January 13, 1998. If you were around for it, you remember the vibe. New York hip-hop was in this weird, transitional state. The Notorious B.I.G. had been gone for nearly a year, and Bad Boy Records was pivoting hard toward the "Shiny Suit" era. Enter three kids from Yonkers: Sheek Louch, Styles P, and Jadakiss. They didn’t really fit the champagne-and-yachts aesthetic Diddy was pushing, but they were about to drop one of the most significant debut projects of the late 90s. Honestly, looking back at the Money Power Respect by The Lox album, it’s a miracle it even happened the way it did.
The group was originally called The Warlocks. Diddy, being the marketing genius (or meddler, depending on who you ask) he is, told them the name wasn't "marketable." He chopped it down to The L.O.X.—Living Off Xperience.
The Push and Pull of Bad Boy Records
Signing to Bad Boy was a double-edged sword. On one hand, you had the Hitmen—a production team that couldn't miss. You had the budget. You had the radio play. On the other hand, The Lox were gritty. They were street. Jadakiss has since joked in interviews about how they hated wearing those shiny suits. They wanted to be grimy, but the label wanted hits.
This tension is all over the Money Power Respect by The Lox album. You can hear it in the tracklist. You have songs like "If You Think I’m Jiggy," which was basically a forced attempt at a crossover hit. It sampled Rod Stewart’s "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"—a move that was arguably more Diddy than D-Block. It’s a fun track, sure, but it felt like the group was wearing shoes that didn't quite fit.
But then you get to the title track.
💡 You might also like: Cliff Richard and The Young Ones: The Weirdest Bromance in TV History Explained
The Anthem That Defined a Decade
"Money, Power & Respect" isn't just a song; it's a thesis statement for the streets. Produced by the Hitmen (D-Dot and Amen-Ra), the track featured Lil’ Kim on the hook and a young, hungry DMX.
"First you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the respect."
It was a simple formula. The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Rap charts. It’s one of those rare records where everyone brought their A-game. Kim’s delivery was icy, and DMX’s verse was pure, unadulterated aggression. For many, this was the moment The Lox proved they could stay true to their Yonkers roots while still moving units.
The album itself debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. It sold over 110,000 copies in its first week. By late 1999, it was certified Platinum. People were buying what The Lox were selling, even if the group itself was starting to feel claustrophobic at the label.
📖 Related: Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth: Why This Villain Still Works
A Tracklist That Cut Deep
The album is long. We’re talking 21 tracks and over an hour of music. That was the style back then, but it means there’s some filler. However, the highs are incredibly high.
- "All for the Love": A Jadakiss solo produced by a young Swizz Beatz. It’s lean, mean, and showcased Jada’s "top 5 dead or alive" potential early on.
- "We'll Always Love Big Poppa": A heartfelt tribute to Biggie. It didn't feel like a marketing ploy; it felt like three guys mourning their mentor.
- "Not to Be Fed With"*: Styles P showing the world why he’s one of the most respected lyricists in the game. Raw conviction.
- "Livin' the Life": A track that perfectly balanced that Bad Boy polish with street narratives.
The production credits read like a who’s who of late 90s royalty. You had Dame Grease, who was instrumental in the Ruff Ryders sound, alongside Bad Boy staples like Nashiem Myrick and Stevie J. It’s a sonic tug-of-war between the glitz of Manhattan and the grit of Yonkers.
The Great Escape: Free The Lox
If you want to understand the legacy of the Money Power Respect by The Lox album, you have to look at what happened after it came out. The group grew increasingly frustrated with how they were being marketed. They didn't want to be "jiggy." They wanted to be the Ruff Ryders.
This led to the famous "Free The Lox" campaign. Fans started seeing these shirts everywhere. The group eventually went on Hot 97 and had a legendary, heated exchange with Diddy. Jadakiss famously threatened to drop a refrigerator on him from a rooftop. It was wild.
👉 See also: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne: Why His Performance Still Holds Up in 2026
They eventually got their wish and moved to Ruff Ryders for their second album, We Are the Streets. While that album is often cited as their "truest" sound, it doesn't exist without the foundation—and the friction—of their debut.
Why We Still Listen Today
Honestly, the Money Power Respect by The Lox album has aged surprisingly well. While some of the skits feel dated and a few of the "radio" attempts are cringey by today's standards, the lyricism is top-tier. These guys could actually rap. In an era of 2026 where "vibes" often trump bars, hearing three masters of the craft trade verses is refreshing.
The album also serves as a historical document of the Bad Boy empire's peak. It shows the transition of hip-hop from the hardcore mid-90s into the commercial juggernaut of the early 2000s.
What You Can Learn From Their Journey
If you're a fan or a student of hip-hop history, there are a few things to take away from this record:
- Identity is everything. The Lox were successful at Bad Boy, but they weren't happy. They risked their careers to align their music with their actual lives.
- Great chemistry can't be faked. Jada, Styles, and Sheek have a brotherhood that has lasted 30 years. You can hear that synergy on every track.
- Song structure matters. As Jadakiss later admitted, they were just rhyming for long stretches back then without fully understanding how to build a song. Looking back, you can see how they evolved from pure battle rappers into legendary songwriters.
To really appreciate the Money Power Respect by The Lox album, you should revisit the "Money, Power & Respect" music video and then immediately watch their 2021 Verzuz against Dipset. The growth is incredible, but the hunger remains exactly the same.
If you haven't spun the full project in a while, go back and skip the interludes. Focus on the solo tracks and the title anthem. You'll realize that while the shiny suits are gone, the bars are still as sharp as they were in '98.