What was the title of Jay-Z’s 1998 studio album featuring “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”?

Jay-Z’s 1998 studio album featuring “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” was titled Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life.

Released on September 29, 1998, it was Jay-Z’s third studio album and became his commercial breakthrough. The title track samples “It’s the Hard Knock Life” from the musical Annie, pairing the familiar chorus with Jay-Z’s rap verses.

The album also includes “Can I Get A...” and “Money, Cash, Hoes.” It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, helping cement Jay-Z’s position among hip hop’s leading mainstream artists.

A frequent mix-up is placing the album after The Blueprint, but The Blueprint was released in 2001. Reasonable Doubt was Jay-Z’s 1996 debut, while Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life followed In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.