Life Story (album)

Last updated
Life Story
LifeStory.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 7, 2000
Studio
Genre Hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Length69:13
Label
Producer
Black Rob chronology
Life Story
(2000)
The Black Rob Report
(2005)
Singles from Life Story
  1. "Whoa!"
    Released: February 15, 2000
  2. "Espacio"
    Released: 2000

Life Story is the debut studio album by American rapper Black Rob. It was released on March 7, 2000, via Arista Records and Sean "Puffy" Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment. The album was praised by critics for its production and Rob's vocal presence and lyricism being similar to the late Notorious B.I.G. Life Story debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and sold close to 178,000 copies in its first week released. [1] The album spawned two singles: "Whoa!" and "Espacio". Life Story was ultimately certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 1,000,000 copies in the United States on August 17, 2000.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]

Life Story garnered positive reviews from music critics for its production and Rob's musicianship. Roxanne Blanford of AllMusic commended Rob's vocal delivery for being reminiscent of the "smooth, reserved style" of the Notorious B.I.G. and being able to "construct[s] explicit tales with hooks you can feel and lyrics that stick" concluding that, "[W]ith 20 thoroughly bruising cuts, Black Rob's debut may just succeed in helping Puff Daddy regain the street credibility lost when Combs achieved mainstream/crossover status." [2] Kathryn Farr from Rolling Stone gave praise to Rob's skills as a rapper coming across "like a cocky veteran, spitting grim confessions ("Life Story") and baller mantras ("PD World Tour") without breaking a sweat" and Bad Boy's crew of producers supplying the record with "hook-heavy cuts" despite Puff's "threadbare formulas" from previous efforts threatening to pull it down, concluding that "P. Diddy's meddling aside, though, most of Life Story is, well, like whoa!" [3] Vibe contributor Miguel Burke also praised Rob for being "incredibly adept at constructing graphic, autobiographical episodes and intricate tales" and pointed out Puff's "irritating ad-libs ("Make It Hot")" and "wannabe-rough rhymes ("Down the Line")" as negative qualities, concluding with, "But that doesn't change the fact that although the album gets down and dirty, Life Story is a breath of fresh air." [6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Mrs Barry (Intro)"
1:00
2."Life Story" (featuring Cheryl Pepsii Riley & Racquel)
  • R. Ross
  • C. Clay
  • W. Garfield
  • N. Myrick
  • P. Neeley-Rolle
  • H. Pierre
  • J. Garfield
Nashiem Myrick & Jay "Waxx" Garfield for the Hitmen4:58
3."Whoa!"
  • R. Ross
  • A. Best
  • H. Pierre
Buckwild 4:04
4."Drive By (Interlude)"
  • R. Ross
  • R. Lawrence
Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence for the Hitmen0:47
5."Lookin' At Us" (featuring Cee-Lo)Nashiem Myrick for the Hitmen4:35
6."Down the Line Joint" (featuring Puff Daddy, Mark Curry, Ma$e & G-Dep)
Yogi for the Hitmen4:57
7."Espacio" (featuring Lil' Kim & G-Dep)
Mario "Yellowman" Winans for the Hitmen4:05
8."You Don't Know Me" (featuring Joe Hooker)
  • R. Ross
  • D. Abrahams
  • S. Combs
  • H. Pierre
Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre for the Hitmen4:50
9."Can I Live" (featuring The LOX)
Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for the Hitmen4:59
10."Championship (Interlude)"
  • R. Ross
  • H. Pierre
  • Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre for the Hitmen
  • Black Rob
1:20
11."PD World Tour" (featuring Puff Daddy)
  • R. Ross
  • D. Angelettie
  • S. Combs
  • H. Charlemagne
Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for the Hitmen4:46
12."Muscle Game" (featuring Mark Curry & Mario Winans)
  • R. Ross
  • M. Winans
  • M. Curry
Mario "Yellowman" Winans for the Hitmen4:35
13."Cop Skit (Interlude)"
  • R. Ross
  • H. Pierre
  • Harve "Joe Hooker" Pierre for the Hitmen
  • Black Rob
1:40
14."B.R" (featuring G-Dep)
  • R. Ross
  • D. Angelettie
  • S. Clarke
  • Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for the Hitmen
  • Black Rob
3:54
15."Thug Story"
  • R. Ross
  • R. Walters
  • S. Combs
  • H. Pierre
4:34
16."Jasmine" (featuring Carl Thomas)
  • R. Ross
  • T. Mahal
  • N. Myrick
  • D. Angelettie
  • C. Broady
  • C. Thomas
  • Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie
  • Carlos "Six July" Broady
  • Nashiem Myrick for the Hitmen
5:31
17."Mad Rapper (Interlude)"
  • D. Angelettie
  • R. Ross
Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie for the Hitmen0:53
18."I Love You Baby" (featuring Puff Daddy)
  • R. Ross
  • R. Lawrence
  • J. Garfield
  • L. Baxter
  • S. Combs
Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence & Jay "Waxx" Garfield for the Hitmen3:36
19."Spanish Fly" (featuring Jennifer Lopez)
  • R. Ross
  • M. Ciccone
  • P. Leonard
  • D.L. Roth
  • S. Watanabe
  • B. Gaitsch
  • J. Graham
Yogi for the Hitmen4:03
20."Rise Up (Interlude)"R. RossShak Bak0:22
21."I Dare You" (featuring Joe Hooker)
  • R. Ross
  • P. Politi
  • R. Frierson
  • B. White
  • H. Pierre
Richard "Younglord" Frierson 4:24
Note
Samples

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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