Funk Upon a Rhyme

Last updated
Funk upon a Rhyme
FUAR.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 12, 1994
Recorded1993-1994
Studio
Genre
Length1:09:18
Label Ruthless
Producer
Kokane chronology
Addictive Hip Hop Muzick
(1991)
Funk upon a Rhyme
(1994)
They Call Me Mr. Kane
(1999)
Singles from Funk Upon a Rhyme
  1. "Slow Burnin' 22.5° F"
    Released: 1994
  2. "Bakin' Soda Free"
    Released: 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B− [2]

Funk Upon a Rhyme is the sophomore studio album by American recording artist Kokane. It was released in 1994 through Ruthless Records with distribution by Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at the Edge Studio and Echo Sound in Los Angeles, California. Production was handled by Cold 187um with executive production by Eazy-E. The album features contributions from Janine, Nicki and Tha New Funkateers on background vocals, Cold 187 um on keyboards and vocals, Mike Smooth on guitar and keyboards, Mike "Crazy Neck" Sims on guitar, with guest appearances from Dirty Red, Tha Alkaholiks, Black Hole Of Watts, and Above The Law.

Contents

Previously, the rapper debuted with Addictive Hip Hop Muzick under the name 'Who Am I?', making this full-length his first one recording as 'Kokane' and his second release overall. Funk Upon a Rhyme peaked at number 56 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 19 on the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States. The album is now out of print and very rare.

The album spawned two singles: "Slow Burnin' 22.5° F" and "Bakin' Soda Free". Its last song, "Don't Bite the Phunk", is a diss track towards Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound & Death Row.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Ridin' on the Funk"4:03
2."From the Funk to the Back"5:04
3."Mo' Water"4:37
4."Slow Burnin' 22.5° Fahrenheit"4:26
5."I Need Representation"4:45
6."My Day is Coming"4:40
7."All Bark No Bite" (featuring Tha Alkaholiks)5:22
8."Bakin' Soda Free"4:19
9."The Aftermath" (featuring Above The Law & Dirty Red)5:15
10."No Pain, No Gain"4:47
11."Funkinmuffin"5:27
12."Shots Out"2:26
13."Shit, Goddamm" (featuring Black Hole Of Watts)4:37
14."Don't Bite the Phunk" (featuring Cold 187um)8:44
Total length:1:09:18

Note [3]

Sample credits [4]

Personnel

Chart history

Chart (1994)Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] 56
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [6] 19

Related Research Articles

<i>Black Mafia Life</i> 1993 studio album by Above the Law

Black Mafia Life is the second studio album by American hip hop group Above the Law. This album is what would be considered the blueprint of the G-Funk sound similar to Dr Dre's The Chronic. The album was recorded in 1991 into 1992 but was held back due to legal issues with Epic And Dr. Dre's Departure from Ruthless Records. It was released on February 2, 1993, via Ruthless Records. The album peaked at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 37 on the US Billboard 200. Rolling Stone gave the album 4.5 stars of 5.

G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre was heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often using samples or recreating the original tracks. It was represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).

<i>The Chronic</i> 1992 studio album by Dr. Dre

The Chronic is the debut studio album by the American hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre. It was released on December 15, 1992, by his own record label Death Row Records and distributed by Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in Los Angeles and at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood.

<i>Doggystyle</i> 1993 studio album by Snoop Dogg

Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row Records and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.

<i>Dogg Food</i> 1995 studio album by Tha Dogg Pound

Dogg Food is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Tha Dogg Pound, released on October 31, 1995. The album features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Michel'le, The Lady of Rage, Tray Deee, and Mr. Malik. Two singles were released from the album: "Let's Play House" and "New York, New York".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tha Dogg Pound</span> American hip hop duo

Tha Dogg Pound is an American hip hop duo made up of rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success.

<i>2001</i> (Dr. Dre album) 1999 studio album by Dr. Dre

2001 is the second studio album by American rapper and hip hop producer Dr. Dre. It was released on November 16, 1999, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records as the follow-up to his 1992 debut album, The Chronic. The album was produced mainly by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, as well as Lord Finesse, and features several guest contributions from Hittman, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Xzibit, Eminem, and Nate Dogg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang</span> 1992 single by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg

"Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" is a song by American rapper Dr. Dre, featuring fellow American rapper Snoop Dogg, on Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic (1992). As the album's first single it reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 20, 1993, behind "Informer" by Snow, outperformed The Chronic's other singles, "Fuck wit Dre Day ", which peaked at number 8, and "Let Me Ride", which peaked at number 34. The single also reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and was a number 31 hit in the UK. Its music video was directed by Dr. Dre himself.

<i>Tha Blue Carpet Treatment</i> 2006 studio album by Snoop Dogg

Tha Blue Carpet Treatment is the eighth studio album by West Coast hip hop recording artist Snoop Dogg. It was released on November 21, 2006, by Doggystyle Records and Geffen Records. Recording sessions took place from November 2005 to September 2006 in several recording studios and artists such as Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, DJ Battlecat, DJ Pooh, Timbaland, Danja, Mark Batson, Terrace Martin, and Mr. Porter appear on the album, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')</span> 1993 single by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg

"Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')", or as a single titled "Dre Day", is a song by American rapper and record producer Dr. Dre featuring fellow American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, released in May 1993 as the second single from Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic. "Dre Day" was a diss track targeting mainly Dre's former groupmate Eazy-E, who led their onetime rap group N.W.A and who, along with N.W.A's manager Jerry Heller, owned N.W.A's record label, Ruthless Records. In "Dre Day" and in its music video, which accuse Eazy of cheating N.W.A's artists, Dre and Snoop degrade and menace him. Also included are disses retorting earlier disses on songs by Miami rapper Luke Campbell, by New York rapper Tim Dog, and by onetime N.W.A. member Ice Cube, although Dre, while still an N.W.A member, had helped diss Cube first. After "Dre Day," a number of further diss records were exchanged.

<i>One Mo Nigga ta Go</i> 1996 studio album by DJ Yella

One Mo Nigga ta Go is the only solo studio album by former N.W.A member DJ Yella. It was released on March 26, 1996, 1 year after Eazy-E's death and is dedicated to him. The album cover shows close-up of Eazy-E's face and Yella himself at Eazy-E's grave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kokane</span> American rapper

Jerry Buddy Long Jr., better known by his stage name Kokane, is an American rapper and singer best known for his distinctive vocal style and numerous guest appearances, such as on Snoop Dogg's Tha Last Meal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Next Episode</span> 2000 single by Dr. Dre

"The Next Episode" is a single by American rapper-producer Dr. Dre, released in 2000 as the third single from his second studio album, 2001 (1999). The track features Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg, but only Snoop Dogg is credited. It is a sequel to Dre and Snoop's famous single "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" from the former's debut album, The Chronic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's That</span> 2006 single by Snoop Dogg

"That's That" is the second single by Snoop Dogg from the album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. The song was the first single taken from the album in the United Kingdom, however the single only achieved notable success in the U.S., where it reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song samples the melody played in the 1988 film Coming to America during the bathroom scene when Eddie Murphy gets washed by female servants.

<i>Planet of da Apes</i> 1994 studio album by Da Lench Mob

Planet of da Apes is the second and final studio album by American hip hop group Da Lench Mob. The group's final album, it was released on November 1, 1994, via Street Knowledge/Priority Records. Its title is a reference to Planet of the Apes. Audio production was handled by Ice Cube, Mr. Woody, Dr. Jam, Madness 4 Real, Quincy Jones III, and 88 X Unit. It featured guest appearances from K-Dee, Mack 10 and Yo-Yo. The album peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Dogg discography</span>

The discography of American recording artist Nate Dogg consists of three studio albums, one compilation album, one collaboration album, 5 singles as the main artist, and 35 singles as a featured artist.

<i>Addictive Hip Hop Muzick</i> 1991 studio album by Who Am I?

Addictive Hip Hop Muzick is the debut studio album by American recording artist Kokane, and the only one released under his 'Who Am I?' alias. It was released on July 2, 1991 through Ruthless Records and Epic Records. Recording sessions took place at the Edge Recording Studio in Inglewood, California. Production was handled by Cold 187um and fellow Above the Law members with executive production by Lay Law and Eazy-E. It was mixed by Dr. Dre and Cold 187um at Audio Achievements in Torrance, California. The album features contributions from DJ Total K-oss, Funkette, Go Mack, KM.G, Lay Law, Lillian, Mz Kilo and Tha New Funkateers on vocals, Cold 187 um on vocals and keyboards, Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones on bass and guitar.

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

The following list is a discography of production by American rapper and hip hop producer Dr. Dre. It includes a list of singles produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Play House</span> 1995 single by Tha Dogg Pound featuring Michelle

"Let's Play House" is a song by hip hop duo Tha Dogg Pound featuring Michel'le. The song is the second single released from their debut album Dogg Food. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Michel'le make appearances in both the song and the video. The song begins with a spoken intro from Dr. Dre.

"Imagine" is a song by American rapper Snoop Dogg, featuring guest vocals from rapper Dr. Dre and singer D'Angelo, taken from Snoop Dogg's eighth studio album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006). The song was written by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Mark Batson, with production handled by Dr. Dre and Mark Batson.

References

  1. "Funk Upon a Rhyme – Kokane". AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  2. Bernard, James (1994). "Funk Upon a Rhyme EW.com". Entertainment Weekly . No. May 6. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  3. "Kokane - Funk Upon A Rhyme". Discogs . Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. "Kokane | WhoSampled". WhoSampled . Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  5. "Kokane Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  6. "Kokane Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2018.

Funk Upon A Rhyme at Discogs (list of releases)