Brooklyn's Finest: The Making Of Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z

Breaking Atoms
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  • Music History

Before he was Jay-Z, he was a Brooklyn hustler chasing the American Dream. With a vision, a head full of rhymes and a stomach full of hunger, he changed Hip Hop forever. Brooklyn's Finest: The Making of Reasonable Doubt is the definitive audio documentary exploring the creation of Jay-Z's landmark 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Through deep research, rare stories, and exclusive interviews with key figures involved in the album's creation - including Clark Kent, Ski Beatz, Jaz-O, Pain In Da Ass, Maria Davis, and others - the series unpacks the people, places, and pivotal moments behind one of the most influential albums in Rap history. Originally produced and released by Breaking Atoms in 2021, this acclaimed podcast returns for the 30th anniversary with newly remastered audio, giving listeners a fresh opportunity to experience the story behind a record that helped redefine Hip Hop. From the streets of Brooklyn to the boardrooms of the music industry, discover how Shawn Carter became Jay-Z - and how Reasonable Doubt - became a classic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Brooklyn's Finest

    1 day ago

    Brooklyn's Finest

    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. Featuring in order of appearance: Pain In Da Ass, Dart Adams, DJ Snips, Jaz-O, Ski Beatz, Rob Markman, Chezik Tsunoda, Sean Kantrowitz, Yoh Phillips, Robyn Mowatt, SK Vibemaker, Maria Davis, Nick Raphael, Christian Tattersfield, Abdul Malik Abbott, Kathy Iandoli, David Lotwin, Ryan Proctor, DJ Shortee Blitz and DJ Clark Kent. 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.

    26 min
  2. Can't Knock The Hustle

    1 day ago

    Can't Knock The Hustle

    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. Featuring in order of appearance: Ryan Proctor, DJ Snips, Dart Adams, Charlie Braxton, Nick Raphael, Christian Tattersfield, DJ Shortee Blitz, Pain In Da Ass, Chezik Tsunoda, Maria Davis, DJ Clark Kent, Robyn Mowatt, David Lotwin, Kathy Iandoli and Ski Beatz. 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.

    30 min
  3. Bring It On

    1 day ago

    Bring It On

    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. Featuring in order of appearance: Charlie Braxton, Ryan Proctor, Yoh Phillips, Pain In Da Ass, Maria Davis, Ski Beatz, Rob Markman, DJ Clark Kent, Jaz-O, DJ Snips and Dart Adams. 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.

    30 min
  4. Politics As Usual

    1 day ago

    Politics As Usual

    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. Featuring in order of appearance: Dart Adams, Ski, Rob Markman, Abdul Malik Abbott, David Lotwin, Joe Quinde, Jaz-O, SK Vibemaker, Pain In Da Ass, DJ Clark Kent, DJ Shortee Blitz and Sean Kantrowitz. 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.

    35 min
  5. Coming Of Age

    1 day ago

    Coming Of Age

    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. Featuring in order of appearance: Jaz-O, DJ Clark Kent, Ski Beatz, Abdul Malik Abbott and Dart Adams. 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.

    32 min

  6. 2 days ago

    Cashmere Thoughts (Side B)

    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. Alongside these first-hand accounts, respected journalists, historians and commentators - including Dart Adams, Kathy Iandoli, Charlie Braxton, Sean Kantrowitz, Ryan Proctor and DJ Shortee Blitz - explore the album's cultural significance, its lasting influence on Hip Hop, and why Reasonable Doubt continues to be regarded as one of the greatest rap albums ever made. 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.

    4 min

  7. 2 days ago

    Feelin' It (Side A)

    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.

    4 min

Trailers

About

Before he was Jay-Z, he was a Brooklyn hustler chasing the American Dream. With a vision, a head full of rhymes and a stomach full of hunger, he changed Hip Hop forever. Brooklyn's Finest: The Making of Reasonable Doubt is the definitive audio documentary exploring the creation of Jay-Z's landmark 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Through deep research, rare stories, and exclusive interviews with key figures involved in the album's creation - including Clark Kent, Ski Beatz, Jaz-O, Pain In Da Ass, Maria Davis, and others - the series unpacks the people, places, and pivotal moments behind one of the most influential albums in Rap history. Originally produced and released by Breaking Atoms in 2021, this acclaimed podcast returns for the 30th anniversary with newly remastered audio, giving listeners a fresh opportunity to experience the story behind a record that helped redefine Hip Hop. From the streets of Brooklyn to the boardrooms of the music industry, discover how Shawn Carter became Jay-Z - and how Reasonable Doubt - became a classic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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