Against the Grain | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 23, 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2002–2003 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 68:48 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Kurupt chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllHipHop | 2.5/5 [1] |
AllMusic | [2] |
Now | 3/5 [3] |
PopMatters | 1/10 [4] |
RapReviews | 5.5/10 [5] |
Against the Grain is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Kurupt. It was released on August 23, 2005, through Death Row Records, making it his first and, to date, only solo album for the label. Production was handled by Mark Sparks, Doug Mayhem, Sir Jinx, Baby-C-Style, Blaqthoven, Diverse, Joshua Andrews, Ric Rude, Screwface and Tha Row Hitters, with Suge Knight serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Eastwood, Tri Star, Young Tone, 2Pac, Dave Hollister, Domination, M.O.P., Potion, Roscoe, Spider Loc, The Dayton Family and Val C.
The album went almost unnoticed due to the lack of promotion by Koch Records, which distributes all of Tha Row's albums. It debuted at number 60 on the Billboard 200 albums and number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It also made it to number 146 on the French Albums chart. The cut tracks were later released on a 2007 bootleg compilation titled Against tha Grain E.P. . The album was reissued in February 2010, under the title Down and Dirty with a slightly altered tracklist. The song "Calico" previously appeared on the Dayton Family album Family Feud .
Kurupt was signed with Death Row Records as one-half of Tha Dogg Pound together with Daz Dillinger. The duo released the only studio album for the label, Dogg Food in 1995, before Kurupt left the label in late 1997. In early 2002 he re-aligned with Death Row, which sparked the feud with his former labelmates, such as Daz, Snoop Dogg and Soopafly. The album was delay from its planned 2004 release and was released in August 2005, when Kurupt left Death Row for the second time. It was Death Row's first freshly recorded album in over four years. It was the final original album released by the label during its original run, before being revived with BODR by Snoop Dogg 17 years later.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Intro" | 0:54 | ||
2. | "Speak on It" (featuring Val C) |
| Mark Sparks | 4:04 |
3. | "Anarchy '87" | D. Williams | Mark Sparks | 4:15 |
4. | "Throw Back Muzic '86" | D. Williams | Mark Sparks | 4:11 |
5. | "Deep Dishes" |
| Ric Rude | 4:52 |
6. | "Stalkin'" | Sir Jinx | 3:59 | |
7. | "Can U Feel It" (featuring Potion) |
| Doug Mayhem | 4:48 |
8. | "Slide n Slide Out" (featuring Eastwood, Tri Star and Young Tone) |
| Blaqthoven | 3:42 |
9. | "I'm Back" |
| Tha Row Hitters | 4:49 |
10. | "Jealousy" (featuring Roscoe and M.O.P.) |
| Mark Sparks | 4:41 |
11. | "Tha Past" (featuring Dave Hollister) |
| Doug Mayhem | 4:46 |
12. | "My Homeboys (Back to Back)" (featuring 2Pac and Eastwood) |
|
| 4:16 |
13. | "Bullshit & Nonsense" (featuring Spider Loc and Eastwood) |
| Joshua Andrews | 3:20 |
14. | "Calico" (featuring The Dayton Family) |
| Screwface Music | 4:52 |
15. | "Hustlin'" (featuring Tri Star and Young Tone) |
| Sir Jinx | 3:45 |
16. | "It's a Wrap" | Mark Sparks | 2:58 | |
17. | "You Fuckin' with the Best" (featuring Domination) | Baby-C-Style | 4:08 | |
18. | "Outro" | 0:21 | ||
Total length: | 1:08:41 |
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
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French Albums (SNEP) [6] | 146 |
US Billboard 200 [7] | 60 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [8] | 20 |
Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row Records and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.
Robin Yvette Allen, known professionally as the Lady of Rage, is an American rapper, singer and actress best known for her collaborations with several other Death Row Records artists, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on the seminal albums, The Chronic and Doggystyle. The Lady of Rage has been described as "one of the most skillful female MCs" with a "mastery of flow" and "hard-core lyrics".
Death Row Records is an American independent record label that was founded in 1991 by the D.O.C., Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. The label became a sensation by releasing multi-platinum hip-hop albums by West Coast-based artists such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and 2Pac, during the 1990s. At its peak, Death Row was making over US$100 million a year.
Delmar Drew Arnaud, known professionally as Daz Dillinger or simply Daz, is an American rapper and music producer. In the 1990s at Death Row Records, he is credited with aiding the catapult of West Coast rap and gangsta rap into the mainstream. He is one half of the rap duo tha Dogg Pound, along with Kurupt.
Dogg Food is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Tha Dogg Pound, released on October 31, 1995. Its controversial lyrics were the subject of shareholder protest. The album was supposed to be released in July 1995, but as a result of the controversy from Time Warner, the release was delayed by three months. Two singles were released from the album: "Let's Play House" and "New York, New York".
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Ricardo Emmanuel Brown, better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, along with Daz Dillinger. His first solo album was released in 1998. After feuding, the duo reunited in 2005.
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Too Gangsta for Radio is a compilation album by Death Row Records, released on September 26, 2000. Production was handled by Cold 187um, Break Bread Productions, Kenny McCloud, Myrion, Quincy Jones III, VMF, Ant Banks, Big Hollis, Blaqthoven, Daz Dillinger, Gary "Sugarfoot" Greenberg, Kurt "Kobane" Couthon, LJ and P. Killer Trackz, with Suge Knight serving as executive producer. It features contributions from the late 2Pac, Crooked I, Dresta, Swoop G, Tha Realest, Above The Law, CJ Mac, G.P., Juice, K-9, Keitarock, Lil' C-Style, Mac Shawn, Nuttz, The Relativez, Twist and Young Hoggs, as well as Ja Rule, Scarface, The Lox and Treach. Most of the songs are diss songs projected at former Death Row artists, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Daz Dillinger among others. Although the album sold poorly, it peaked at #171 on the Billboard 200, #44 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #15 on the Independent Albums charts in the United States.
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DPGC: U Know What I'm Throwin' Up is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Daz Dillinger. It was released on May 6, 2003 via Gangsta Advisory Records, making it his first album for the label. Production was handled by Soopafly, Fredwreck, Shon Don, Def Jef, Meech Wells, Mike Smoove, Quaze, and Daz himself, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Soopafly, Shon Don, Bad Azz, Crystal, E-White, Goldie Loc, Uncle Reo and Whiteboy. The album did not reach the Billboard 200, however it peaked at number 35 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 13 on the Independent Albums charts in the United States.
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