Show Notes
Breaking Atoms proudly presents: Brooklyn's Finest: The Making of Reasonable Doubt.
Originally released in 2021 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jay-Z's landmark debut, the series returns for the album's 30th anniversary with newly remastered audio, giving listeners a fresh opportunity to experience the definitive audio documentary on one of Hip Hop's most influential records.
Across five episodes, you'll hear from the people directly involved in bringing Reasonable Doubt to life. Jaz-O, Ski Beatz, Maria Davis, Pain In Da Ass, Abdul Malik Abbott, Nick Raphael, Christian Tattersfield and more share the stories behind the blood, sweat, tears and years that shaped this five-mic masterpiece.
Expect a fully immersive audio experience that proves time travel is real. From the streets of Brooklyn in the late '80s to the album's enduring legacy today, this is the story of one of the greatest come-up stories in Hip Hop history - told by the people who lived it. Executive Producers: Sumit Sharma and Chris Mitchell for Breaking Atoms
Mixing and Mastering: David John Walker for Homework
Artwork: Jason Wheeler for Retro Inspired Nonsense Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Brooklyn's Finest: The Making of Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z
In our fifth and final episode, we examine the legacy of Reasonable Doubt 25 years on and why so many people consider it to be one of the most seminal albums in Hip Hop history.
In our fourth episode, we’ll examine the initial and retrospective responses to Reasonable Doubt, shine a light on the tight-knit vibes of the Roc-A-Fella Records staff, and connect with original members of the US street team.
In our third episode, we continue our deep dive into the album’s tracklist and key themes. We also analyse the people, places and things that made the album happen, including early live performances, leftover songs and promo campaigns.
In our second episode, we look at the process of making the Reasonable Doubt album, the internal struggles, signing to Payday Records, Roc-A-Fella Records renting their first office space, and finding a recording home at D & D Studios.
In this first episode, we travel back in time to a pre-gentrified Brooklyn, New York and explore Jay-Z’s early musical roots. We’ll learn about how he came to a fork in the road and had to choose between the rap game and the crack game - even with all their similarities and pitfalls. We’ll also find out when and how Jay-Z met his future business partners, Damon “Dame” Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, and eventually started Roc-A-Fella Records.