93 'til Infinity

Last updated
93 'til Infinity
93tilinfinity.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1993 (1993-09-28)
Recorded1992–1993
Studio Hyde Street (San Francisco)
Genre Alternative hip hop
Length54:38
Label Jive
Producer
Souls of Mischief chronology
93 'til Infinity
(1993)
No Man's Land
(1995)
Singles from 93 'til Infinity
  1. "93 'til Infinity"
    Released: 1993
  2. "That's When Ya Lost"
    Released: May 10, 1993
  3. "Never No More"
    Released: 1994

93 'til Infinity is the debut studio album by American hip-hop group Souls of Mischief. It was released on September 28, 1993, [1] [2] [3] on the Jive label.

Contents

Composition

The sound of 93 'til Infinity is characteristic of the distinct style explored by the collective, including a rhyme scheme based on internal rhyme and beats centered around a live bass and obscure jazz and funk samples. According to AllMusic author Steve Huey, "Although the title cut is an underappreciated classic, 93 'til Infinity makes its greatest impression through its stunning consistency, not individual highlights." [4]

Release

93 'til Infinity met commercial success with its title track and lead single, which reached No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also featured singles "That's When Ya Lost" and "Never No More" which reached the Hot Rap Singles but never charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Christgau's Consumer Guide A− [5]
RapReviews9.5/10 [6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]

93 'til Infinity was critically acclaimed for its subject matter, production, and rapping, though it was not as popular as other West Coast hip hop albums at the time of its release. The St. Petersburg Times noted that "the new school diversity and relaxed swagger is highlighted by the Souls' raw and effortless verbal flow." [9] The Washington Post praised "the distant trumpet shouts and fuzzy drum brushes in 'Never No More' and the combination of record-scratches and Ramsey Lewis keyboard samples on 'Make Your Mind Up'." [10] Suzann Vogel of Philadelphia Weekly wrote:

At the pinnacle of the G-funked gangsta era, Souls of Mischief took the low road of emotional complexity. Hailing from Oakland, Calif., the foursome's distinctive lyrical mapping, infectious beats and subtle melodies on their debut rerouted gun-toting wannabes back to the underground and vaulted record-label Hieroglyphics to indie legend. MCs Tajai, Opio, Phesto and A-Plus exhibited a surprising charisma between them while undoing ghetto esteem. Their world of boredom, girls, weed, books, lounging and, of course, violence was a more easily understood reality for those caught between Pete Rock's tragedy, De La Soul's hippie aesthetics and Tupac's marginalizing glamour. Follow-up releases by Souls fell pathetically flat of achieving 'Til Infinity's harmony, and MCs have since broached personal topics of greater depth. Still, the genre-altering release possesses one undeniable truth: Reality's never sounded so good.[ citation needed ]

Steve Huey of AllMusic also positively reviewed 93 'til Infinity, calling it "the best single album to come out of Oakland's Hieroglyphics camp," as well as saying how Souls of Mischief "completely redefined the art of lyrical technique for the West Coast" and that it's "one of the most slept-on records of the '90s". [4]

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source 's 100 Best Rap Albums. [11]

Legacy and influence

Over the years, the title track "93 'til Infinity" has been referenced and sampled by numerous artists, including Consequence and Kanye West in their 2004 song "03 'Til Infinity", [12] J. Cole in 2009's "Til' Infinity", [13] Freddie Gibbs in 2009's "How We Do", [14] Big K.R.I.T in 2010's "Somedayz", [15] and Joey Badass in 2013's "95 Til Infinity". [16]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Let 'em Know" Domino 4:15
2."Live and Let Live"Domino5:20
3."That's When Ya Lost" Del the Funky Homosapien 3:35
4."A Name I Call Myself"Del the Funky Homosapien4:11
5."Disseshowedo"Domino, Jay Biz 2:59
6."What a Way to Go Out"A-Plus3:59
7."Never No More"A-Plus3:41
8."93 'til Infinity"A-Plus4:46
9."Limitations"Jay Biz3:21
10."Anything Can Happen"A-Plus3:02
11."Make Your Mind Up"Del the Funky Homosapien3:51
12."Batting Practice" Casual 4:04
13."Tell Me Who Profits"Domino4:02
14."Outro"Domino2:04
Total length:53:10

Charts

Weekly charts

YearAlbumPeak
position
Billboard 200 [17] Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums [18]
199393 'til Infinity8517

Singles

YearSongPeak
position
Billboard Hot 100 [19] Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks [20] Hot Rap Singles [21] Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales [21]
1993"93 'Til Infinity"72651120
"That's When Ya Lost"24
1994"Never No More"4615
"—" denotes that a recording did not chart.

Credits

Souls of Mischief:

Additional personnel:

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