Cheers (Obie Trice album)

Last updated
Cheers
ObieTrice-Cheers.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2003
Recorded2002–03
Genre
Length74:27
Label
Producer
Obie Trice chronology
Cheers
(2003)
Second Round's on Me
(2006)
Singles from Cheers
  1. "Got Some Teeth"
    Released: August 12, 2003
  2. "Shit Hits the Fan"
    Released: November 3, 2003
  3. "The Set Up"
    Released: January 13, 2004
  4. "Don't Come Down"
    Released: 2004

Cheers is the debut studio album by American rapper Obie Trice. It was released on September 23, 2003 by Shady Records and Interscope Records. Eminem served as the executive producer for this album. This album serves as his first release from Shady Records since being signed in 2000. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Contents

Recording and production

The album was recorded between 2002 and 2003, since being signed to Shady Records in 2000. The standard edition of the album consisted of seventeen tracks; Eminem served as executive producer and handled most of the audio production by himself. Additional audio production was provided by Denaun Porter, Dr. Dre, Emile, Fredwreck, Jeff Bass, Luis Resto, Mike Elizondo and Timbaland. The bonus tracks "8 Miles" and "Synopsis" had their audio production handled by DJ Green Lantern and DJ Muggs, respectively. Featured artists on Cheers include Eminem, Nate Dogg, Timbaland, Lloyd Banks, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, D12 and Busta Rhymes.

Content

The title track celebrates Obie's successful debut into the rap game after being in the Detroit underground for many years. Topics Obie has touched on this album include his life on the streets of Detroit, problems with his mother, relationships with women and the soulful reminder that, despite having made it into the mainstream, he has not forgotten his friends.

Diss songs

"Shit Hits the Fan"

The track "Shit Hits the Fan" is a track which insults Ja Rule. Examples of disses from Dr. Dre in the track are: "This little nigga, Ja Rule, Talking bout he's gonna slap me, Nigga please, you gotta jump and swing up to hit me at the knees." At the end of the song, Obie spoke over the beat telling Ja Rule to, "Go behind all the gangsta's you want. Matter of fact get every gangsta from every hood in the United States of America to back you. Ain't nobody reppin' with you, you can't see that?" This was intended to mock Ja Rule's street credibility, declaring that no one was backing him again and that he "fell off."

"We All Die One Day"

The track "We All Die One Day" is a diss to Benzino and The Source. Examples from Lloyd Banks include a subliminal shot at Ja Rule and Irv Gotti like, 'Your boss and your captain soft'. Eminem dissed The Source with lines like, 'We burn Source covers like fuckin' Cypress Hill'.

"Outro"

The track "Outro", which features D12 in the song, was a diss to Murder Inc. Records and Benzino.

Artwork and packaging

The album's title is a homage to the long running NBC sitcom of the same name, and the album cover features a logo similar to that used on the show.

Reception

Commercial

The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with 226,000 copies sold in its first week. [1] It went on to be certified Gold in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and has been certified platinum in the United States for selling over 1.5 million copies, and worldwide sales of 2 million copies.

Critical

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 73/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
PopMatters Mixed [5]
RapReviews8.5/10 [6]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The SituationStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
UKMixStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [10]
The Village Voice C+ [11]

Cheers garnered generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on 12 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [2]

AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier said, "Cheers boasts 74 straight minutes of inventive production, original ideas, thought-out lyrics, and straight-up MCing -- even if it lacks outright hits like "In da Club" or "Lose Yourself." So cheers, indeed -- to Trice, that is -- because his debut is quite an accomplishment and deserves accolade, even if it's not a commercial juggernaut like its fellow Shady releases." [3] J-23 of HipHopDX praised the production from Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Eminem, Obie's "raw and abrasive" delivery having "flawless execution" and working well alongside the guest artists that help elevate the record despite being unnecessary at points, concluding that: "Nevertheless, Cheers needs to be saluted. [It is] an excellent debut for Obie and he finds a great balance of radio friendly raps and hardcore hip-hop. While he isn't going to move 50 numbers, Cheers is the superior album. I'll drink to that." [4] Melisa Tang of The Situation also gave praise to the beats for giving support to Obie's "skillful and witty flow" throughout the track listing but felt they only work half the time, concluding that: "Overall, Obie Trice has not failed to deliver. There is no doubt that he has the talent to succeed in the rap game, but the real test will be in winning over the haters, who constantly accuse him of riding on Eminem's phenomenal worldwide success." [8] Jon Caramanica, writing for Rolling Stone , commended Obie for utilizing his "workmanlike emphasis of craft over style" when delivering humorous tracks like "Hoodrats" and "Got Some Teeth" but was more interested in his vitriol side on "Shit Hits the Fan" and "We All Die One Day", saying they "distract from his otherwise almost demure display of skill." [7] PopMatters contributor Cynthia Fuchs felt the record was overlong and repetitive with its "misogynistic malice" and "hood life" indulgence but gave credit to tracks like "Oh!" and "The Set Up" for telling significant street tales and "Don't Come Down" and "Follow My Life" for being "compelling" tributes dedicated to Obie's mother. [5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Average Man"4:16
2."Cheers"
  • Trice
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • King
  • Eminem
  • Resto [a]
3:34
3."Got Some Teeth"
  • Eminem
  • Resto [a]
3:47
4."Lady" (featuring Eminem)
  • Trice
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • Eminem
  • Resto [a]
4:45
5."Don't Come Down"
5:11
6."The Set Up (You Don't Know)" (featuring Nate Dogg)3:13
7."Bad Bitch" (featuring Timbaland) Timbaland 4:09
8."Shit Hits the Fan" (featuring Dr. Dre and Eminem)
  • Trice
  • Mathers
  • Young
  • Elizondo
  • Dr. Dre
  • Elizondo [b]
4:53
9."Follow My Life"
3:55
10."We All Die One Day" (featuring Lloyd Banks, Eminem and 50 Cent)Eminem5:29
11."Spread Yo Shit" (featuring Kon Artis of D12)
Mr. Porter 4:03
12."Look in My Eyes" (featuring Nate Dogg)
  • Trice
  • Mathers
  • Hale
  • Young
  • Elizondo
  • Dr. Dre
  • Elizondo [b]
4:50
13."Hands on You" (featuring Eminem)
  • Trice
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • Eminem
  • Resto [a]
5:12
14."Hoodrats"
  • Trice
  • Mathers
  • Haynie
  • Resto
  • Emile
  • Eminem [b]
4:12
15."Oh!" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Dr. Dre
  • Elizondo [b]
4:30
16."Never Forget Ya"
4:27
17."Outro" (featuring Eminem, Swifty McVay, Kuniva, Proof and Bizarre of D12)
  • Eminem
  • Resto [a]
4:02
Bonus tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
18."8 Miles" DJ Muggs 3:57
19."Synopsis" DJ Green Lantern 1:18
Leftover tracks

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from the Cheers liner notes. [12]

Instrumentation
Technical
Imagery

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [32] Gold35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [33] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [34] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [35] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Eminem Show</i> 2002 studio album by Eminem

The Eminem Show is the fourth studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on May 26, 2002, through Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. The album saw Eminem take a predominant production role, including the album's three hit singles: "Without Me", "Cleanin' Out My Closet", and "Sing for the Moment". Guest appearances include Obie Trice, D12, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Dina Rae, and Eminem's daughter, Hailie Jade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obie Trice</span> American rapper from Michigan

Obie Trice III is an American rapper. He signed with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem's Shady Records, an imprint of Interscope Records in 2000 to release his first two albums, Cheers (2003) and Second Round's on Me (2006). Both peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, while the former was supported by the singles "Got Some Teeth" and the Dr. Dre-produced "The Set Up ". Upon leaving the label, Trice formed his own record label, Black Market Entertainment to release his following albums, Bottoms Up (2012), The Hangover (2015) and The Fifth (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D12</span> American hip hop group

D12 was an American hip hop collective from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1995, the group achieved mainstream success with its lineup of de facto leader Eminem, Proof, Bizarre, Mr. Porter, Kuniva and Swifty McVay.

<i>D12 World</i> 2004 studio album by D12

D12 World is the second studio album by American hip-hop group D12, released on April 27, 2004. The album sold 544,000 copies in its first week on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album is also the last D12 release to feature Proof before his death in 2006, and the second D12 album to feature Bugz on a track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shady Records</span> American record label

Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, following the commercially successful release of The Slim Shady LP that same year. The label's name comes from the last name of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady.

<i>Devils Night</i> (album) 2001 studio album by D12

Devil's Night is the debut studio album by American hip-hop supergroup D12. It was released on June 19, 2001, by Shady Records and Interscope Records. It was also the first album to be released on Shady Records, although the label had been active since 1999. Production was primarily handled by Eminem and Dr. Dre, with contributions by Mr. Porter, DJ Head, and Jeff Bass. The album features guest appearances by Obie Trice, Truth Hurts, and Dina Rae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like Toy Soldiers</span> 2005 single by Eminem

"Like Toy Soldiers" is a song by American rapper Eminem, from his fifth album Encore (2004). The song received positive reviews from music critics, and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Like Toy Soldiers" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in 12 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, and New Zealand. The song samples the 1989 song "Toy Soldiers" by Martika. It is the fourth single from the album. The single would appear on the Curtain Call: The Hits compilation released in 2005.

<i>Second Rounds on Me</i> 2006 studio album by Obie Trice

Second Round's on Me is the second studio album by rapper Obie Trice and is his final album released under Shady Records. The track "Wanna Know" can be heard on the HBO series Entourage in the episode "The Sundance Kids" and also in the game Fight Night: Round 3 for the Xbox 360 as well as the PS3. The album contains a predominance of guest appearances from members of his Detroit crew Trife Life. It was released in the Netherlands on July 28, 2006, and in the United States on August 15, 2006, after over a year of delays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Meets Evil</span> American hip hop duo

Bad Meets Evil is an American hip hop super duo composed of Detroit-based rappers Royce da 5′9″ (Bad) and Eminem (Evil). Formed in 1998, the duo's name comes from the namesake song from Eminem's The Slim Shady LP (1999), which featured Royce da 5'9". They debuted the same year with the release of the double single, "Nuttin' to Do" and "Scary Movies", the latter of which for the soundtrack to the 2000 horror comedy parody film Scary Movie. A decade later, the duo reunited to release an extended play (EP) to critical and commercial success.

<i>Blood in My Eye</i> 2003 studio album by Ja Rule

Blood in My Eye is the fifth studio album by American rapper Ja Rule, released on November 4, 2003, by Murder Inc. and Island Def Jam Music Group. The album was originally planned to be released as a mixtape. The release took place during the feud with Shady/Aftermath rappers 50 Cent, G-Unit, Eminem, D12, Dr. Dre, Obie Trice, along with artists including DMX and Busta Rhymes and was entirely dedicated to dissing them. The album was named after George Jackson's radical book of the same name. Hussein Fatal of Outlawz, Cadillac Tah, James Gotti, Sizzla, Black Child, Young Merc, D.O. Cannon, Shadow, and Sekou 720 are listed as guest appearances on this album. Reviews for the record were mixed, with critics skeptical of Ja's lyrical skills as a hardcore rapper. Blood in My Eye debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 140,000 copies in the United States.

Luis Edgardo Resto is a two time Grammy award winning American musician, songwriter, record producer, and keyboardist who has worked closely with rapper Eminem since his third major-label album The Eminem Show. He is of Puerto Rican descent and was raised in Garden City, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eminem</span> American rapper (born 1972)

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper and music producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in Middle America and is regarded as among the greatest rappers of all time. His success is considered to have broken racial barriers to the acceptance of white rappers in popular music. While much of his transgressive work during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, he came to be a representation of popular angst of the American underclass and has been cited as influencing many musical artists. His most successful songs on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 include "The Real Slim Shady", "Without Me", "Lose Yourself", "Not Afraid", "Love the Way You Lie", "The Monster", "Godzilla" and "Houdini".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail Mary (2Pac song)</span> 1997 single by Makaveli featuring Outlawz

"Hail Mary" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur from his fifth studio album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996). It was released after his September 1996 murder under the Makaveli stage name as the album's third single. Hail Mary features rap verses by Kastro, Young Noble and Yaki Kadafi of the Outlawz rap group and vocals from reggae musician Prince Ital Joe. A music video was shot for the song and can be found on the DualDisc of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

<i>Eminem Presents: The Re-Up</i> 2006 compilation album by Shady Records

Eminem Presents: The Re-Up or simply, The Re-Up, is a compilation album performed by various artists of American record label, Shady Records. The album features performances by Shady Records artists Eminem, D12, 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater and Cashis, while affiliated artists such as Lloyd Banks, Akon and Nate Dogg, made guest appearances. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and has since sold over one million copies in the US alone, being certified platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Set Up (song)</span> 2004 single by Obie Trice featuring Nate Dogg

"The Set Up (You Don't Know)" is a song performed by American rapper Obie Trice, featuring vocals from singer Nate Dogg, released as the third and final single from Trice's debut studio album, Cheers. The track was produced by Dr. Dre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Know (Eminem song)</span> 2006 single by Eminem featuring 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Ca$his

"You Don't Know" is the lead single from the Shady compilation album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up. The song is performed by Eminem featuring artists 50 Cent, and Lloyd Banks, and features the new vocals from Cashis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Dre discography</span>

The discography of American record producer, sound engineer, and rapper Dr. Dre consists of three studio albums, forty-two singles,, two compilation albums, one soundtrack album, and twenty-one music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obie Trice discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Obie Trice consists of two major-label studio albums, three independent albums, 15 singles, and four mixtapes. His major-label albums were released via Eminem's Shady/Interscope Records.

<i>Relapse</i> (Eminem album) 2009 studio album by Eminem

Relapse is the sixth studio album by American rapper Eminem, released in Germany and a few other countries on May 15, 2009, and in the US on May 19, 2009, by Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. The album marks Eminem's return after a six-year hiatus due to writer's block and an addiction to prescription sleeping medication. The album features the most production work by Dr. Dre on any Eminem album, with Dre producing all but one song, which was produced by Eminem. Mark Batson collaborated with Dre on several songs, while Eminem, Dawaun Parker, and Trevor Lawrence Jr. collaborated with Dre on one song each.

<i>Bottoms Up</i> (Obie Trice album) 2012 studio album by Obie Trice

Bottoms Up is the third studio album by American rapper Obie Trice. It was released on April 3, 2012, by Black Market Entertainment. The album entering the charts at number 113, with 5,000 physical albums sold in the first week. The album is his first effort since Second Round's on Me in 2006 and features production from Dr. Dre and Eminem.

References

  1. Martens, Todd (October 1, 2003). "OutKast Leads Nine New Top-20 Chart Entries". Billboard . Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Cheers (2003): Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Birchmeier, Jason. "Cheers - Obie Trice". AllMusic . Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  4. 1 2 J-23 (September 22, 2003). "Cheers - Obie Trice". HipHopDX . Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on February 15, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2011.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 Fuchs, Cynthia (November 16, 2003). "Obie Trice: Cheers". PopMatters . Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 30, 2003). "Obie Trice :: Cheers :: Shady/Interscope Records". RapReviews. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Caramanica, Jon (October 8, 2003). "Obie Trice: Cheers". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  8. 1 2 Tang, Melisa. "Obie Trice - Cheers". The Situation. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  9. "Obie Trice - Cheers". UKMix. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  10. Jones, Steve (September 29, 2003). "'Martina': A fun girls' night out". USA Today . Gannett . Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  11. Christgau, Robert (December 2, 2003). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot 2003". The Village Voice . Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Cheers (booklet). Obie Trice. Shady. Interscope. 2003. B000110502.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Australiancharts.com – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. "Obie Trice Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  15. "Danishcharts.dk – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Obie Trice – Cheers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Obie Trice – Cheers" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  19. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Obie Trice". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  20. "Italiancharts.com – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  21. "Charts.nz – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  23. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  24. "Swedishcharts.com – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  25. "Swisscharts.com – Obie Trice – Cheers". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  26. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  27. "Obie Trice Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  28. "Obie Trice Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  29. "2003 UK Albums Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  30. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  31. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  32. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  33. "New Zealand album certifications – Obie Trice – Cheers". Recorded Music NZ.
  34. "British album certifications – Obie Trice – Cheers". British Phonographic Industry.
  35. "American album certifications – Obie Trice – Cheers". Recording Industry Association of America.