At the Speed of Life | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 15, 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1995–1996 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Hardcore hip hop | |||
Length | 49:14 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Xzibit chronology | ||||
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Singles from At the Speed of Life | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Muzik | [2] |
Q | [3] |
RapReviews | 8.5/10 [4] |
The Source | [5] |
At the Speed of Life is the debut studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Loud/RCA Records. [6] The recording sessions took place at Tha Concentration Camp and The Compound in Los Angeles and Ameraycan Studios in North Hollywood. The album was produced by Craig Sherrad, E-Swift, Thayod Ausar, Diamond D, DJ Muggs, DJ Pen One, and Saafir. It features guest appearances from Hurricane G, J-Ro, King T, Ras Kass, Saafir, Tash and Ron Hightower.
In the United States, the album made it to number 74 on the Billboard 200 and number 22 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It also peaked at number 19 in the Netherlands, number 35 in Switzerland, number 36 in Finland, number 57 in Sweden and number 74 in Germany.
Its lead single, "Paparazzi", peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 39 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, No. 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 9 on the Hot Rap Songs in the United States. It found more success in Europe, reaching Top 20 in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Austria, and received Gold certification by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie. The instrumental version of "Paparazzi" can be heard in the end of "Pax Soprana", the sixth episode of the first season of crime drama television series The Sopranos . The song was used for the soundtrack to 2001 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 .
The song "Eyes May Shine" was released as a promotional single on October 15, 1996 with its remix version featuring Mobb Deep.
The album's second single, "The Foundation", was less successful only peaking at No. 1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, No. 29 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, No. 58 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 16 on the Hot Rap Songs in the United States.
The song "Just Maintain" off of the album appeared in Richard Donner's 1997 film Conspiracy Theory .
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [7]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Grand Opening" (Interlude) | Craig Sherrad | 1:32 | |
2. | "At the Speed of Life" |
| Thayod Ausar | 3:45 |
3. | "Just Maintain" (featuring Hurricane Gee) |
| E-Swift | 3:20 |
4. | "Eyes May Shine" |
| E-Swift | 3:57 |
5. | "Positively Negative" (featuring King Tee) |
| Craig Sherrad | 3:36 |
6. | "Don't Hate Me" (Interlude) | Thayod Ausar | 1:31 | |
7. | "Paparazzi" |
| Thayod Ausar | 3:56 |
8. | "The Foundation" | DJ Muggs | 3:55 | |
9. | "Mrs. Crabtree" (Interlude) |
| 1:16 | |
10. | "Bird's Eye View" (featuring Catashtraphe and J-Ro) | Diamond D | 4:41 | |
11. | "Hit & Run (Part II)" (featuring Ron Hightower) |
| Craig Sherrad | 3:49 |
12. | "Carry the Weight" |
| Thayod Ausar | 4:13 |
13. | "Plastic Surgery" (featuring Ras Kass and Saafir) |
| E-Swift | 4:40 |
14. | "Enemies & Friends" |
| DJ Pen One | 4:00 |
15. | "Last Words" (Interlude) | Craig Sherrad | 1:00 | |
Total length: | 49:14 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
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