jay-z-tidal

Throw your diamonds in the air. Twenty years ago, Jay Z changed the game with the release of his debut album Reasonable Doubt. To celebrate the historic occasion in hip-hop, TIDAL has put together Jaÿ-Z: RD20, a documentary commemorating the classic.

The 36-minute black-and-white film features commentary from those who had a hand in making the seminal album including Memphis Bleek, Kareem “Biggs” Burke, Briant “B-High” Biggs, DJ Premier, Clark Kent, and more.

“Reasonable Doubt showed the mentality of the bosses versus the runners,” said Tone Hooker. “The irony is, to this day, everybody is a boss or trying to appear like Jay first appeared in that album versus when in the ’90s everybody just wanted to be the best rapper. Now everybody wanna be the best hustler.”

Released on June 25, 1996 by Roc-A-Fella and Priority Records, Reasonable Doubt featured appearances from the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Memphis Bleek, with production by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody, and Clark Kent.

Reflect on 20 years of RD by watching below.