Roc-A-Fella Records Presents The Roc Files Vol.1 - Various Artists (Vinyl - 2003) [Exclusive Album Advance Radio Promo]

The Roc Files, Vol. 1 is an 11-track collection of tracks taken from Roc-a-Fella releases from the late '90s and early 2000s. The label is built on Jay-Z's records and it is no surprise that his cuts are the best here. His "It's Alright" (from Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life) kicks off the disc with an angry, powerful punch to the gut that dissipates quickly as tracks by second-tier rappers like Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and the stiff Memphis Bleek meander past. The label's lame contemporary R&B vocal groups also drag the disc down: Rell's "Love for Free" is an overly smooth ballad with an incongruous Jay-Z rap pasted in, while the sappy duo Christión are represented by two weak cuts. Only when "Always Be My Sunshine," a classic track from Jay-Z's In My Lifetime that features smooth vocals from Blackstreet and tough commentary from Foxy Brown, comes on does the disc come back to life. "The City Is Mine" is the other Jay-Z track and is an excellent slice of grandiose self-mythologizing that puts the other rappers on the label to shame. What this disc really does is prime the pump for a Jay-Z best-of disc. That will be an essential collection for anyone who even has a passing interest in hip-hop and rap. This collection is certainly not essential and serves to point out that Jay-Z is a much better player than manager.

Condition:NEW. Exclusive Album Advance Promo.

TRACK LISTINGS

Side A:
1. It's Alright - Jay-Z featuring Memphis Black
2. The Truth - Beanie Sigel
3. Roc The Mic - Beanie Sigel featuring Freeway

Side B:
1. Memphis Bleek Is - Memphis Bleek
2. Love For Free - Rell featuring Jay-Z
3. My Mind Right - Memphis Bleek

Side C:
1. Full Of Smoke - Christion
2. Always Be My Sunshine - Jay-Z featuring Babyface & Foxy Brown
3. I Wanna Get Next To U - Christion

Side D:
1. The City Is Mine - Jay-Z featuring Blackstreet
2. What You Think Of That - Memphis Bleek featuring Jay-Z

Roc-A-Fella Records
DEFF 15995-1