In God We Trust is the second studio album by American hip-hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on February 2, 1993, via Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King House Of Metal, The Hit Factory, Soundtrack Studios and Marathon Studios. Production was handled by Brand Nubian, Diamond D, Rafeal and Sting International, with Dante Ross serving as executive producer. It features a lone guest appearance from Red Fox.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Three singles were released from the album, "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down", "Allah U Akbar" and "Love Me or Leave Me Alone". Singles "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" and "Love Me or Leave Me Alone" reached the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 77 and 92, respectively.
Background
Lead MC Grand Puba parted ways with the group to pursue a solo career in 1991, following the release of their revered debut One for All leaving Sadat X and Lord Jamar, who enlisted DJ Sincere to join the group. Lyrically, the album contains extremely militant content that reflects the group's identity as Five Percenters, adhering to the philosophy of the Nation of Gods and Earths.
The album was almost entirely produced by Lord Jamar utilizing the Akai MPC, giving the album's taste of hardcore hard-hitting intense beats with soul and jazz samples that he found through Sadat's father record collection.[7]
Critical reception
The album was less successful than the group's debut but still received strong reviews. Its lead single "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" was met with controversy over homophobic content, referencing the Sadat X line "Though I can freak, fly, flow, fuck up a faggot/I don't understand their ways, I ain't down with gays". Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "dud" rating, indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought".
Track listing
All tracks are written by Derek Murphy and Lorenzo Dechalus, except track 6 is written by Perry Murphy Dechalus.
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