Firing Squad (album)

Last updated
Firing Squad
Firing Squad2.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 22, 1996
Studio
Genre
Length1:04:58
Label Relativity
Producer
M.O.P. chronology
To the Death
(1994)
Firing Squad
(1996)
First Family 4 Life
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
RapReviews7/10 [3]

Firing Squad is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo M.O.P., from Brownsville, New York. It was released on October 22, 1996, via Relativity Records. It was produced by DJ Premier, Big Jaz, Ali Dee, M.O.P. & Laze E Laze and it also features a guest appearance from Kool G Rap. The whole album was mixed and overseen by DJ Premier, who continued the work for the next two M.O.P. albums. The album is broken down track-by-track by M.O.P. in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique . [4]

Contents

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  0:50
2."Firing Squad" (Skit)  0:41
3."Firing Squad" (featuring Teflon) DJ Premier 4:21
4."New Jack City" (featuring Teflon)
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • C. Martin
DJ Premier2:53
5."Stick to Ya Gunz" (featuring Kool G Rap)
DJ Premier3:51
6."Anticipation"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • L. Parker
  • L. Elliott
  • C. Martin
4:38
7."Born 2 Kill"
Big Jaz 4:33
8."Brownsville"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • C. Martin
DJ Premier4:41
9."Salute"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • C. Martin
DJ Premier2:14
10."World Famous"
Big Jaz4:11
11."Downtown Swinga ('96)"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • C. Martin
DJ Premier3:41
12."Lifestyles of a Ghetto Child"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • J. Burks
Big Jaz3:50
13."Revolution"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • L. Elliott
  • Laze E Laze
  • M.O.P.
5:33
14."Illside of Town"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • L. Elliott
  • Laze E Laze
  • M.O.P.
3:35
15."Nothin' 2 Lose"
  • E. Murray
  • J. Grinnage
  • A. Theodore
Ali Dee4:31
16."Dedication"  1:19
17."Dead and Gone" (featuring Battle)
  • Laze E Laze
  • M.O.P.
4:58
18."Born 2 Kill" (Jazz Mix) Big Jaz4:38
Total length:1:04:58

Charts

Chart (1996)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [5] 94
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [6] 12

Related Research Articles

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

Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California, formed in 1988. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide, and they have obtained multi-platinum and platinum certifications. The group has been critically acclaimed for their first five albums. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast and 1990s hip hop. All of the group members advocate for medical and recreational use of cannabis in the United States. In 2019, Cypress Hill became the first hip hop group to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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

The Pharcyde is an American alternative hip hop group, formed in 1989, from South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani, Slimkid3, Bootie Brown, and Fatlip. DJ Mark Luv was the group's first disc jockey (DJ), followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla. The group is perhaps best known for the hit singles "Drop", "Passin' Me By" and "Runnin'", as well as their first album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (1992). The group continues to tour and record, both collaboratively and in solo projects—the most recent being Hardson's collaborative EP with DJ Nu-Mark released in 2014 on Delicious Vinyl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kool G Rap</span> American rapper from New York

Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".

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

Onyx is an American hardcore hip hop group from South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, formed in 1988 by Fredro Starr, Suavé and the late Big DS. Sticky Fingaz joined the group in 1991.

<i>Bacdafucup</i> 1993 studio album by Onyx

Bacdafucup is the debut 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 Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay and Kool Tee.

<i>The Score</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Fugees

The Score is the second and final studio album by the hip hop trio Fugees. The Score was released worldwide on February 13, 1996, on Columbia Records. The album features a wide range of samples and instrumentation, with many aspects of alternative hip hop that would come to dominate the hip-hop music scene in the mid- to late 1990s. Primarily, The Score's production was handled by the Fugees themselves, Jerry Duplessis and Warren Riker, with additional production from Salaam Remi, John Forté, Diamond D, and Shawn King. The album's guest verses are from Outsidaz members Rah Digga, Young Zee, and Pacewon, as well as Omega, John Forté, and Diamond D. Most versions of the album feature four bonus tracks, including three remixes of "Fu-Gee-La", and a short acoustic Wyclef Jean solo track entitled "Mista Mista".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M.O.P.</span> American hip hop duo from Brooklyn, New York

M.O.P. is an American hip hop duo composed of East Coast rappers Billy Danze and Lil' Fame. The song "Ante Up", was released on their Warriorz album in 2000. The group has frequently collaborated with DJ Premier. Fame sometimes produces under the moniker Fizzy Womack and has produced a significant number of tracks on all M.O.P. releases since 1996's Firing Squad, as well as work for other artists including Kool G Rap, Teflon and Wu-Tang Clan.

<i>Long Live the Kane</i> 1988 studio album by Big Daddy Kane

Long Live the Kane is the debut album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane, released by Cold Chillin' Records on June 21, 1988. It was produced by Marley Marl and established both as premier artists during hip hop's golden age. Kane displayed his unique rapping technique while covering topics including love, Afrocentricity and his rapping prowess. Marley Marl and Big Daddy Kane display a sparse production style - creating beats with fast-paced drums and lightly utilized James Brown samples.

<i>Resurrection</i> (Common album) 1994 studio album by Common Sense

Resurrection is the second studio album by American rapper Common, then known as Common Sense. It was released on October 4, 1994, by Relativity Records. It was mainly produced by No I.D., who also produced most of Common's 1992 debut Can I Borrow A Dollar? It is the last album to feature the rapper's full stage name, as after this album the "Sense" portion of the name was dropped, making the rapper simply known to this day as "Common".

Donald Lamont, professionally known by his stage name Donald D, is an American rapper and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He is a member of the Universal Zulu Nation, a former member of the B-Boys, and is best known as a member of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate.

<i>We Cant Be Stopped</i> 1991 studio album by Geto Boys

We Can't Be Stopped is the third studio album by Geto Boys, released on July 9, 1991. It was among their most successful records in terms of units sold. The album is analysed track-by-track by Geto Boys in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique. We Can't Be Stopped was certified Platinum in early 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fat Joe</span> American rapper from New York (born 1970)

Joseph Antonio Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper from New York City. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1992, he then embarked on a solo career a year later and set up his own label, Terror Squad Productions, to which he signed Big Pun, Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, Cuban Link, Armageddon, Prospect, Triple Seis, and a then-unknown DJ Khaled; he also discovered producers Cool & Dre.

<i>Enta da Stage</i> 1993 studio album by Black Moon

Enta da Stage is the debut album by American East Coast hip hop group Black Moon, released on October 19, 1993, through Nervous Records. The album was produced by Black Moon member DJ Evil Dee along with Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz. Enta da Stage features the debut of underground hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun, as well as appearances from Havoc of Mobb Deep and Dru Ha, the co-founder of Duck Down Records.

<i>Reachin (A New Refutation of Time and Space)</i> 1993 studio album by Digable Planets

Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) is the debut album by alternative hip hop group Digable Planets released on February 9, 1993, by Pendulum/Elektra Records. The album has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York (Ja Rule song)</span> 2004 single by Ja Rule featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss

"New York" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Ja Rule, released October 27, 2004 as the second single from his sixth studio album R.U.L.E. (2004). The track, produced by Cool & Dre, features fellow New York rappers Fat Joe and Jadakiss. The song's chorus is based on Boogie Down Productions' 1990 song, "100 Guns".

<i>Goin Off</i> 1988 studio album by Biz Markie

Goin' Off is the debut studio album by American hip hop musician Biz Markie. The album was released by Cold Chillin' Records, and produced by Marley Marl. Big Daddy Kane wrote the lyrics of the album's first five songs. The album also showcased Biz's talent as a human beatbox on the song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz", and his skill in the game of dozens on the track "Nobody Beats the Biz". One of his most widely known songs, "Vapors", was on the album.

<i>First Family 4 Life</i> 1998 studio album by M.O.P.

First Family 4 Life is the third studio album by American hip hop duo M.O.P. from Brownsville, New York. It was released on August 11, 1998 via Relativity Records. DJ Premier produced five songs on the album and also serves as an executive producer of the project. The LP features more guest-appearances than previous M.O.P. projects; cameos include Jay-Z, Freddie Foxxx, Gang Starr, O.C., Heather B., Teflon, and Treach.

<i>It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back</i> 1988 studio album by Public Enemy

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on June 28, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. It was recorded from 1987 to 1988 in sessions at Chung King Studios, Greene St. Recording, and Sabella Studios in New York.

<i>Strictly Business</i> (EPMD album) 1988 studio album by EPMD

Strictly Business is the debut album by hip-hop duo EPMD. It was released on June 7, 1988, by Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records around the world and BCM Records in Germany. It peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200 soon after release, yet it earned an RIAA gold album certification within four months of its release. In addition, it has received much positive critical attention since its release. In 2012, the album was ranked number 453 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

<i>Foundation</i> (M.O.P. album) 2009 studio album by M.O.P.

Foundation is the fifth studio album by the American hip hop duo M.O.P., from Brownsville, New York. It was released on September 15, 2009 via E1 Music. Production was handled by DR Period, Statik Selektah, DJ Green Lantern, DJ Premier, Kil, M-Phazes, Nottz, Ron G, Taylor Made, and member Lil' Fame under his Fizzy Womack alias, with Laze-E-Laze serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from DeMarco, Redman, Rell, Styles P, Termanology and The Revelations.

References

  1. Mills, Brad. "Firing Squad – M.O.P." AllMusic . Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  2. Ashon, Will (January 1997). "MOP: Firing Squad" (PDF). Muzik . No. 20. p. 125. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  3. Malko, Terry (December 1996). "M.O.P. :: Firing Squad :: Relativity". RapReviews.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  4. Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
  5. "M.O.P. Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  6. "M.O.P. Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.