Jay-Z made his masterpiece at 26. This is how the hustle became immortal.
The documentary tracks the making of Reasonable Doubt, Hova's rise to stardom, and the legacy of the iconic album. Directed by Scheme Engine, the doc is broken up into segments named for the album's tracks ("Brooklyn's Finest," "Can't Knock The Hustle," "Politics As Usual" "Friend or Foe," "Dead Presidents II"). The film features interviews from members of the Reasonable Doubt production team (DJ Clark Kent, DJ Premier, Ski) as well as album cover photographer Jonathan Mannion, Reasonable Doubt guest artist Memphis Bleek, and Roc-a-Fella co-founder Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Lest you think the doc will be exclusively talking heads, the film also features footage of Jay Z performing tracks off the album in a studio and at Barclays Center.
Production
Behind-the-boards stories from DJ Premier and Ski hit different.
Cinematography
Studio sessions and Barclays footage bridge past and present beautifully.
Director
Scheme Engine
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The album was recorded in just a few months while Jay-Z was still running his own label and couldn't get a major deal.
Reasonable Doubt initially sold modestly—only later crowned a classic after Jay-Z became a household name.
US
