We continue this week’s debate with a dive into Jay-Z’s third album - ‘Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life’ ?   Catch part one of the debate, focusing on Ghostface’s ‘Ironman’ album: https://youtu.be/VcPXjS5HblY   And keep it locked for the final instalment of this debate - The Pharcyde’s ‘Labcabincalifornia’ ?   ? Don’t forget to hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons on YouTube to be notified of new episodes - https://bit.ly/2U76bba ?   Along the way, Ray, James and Kam hit up some new categories for our mailbag episode - we’d love to hear from you, so email us at crate808@gmail.com with your takes on…   ? What are the best guest openers on rap albums? ? Is ‘It’s Like That’ a Hidden Gem…or absolutely awful?! ? Who has the best verse on ‘Reservoir Dogs’? Did Young MC use the beat better? ? What are your top 5 rap ballads? ? What is the BEST Raekwon verse ever and why? ? What is Ghost’s apex? ? What song off of ‘Ironman’ would get on a playlist you’d play to an alien to teach it hip hop? ? What are your best opening tracks in 90s hip hop? ? The strangest dreams you’ve had about a rapper ? Where’s the weirdest place you’ve met a rapper? ? What’s the best AND worst merch you’ve ever bought? ? What rapper’s swag would you wear to a wedding, funeral or job interview? ? You have to get a rap song tattooed on you…which one, where and why? ? What’s the worst rap beat of 1995? ? Best and worst rap memorabilia? Show Notes: Should this album get into Crate 808…and did Jay-Z steal too many ideas from his peers? (00:27) Most Rewindable Moments: ‘Money Ain’t a Thang’, ‘Money, Cash, Hoes’ (06:57) Is ‘It’s Like That’ a Hidden Gem…or absolutely awful?! (14:00) Most Rewindable Moment: ‘Reservoir Dogs’…but who has the best verse and did Young MC use the beat better? (15:30) A tense argument over ‘A Week Ago’, ‘Hands Down’, the value of Memphis Bleek and what are the best guest openers on rap albums? (26:30) How has ‘Can I Get A’ aged? (31:13) 5-Mic Moments: Where does ‘Hard Knock Life’ stand in Jay-Z’s career? (35:30) Why ‘The Blueprint’ makes Kam think of kebab meat and chips (39:46) Sample Corner: A callback to Tim Dog (41:02) Why our ‘Non-90s Rappers’ category should become ‘Which Track Are You Putting Pusha T On?’ (46:39) 30-Second Conclusion (54:50)   Also, the Crate 808 Patreon is coming ? To make sure you keep updated on the launch and amazing new hip hop shows we’ll be bringing, go to crate808.com and subscribe to the newsletter - we’ve got episodes looking at hidden gems albums from the 90s, the catalogues of MF DOOM and J Dilla and a new series focusing on the Wu-Tang Clan. Yes, it’s gonna be big, so subscribe to the newsletter for all the news ?   Be sure to check out our merch - jump on crate808.com to buy a tee or a hoody (or have a look at our Instagram shop), and help support the pod please. It all goes back into the pot for us to try make even more great content for you! ?   And our last series talking best 3-album runs in rap can be found here… Ice Cube with Shawn Setaro (https://bit.ly/3kaYfOq) Tupac with Andrew Barber (https://bit.ly/2HGr3QT) De La Soul with Andrew Emery (https://bit.ly/324LJJn) Gang Starr with Dart Adams (https://apple.co/2Vlx9t1) A Tribe Called Quest with Rob Pursey (https://bit.ly/3oS73uX) Redman with Take it Personal Radio (https://bit.ly/3tYFUcL) OutKast with Justin Hunte (https://bit.ly/3b89bJh) Mobb Deep with Chris Mitchell from Breaking Atoms (http://shorturl.at/zHIKO)   Catch all our Spotify playlists here… Slept-On DJ Premier Bangers Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3iw4yun Slept-On Wu-Tang Bangers Playlist: https://spoti.fi/32QtAQG Sample Corner Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3eYfhMd   YouTube: https://bit.ly/3uSa552 Twitter: https://twitter.com/crate808 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crate_808 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crate808 Website: https://www.crate808.com