Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third album released by rapper Jay-Z. The success of the singles pushed the album to sell over 5 million copies in the U.S. and over 8 million worldwide. The album propelled Jay-Z into superstar status and cemented him as a house hold name. It also helped him emerge as an extremely dominant force in the post Biggie/Tupac era of hip-hop.

Despite its title as Jay-Z's most commercially successful album, it received lukewarm reviews from critics and hip-hop purists who felt his aims to be a crossover success had compromised the quality and complexity of his music. It was also criticised for its numerous guest appearances.

Several tracks on this album feature a rougher sound than the glossier Bad Boy production on In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, most notably the three tracks produced by Ruff Ryders beatmaker Swizz Beatz. With the exception of Stevie J on "Ride or Die," Bad Boy producers play no role in Vol. 2, though Jay-Z enlisted Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, and Irv Gotti for a more pop-oriented sound on three of the albums' singles.