Foundation (Brand Nubian album)

Last updated
Foundation
Foundation BN.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 29, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
Genre Conscious hip hop [1]
Length67:43 [1]
Label
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 [2]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
RapReviews9/10 [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Foundation is the fourth album by hip hop group Brand Nubian. [7] It was released on September 29, 1998, via Arista. [3] 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

Foundation saw the group regain their past success, critically and commercially. The single "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" became their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit, in 1998, and was remixed by The Neptunes as the 12" single "Take It To Your Head" in the same year.

Unlike previous releases, Foundation mostly features outside production, resulting in an updated sound. DJ Premier, O.Gee, C.L. Liggio and the D.I.T.C. members Lord Finesse, Diamond D and Buckwild all supplied beats for the album.

Track listing

Credits adapted from Discogs. [1]

Foundation track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Here We Go" (interlude)
  • Grand Puba
0:21
2."The Return"4:00
3."Shinin' Star"
  • Grand Puba
3:40
4."The Beat Change"2:26
5."Migraine" (interlude) 0:24
6."Don't Let It Go to Your Head"
  • Chris "CL" Liggio
4:04
7."Brand Nubian"4:01
8."Maybe One Day" (performed by Grand Puba and Common)
  • Buckwild
4:40
9."Let's Dance" (with Busta Rhymes)
  • Chris "CL" Liggio
  • Swayde Puma [a]
4:06
10."Back Up Off the Wall" (with Loon)
  • DJ Alamo
4:10
11."Black on Black Crime" (interlude) 0:48
12."I'm Black & I'm Proud"
  • Grand Puba
  • DJ Alamo
3:15
13."Sincerely"
  • O.Gee
3:50
14."Probable Cause" (with DJ Alamo)
  • DJ Alamo
5:13
15."The Ghetto" (interlude) 0:41
16."Love vs. Hate"4:31
17."Too Late" (also performed by Sherene)
  • Chris "CL" Liggio
  • DJ Alamo [a]
4:45
18."Straight Outta Now Rule"4:39
19."Foundation"3:52
20."U For Me" (with Petawane)4:17
Total length:67:43

Notes

Charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [8] 59
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [9] 12

Singles

YearSongChart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1998"Don't Let It Go To Your Head"54243

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Brand Nubian - Foundation (1998, CD)". Discogs . Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  2. Bush, John. "Foundation - Brand Nubian | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  3. 1 2 Baker, Soren (October 16, 1998). "Pop". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  4. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 1998). "Brand Nubian :: Foundation :: Arista". RapReviews.
  5. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Fireside Books. p. 322. Retrieved June 17, 2015 via Internet Archive.
  6. Hamit, Ajuke (November 1998). "Record Report: Brand Nubian – Foundation". The Source . No. 110. New York. p. 196.
  7. "Brand Nubian". TrouserPress.com.
  8. "Brand Nubian Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  9. "Brand Nubian Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.