Recently came across this rare purchasing promo for Vol 2 Hard Knock Life. A few things worth noting. Album was simply called 'Lifetime Vol 2' and features a much different early tracklist. People's Court was originally intended for the album and not just a mixtape loosie and also 'Life I Chose' was supposed to be on volume 2

The craziest part is that we have four completely unreleased song titles and two other songs that were intended but leaked out later. this gives an indication that these songs were past the conception stage and likely just scrapped finished songs.

• People's Court (later released as mixtape loosie)
• Life I Chose (leaked on NY mixtapes years later, on youtube)
• Trapped
• Imaginary Player 2
• Life Goes On
• Dedication

Its possible some of these titles got changed and they are just songs that made the album but im not sure what songs those would be?

Imaginary Players 2 confirmed is crazy.

Wait wtf the blurb straight up calls it his last album too

He said it was his last album on yo mtv raps at the time too. Sales tactic I assume. That’s why the Memphis bleek intro is there, he was supposed to take over

jah and ameel

Yup even reasonable doubt was being advertised as his last album at one point lol. Plan was to be one and done, get attention towards the label and focus on new artists but they struggled with developing new talent and distribution labels actually being interested in anyone but jay at the time.

Assuming it was the same plan going into vol 2 but a mixture of wanting to ride the wave financially and a fair amount of ego made jay continue.

Even vol 3 intro implies jay was gonna retire soon lol

jay always calling his upcoming album his last

Imaginary Players 2?? F*** I’d love to hear that

Imaginary Players is such a classic 🔥

Nice find OP

these are two of the cut songs that we do have

Life I Chose (think i've got this in better quality somewhere, will share if i find). Always seemed like a weak attempt to recreate regrets to me

Peoples Court

Damn that's truly wild to me, "It's my first album... and my last! Enjoy it, 'cause this is all you get!"

Hov changing the title to "Hard Knock Life" after the single blew up

Nigga used that sales tactic for every album he’s released lol

jay said he didn’t commit to really doing this long term until vol 3

i don’t think he ever liked being a public figure much but money and competitiveness kept him in it

This was probably so good

why does this look like a page out of Women's Weekly
looks like jay z's about to show me his no-bake lemon slice recipe for the summer

But to call your debut album your last is insane lmao

I miss the cdq no dj era. You felt like when you found those songs. Especially the hard to find ones.

Related news Vol 3 is currently taken off spotify

Life I Chose is top 3 Hov songs ever. Better than Regrets.

And if I'm not mistaken the last song he ever did with Jaz.

Cd version superior anyway

This is a nice picture of Hov