In My Lifetime, Vol. 1  by Jay-Z

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, released on November 4, 1997, by Roc-A-Fella Records, marks Jay-Z's pivotal transition from the "street poet" to the dominant figure on the charts. After the death of Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z attempted to fill the void on New York's throne, infusing his hard-hitting lyricism with the "glittering" aesthetic of the time.

The album abandons the dark mafioso rap of his debut for a "more polished" sound. The production is mainly by The Hitmen of Puff Daddy, adding mainstream shine, while DJ Premier and Ski maintained ties to traditional hip-hop. Joining Jay-Z were names like Lil' Kim, Puff Daddy, Babyface, and Blackstreet. Biggie's influence is pervasive, with Jay delivering more personal and introspective lyrics on tracks like You Must Love Me.

Despite criticisms of a commercial shift, the singles (Always Be My) Sunshine and The City Is Mine brought Jay-Z into homes across America and beyond. In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and soon went platinum, with total sales in the U.S. exceeding 2,700,000 copies. It is a bridge album, where Jay-Z learned to balance the authenticity of Brooklyn with the thirst for global domination.