Synopsis
Brooklyn-born Jay-Z is one of the most successful and creative hip-hop artists of all time. His remarkable rise to fame was heralded by his first album Reasonable Doubt, released in 1996, which broke new ground for rap, telling the bittersweet story of a street hustler from Brooklyn with striking, coded lyrics supported by rich soul samples. The programme uncovers the unusual story of how and why Reasonable Doubt was made, and the moral maze its story presents. Jay-Z collaborated with many major producers, like DJ Premier, Irv Gotti, Clark Kent, Knobody Sean Cane and Ski who show how they created their soulful samples.
- Programme: Classic Albums
- Episode: Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt
- Channel: BBC Four
- Broadcast year: 2008
Licence: ERA Licence required
Free to watch for UK schools, colleges and universities with an ERA Licence
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from Classic Albums
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black | Classic Albums
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black | Classic Albums
Series looking at the creation of some classic rock albums looks at Amy Winehouse's second album, 2006's Back to Black.
Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley | Classic Albums
Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley | Classic Albums
A look at the creation of Elvis Presley's eponymous debut album, which brought about his meteoric rise to superstardom in 1956....
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours | Classic Albums
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours | Classic Albums
This programme considers the significance of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.
Paul Simon: Graceland | Classic Albums
Paul Simon: Graceland | Classic Albums
This edition looks at how Paul Simon's Graceland made an enormous impact with its blend of rock and African rhythms.
Peter Gabriel: So | Classic Albums
Peter Gabriel: So | Classic Albums
With the release of So in 1986, Peter Gabriel achieved a level of success that had thus far eluded him. Gabriel famously started out leadi...
Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon | Classic Albums
Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon | Classic Albums
This edition looks at the legendary Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon with interviews with Roger Waters, David Gi...
Queen: A Night at the Opera | Classic Albums
Queen: A Night at the Opera | Classic Albums
A Night At The Opera, the fourth Queen album released in late 1975, is a mix of hard rock, pop, opera, music hall camp and tradi...
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life | Classic Albums
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life | Classic Albums
Already firmly established, Stevie Wonder spent over two years making this album. It was finally released in 1976 af...
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds | Classic Albums
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds | Classic Albums
This edition of the series celebrates the 50th anniversary of the release of Brian Wilson's masterpiece, The Beach Boys' album Pe...
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland | Classic Albums
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland | Classic Albums
In 1968, with his career at a crossroads, Jimi Hendrix went to New York to record this album. It was to be th...
More resources about Hip Hop, Rap and R&B
S01E02: Radio Producer | Hire Me: Competing for a Dream Job
S01E02: Radio Producer | Hire Me: Competing for a Dream Job
The search is on for a new producer for Radio 1Xtra. The candidates are tasked with interviewing Paul C Brunson a...
Stormzy | Louis Theroux Interviews...
Stormzy | Louis Theroux Interviews...
Louis Theroux meets platinum-selling rapper Stormzy for a frank and revealing conversation about his life and career.
02: Alright, by Kendrick Lamar | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
02: Alright, by Kendrick Lamar | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
Making protest music in the era of Black Lives Matter, Alright becomes the unsaid anthem for hope.
Stevie Wonder: A Musical History
Stevie Wonder: A Musical History
Stevie Wonder fans including Martin Freeman and Trevor Nelson celebrate the man and his music by selecting their favourite songs and perform...
Stormzy and Church | Louis Theroux Interviews...
Stormzy and Church | Louis Theroux Interviews...
Stormzy takes Louis to church to speak about its inspiration and the effect it had on him growing up.
01: Janet Jackson: Taking Control | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s
01: Janet Jackson: Taking Control | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s
Film examining Janet Jackson's career from appearing in Diff'rent Strokes to huge ...
01: Jesus Walks, by Kanye West | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
01: Jesus Walks, by Kanye West | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
In an era of excess, a Christian rap song challenges the Church and changes ideals about religion and ...
01: The Foundation | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
01: The Foundation | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
Public Enemy's Chuck D leads a cast of hip-hop icons as they chart the factors that led to the birth of t...
02: The Stevie Wonder Playlist | 6 Music Artist Collection
02: The Stevie Wonder Playlist | 6 Music Artist Collection
A playlist celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder, as well as its roots and branches - including those he's been i...
02: Under Siege | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
02: Under Siege | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
Chuck D and fellow rap stars chart the devastating impact of the crack epidemic, which becomes the spark tha...
03: Culture Wars | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
03: Culture Wars | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
Chuck D and fellow rap stars chart the meteoric rise of hip hop and gangster rap in the 90s and the culture...
03: Rock Box, by Run-DMC | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
03: Rock Box, by Run-DMC | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
How one song tore down the barriers between rock and hip-hop, race and class on American radio and television.
03: Workout, Wonder, Workout | 6 Music Artist Collection
03: Workout, Wonder, Workout | 6 Music Artist Collection
As part of a 6 Music Artist Collection celebrating Stevie Wonder's birthday, another chance to hear a series first b...
04: Elevators, by Outkast | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
04: Elevators, by Outkast | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
Hip-hop's southern voice breaks through with an unsuspecting song that redefines rap's cultural and geograp...
04: Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s
04: Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage | New Power Generation: Black Music Legends of the 1980s
Documentary about Public Enemy, the world's biggest rap group in the late 80s, wh...
04: Still Fighting | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
04: Still Fighting | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
Chuck D and star rappers chart how the hip hop industry is able to leverage its muscle to fight for chang...
04: Wondering | 6 Music Artist Collection
04: Wondering | 6 Music Artist Collection
As part of a 6 Music Artist Collection celebrating Stevie Wonder's birthday, another chance to hear a series first broadcast in 197...
05: Signed, Sealed, Delivered | 6 Music Artist Collection
05: Signed, Sealed, Delivered | 6 Music Artist Collection
As part of a 6 Music Artist Collection celebrating Stevie Wonder's birthday, another chance to hear a series first ...
05: The Bridge, by Marley Marl and MC Shan | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
05: The Bridge, by Marley Marl and MC Shan | Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
A song designed to foster community pride ignites hip-hop's most epic rap battle.
06: A Course of Happiness | 6 Music Artist Collection
06: A Course of Happiness | 6 Music Artist Collection
As part of a 6 Music Artist Collection celebrating Stevie Wonder's birthday, another chance to hear a series first broa...