Bought it when it came out. It wasn't praised nearly as much as it is today (because there were better rappers out there).
On that note, has anyone ever entered their prime during the wrong era more than Rakim? Still remember when I got the Paid In Full vinyl as a little kid. And PE's "It takes a nation..." came out a year after. Not a bad time to be a kid.
Reasonable Doubt not being as praised then as it is now is no remark not the quality of Jay's lyricism or how he compares
It did well, had some acclaim, and got him on the map, that's all that was needed, and the people who did love it then (some people did), had a great album to rock with.
Plenty of those supposed much better rappers already had established careers so it makes sense that they'd be selling better than an independent Jay.
"Why I'm watching every nigga watching me closely?
My shit is butter for the bread, they wanna toast me
I keep my head, both of them, where they supposed to be
Hoes'll get you sidetracked, then clapped from close feet
I don't sleep, I'm tired, I feel wired like codeine
These days, a brother gotta admire me from four fiends away
My pain, wish it was quick to see
From selling 'caine 'til brains was fried to a fricassee
Can't lie, at the time it never bothered me
At the bar getting my thug on properly
My squad and me lack a respect for authority
Laughing hard, happy to be escaping poverty
However brief, I know this game got valleys and peaks
Expectation for dips, for precipitation we stack chips, hardly
The youth I used to be, soon to see a mill'in
No more Big Willie, my game has grown
Prefer you call me William
Illin' for revenues, Rayful Edmond-like
Channel 7 News, round seven jewels, head dead in the mic
Forgetting all I ever knew, convenient amnesia
"I suggest you call my lawyer, I know the procedure"
Lock my body, can't trap my mind
Easily explain why we adapt to crime
I'd rather die enormous than live dormant, that's how we on it
Live at the main event, I bet a trip to Maui on it
Presidential suites my residential for the weekend
Confidentially speaking in codes since I sense you peeking
The NSX rental, don't be fooled, my game is mental
We both out of town, dog, what you trying to get into?
Viva Las Vegas, see ya later at the crap tables
Meet me by the one that starts a G up
This way no Fraud Willies present gambling they re-up
And we can have a pleasant time, sipping margaritas
Ge-ge-gyeahh"