Born Gangstaz | |
---|---|
Studio album by | |
Released | May 25, 1993 |
Recorded | 1991–93 |
Studio | Beat Street Studios (Hollywood, California) Rockin Reel Studios (Commack, New York) Mad Hatter Studios M'Bila Studios Westlake Studios (Los Angeles, California) Chung King Studios (New York City) Ian London Studios (East Islip, New York) |
Genre | Gangsta rap |
Length | 47:21 |
Label |
|
Producer |
|
Singles from Born Gangstaz | |
|
Born Gangstaz is the only studio album by American gangsta rapper Bo$$. [1] It was released on May 25, 1993, through Def Jam Recordings' West Coast-based sub-label DJ West. The recording sessions took place at Beat Street Studios, Mad Hatter Studios, M'Bila Studios and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, at Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in Commack, at Chung King Studios in New York City, and at Ian London Studios in East Islip, New York. The album was produced by Def Jef, AMG, Erick Sermon, T-Ray, Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay, Mic Professah, Stone tha Lunatic, and Tracey Waples, who also served as executive producer together with Russell Simmons, and co-producers MC Serch, Courtney Branch and Tracy Kendrick. It features guest appearances from Def Jef, Onyx, AMG, Erick Sermon, dancehall performers Admiral D and Papa Juggy, as well as Bo$$'s parents, Lillie and Joe Laws.
The album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
It features two the Billboard charted singles: "Deeper" and "Recipe of a Hoe". "I Don't Give a Fuck" b/w "Mai Sista Izza Bitch" and "Progress of Elimination" also were released as singles.
Despite the success of this album, Boss has yet to release another album. Born Gangstaz has sold around 500,000 copies. [2] The working title of the album was They Don't Have the Body Count.
The song "I Don't Give a Fuck" featured during the closing credits of the episode "Lesbian Request Denied" from Season 1 of the Netflix TV show Orange Is the New Black .
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | [4] |
Entertainment Weekly | A− [5] |
Los Angeles Times | [6] |
RapReviews | 7.5/10 [7] |
The Source | [8] |
USA Today said that Born Gangstaz "is so shockingly roughneck, it makes N.W.A sound like Sunday school teachers." [9] The Guardian wrote: "The lady explains, 'Here's a bitch that don't give a fuck'. Whether or not that's true—and one suspects that Boss is more of an actress than a gangsta—it's pretty sad that she wants to compete with men in this area." [10]
Magazine | Country | Article | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spin | United States | "The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993" [11] | 2013 | 17 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro: A Call from Mom" (featuring Lillie Laws) | Def Jef | 0:47 | |
2. | "Deeper" (featuring Papa Juggy and Def Jef) |
| Def Jef | 3:59 |
3. | "Comin' to Getcha" (featuring Erick Sermon) |
| Erick Sermon | 3:30 |
4. | "Mai Sista Izza Bitch" (featuring AMG) |
|
| 3:01 |
5. | "Thelma and Louise" |
| Def Jef | 0:57 |
6. | "Drive By" |
| Stone tha Lunatic | 4:01 |
7. | "Progress of Elimination" |
| Def Jef | 3:12 |
8. | "Livin' Loc'd" (featuring Onyx) | 3:37 | ||
9. | "Recipe of a Hoe" |
| Mic Professah | 4:29 |
10. | "A Blind Date with Boss" (featuring Onyx) |
| Tracey Waples | 1:00 |
11. | "Catch a Bad One" |
| Def Jef | 3:43 |
12. | "Born Gangsta" (featuring Admiral D) |
|
| 3:22 |
13. | "1-800-Body-Bags" |
| Def Jef | 0:35 |
14. | "Diary of a Mad Bitch" |
| 3:05 | |
15. | "2 to da Head" |
| Erick Sermon | 3:39 |
16. | "I Don't Give a Fuck" |
|
| 3:53 |
17. | "Outro: A Call from Dad" (featuring Joe Laws) |
| Def Jef | 0:31 |
Total length: | 47:21 |
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [12] | 22 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [13] | 3 |
Year | Song | Chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot 100 [14] | R&B [15] | Rap [16] | Dance | |||
1993 | "Deeper" | 65 | 28 | 1 | 25 | |
"Recipe of a Hoe" | 118[A] | 73 | 1 | 29 |
[A] Number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
Word of Mouf is the third studio album by American rapper Ludacris. It was released through Disturbing tha Peace and Def Jam South on November 27, 2001. It contains four singles: "Rollout ", "Area Codes", "Move Bitch", and "Saturday ".
Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop Doggy Dogg'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.
Reginald Noble, better known by his stage name Redman, is an American rapper, DJ, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame in the early 1990s as an artist on the Def Jam label.
Bacdafucup is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Onyx, released on March 30, 1993, by JMJ Records, Rush Associated Labels and Chaos Recordings. The album was produced by Randy Allen, Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay and Kool Tee.
Erick Sermon is an American rapper and producer. He is best known as one-third—alongside PMD & DJ Scratch—of 1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for his production work.
Joseph Anthony Budden II is an American broadcaster and rapper. He first gained recognition in the latter occupation with his 2003 single "Pump It Up", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of his eponymous debut studio album (2003). Met with critical and commercial success, the album peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, although it served as his only major label release for Def Jam Recordings; he thereafter released seven albums independently to continued critical praise. While doing so, he performed as a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, which were signed to Eminem's Shady Records in 2012; the group released two studio albums.
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on September 29, 1998, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It went on to become his most commercially successful album, selling over 6 million copies in the United States. In the liner notes of the album, Jay-Z gives his thoughts on various tracks. The lyrics to the fast-paced "Nigga What, Nigga Who " are also included.
Tyree Cinque Simmons, known professionally as DJ Drama, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record executive and music promoter. He initially gained recognition as the DJ for Atlanta-based rapper T.I., and continued to gain prominence hosting mixtapes for other hip hop artists. His trademark Gangsta Grillz series is present on releases of which he has compiled; it has been popularized by artists including Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg, Yo Gotti, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fabolous, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Gucci Mane, among others. Alongside record producer and fellow Philadelphia native Don Cannon, he co-founded the record label Generation Now in 2015, an imprint of Atlantic Records which has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow.
Muddy Waters is the third studio album by American rapper Redman. It was released on December 10, 1996, through Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image and Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, who also served as executive producer, Rockwilder, Jerry Duplessis, Pras, Ty Fyffe, and Redman himself. It features guest appearances from Erick Sermon, Jamal, Keith Murray, K-Solo, Method Man, Napalm and Rockwilder. The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on February 12, 1997 for exceeding shipments of 500,000 copies. The album spawned three charted singles: "It's Like That", "Whateva Man" and "Pick It Up" and a promotional single "Smoke Buddah".
Shock of the Hour is the debut album by rapper MC Ren, released November 16, 1993, on Ruthless Records and distributed by Relativity Records.
He's Keith Murray is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on April 29, 2003, through Def Jam Recordings, making it his only studio album for the label. Recording sessions took place at Fox Hole Studios, Mirror Image in New York City, The Music Grinder in Los Angeles, L.I.T.E. Studios in Long Island, Patchwerk Studios in Atlanta, and Bearsville Sound Studios in Bearsville, New York. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, Jamie Foxx, DJ Clark Kent, DJ Khalil, Jazze Pha, Just Blaze, Keith Murray, Omen, Poke and Tone, Qur'an Goodman, Ruggedness, and Pete Rock. It features guest appearances from Def Squad, Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Joe Hooker, Kel-Vicious and Jessica Rivera.
Lichelle Marie Laws, better known by her stage name Boss, was an American rapper from Detroit. Her debut album, Born Gangstaz, reached number three on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 1993. Laws became best known as a part of the burgeoning West Coast gangsta rap scene in the early ’90s.
Shaq Diesel is the debut studio album by American professional basketball player and rapper Shaquille O'Neal. It was released on October 26, 1993, through Jive Records.
"Mama Said Knock You Out" is a song by American rapper and actor LL Cool J, released in February 1991 by Def Jam and Columbia as the fourth single from his fourth studio album of the same name (1990). The song famously begins with the line, "Don't call it a comeback/I been here for years." Before "Mama Said Knock You Out" was released, many people felt that LL Cool J's career was waning; his grandmother, who still believed in his talent, told him to "knock out" all his critics. The song takes various shots at Kool Moe Dee. It was produced by Marley Marl with help from DJ Bobcat along with LL.
Cool Hand Lōc is the second and final studio album by American rapper Tone Lōc. It was released on November 19, 1991, via Delicious Vinyl. The album was produced by Michael Ross, Matt Dike, Tony Joseph, Quicksilver, Def Jef, Sir Jinx, and Tone Loc, with co-production from M. Walk and William Michael Tate. It features guest appearances from Kenyatta, Def Jef, El DeBarge, and MC Wink Dog. The album peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single, "All Through the Night", peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Throw Ya Gunz" is the first single by American hip hop group Onyx from their debut album, Bacdafucup. It was released on November 27, 1992, by JMJ, Rush Associated Labels and Chaos Recordings. Produced by Jam Master Jay, Chylow Parker, and Randy Allen, "Throw Ya Gunz" was a success and made it to four Billboard charts, including number 1 on the Hot Rap Singles for two weeks. The song achieved even greater success in the UK, where it peaked at number 34 on the UK Top 40 in 1993.
"Slam" is a song by American hip hop group Onyx. It was released on May 11, 1993 by JMJ Records and Rush Associated Labels as the second single from Onyx's debut album, Bacdafucup. The song introduced slamdancing into hip-hop.
Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson, better known by his stage name YG, is an American rapper. He released his debut mixtape 4Fingaz in 2008, and its follow-up, The Real 4Fingaz, the following year. The latter gained recognition for its local hit song "Toot It and Boot It", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 67 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings in October 2009, which entered joint-venture with Atlanta-based rapper Jeezy's record label, CTE World, in 2013.
Nicholaus Joseph Williams, better known by his stage name Trinidad James, is a Trinidadian-American rapper, songwriter and music video director. In December 2012, he signed with Def Jam Recordings to release his debut single, "All Gold Everything" commercially that same month. The song peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and spawned a remix featuring fellow Georgia-based rappers T.I., Jeezy and 2 Chainz. He was dropped from the label in 2014 after failing to promptly record a debut album.
Osiris Jahkail Williams, known professionally as YK Osiris, is an American rapper, and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his 2019 single "Worth It," which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song preceded the release of his debut studio album, The Golden Child in October of that year, which was met with lukewarm critical and commercial response. The year prior, he first gained popularity from his 2018 song "Valentine," which received platinum certification by the RIAA and led him to sign with Def Jam Recordings. He was dropped from the label in 2022.