The Reason (Beanie Sigel album)

Last updated
The Reason
Beaniesigelthereason.jpg
Studio album by
Beanie Sigel
ReleasedJune 26, 2001
Recorded2000–2001
Genre Hip hop
Length60:40
Label
Producer
Beanie Sigel chronology
The Truth
(2000)		The Reason
(2001)		 The B. Coming
(2005)

The Reason is the second studio album by rapper Beanie Sigel, released on Roc-A-Fella Records. Originally scheduled for a June 12, 2001 release, the album was ultimately released June 26, 2001. The album contains 14 tracks, and special guests include Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z, Freeway, Omillio Sparks, Scarface, Daz, Kurupt, and Rell.

Contents

It received positive reviews from critics divided over Sigel's lyrical abilities as a rapper. The Reason debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and spawned two singles: "Beanie (Mack Bitch)" and "Think It's a Game".

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [3]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
RapReviews7.5/10 [8]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [9]

The Reason garnered positive reviews from music critics who commended the record's East Coast production but questioned Sigel's abilities as a credible rapper. Andy Capper of NME found some familiarity in the album's beats but praised Sigel's dark-yet-intriguing delivery along with a talented list of guest artists, calling it "one of the best hardcore rap records of the year 2001." [6] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised the lyrical delivery and production for being an upgrade from Sigel's debut effort The Truth , saying that, "[I]n the pantheon of Philadelphia rap from The Roots to Will Smith, make room for a mack (bitch) - he's definitely earned his right to shine." [8] Entertainment Weekly 's Evan Serpick said that, "Sigel will never sound as urgent as Chuck D or as smooth as Method Man, but the Jay-Z protégé makes up for it with smarter-than-average gangsta lyrics and eclectic hip-hop beats." [3] Nick Catucci of Blender wrote that, "Throughout the disc, Beanie stalks through the subdued bounce of big, loose piano and horn riffs, his smooth but steely flow intact. There's a sequel to his first album's not-so-pretty prison tale "What Ya Life Like" here, but it's best hearing about Beans's life when he's feeling nice, not nasty." [2]

AllMusic writer Bret Love commended the production for remaining consistent and Sigel's persona of a street smart hustler but found it running its course as the album continued, concluding that "Sigel's sophomore effort isn't so much an artistic step forward as it is a step sideways." [1] HipHopDX writer Affrikka said that despite the first two tracks, the record starts to fall off into mediocre un-originality, saying that "Overall, the experience leaves you wanting more from the executive producing credit that Jay-Z takes. It’s almost as if anyone involved in this project expected listeners to not get past the first couple songs." [4] Soren Baker, writing for the Los Angeles Times , commented that "[T]he normally assertive and interesting Philadelphia rapper flows like a sloth on nearly every cut of his second album, failing to elicit much excitement despite the solid, hard-core production." [5] Robert Christgau graded the album as a "dud", [9] indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought." [10]

Commercial performance

The Reason debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 selling 151,000 copies in its first week. [11] On its second week, it dropped to number 11 with sales dropping 50% to 75,000 copies. [12]

Track listing

The Reason track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Nothing Like It"
 Kanye West 3:22
2."Beanie (Mack Bitch)"
 Just Blaze 4:13
3."So What You Saying" (featuring Memphis Bleek)
Just Blaze5:06
4."Get Down"
Just Blaze4:58
5."I Don't Do Much"
 Rick Rock 4:40
6."For My Niggas" (featuring Daz)
  • Grant
  • Thomas
Rick Rock4:12
7."Watch Your Bitches"
 88-Keys 3:46
8."Think It's a Game" (featuring Jay-Z, Freeway, and Young Chris)
  • Bernard "Big Demi" Parker
  • Karl "Bubb" Patrick (co.)
5:33
9."Man's World"
 No I.D. 3:50
10."Gangsta, Gangsta" (featuring Kurupt)
  • Grant
  • West
Kanye West3:41
11."Tales of a Hustler" (featuring Sparks)
 Sha-Self 3:55
12."Mom Praying" (featuring Scarface)
Just Blaze4:40
13."Still Got Love for You" (featuring Jay-Z and Rell)
Just Blaze4:21
14."What Your Life Like 2"
Just Blaze4:23
Total length:60:40

Samples

Personnel

Charts

Singles chart positions

YearSongChart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
2001"Beanie (Mack Bitch)"—5211
2001"Think It's a Game"—99—

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References

  1. 1 2 Love, Bret. "The Reason - Beanie Sigel". AllMusic . Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Catucci, Nick. "The Reason - Beanie Sigel". Blender . Archived from the original on November 7, 2001. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Serpick, Evan (July 13, 2001). "The Reason". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Affrikka (July 12, 2001). "Beanie Sigel - The Reason". HipHopDX . Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Baker, Soren (July 8, 2001). "In Brief" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Capper, Andy (September 12, 2005). "Beanie Sigel : The Reason". NME . Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Music: The Reason [Enhanced CD] by Beanie Sigel". Tower Records. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (June 28, 2001). "Beanie Sigel :: The Reason :: Roc-A-Fella Records". RapReviews. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "CG: Beanie Sigel". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Key to Icons". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  11. ↑ Martens, Todd (July 5, 2001). "Keys' Debut Tops The Billboard 200". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  12. ↑ Martens, Todd (July 12, 2001). "D12 Leapfrogs Keys, Returns To No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Beanie Sigel Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Beanie Sigel Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
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