Foundation (Brand Nubian album)

Last updated

Foundation
Foundation BN.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 29, 1998 (1998-09-29)
Recorded1997–1998
Studio
  • Acme Recording Studios
  • D&D Studios
  • The Diamond Mine
  • DMH Studios
  • Platinum Island Studios
  • Quad Recording Studios
  • Right Track Recording
  • Soundtrack Studios
Genre Hip hop
Length1:07:48
Label Arista
Producer
Brand Nubian chronology
Everything Is Everything
(1994)
Foundation
(1998)
Fire In The Hole
(2004)
Singles from Foundation
  1. "The Return"
    Released: 1998
  2. "Don't Let it Go to Your Head"
    Released: 1998
  3. "Let's Dance"
    Released: 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
RapReviews9/10 [3]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Village Voice Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [6]
Tom Hull B+( Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg ) [7]
XXL 4/5 (XL) [8]

Foundation is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on September 29, 1998, via Arista Records. The album marked the reunion of the four original members, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Lord Jamar and DJ Alamo, who hadn't released an album together since their 1990 debut One for All .

Contents

Production was handled by Lord Finesse, Chris "CL" Liggio, Buckwild, Diamond D, DJ O.Gee, DJ Premier, and members Grand Puba and DJ Alamo, with co-producer Swade Puma. It features guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, Common and Loon.

The album debuted at number 59 on the Billboard 200 and number 12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts in the United States. The only charted single off of the album, "Don't Let It Go to Your Head", became Brand Nubian's biggest US hit, reaching number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 24 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 3 on the Hot Rap Songs.

Foundation saw the group regain their past success, critically and commercially. Unlike previous releases, Foundation mostly features outside production, resulting in an updated sound.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Here We Go" Grand Puba 0:22
2."The Return" DJ Premier 4:00
3."Shinin' Star"
  • Dixon
  • DeChalus
  • Murphy
  • Alphonso Mizell
  • Larry Mizell
  • Rodney Mizell
Grand Puba3:40
4."The Beat Change" Lord Finesse 2:26
5."Migraine" (Interlude)  0:24
6."Don't Let It Go to Your Head"
Chris "CL" Liggio4:04
7."Brand Nubian"
  • Dixon
  • DeChalus
  • Murphy
  • J.J. Johnson
Buckwild 4:01
8."Maybe One Day" (featuring Common)Buckwild4:41
9."Let's Dance" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Chris "CL" Liggio
  • Swade Puma (co.)
4:06
10."Back up Off the Wall" (featuring Loon)
DJ Alamo 4:10
11."Black on Black Crime" (Interlude)  0:48
12."I'm Black and I'm Proud"
  • Grand Puba
  • DJ Alamo
3:17
13."Sincerely"
  • Dixon
  • DeChalus
  • Murphy
  • Gary Scott
DJ O.Gee3:50
14."Probable Cause"
DJ Alamo5:13
15."The Ghetto" (Interlude)  0:41
16."Love vs. Hate"
  • Dixon
  • DeChalus
  • Murphy
  • Hall
Lord Finesse4:31
17."Too Late"
  • Chris "CL" Liggio
  • DJ Alamo (co.)
4:45
18."Straight Outta Now Rule"
  • Dixon
  • DeChalus
  • Murphy
  • Hall
Lord Finesse4:39
19."Foundation"
Diamond D 3:52
20."U for Me"
  • Dixon
  • DeChalus
  • Murphy
  • Hall
Lord Finesse4:18
Total length:1:07:48
Sample credits

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [9] 59
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [10] 12

References

  1. Bush, John. "Foundation - Brand Nubian | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  2. Baker, Soren (October 16, 1998). "Pop". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  3. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 9, 1998). "Brand Nubian :: Foundation :: Arista". RapReviews. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  4. R., P. (2004). Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (eds.). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 102. ISBN   978-0-7432-0169-8.
  5. Hamit, Ajuke (November 1998). "Record Report: Brand Nubian – Foundation". The Source . No. 110. New York. p. 196.
  6. Christgau, Robert (March 16, 1999). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on March 23, 1999. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  7. Hull, Tom (October 28, 2019). "Tom Hull: Grade List: Brand Nubian". tomhull.com. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  8. Hall, Jermaine (November 1998). "American Standards". XXL . Vol. 2, no. 4 (6). New York, New York: Harris Publications. p. 175. ISSN   1093-0647.
  9. "The Billboard 200". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 17, 1998. p. 106. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  10. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 17, 1998. p. 32. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved November 16, 2024.