Jay-Z's second LP from 1997. Like Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime features a superb blend of club and street game tracks. Check out side C, three banging club tracks in a row (and more importantly, mostly untouched by your average DJ): "Always Be My Sunshine" featuring Foxy Brown and Babyface, "Who U Wit" with the bounce beat and keys (the LP's top production), and the Soul Makossa sampled "Face Off" featuring Sauce Money. On the street game side, check out the Premier produced "Million and One Questions" and "Friend or Foe," but my pick here (and one of my personal Jay favorites) is the much sleeping on "Where I'm From"... Marcy son. Also check out the shifty "Streets is Watching." plus: "The City is Mine," "I Know What Girls Like," "Imaginary Player," "Lucky Me," "Real Niggaz," "Rap Game/Crack Game" and "You Must Love Me."

• black double vinyl pressing
  
• printed inner sleeves
• music label: Roc-A-Fella Records  2014

reviewed by the mgmnt 08/2005