Jay-Z's sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, has always been a controversial entry in the famed rapper's catalog. Released in 1997, it captured Jay just after he'd gotten notice for his gold-selling debut, Reasonable Doubt; but it's just before his major commercial and critical breakthrough, Vol. 3: Hard Knock Life.
The album earned derision at the time for what critics saw as Jay's attempt to horn in on Bad Boy Records-styled "Shiny Suit"-ism, but fans have often claimed that it's one of Jay's most underrated efforts. After a sharing a recent tweet asserting just that, Questlove revealed that he himself has argued with Jay-Z about the album's merits.
After an initial tweet said that the album single "(Always Be My) Sunshine" “got an unnecessarily bad rap” over the years, and added, the song “actually holds up better now than it did then,” Quest added his two cents.
“Our main argument is his hate for Vol 1. He is embarrassed for trying to make a monster & not putting numbers up. But ALOT of this lp contains his best moments. Fight me @sc.”
