Reasonable Doubt Songwriting Credits by Jay-Z

Reasonable Doubt is the debut studio album by Jay-Z, released in June 1996 on his own Roc-A-Fella Records through Priority. It is widely regarded as his finest work and a cornerstone of mafioso rap, trading in dense, detailed narratives of hustling, ambition, and the moral cost of the street life he was leaving behind. Jay-Z wrote every verse himself, and the album pairs his writing with a tight circle of New York producers, including Ski, DJ Premier, Clark Kent, and Irv Gotti, who built its soul- and jazz-sampling sound. The guest list is a snapshot of mid-90s New York, with the Notorious B.I.G. trading verses on 'Brooklyn's Finest' and Foxy Brown on the hit 'Ain't No Nigga.' Though it sold modestly at first, it was certified platinum years later and now sits near the top of most rankings of the greatest hip-hop albums.