Ain't No Shame in My Game

Ain't No Shame in My Game
Studio album by Candyman
Released	October 2, 1990 (1990-10-02)
Recorded	1989–1990
Genre	Hip hop [1]
Length	36:47
Label	Epic
Producer	Candyman Charlie Mack Dette DJ Scratch Johnny "J" Shatasha Tea-Fly
Candyman chronology
Ain't No Shame in My Game (1990) Playtime Is Over (1991)
Singles from Ain't No Shame in My Game
"Knockin' Boots" Released: 1990 "Melt in Your Mouth" Released: 1990 "Nightgown" Released: 1991

Ain't No Shame in My Game is the debut studio album by American rapper Candyman. It was released on October 2, 1990, via Epic Records with distribution by CBS Records Inc. The album was produced by the Candyland Band. It peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 and number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States, and number 65 on the Album Top 100 in the Netherlands. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 18, 1990.

The album spawned three hit singles: "Knockin' Boots", "Melt in Your Mouth" and "Nightgown". Its lead single, "Knockin' Boots", reached number-one position in the Netherlands, number 9 in Belgium and in the United States, and number 28 in Germany. "Melt in Your Mouth" peaked at number 41 in the Netherlands and number 69 in the United States. "Nightgown" made it to number 91 in the United States.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Chicago Tribune	[3]
RapReviews	6.5/10 [1]

The Baltimore Sun noted that "the album isn't entirely sugar-coated—there's plenty of bite as well, from the nasty funk of 'Don't Leave Home Without It' to the breathless rhymes of 'The Mack Is Back'." ^[4] The Chicago Tribune wrote: "A slightly amusing rapper in the Fresh Prince/Young M.C. mold, Candyman's biggest fault is that he's a little too enamored of his own cleverness." ^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ain't No Shame in My Game (Show)"	Candyman	2:35
2.	"Candy Man"	Candyman Rick James	3:23
3.	"Don't Leave Home Without It"	Candyman Chris Kenner	4:05
4.	"Knockin' Boots"	Candyman Willie Clarke Betty Wright Richard Wylie Anthony Hamilton Fabian Hamilton	3:53
5.	"Melt in Your Mouth"	Candyman Melvin Steals Mervin Steals	4:36
6.	"Playin' on Me"	Candyman Bunny DeBarge	4:14
7.	"Today's Topic"	Candyman Wanda Hutchinson	3:05
8.	"The Mack Is Back"	Candyman Kool & the Gang	3:31
9.	"Night Gown"	Candyman Prince Seth Justman	3:19
10.	"Who Shakes the Best"	Candyman	3:11
11.	"Keep on Watcha Doin'"	Candyman Rick James	3:36
12.	"5 Verses of Def"	Candyman James Brown	4:29
Total length:			36:47

Personnel

• Candyman – vocals, producer
• Charlie W. Mackie – bass, producer
• Johnny Lee Jackson – producer
• Shatasha Williams – producer
• Dette – producer
• Tea-Fly – producer
• DJ Scratch – producer
• Ken Komisar – executive producer
• Donovan "The Dirt Biker" Sound – engineering
• Tony Cannella – engineering
• Brian Gardner – mastering
• Mary Maurer – art direction
• Todd Gray – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990–1991) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [5] 142 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [6] 65 US Billboard 200 [7] 40 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [8] 18

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position US Billboard 200 [9] 91 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [10] 71

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [11]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (January 20, 2009). "Candyman Ain't No Shame in My Game". RapReviews. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
2. Henderson, Alex. "Ain't No Shame in My Game Candyman". AllMusic . Retrieved November 13, 2018.
3. May, Mitchell (December 27, 1990). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
4. Considine, J. D. (November 2, 1990). "Ain't No Shame in My Game Candyman". Features. The Baltimore Sun.
5. "Candyman ARIA Chart History to April 2025". ARIA. Retrieved May 18, 2025– via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
6. "Dutchcharts.nl – Candyman – Ain't No Shame In My Game" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
7. "Candyman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
8. "Candyman Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
9. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
10. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
11. "American album certifications – Candyman – Ain't No Shame In My Game". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Ain't No Shame In My Game at Discogs (list of releases)