Ahmad (album)

Ahmad
Studio album by Ahmad
Released	May 24, 1994
Recorded	1993–94
Studio	Winsonic Process & Recording Studios
Genre	West Coast hip hop
Length	54:42
Label	Giant Reprise
Producer	Ahmad Brian C. Walls Kendal Maurice Thompson
Singles from Ahmad
"Back in the Day" Released: 1994 "You Gotta Be" Released: August 30, 1994

Ahmad is the debut studio album by American rapper Ahmad. ^[1] It was released on May 24, 1994, through Giant/Reprise Records. It was produced by Redfoo, Brian C. Walls, Maurice Thompson, and Ahmad, who also served as executive producer with Cassandra Mills and Lloyd Winston. The album produced two singles: "Back in the Day" and "You Gotta Be".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Robert Christgau	A− [3]
RapReviews	8.5/10 [4]

The Charlotte Observer likened Ahmad to "a young Heavy D." ^[5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Freak"	Ahmad A. Lewis Brian C. Walls	Brian C. Walls Ahmad (co.)	5:06
2.	"Back in the Day"	Lewis Stefan Kendal Gordy Curtis Mayfield	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	5:18
3.	"Touch the Ceiling"	Lewis Gordy Randy Muller Lawrence Muggerud Leor Dimant Jason Vasquez	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	3:54
4.	"The Jones'"	Lewis Gordy	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	4:24
5.	"Can I Party?"	Lewis Maurice Thompson Bernard G. Worrell William Collins George Clinton Jr.	Maurice Thompson Ahmad (co.)	3:47
6.	"You Gotta Be..."	Lewis Gordy Eric Barrier William Griffin	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	4:26
7.	"We Want the Funk"	Lewis Gordy	Kendal Ahmad	4:52
8.	"The Palladium"	Lewis Gordy	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	4:49
9.	"Homeboys First"	Lewis Gordy	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	3:51
10.	"Ordinary People"	Lewis Gordy Joe Sample	Kendal Ahmad (co.)	3:53
11.	"Back in the Day" (Remix)			5:07
12.	"Back in the Day" (Jeep Mix)			5:15
Total length:				54:42

Sample credits

• Track 2 contains a portion of the composition "Let's Do It Again" written by Curtis Mayfield.
• Track 3 contains samples from "Get Up to Get Down", written by Randy Muller, as performed by Brass Construction, and "The Funkiest", written by Lawrence Muggerud, Leor Dimant and Jason Vasquez, as performed by Funkdoobiest.
• Track 5 contains samples from "Let's Take It to the Stage" and "Flashlight" as performed by Parliament, and "The Humpty Dance" as performed by Digital Underground.
• Track 6 contains samples from "Paid in Full" as performed by Eric B. & Rakim.
• Track 10 contains samples from "Do You Remember When" as performed by the Crusaders.
• Tracks 11 and 12 contain samples from "Love T.K.O.", written by Cecil Womack, Linda Womack and Eddie "Gip" Noble, as performed by Teddy Pendergrass.

Personnel

• Ahmad Lewis – vocals, producer (track 7), co-producer (tracks: 1-6, 8-10), re-mixing (tracks: 11, 12), arranger, executive producer, sleeve notes
• Brenda Lee Eager – backing vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7, 10)
• Cynthia Bass – backing vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 7)
• Della Miles – backing vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 7)
• Roger Troutman – backing vocals (tracks: 4, 7)
• David Elliot – backing vocals (track 10)
• Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones – guitar (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 10-12), bass (track 5)
• Michael Angelo Saulsberry – strings & horns (tracks: 11, 12)
• Brian C. Walls – producer (track 1)
• Stefan Kendal "Redfoo" Gordy – producer (tracks: 2-4, 6-10), sleeve notes
• Maurice Thompson – producer (track 5), re-mixing (tracks: 11, 12)
• Winston Johnson – recording (tracks: 1, 2, 4-8, 10), mixing (tracks: 1-10)
• Richard "Segal" Huredia – recording (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 9)
• Nazeeh Islam – recording assistant (tracks: 1-10)
• Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
• Cassandra Mills – executive producer
• Lloyd Winston – executive producer
• Gregory Gilmer – art direction
• Amy Guip – photography
• Dave Jacobson – A&R

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
US Top R&B Albums ( Billboard ) [6]	48
US Heatseekers Albums ( Billboard )	8

References

1. Hunt, Dennis (September 17, 1994). "He Wants to Chase the Gangstas Out of Rap: Pop music: Ahmad's single 'Back in the Day,' which offers a different perspective on life in South-Central L.A., is G-rated--and a hit". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 9, 2023.
2. Loftus, Johnny. "Ahmad, Ahmad Lewis - Ahmad Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved August 9, 2023.
3. Christgau, Robert (July 1994). "Ahmad". Robert Christgau. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
4. Jost, Matt (May 10, 2005). "Ahmad Ahmad Giant Records". RapReviews. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
5. Wertz Jr., Langston (June 10, 1994). "Rap". The Charlotte Observer. p. 5F.
6. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 31. July 30, 1994. p. 22.

External links

• Ahmad – Ahmad at Discogs (list of releases)