Jay-Z New Album: As 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' Approaches, 'Reasonable Doubt' Turns 17

A lot of ink has been spilled over Jay-Z's new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. There have been articles over his unorthodox distribution system, his Samsung deal, a battle with Billboard, a scavenger hunt that revealed the tracklisting and the news of the Nirvana-interpolating track "Holy Grail."

However, as all this hullabaloo carries on, a Jay-Z milestone is passing silently. His debut album Reasonable Doubt turns 17 today.

The classic of mafioso rap (and rap, in general) kick-started a career that some would argue garners GOAT status.

"Can't Knock The Hustle", "Politics As Usual" and "Brooklyn's Finest" may be the greatest 3-song intro in the history of rap. 

Jigga also got the Illuminati rumors started early on with deep cut (and personal fave "D'Evils"). All it took was two samples: one of Snoop Doog's "Murder Was The Case" and another from the remix of "I Shot Ya" featuring a host of East Coast rap elites, to start the wheels rolling that this young, brash BK upstart was receiving a shadowy sort of help. 

In the 17 years since, Jay-Z has largely become the man he portrayed on the album's cover: a smooth as silk boss of all bosses with a soft spot for cigars and luxury. However, as he reached Don status, Jigga's flow and lyricism (particularly regarding the subject of his own wealth) has largely suffered.

If Magna Carta Holy Grail doesn't turn out to be the return-to-form we all want it to be, it's good to know the original mold will always be waiting in the wings.