90s Jay-Z Hard Knock Life Tour 1999 Hip Hop t-shirt Extra Large

Chest 25.5 in.

Length 29.5 in.

Content: 100% Cotton

Tag Brand: Unbranded

This amazing vintage concert tee is a keepsake from one of the most iconic shows in hip hop history. This double-sided tee is a souvenir from the Hard Knock Life Tour headlined by Jay-Z, however the tour also featured several other hard hitting artists like Redman, Method Man, and DMX. The tour showcased some of the greatest rap artists of the late 1990s, all of whom were signed by the legendary Def Jam Recordings.

The tour was named after Jay-Z's biggest hit song at the time "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" which famously sampled the song "Hard Knock Life" from the musical Annie. The song was included on Jay-Z's 1998 album Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life, which would become the rapper's most commercially successful album with over five million copies sold. The record also made it to the top of the Billboard chart, and won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, however Jay-Z was not in attendance to receive the award.

The artist chose to boycott the ceremony, citing that he was tired of the Grammy committee repeatedly overlooking rap artists and their contributions to the music industry. In particular, he was disappointed to see that his label mate DMX failed to garner any nominations for his 1998 album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, despite the fact that the album also managed to top the Billboard chart and go five times platinum.

Jay-Z's success has been consistent throughout his career, dating all the way back to his 1996 debut studio album Reasonable Doubt, which is still considered by many to be one of the greatest rap albums ever produced. He set the record for most albums by a solo artist to top the Billboard 200, and was even the first rap artist to be honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The same year as the Hard Knock Life Tour, Jay-Z also launched his own clothing brand called Rocawear alongside his fellow Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash. This shirt is a notable remnant from one of the most successful recording artists of all time, and commemorates a significant period in hip hop music.

Fits like a modern unisex adult Extra Large. This shirt is faded with several holes, see pics.






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