Born Gangstaz

Last updated
Born Gangstaz
Born Gangstaz.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 25, 1993
Recorded199193
StudioBeat 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
Length47:21
Label
Producer
Singles from Born Gangstaz
  1. "I Don't Give a Fuck" / "Mai Sista Izza Bitch"
    Released: 1992
  2. "Deeper"
    Released: March 16, 1993
  3. "Recipe of a Hoe"
    Released: July 6, 1993
  4. "Progress of Elimination"
    Released: October 12, 1993

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.

Contents

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 .

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Scissors icon black.svg [4]
Entertainment Weekly A− [5]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
RapReviews7.5/10 [7]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [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]

Retrospect

MagazineCountryArticleYearRank
Spin United States "The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993" [11] 201317

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(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)
  • Roger Samuels
  • Fortson
  • Clarence Reid
  • Ricardo Royal
Def Jef3:59
3."Comin' to Getcha" (featuring Erick Sermon) Erick Sermon 3:30
4."Mai Sista Izza Bitch" (featuring AMG)
  • AMG
  • Courtney Branch (exec.)
  • Tracy Kendrick (exec.)
  • Greg Jessie (exec.)
3:01
5."Thelma and Louise"
  • Laws
  • Irene Moore
  • Fortson
Def Jef0:57
6."Drive By"
  • Laws
  • Moore
  • Angelo Trotter IV
Stone tha Lunatic4:01
7."Progress of Elimination"
  • Royal
  • Fortson
Def Jef3:12
8."Livin' Loc'd" (featuring Onyx)3:37
9."Recipe of a Hoe"
  • Laws
  • Rodney Caple
Mic Professah4:29
10."A Blind Date with Boss" (featuring Onyx)Tracey Waples1:00
11."Catch a Bad One"
  • Laws
  • Moore
  • Fortson
Def Jef3:43
12."Born Gangsta" (featuring Admiral D)
  • Laws
  • Moore
  • B.J. Reeves
  • Lewis
  • AMG
  • Courtney Branch (co.)
  • Tracy Kendrick (co.)
3:22
13."1-800-Body-Bags"
  • Laws
  • Moore
  • Fortson
  • K. Fulton
  • V. Edwards
Def Jef0:35
14."Diary of a Mad Bitch"3:05
15."2 to da Head"
  • Laws
  • Moore
  • Sermon
Erick Sermon3:39
16."I Don't Give a Fuck"
  • Laws
  • Moore
  • Ray
  • Berrin
  • T-Ray
  • MC Serch (co.)
3:53
17."Outro: A Call from Dad" (featuring Joe Laws)
  • Laws
  • Fortson
Def Jef0:31
Total length:47:21

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [12] 22
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [13] 3

Singles

YearSongChart positions
Hot 100 [14] R&B [15] Rap [16] Dance
1993"Deeper"6528125
"Recipe of a Hoe"118[A]73129

[A] Number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

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