Vol 3... Life and Times of S. Carter

A thread.

Vol 3 comes after giving us a raw, New York classic album filled with popular ghetto anthems

This album was meant to bring Hip Hop together after the East Coast vs West Coast beefs

To be the King, you have to have love everywhere

As he was growing more popular on radio and multi platinum, he wanted the world to know he was still hood

It was important to him to grow and bring the streets with him

He’s wearing durags and bandanas to white award shows

“Thug nigga til the end. Tell a friend, bitch”

The first single Do It Again is a smash

This song was setting up the crew for success for the following album The Dynasty, which was meant to be a Roc-A-Fella album

This is the last time we see Amil

The next single Things That U Do featuring Mariah Carey didn’t work

This was a trade off deal after he worked on Heartbreaker

Since that doesn’t work, he releases Anything ‘99 which reminds us of Hard Knock Life

It aged well but didn’t connect like Hard Knock Life did

The last single is Big Pimpin

It features UGK and is an instant smash

Pimp C didn’t want to do this song and delayed recording it

Bun B had to convince him to record the song, stating it would change their careers

Pimp finally sends it back but only with 8 bars

When it comes down to doing the video, Pimp C decided not to go

Pimp C purposely missed his flight to Trinidad & is nowhere to be found in the carnival scenes

Pimp agrees to do the video when they’re finished

They find a mansion in Florida & he won’t do it without his car

Another trade off deal he did was with Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg

This was so important after the deaths of BIG and Pac

Dr Dre and Snoop have Still DRE

Hov has Watch Me

This album changed Jay forever

He had one foot in the streets and one foot into the industry and was being largely embraced by white suburban teens

He was moving too recklessly when this album came out

Jay-Z stabs Lance Un Rivera for bootlegging Vol 3

This happens at the Kit Kat Club during Q Tips album release party

On the leaked version, Jay is dissing Nas and reveals he fucked his baby mom

Jay wants to know why Lance leaked it. Lance made a scene and Hov stabbed him

What was a set back and a wake up call for Hov, was a come up for Bleek

Jay gives Is That Yo Chick to him and it becomes a smash

It’s all good promo lol

Jay is all business at this point

He’s finally got a clothing line called Rocawear, his artists are blowing up, and he’s only growing more popular

Jigga My Nigga and Girls Best Friend are bonus tracks

He’s working with Ruff Ryders and on the Blue Streak movie soundtrack

This album takes you on a journey from the craziest club in the hood to the whitest award show next to Britney Spears

This album was make or break for Jay considering that case he caught

Most artists get into trouble and stay in trouble. He smartened up.

Vol 3 -

Angry at his dad
Street anthems
Hip Hop unity
Songs for his nephews
Club bangers
50 Cent and Nas diss tracks
Forced him to grow up
Taught us about brands
Underrated
I recommend this album to Hip Hop heads

I’ll end this thread here.