Hard or Smooth | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 24, 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
Studio | Future Recording Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:04 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Producer |
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Wreckx-n-Effect chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hard or Smooth | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Robert Christgau | [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | C+ [4] |
The Independent | positive [1] |
Q | [5] |
Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992, by MCA Records, and featured production from Teddy Riley and Ty Fyffe, as well as Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was fatally shot in 1990.
Hard or Smooth became the group's highest entry on the Billboard 200, where it debuted and peaked at number nine. Its lead single, "Rump Shaker", peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts, as well as number nine on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play. The album's second single, "Knock-N-Boots", peaked at number 72 on the Hot 100, while its third, "My Cutie", peaked at number 75 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The fourth single, "Wreckx Shop", peaked at number 11 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.
"Rump Shaker"
"New Jack Swing, Pt. 2"
"Wreckx Shop"
"Knock-N-Boots"
"My Cutie"
"Hard"
"Smooth"
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [11] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [12] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
The Neptunes were an American record production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provided backing vocals and music video appearances on the duo's productions, while Hugo remained behind the scenes.
Edward Theodore Riley is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer credited with the creation of the R&B and hip-hop fusion genre, new jack swing. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the musical group Blackstreet, as well as its predecessor Guy. The genre gained popularity from artists who utilized Riley's production and songwriting, namely Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Heavy D & the Boyz, Keith Sweat, Hi-Five, and the Jackson 5, among others.
Wreckx-n-Effect is an American new jack swing group from Harlem, New York City. They are perhaps best known for their 1992 single "Rump Shaker", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Blackstreet is the debut studio album from American R&B group Blackstreet, released in 1994 on Interscope Records. In 1991 the group was formed by Riley with Chauncey Hannibal in Virginia Beach Virginia after the dissolution of Teddy Riley's former group Guy. The other members of Blackstreet Joseph Stonestreet and Levi Little were session singers alongside Hannibal who sung background Bobby Brown's third album Bobby, an album that was mostly produced by Riley who recruited them all to be singer.
They recorded one song for the soundtrack of the Chris Rock film CB4 called "Baby Be Mine". After they finish recording the first half of the album, Joseph "Street" Stonestreet left the group due to creative differences and business disputes with Teddy Riley and was replaced by former Force One Network singer Dave Hollister in 1994 .Then they re-recorded "Baby Be Mine" for their self-titled debut, Hollister's vocals were added on the album version of the song.
Guy is the 1988 debut studio album by American R&B band Guy. Released on June 14, 1988, by Uptown Records. It was produced by group member Teddy Riley and manager Gene Griffin. The album peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. In July 1994, it was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of two million copies in the United States. In 2007, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the album, Geffen Records reissued the recording complete with a remastered version of the original album and a second CD of remixes.
My Melody is the debut studio album by American rapper Queen Pen, released on December 16, 1997, by Lil' Man Records, a distribution by Interscope Records and was executive produced by Teddy Riley. The album went to number 78 on the Billboard 200, number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number one on the Top Heatseekers, and had three charting singles "Man Behind the Music", "All My Love" and "Party Ain't a Party".
Wrecks-n-Effect is the debut album released by Wrecks-n-Effect. It was released on September 12, 1989, by Motown Records and featured production from Markell Riley and Redhead Kingpin. The album cover bears a winged symbol like Guy, as it bears the genre's anthem. It was released after the departure of Keith KC.
Raps New Generation is the third and final album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on September 24, 1996 for MCA Records and featured production from Teddy Riley, "Lil" Chris Smith, Markell Riley and Aqil Davidson. Raps New Generation was both a critical and commercial flop and was the group's only album not to chart on the Billboard 200. The single "Top Billin'" produced by "Lil" Chris Smith and Aqil Davidson however, made it to 38 on the Hot Rap Tracks.
"Rump Shaker" is a song by American hip-hop group Wreckx-N-Effect. It was released in August 1992 by MCA Records as the lead single from their second album, Hard or Smooth (1992). It features production and guest vocals from Teddy Riley, brother of former Wreckx member Markell Riley. Due to the massive success of Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You," the song did not advance further than No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. Nevertheless, it peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles, and No. 9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
Rump Shaker may refer to the following:
Ain't No Other is the fourth album released by American rapper MC Lyte. It was released on June 22, 1993, on First Priority Music/Atlantic Records and produced by Audio Two, Backspin, Markell Riley, Franklin Grant, Tyrone Fyffe, "Lil" Chris Smith, Funk, Sir Scratch and Walter "Mucho" Scott.
The Future is the second studio album by American R&B group Guy, released in November 13, 1990, on Uptown Records. It was their last album before their reunion a decade later.
Tyrone Gregory Fyffe, also known as Sugarless, is an American record producer from Queens, New York City. During his career he produced tracks for MC Lyte, Foxy Brown, Slick Rick, Ja Rule, Canibus, Jayo Felony, Queen Pen, Cam'ron, 54th Platoon and Royce da 5'9", remixed songs for LL Cool J, The Party, Royal Flush, Robin Thicke and Nas, and collaborated with Teddy Riley, Erick Sermon, Irv Gotti and Dr. Dre.
Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. was an American hip hop/new jack swing group best known for its debut single and highest-charting song, "Do the Right Thing" from its album A Shade of Red, which peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1989. The song was featured on the soundtrack of Wes Craven's horror film The People Under the Stairs.
Personal is the debut studio album by the American vocal group Men of Vizion. It was released on June 18, 1996, via Michael Jackson's record label, MJJ Music, after a demo tape was played to him by producer Teddy Riley. The album has been described as a "sumptuous blend" of vocal R&B and "90s production techniques", that alternates between smooth ballads and new jack swing.
House Party 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1991 American comedy film House Party 2. It was released on October 15, 1991, through MCA Records after Motown was sold to PolyGram. The soundtrack consisted of a blend of hip hop and contemporary R&B with audio excerpts from the film.
Guy III is the third studio album by American R&B group Guy, released on January 25, 2000, by MCA Records. The album reached number five on the R&B Albums chart and peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 200 chart.
"Ruffneck" is a hip hop song recorded by American rapper MC Lyte. It was published on May 27, 1993 by First Priority Music and Atlantic Street, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Ain't No Other (1993). The song was produced by Aqil Davidson with Walter "Mucho" Scott, who along with Lyte have songwriting credits.
"I Go On" is the second and final single from MC Lyte's fourth album Ain't No Other. Produced by Tyrone Fyffe, Franklin Grant and Wreckx-n-Effect's Markell Riley, it was released on November 4, 1993.
Aqil Davidson is an American lyricist who aside from his solo career, serves as lead vocalist for the new jack swing group Wreckx-n-Effect. He has also been credited with songwriting or production work on albums by Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, MC Hammer, MC Lyte, and Guy.