Jay-Z's street-savvy raps may seem like nothing new, but there's a reason the Brooklyn native is topping the charts. It's not what he says on Reasonable Doubt, but how he says it — with an irresistible confidence, a voice that exudes tough-guy authenticity, and unadorned but suitably militant beats. Cameos by the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige don't hurt either. B+
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