Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter

{{Infobox album

| name = Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter

| type = studio

| artist = Jay-Z

| cover = jay-z-vol-3-life-and-times-s-carter.jpg

| alt =

| released = December 28, 1999

| recorded = 1999

| studio = * Baseline Studios (New York City)

The Hit Factory (New York City)
D&D Studios (New York City)
Sony Music Studios (New York City)
Manhattan Center Studio (New York City)
Quad Studios (New York City)

| genre = Hip-hop

| length = 71:05

| label = {{hlist||Roc-A-Fella|Def Jam}}

| producer = {{hlist|Shawn Carter {{small|(exec.)}}|Damon Dash {{small|(also exec.)}}|Kareem "Biggs" Burke {{small|(also exec.)}}|Darrell "Digga" Branch|Clue|DJ Premier|DURO|Irv Gotti|K Rob|Lil Rob|Chauncey Mahan|P. Skam|Rockwilder|Russell "Russ" Howard|Sean "SAF" Francis|Sam Sneed|Swizz Beatz|Timbaland|Lance Rivera}}

| prev_title = Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = The Dynasty: Roc La Familia

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter

| type = studio

| single1 = Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)

| single1date = December 14, 1999

| single2 = Things That U Do

| single2date = January 11, 2000

| single3 = Anything

| single3date = February 15, 2000

| single4 = Big Pimpin'

| single4date = April 11, 2000

}}

Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter is the fourth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on December 28, 1999, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. According to USA Today critic Steve Jones, the record marked a return to the street-oriented sound of Jay-Z's 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Vol. 3... featured production from Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, K-Rob, DJ Clue, Rockwilder, DJ Premier, and Irv Gotti, among others.

The album was well received by critics and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 462,000 copies in its first week. It has since sold over three million copies and been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Release and reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{AllMusic|last=Bush|first=John|class=album|id=r449404}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite magazine|last=Kot|first=Greg|date=January 9, 2000|title=Recordings: Jay-Z – Vol. 3... Life and… |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/01/09/jay-zvol-3-life-and/|magazine=Chicago Tribune|at=section 7, p. 3|access-date=May 13, 2024}}

| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2011|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=5th|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|chapter=Jay Z}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = A−{{cite magazine|last=DeCurtis|first=Anthony|date=January 14, 2000|issue=521|title=Ghetto blasters|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/01/10/vol-3-life-and-times-s-carter/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|pages=73–74|access-date=May 13, 2024}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite magazine|last=Baker|first=Soren|author-link=Soren Baker|date=December 31, 1999|title=Laid-Back Jay-Z's 'Life' Lacks His Spectacular Wordplay|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-31-ca-49208-story.html|magazine=Los Angeles Times|page=F28|access-date=May 13, 2024}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 7/10{{cite magazine|last=Fadele|first=Dele|author-link=Dele Fadele|date=February 19, 2000|title=Review: Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-1882-328329|magazine=NME|page=33|location=London|publisher=IPC Media|access-date=May 13, 2024}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev8 = The Source

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Morales|first=Riggs|author-link=Riggs Morales|magazine=The Source|title=Record Report: Jay-Z – Vol. 3...Life And Times Of S. Carter|page=256|date=March 2000|issue=126}}

| rev9 = USA Today

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Steve|date=January 4, 2000|page=02D|title=Rap's defiant voices; pop's happy 'Heart'|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/49074762.html?dids=49074762:49074762&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&type=current&date=Jan+04%2C+2000&author=&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=Rap%27s+defiant+voices%3B+pop%27s+happy+%27Heart%27&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717040712/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/49074762.html?dids=49074762:49074762&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&type=current&date=Jan+04,+2000&author=&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=Rap's+defiant+voices;+pop's+happy+'Heart'&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012|magazine=USA Today}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = A{{cite magazine|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-02-29/music/cleanup-time/2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022184259/http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-02-29/music/cleanup-time/2/|magazine=The Village Voice|title=Consumer Guide: Cleanup Time|date=Mar 7, 2000|volume=45|issue=9|page=114|archive-date=October 22, 2012|access-date=May 13, 2024}}

}}

Vol. 3... was released on December 28, 1999, and sold 462,000 copies in its first week, while debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.Mancini, Robert. [https://archive.today/20130129155503/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430537/20000105/jay_z.jhtml Jay Z Grabs Top Of Album Chart]. MTV. Retrieved on February 22, 2010. The sales week was thirty-percent more than the first-week sales of Jay-Z's previous album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998).Baker, Soren. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-22-ca-56355-story.html Assault Case Won't Stop the Music—or the Sales]. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on February 22, 2010. On February 14, 2001, it was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |date=2007-06-26 }}. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved on September 14, 2009. In 2009, the album reached sales of 3,093,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267889/ask-billboard-steve-vai-jay-z-radiohead | title=Ask Billboard: Steve Vai, Jay Z, Radiohead | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=August 7, 2009 | access-date=September 11, 2016| last=Trust |first=Gary}}

In a contemporary review, Rolling Stone critic Kris Ex wrote that Jay-Z "has become a better architect of songs" while hailing Vol. 3... as "his strongest album to date, with music that's filled with catchy hooks, rump-shaking beats and lyrics fueled by Jay's hustler's vigilance".{{cite magazine|last=Ex|first=Kris|date=February 3, 2000|issue=833|title=The City Is Theirs: Jay-Z – Vol. 3 Life And Times of S. Carter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/vol-3-life-and-times-of-s-carter-248074/|magazine=Rolling Stone|page=58|access-date=May 13, 2024}} Richard Harrington from The Washington Post found the record to be "full of reputation-building swagger, cataloguing of lyrical skills and autobiographical perspective".{{cite magazine|last1=Harrington|first1=Richard|title=Swaggering to the Finish Line|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2000/01/02/swaggering-to-the-finish-line/92cf6395-1e37-4892-9d83-c36058340437/|magazine=The Washington Post|date=January 2, 2000|page=G12|access-date=May 13, 2024}} Reviewing the album in Entertainment Weekly, Anthony DeCurtis said it reconnects with Jay-Z's urban demographic, "with flair", while Steve Jones of USA Today was particularly impressed by his lyrics and flow, finding both to be "razor-sharp as ever". In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau argued that Jay-Z has too much at stake commercially to depart from "playing the now-a-rapper-now-a-thug 'reality' game with his customers, thugs and fantasists both", but he impresses with "a rugged, expansive vigor, nailing both come-fly-with-me cosmopolitanism and the hunger for excitement that's turned gangster hangouts into musical hotbeds from Buenos Aires to Kansas City". Fellow Voice critic Miles Marshall Lewis called Jay-Z "the best MC in hip hop" and Vol. 3… "the quintessential 2000-model hip hop album".{{cite magazine|last=Lewis|first=Miles Marshall|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-01-18/music/the-passing-of-the-mic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006152647/http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-01-18/music/the-passing-of-the-mic/|archive-date=October 6, 2008|title=The Passing of the Mic|magazine=The Village Voice|date=January 25, 2000|pages=66, 120|access-date=May 13, 2024}} Soren Baker was less impressed in the Los Angeles Times, writing that the record lacks the "biting humor and spectacular wordplay" of his previous albums.

In The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Jon Caramanica later wrote, "Life & Times of S. Carter took [Vol. 2{{'}}s] combination of style and substance to its apotheosis. In addition to maintaining a strong lyrical presence, Jay also showcased his talents as a master of flow, changing cadences and rhyme patterns with impressive regularity and flexibility ... Nearly every track on this album was sonically unique, and Jay rode each one with aplomb and skill".{{cite book|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|chapter=Jay Z|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/424 424–25]|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|year=2004|title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=0-7432-0169-8}} AllMusic's John Bush wrote in a retrospective review that a couple of overwrought productions ("Dope Man" and "Things That U Do") keep it from being among Jay-Z's best albums.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter track listing

| total_length = 71:05

| title1 = Hova Song (Intro)

| writer1 = {{hlist|Shawn Carter|K Rob|Jimi Hendrix}}

| extra1 = K Rob

| length1 = 2:21

| title2 = So Ghetto

| writer2 = {{hlist|Carter|Christopher Martin|Steve Cropper|Buddy Miles}}

| extra2 = DJ Premier

| length2 = 4:01

| title3 = Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)

| note3 = featuring Amil and Beanie Sigel

| writer3 = {{hlist|Carter|Amil Whitehead|Dwight Grant|Dana Stinson|Kyambo Joshua}}

| extra3 = Rockwilder

| length3 = 4:39

| title4 = Dope Man

| writer4 = {{hlist|Carter|Ernesto Shaw|Ken Ifill|Darrell "Digga" Branch}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Clue|DURO|Digga|Lance "UN" Rivera{{ref|a|[a]}}|Chauncey Mahan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length4 = 4:03

| title5 = Things That U Do

| note5 = featuring Mariah Carey

| writer5 = {{hlist|Carter|Mariah Carey|Kasseem Dean|Joshua}}

| extra5 = Swizz Beatz

| length5 = 4:52

| title6 = It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)

| writer6 = {{hlist|Carter|Timothy Mosley}}

| extra6 = Timbaland

| length6 = 4:16

| title7 = Snoopy Track

| note7 = featuring Juvenile

| writer7 = {{hlist|Carter|Terius Gray|Mosley}}

| extra7 = Timbaland

| length7 = 4:01

| title8 = S. Carter

| note8 = featuring Amil

| writer8 = {{hlist|Carter|Whitehead|Russell "Russ" Howard|Sean "SAF" Francis}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Russ|SAF|Mahan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length8 = 4:14

| title9 = Pop 4 Roc

| note9 = featuring Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Amil

| writer9 = {{hlist|Carter|Grant|Malik Cox|Whitehead|Shaw|Ifill}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Clue|DURO}}

| length9 = 4:36

| title10 = Watch Me

| note10 = featuring Dr. Dre

| writer10 = {{hlist|Carter|Andre Young|Irving Lorenzo|Robert Mays}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Irv Gotti|Lil Rob}}

| length10 = 4:34

| title11 = Big Pimpin{{'-}}

| note11 = featuring UGK

| writer11 = {{hlist|Carter|Chad Butler|Bernard Freeman|Mosley}}

| extra11 = Timbaland

| length11 = 4:44

| title12 = There's Been a Murder

| writer12 = {{hlist|Carter|Howard|Francis|Alana Davis}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Russ|SAF|Mahan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length12 = 3:40

| title13 = Come and Get Me

| writer13 = {{hlist|Carter|Mosley}}

| extra13 = Timbaland

| length13 = 6:09

| title14 = NYMP

| writer14 = {{hlist|Carter|Stinson|Brian Russell|Brenda Russell}}

| extra14 = Rockwilder

| length14 = 4:03

| title15 = Hova Song (Outro)"
"Jigga My Nigga"
"Girl's Best Friend

| writer15 = {{hlist|Carter|K Rob|Hendrix}}{{hlist|Carter|Dean}}{{hlist|Carter|Dean}}

| length15 = 11:01

| extra15 = {{hlist|K Rob}}{{hlist|Swizz Beatz}}{{hlist|Swizz Beatz}}

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
{{nobold|(European version)}}

| total_length = 74:15

| title1 = Hova Song (Intro)

| writer1 = {{hlist|Carter|K Rob|Hendrix}}

| extra1 = K Rob

| length1 = 2:22

| title2 = So Ghetto

| writer2 = {{hlist|Carter|Martin|Cropper|Miles}}

| extra2 = DJ Premier

| length2 = 4:01

| title3 = Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)

| note3 = featuring Amil and Beanie Sigel

| writer3 = {{hlist|Carter|Whitehead|Grant|Stinson|Joshua}}

| extra3 = Rockwilder

| length3 = 4:39

| title4 = Dope Man

| writer4 = {{hlist|Carter|Shaw|Ifill|Branch}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Clue|DURO|Digga|UN{{ref|a|[a]}}|Mahan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length4 = 4:03

| title5 = Things That U Do

| note5 = featuring Mariah Carey

| writer5 = {{hlist|Carter|Carey|Dean|Joshua}}

| extra5 = Swizz Beatz

| length5 = 4:52

| title6 = It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)

| writer6 = {{hlist|Carter|Mosley}}

| extra6 = Timbaland

| length6 = 4:16

| title7 = Snoopy Track

| note7 = featuring Juvenile

| writer7 = {{hlist|Carter|Gray|Mosley}}

| extra7 = Timbaland

| length7 = 4:01

| title8 = S. Carter

| note8 = featuring Amil

| writer8 = {{hlist|Carter|Whitehead|Howard|Francis}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Russ|SAF|Mahan{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length8 = 4:14

| title9 = Pop 4 Roc

| note9 = featuring Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Amil

| writer9 = {{hlist|Carter|Grant|Cox|Whitehead|Shaw|Ifill}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Clue|DURO}}

| length9 = 4:36

| title10 = Hova Interlude

| writer10 = {{hlist|Carter|K Rob|Hendrix}}

| extra10 = K Rob

| length10 = 1:33

| title11 = Big Pimpin{{'-}}

| note11 = featuring UGK

| writer11 = {{hlist|Carter|Butler|Freeman|Mosley|Joshua}}

| extra11 = Timbaland

| length11 = 4:43

| title12 = Is That Yo Bitch

| note12 = featuring Twista and Missy Elliott

| writer12 = {{hlist|Carter|Carl Mitchell|Melissa Elliott|Mosley}}

| extra12 = Timbaland

| length12 = 4:34

| title13 = Come and Get Me

| writer13 = {{hlist|Carter|Mosley}}

| extra13 = Timbaland

| length13 = 6:43

| title14 = NYMP

| writer14 = {{hlist|Carter|Stinson|Bri. Russell|Bre. Russell}}

| extra14 = Rockwilder

| length14 = 4:03

| title15 = Hova Song (Outro)

| writer15 = {{hlist|Carter|K Rob|Hendrix}}

| length15 = 1:17

| extra15 = K Rob

| title16 = Anything"
"Jigga My Nigga"
"Girl's Best Friend

| writer16 = {{hlist|Carter|Sam Anderson|J. Wright|Lionel Bart}}{{hlist|Carter|Dean}}{{hlist|Carter|Dean}}

| length16 = 14:21

| extra16 = {{hlist|Sam Sneed|P. Skam}}{{hlist|Swizz Beatz}}{{hlist|Swizz Beatz}}

}}

Notes

^{{{note|a|[a]}}} indicates a co-producer
^{{{note|b|[b]}}} indicates an additional producer

Personnel

Credits are adapted from AllMusic.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r449404|pure_url=yes}} Credits: Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter]. Allmusic. Retrieved on September 14, 2009.

Amil – performer
Darrell Branch – producer
Mariah Carey – performer
Drawing Board – art direction
Fingaz – keyboards
Kyledidthis – design
Jay-Z – performer
Jonathan Mannion – photography
Memphis Bleek – performer
Tatsuya Sato – assistant engineer
Beanie Sigel – performer
UGK – performer
Dr. Dre – performer, mixing

Charts

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (2000)

!Peak
position

{{album chart|BillboardCanada|8|rowheader=true|artist=Jay-Z|access-date=August 19, 2020}}

{{album chart|Switzerland|75|artist=Jay-Z|album=Vol. 3: Life And Times Of S. Carter|rowheader=true|access-date=August 19, 2020}}

{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Jay-Z|rowheader=true|access-date=August 19, 2020}}

{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Jay-Z|rowheader=true|access-date=August 19, 2020}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !Chart (2000) !Position
scope="row"\|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184459/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_2.html\|archivedate=September 6, 2004\|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_2.html\|title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000\|website=Jam!\|accessdate=March 29, 2022}} \|align="center"\|141
scope="row"\|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums\|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=August 6, 2021\|archive-date=January 10, 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110171552/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums\|url-status=live}} \|align="center"\|23
scope="row"\|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums\|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2000\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=August 19, 2020}} \|align="center"\|5

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (2000)

!Position

scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184459/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_2.html|archivedate=September 6, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000|website=Jam!|accessdate=March 29, 2022}}

|align="center"|141

scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 6, 2021|archive-date=January 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110171552/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live}}

|align="center"|23

scope="row"|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2000|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 19, 2020}}

|align="center"|5

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter|artist=JAY Z|award=Gold|relyear=1999}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter|artist=JAY Z|award=Silver|relyear=1999|id=9794-1475-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter|artist=Jay-Z|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1999|certyear=2001}}