Heart of a Champion (album)

Last updated
Heart of a Champion
Paul-wall-heart-of-a-champion.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 13, 2010
Recorded2009–2010
Genre Hip hop
Length56:44
Label
Producer
Paul Wall chronology
Fast Life
(2009)
Heart of a Champion
(2010)
#Checkseason
(2013)
Singles from Heart of a Champion
  1. "I'm On Patron"
    Released: March 30, 2010

Heart of a Champion is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper Paul Wall. It was released on July 13, 2010 through Swishahouse with distribution via Asylum Records. [1] [2]

Contents

Production was handled by Travis Barker, Beanz & Kornbread, Da Shit Factory and Young Chill, with G-Dash and Michael "5000" Watts serving as executive producers. Wall had a session with The Neptunes but they did not make the final cut. It features guest appearances from Andre Nickatina, Bun B, Chamillionaire, C.Stone, Dallas Blocker, Devin the Dude, Jay Electronica, Jim Jones, Johnny Dang, Kid Sister, Lil' Keke, Mitchy Slick, Raekwon, Slim Thug, Yelawolf, Yo Gotti and Z-Ro, as well as Paul Wall's short-lived hip hop supergroup Expensive Taste.

The album was supported by the only single "I'm On Patron" with an accompanying music video.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
HipHopDX 3/5 [4]
Slant Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Spin TMT full.svgTMT full.svgTMT full.svgTMT full.svgTMT full.svgTMT full.svgTMT full.svgTMT empty.svgTMT empty.svgTMT empty.svg [6]
XXL 3/5 (L) [7]

AllMusic's David Jeffries praised the album, saying "Barker's productions aren't as showy as you might expect, acting as true support with some interesting ideas, and the rest of the tracks are well handled by the returning Dirty South crew Beanz & Kornbread, giving the album a proper mix of new and old". [3] Ben Detrick of Spin found Paul Wall "cruises along with his usual simile-packed musings about wood-grained cars, fat pockets, and jewelry resembling 'snow cones'", and called him "a veteran rapper without bitterness is a treat". [6] HipHopDX editor Sean Ryon gave the album 3 out of 5, saying: "as flawed as it is, Heart of a Champion is still an album worthy of merit. Paul exhibits a lyrical vigor unheard since his 2005 major label debut. While the album may not be a complete victory, he proves without a doubt that he's still the People's Champ". [4] The album received a 3 out of 5 rating from XXL . [7]

In his negative review for Slant Magazine , Jesse Cataldo found the album "feels like a misguided departure and a lazy retread". [5]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 58 on the Billboard 200, number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 7 on the Top Rap Albums charts, selling 7,600 copies in its first week. [8] In its second week, the album fell to number 124 on the Billboard 200 with total sales of 11,000 copies in the United States. [9] As of January 2011, the album has sold 27,000 copies in the United States. [10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Take Notes" Travis Barker 3:11
2."Showin' Skillz" (featuring Lil' Keke)
Travis Barker4:30
3."I'm on Patron"
Beanz-N-Kornbread3:49
4."Round Here" (featuring Chamillionaire)
Beanz-N-Kornbread4:05
5."Im'ma Get It" (featuring Bun B and Kid Sister)Travis Barker4:15
6."Stay Iced Up" (featuring C. Stone and Johnny Dang)
  • Slayton
  • Matthew Christopher Stone
  • Tuấn Đặng
  • Blake Dozier
  • John Hearon
  • Justin Rogers
Da Shit Factory4:05
7."Pocket Fulla Presidents" (featuring Andre Nickatina and Mitchy Slick)
Beanz-N-Kornbread4:04
8."Ain't a Thang" (featuring Jim Jones)
Travis Barker3:15
9."My City" (featuring Dallas Blocker and Yo Gotti)
Beanz-N-Kornbread4:08
10."Smoke Everyday" (featuring Devin the Dude and Z-Ro)
Beanz-N-Kornbread6:38
11."Live It" (featuring Raekwon, Yelawolf and Jay Electronica)Travis Barker4:04
12."Not My Friend" (Expensive Taste featuring Slim Thug)
Travis Barker3:16
13."Still On"
  • Slayton
  • Isaac Yowman
Yung Chill4:01
14."Heart of a Hustler" (performed by Expensive Taste)
  • Slayton
  • Aston
  • Barker
Travis Barker3:24
Total length:56:44
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Keep on Pushin'" (featuring Unique)
  • Slayton
  • Dominic Harris
  • Johnson Jr.
  • Roy
Beanz-N-Kornbread3:57
16."Posted Up" (featuring Tum Tum and Big Tuck)
  • Slayton
  • Tony Richardson
  • Johnson Jr.
  • Roy
Beanz-N-Kornbread5:18

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [11] 58
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [12] 11
US Top Rap Albums ( Billboard ) [13] 7

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References

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