Life Is... Too Short | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1988 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 54:52 | |||
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Producer | ||||
Too Short chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
RapReviews | 7.5/10 [2] |
The Village Voice | B+ [3] |
Life Is... Too Short (stylized as Life Is... Too $hort) is the fifth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released in 1988 via Dangerous Music and re-released in 1989 [1] through Jive Records. It appeared as a Dangerous Music/RCA Records release until Jive Records logos appeared on the release on October 25, 1990, after it became successful. It is currently his highest-selling album to date, being certified double platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 2 million copies.
"Don't Fight the Feelin'" samples the 1982 One Way song of the same name.
In 2022, Rolling Stone included Life Is... Too Short on their list of "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time", at No. 186. [4]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Life Is... Too Short" | 4:34 |
2. | "Rhymes" | 4:17 |
3. | "I Ain't Trippin'" | 6:41 |
4. | "Nobody Does It Better" | 6:15 |
5. | "Oakland" | 4:41 |
6. | "Don't Fight the Feelin'" (featuring Danger Zone and Rappin' 4-Tay) | 8:18 |
7. | "CussWords" | 7:44 |
8. | "City of Dope" | 5:31 |
9. | "Pimp the Ho" | 5:54 |
10. | "Outro" | 0:59 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [8] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G., released on March 25, 1997, on Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. A double album, it was released sixteen days after his murder. It features collaborations with guest artists such as 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Angela Winbush, D.M.C. of Run-D.M.C., R. Kelly, the Lox, and Puff Daddy. Life After Death exhibits the Notorious B.I.G. further delving into the mafioso rap subgenre. The album is a sequel to his first album, Ready to Die, and picks up where the last song, "Suicidal Thoughts", ends.
Todd Anthony Shaw, better known by his stage name Too Short, is an American rapper. A pioneer of West Coast hip hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late 1980s. His lyrics were often based on pimping and promiscuity, but also drug culture and street survival; exemplified respectively in his most popular singles "Blow the Whistle" and "The Ghetto." He is one of few acts to have worked with both Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. during the heights of their respective careers.
Born to Mack is the fourth studio album and debut major label album by American rapper Too Short. The album was released in 1987 via Dangerous Music. It was re-released in 1988 by Jive Records/RCA, after the success of Life Is...Too Short, although Jive Records logos did not appear on it until it was released on compact disc in 1989.
Pandemonium is the fourth studio album by American band The Time released in 1990. Much like the three previous albums, the album consists of music in the funk rock genre, although this album breaks the Time's six-song album tradition. The album is a tie-in with the film Graffiti Bridge, and several songs from the album appear in the film.
R. Kelly is the eponymously-titled second studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly. It was released on November 14, 1995, by Jive Records. The production was handled entirely by Kelly himself. It spawned three number one R&B singles: "You Remind Me of Something", "Down Low " and "I Can't Sleep Baby ".
Idlewild is the sixth and final studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on August 22, 2006, by LaFace Records and served as the soundtrack album to the duo's musical film of the same name, which was released that same month. Containing themes relating to the music industry, the album also featured songs not included in the film while incorporating jazz, blues, swing, and soul styles in its music.
Don't Be Cruel is the second studio album by American singer Bobby Brown. It was released in the United States on June 20, 1988, by MCA Records. MCA changed producers for this album and had Brown work with hit-making songwriting and production duo Babyface and L.A. Reid. Brown dedicated the album to his deceased best friend James "Jimbo" Flint who was stabbed to death when Brown was aged 11. Don't Be Cruel incorporates new jack swing, R&B, funk, dance and soul.
Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop is the third studio album by American hip hop group Boogie Down Productions. It was released on July 4, 1989, via Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at Power Play Studios in New York. Production was handled by member KRS-One with co-production from fellow member D-Nice, D-Square, Rebekah Foster, Sidney Mills and Spaceman Patterson.
Short Dog's in the House is the sixth studio album by American rapper Too Short. The album was released on September 11, 1990, via Jive Records. The CD contains a number of both socially conscious songs, as well as dirty rap and sexually-explicit songs that have made Too Short famous. The album's production samples a number of classic P-funk records, as well as the heavy use of the Roland TR-808 for instrumentation. The laid-back beats would be a major influence in hip hop years later, and the album was key in the development of West Coast born G-funk that dominated the charts for the next few years. The album's cover was an influence for the cover art for Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, just as Too Short's drawl-heavy delivery had influenced Snoop Dogg's vocal style. Upon release, the album received a number of positive reviews, which helped it reach the highest position on the U.S. R&B charts, of any of Too Short's albums, at the time.
Hell Hath No Fury is the third studio album by hip hop duo Clipse. The album was released on November 28, 2006 in the United States by Re-Up, Star Trak and Jive. Recording sessions for the album took place over a period of several years, and suffered numerous delays prior to release. Production was handled by The Neptunes.
It's a Beautiful Thing is the third solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on January 12, 1999, via Jive Records, making it his final record for the label. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recording Studios in Dix Hills, New York. Production was handled entirely by Erick Sermon, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Déjà Vu, Canibus, Erick Sermon, LL Cool J, Redman and Too $hort. The album peaked at number thirty-nine on the Billboard 200 and number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the US. Its single "Incredible" reached number 70 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 36 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Get In Where You Fit In is the eighth solo studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on October 26, 1993, through Jive Records, making it his fifth release for the label. Recording sessions took place at Dangerous Studios. Production was handled by The Dangerous Crew and Quincy Jones III. It features guest appearances from Ant Banks, Ant Diddley Dog, Father Dom, FM Blue, Mhisani, Pee Wee, Rappin' Ron, Ronese Levias and Spice 1.
Married to the Game is the fifteenth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on November 4, 2003 through Jive Records, making it his 12th album on the label. Recording sessions took place at The Hit Factory Criteria and Circle House Studios in Miami, The Enterprise in Burbank, Sound On Sound Recording in New York, Stankonia Recording in Atlanta and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Dez, Lil Jon, Ant Banks, and Jazze Pha, with Too $hort serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Cutty Cartel, Devin the Dude, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz, Noreaga, Oobie and Petey Pablo. The album peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. Its lead single, "Shake That Monkey", made it to number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 56 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album's second single, "Choosin'", reached number 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Shorty the Pimp is the seventh studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on July 14, 1992, via Jive Records. The album's title is taken from the 1973 blaxploitation film of the same name, featuring an eponymous character.
Can't Stay Away is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on July 13, 1999, via Jive Records, making it his eighth album on the label. The album received generally positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, certified Gold on August 13, 1999, only a month after its release. This is Too Short's fourth consecutive album to reach the top of the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Chase the Cat is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on November 20, 2001, through Jive Records. The album found moderate success, peaking at #71 on the Billboard 200 and #14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.
"The Ghetto" is a song by American Oakland-based rapper Too $hort. It was released on October 8, 1990 via Jive Records as the lead single from his sixth studio album Short Dog's in the House. Recorded at One Little Indian Studios in El Cerrito, California, it was produced and mixed by Al Eaton and Too $hort. The instrumental is based on the Donny Hathaway song of the same name.
Sittin' on Somethin' Phat is the debut solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Ant Banks. It was released on March 9, 1993, via Dangerous Music/Jive Records. It was produced by Ant Banks and Too $hort. It features guest appearances from Goldy, Pooh-Man, Spice 1 and Too $hort. The album peaked at number 123 on the Billboard 200, number 22 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 5 on the Heatseekers Albums in the United States.
Get Off the Stage is the seventeenth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on December 4, 2007 by Jive Records, making it his fourteenth and final release with the label. Recording sessions took place at Blue Basement Recordings and at PatchWerk Recording Studios in Atlanta and Young L Productions Studio. Production was handled by Traxamillion, Cooly C, DJ Kizzy Rock, Spec, Anthony Taylor, Gennessee and Young L, with Too Short serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Dolla Will, E-40, Ginger, Kool-Ace, Mistah F.A.B., Ms. Hollywood, and the Pack.