Jay-Z's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, was released in the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters series by The New York Times and revealed that he had to have a "naïve" mindset while making his debut album. The album, which is considered a classic of New York street life, was described as an evocative portrait of street life in New York. Jay-Z explained that he wanted to tell his story and create an album that reflected his upbringing and how it would make his friends react. He also mentioned that he was aware that the album would resonate with anyone who lived the same life he did at one point.