Episodes of a Hustla

Last updated
Episodes of a Hustla
Episodes of a Hustla.jpg
Studio album by
Released1996
Recorded1995–1996
Genre East Coast hip hop
Length38:28
Label Tommy Boy/Warner Bros.
Producer Havoc, Charlemange
Big Noyd chronology
Episodes of a Hustla
(1996)
Only the Strong
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Muzik 6/10 [2]
RapReviews7/10 [3]

Episodes of a Hustla is the debut studio album by American rapper Big Noyd, released in 1996 by Tommy Boy Records. [1] [4] He recorded the album after making his name as a rapper on Mobb Deep's The Infamous and Hell on Earth albums. [5] Most of the album was produced by Mobb Deep's Havoc and features guest appearances by Prodigy. [1] Big Noyd's lyrics use violent, disturbing imagery to boast his rapping skills. [1] Episodes of a Hustla charted at number 59 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. [6]

Contents

Track listing

  1. "It's on You" (prod. by Charlemange)
  2. "The Precinct" (Interlude)
  3. "Recognize & Realize (Part 1)" (feat. Prodigy) (prod. by Havoc)
  4. "All Pro" (feat. Infamous Mobb and Mobb Deep) (prod. by Havoc)
  5. "Infamous Mobb" (feat. Prodigy) (prod. by Havoc)
  6. "Interrogation" (Interlude)
  7. "Usual Suspect" (feat. Prodigy) (prod. by Havoc)
  8. "Episodes of a Hustla" (feat. Prodigy) (prod. by Havoc)
  9. "Recognize & Realize (Part 2)" (feat. Mobb Deep) (prod. by Havoc)
  10. "I Don't Wanna Love Again" (After Six Entertainment Remix) (feat. Se'Kou)
  11. "Usual Suspect (Stretch Armstrong Remix)" (feat. Prodigy)

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>The Infamous Mobb Deep</i> 2014 studio album by Mobb Deep

The Infamous Mobb Deep is the eighth and final studio album by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, which is composed of Havoc and Prodigy. The album was released on April 1, 2014, by Prodigy's Infamous Records and Sony's RED Distribution. The Infamous Mobb Deep is a double album that consists of one disc of new original music and another of unreleased tracks from the recording sessions from their second studio album The Infamous (1995). The album had been in development since 2011, but was delayed by a feud that occurred between Havoc and Prodigy during 2012. However, they shortly reconciled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Noyd</span> American rapper (born 1975)

TaJuan Akeem Perry, better known by his stage name Big Noyd, is an American rapper. He is closely affiliated with Mobb Deep and is featured on all of their albums except Blood Money.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prodigy (rapper)</span> American rapper (1974–2017)

Albert Johnson, better known by his stage name Prodigy, was an American rapper and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havoc (musician)</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1974)

Kejuan Waliek Muchita, better known by his stage name Havoc, is an American rapper and record producer. He was one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep with Prodigy.

<i>The Infamous</i> 1995 studio album by Mobb Deep

The Infamous is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on April 25, 1995, by BMG, RCA Records and Loud Records. The album features guest appearances by Nas, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Q-Tip. It was largely produced by group member Havoc, with Q-Tip also contributing production while serving as the mixing engineer. Most of the leftover songs from the album became bonus tracks for Mobb Deep's The Infamous Mobb Deep album (2014).

<i>Hell on Earth</i> (Mobb Deep album) 1996 studio album by Mobb Deep

Hell on Earth is the third studio album by the American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, released on November 19, 1996, through Loud and RCA Records. A sequel to Mobb Deep's previous album, the critically acclaimed The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth is entirely produced by group member Havoc and features guest appearances from rappers Nas, Raekwon, Method Man, and frequent collaborator Big Noyd, among others. The album includes the acclaimed singles "G.O.D. Pt. III" and "Front Lines ," as well as "Drop a Gem on 'Em," a response to 2Pac's diss track "Hit 'Em Up." A promotional single, "Still Shinin'", was released earlier that year and later added to the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shook Ones, Part II</span> 1995 single by Mobb Deep

"Shook Ones, Part II" is the lead single from Mobb Deep's 1995 album The Infamous. The song is a sequel to the group's 1994 promotional single "Shook Ones", with similar lyrics, but less profanity. The original song is featured on the b-side of some releases of "Shook Ones, Part II" and was also included on the international version of the group's album Hell on Earth. The narrative is told from the perspective of inner-city youths engaged in territorial warfare and struggling for financial gains. The phrase "shook one" refers to someone who may portray themselves as tough, but loses their nerve when faced with conflict or intimidation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobb Deep</span> American hip hop duo

Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from Queens, New York formed in 1991. Consisting of rappers/songwriters/record producers Prodigy and Havoc, they are considered to be among the principal progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hop. Mobb Deep became one of the most successful rap duos of all time, having sold over three million records. Their best-known albums are The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1999), and their most successful singles were "Shook Ones " and "Survival of the Fittest." They were known for their dark and hardcore delivery.

<i>Murda Muzik</i> 1999 studio album by Mobb Deep

Murda Muzik is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, which was released on August 17, 1999, through Columbia Records and Loud Records. It features one of the group's best-known tracks, "Quiet Storm." It is also the duo's most commercially successful album to date, for shipping over 1 million copies in the United States and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on October 26, 1999, debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts. Murda Muzik also garnered positive reviews from The Source and Allmusic, among others. A censored version of the album, titled Mobb Muzik, was released simultaneously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survival of the Fittest (song)</span> 1995 single by Mobb Deep

"Survival of the Fittest" is a song by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep from their second studio album, The Infamous (1995). It was released as the second single from the aforementioned album on May 29, 1995, by Loud Records. The song was produced by Havoc, using a sample of the 1976 song "Skylark" by The Barry Harris Trio and Al Cohn.

<i>Only the Strong</i> (Big Noyd album) 2003 studio album by Big Noyd

Only The Strong is the second solo studio album by American rapper Big Noyd. It was released on September 23, 2003 via Landspeed Records. Production was handled by The Alchemist, Havoc, Emile, DJ Sebb, Steve Sola and Noyd Inc. It features guest appearances from Mobb Deep, Chinky, Infamous Mobb, PMD and Shamika Rodriguez.

Infamous Mobb, also known as IM3, is a hip hop group from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, composed of members Ty Nitty, Twin Gambino aka Big Twin and G.O.D. Part III aka Godfather Part III. They are an integral part of the Queensbridge Hip Hop scene, which includes rappers like Nas, Tragedy Khadafi, Mobb Deep, Cormega, Capone-N-Noreaga, whose legacy originated mid 80's in Marley Marl's studio and with him and his protegés on Cold Chillin' Records, known as the Juice Crew.

<i>Special Edition</i> (Infamous Mobb album) 2002 studio album by Infamous Mobb

Special Edition is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Infamous Mobb. It was released on March 26, 2002 via IM³/Landspeed Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, In Ya Ear Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Othaz Recording Studio, D&D Studios, and Battery Studios in New York. Production was handled by The Alchemist, Ax The Bull, Havoc, DJ Muggs, Phil, Ron Gotti, Uno-Dos and V.I.C. It features guest appearances from Mobb Deep, Chinky, Big Noyd, Blitz, Hostyle, Kaos, Ty Maxx, Uno-Dos and V-12. The album peaked at number 118 on the Billboard 200, number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 5 on the Independent Albums and number 2 on the Heatseekers Albums.

Danny Elliott Means II, better known by his stage name Butch Cassidy, is an American singer from Long Beach, California. He has worked with numerous West Coast hip hop musicians, including Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, Ice Cube, Xzibit, Warren G, Mack-10, Tray Deee, E-40, WC, DJ Quik, DJ Battlecat, Tha Eastsidaz and more.

<i>H.N.I.C. Pt. 2</i> 2008 studio album by Prodigy

H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 is the third solo studio album by American rapper Prodigy of Mobb Deep. The album was released on April 22, 2008. It is a sequel to H.N.I.C., released in 2000. The album features production by The Alchemist, Sid Roams, Havoc and Apex. The album features guest appearances from artists that frequently work with Prodigy, including Havoc, Un Pacino, Nyce, Big Noyd, Twin Gambino and Cormega.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobb Deep discography</span>

American hip hop duo Mobb Deep have released eight studio albums, four compilation albums, five mixtapes, one extended play (EP), forty singles, seven promotional singles and twenty-four music videos.

<i>The Cutting Room Floor</i> (mixtape) 2003 mixtape by The Alchemist

The Cutting Room Floor is the debut mixtape by The Alchemist released in 2003 by ALC Records.

Crystal Johnson is an American singer and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York. She has performed in a variety of stage productions and has collaborated with a wide array of well-known artists including Anthony Hamilton, Dr. Dre, Heavy D, Mobb Deep, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Angie Stone, Usher and many others.

The following is a discography of production credited to Mobb Deep member and producer Havoc.

<i>Free Agents: The Murda Mixtape</i> 2003 mixtape by Mobb Deep

Free Agents: The Murda Mixtape is a double mixtape album by American hardcore/East Coast hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on April 22, 2003 through Landspeed Records with distribution via Koch Entertainment.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Henderson, Alex. "Episodes of a Hustla (CD - Tommy Boy #TBCD 1156)". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation . Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  2. Ashon, Will (March 1997). "Big Noyd: Episodes Of A Hustla" (PDF). Muzik . No. 22. p. 121. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  3. Juon, Steve. "Big Noyd Episodes of a Hustla Tommy Boy". RapReviews. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  4. Reece, Doug (Jan 25, 1997). "Popular Uprisings". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 4. p. 27.
  5. Bush, John. "Big Noyd - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  6. "Episodes of a Hustla - Big Noyd : Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 11, 2013.