubt was a turning point in rap.Away from useless gangster giberish to street education that is as relevant today as it was the day Jay spit it.A veritable water-shed moment.The ripple of enertia from a force that would change a lot more than just rap,and if you pay attention to the lyrics,you can hear the power of the under tow.Great thread Eddie, God's Son stays in my rotation.
Lastly rap was built on the principle of giving a voice to the youth that have something to say that may help someone else or, each one teach one.If you remove the layers of testosterone,and pubescent bravado and the bling bling of the have-nots,you will hear words that literally will save someone's life.I like T.I. as much as the next rap fan,but as far as Jay's empty seat goes...my money is on Lil Wayne.
Hustler Music(posted on myspace)affected me the same way as Dead Presidents did,the same as Tupac coming into his own IMHO and spitting Makavelli,I get a tear in my eye and my throat gets a little tight just thinking about that shit.....