1990s SPECIAL REPORT: "JAY-Z EARLY APPEARANCES"

Over his lengthy and celebrated career, Jay Z has become known for many things, including his flow: Oftentimes laid-back, and coming off with an air of nonchalance while remaining steadfastly deliberate.

He didn't always sound that way, though.

Old tracks and freestyles have made that much clear, as double-time rapping was often Hov's forte. He's dabbled with that, at times, in the years since his mainstream breakthrough of the late '90s, but it's certainly not the sound that a casual fan is used to hearing from Jay.