Music for the People (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch album)

Last updated
Music for the People
Music for the People.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 23, 1991
Recorded1991
Genre Hip hop, pop
Length48:22
Label Interscope/Atlantic
Producer Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch chronology
Music for the People
(1991)
You Gotta Believe
(1992)
Singles from Music for the People
  1. "Good Vibrations"
    Released: July 16, 1991
  2. "Wildside"
    Released: October 23, 1991
  3. "I Need Money"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Calgary Herald B [2]
Robert Christgau Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Entertainment Weekly C− [5]
Orlando Sentinel Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Music for the People is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, released on July 23, 1991. The album was a success, reaching #1 on the Top Heatseekers Albums chart, and #21 on the Billboard 200, thanks to the hit single, "Good Vibrations". Alongside "Good Vibrations", the album spawned an additional top-ten single, "Wildside" (#10 on the Billboard Hot 100) and the minor hit "I Need Money". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA on January 14, 1992. "Good Vibrations" was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's first single, and after its release it went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song, and most of the album, was produced by Mark Wahlberg's brother, Donnie Wahlberg, who is part of the group New Kids on the Block.

Contents

Background

Before the group was even formed, Mark Wahlberg, who was the lead singer, was in jail for beating a Vietnamese man. [7] Even before Mark got arrested, he dropped out of school at the age of 14 and began hustling, stealing, and selling drugs. [8] Once Mark got out of prison, his older brother Donnie helped him out by getting him involved in the music business. Mark wasn't the best singer, but with his charisma and looks, Donnie helped him and his group debut their first album. In 1990, Donnie Wahlberg convinced younger brother Mark to return to the music scene as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, even landing them a spot as opening act for Donnie's band New Kids on the Block. [9] Mark Wahlberg (Marky Mark) was joined by an all black ensemble including Scott Ross (aka Scottie Gee), Hector Barros (Hector the Booty Inspector), Anthony Thomas (Ashley Ace), and Terry Yancey (DJ-T) to create more of a "street" feel for Mark. [10] The following year Donnie went a step further, producing the group's first and most successful album, Music for the People.

Reception

Music for the People released on July 23, 1991, to mixed reviews. Despite being lauded more for Mark's physique and charisma than musicality, the album still managed to receive a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

James Muretich from Calgary Herald wrote, "...this is all right. The breast-beating bravado is as good as anybody`s, the groove is always good 'n' funky and the tune "Wildside" smartly samples Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" while using effective street imagery. Yeah, Marky, the Wahlberg with the biceps, actually delivers the goods." [2] MTV's Jason Ankeny said, that "Rap purists were appalled by Wahlberg's mediocre lyrical skills, lame samples, and tired beats." [9] Perry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt the songs on the album "are serviceable enough pop-rap." [6] In an interview with Oral Tradition, DJ Romeo told that he believes Marky Mark’s disjointed rhythm and rap cadence comes primarily from reading the rap from paper while recording, and that while some rappers use “poets tools,” (simile, hyperbole, and alliteration) Marky Mark “just raps.” [11]

They earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance for their single “You Gotta Believe” in 1992. The group split up in 1993 when Mark Wahlberg decided to take his career in another direction by starting to act.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Music for the People"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • Leo Okeke [a]
4:19
2."Good Vibrations" (featuring Loleatta Holloway)
  • M. Wahlberg
  • D. Wahlberg
  • Amir "M.C. Spice" Shakir
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
4:25
3."Wildside"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • Amir "M.C. Spice" Shakir
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
5:07
4."Bout Time I Funk You"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
4:29
5."Peace"
  • M. Wahlberg
  • D. Wahlberg
  • A. Shakir
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
5:28
6."So What Chu Sayin"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
4:41
7."Marky Mark is Here"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
4:00
8."On the House Tip"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • A. Shakir
  • D. Wahlberg
  • A. Shakir
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
3:42
9."Make Me Say Ooh!"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • A. Shakir
  • D. Wahlberg
  • A. Shakir
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
3:43
10."I Need Money"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg
  • D. Wahlberg
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
4:29
11."The Last Song on Side B"
  • D. Wahlberg
  • D. Wood
  • M. Wahlberg [a]
  • L. Okeke [a]
3:59

Personnel

Adapted credits from the media notes of Music for the People. [12]

Charts

Chart performance for Music for the People
Chart (1991)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [13] 67
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [14] 35
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [15] 90
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [16] 37
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [17] 35
UK Albums (OCC) [18] 61
US Billboard 200 [19] 21

Certifications

Certifications for Music for the People
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [20] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [21] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch</span> American hip-hop group

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch was an American hip-hop group formed in 1991 by Mark Wahlberg, Scott Gee, Hector the Booty Inspector, DJ-T, and Ashey Ace. The group's best known song is "Good Vibrations", which made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991, while their follow-up song "Wildside" peaked at number 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Kids on the Block</span> American boy band

New Kids on the Block is an American boy band from Dorchester, Massachusetts. The band consists of brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. New Kids on the Block had success in the late 1980s and early 1990s and have sold more than 80 million records worldwide, and are often credited for paving the way for future boy bands such as Take That, Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. They won two American Music Awards in 1990 for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo, or Group and Favorite Pop/Rock Album. In 1991, they performed the halftime show at Super Bowl XXV, a first for a pop music group.

<i>3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of...</i> 1992 studio album by Arrested Development

3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released on March 24, 1992. The album's chart success ignited the popularization of Southern hip hop. Named after the length of time it took the group to get a record contract, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... starkly contrasted the gangsta rap that ruled the hip hop charts in 1992, focusing on spirituality, peace and love.

<i>Mind Blowin</i> 1994 studio album by Vanilla Ice

Mind Blowin' is the second studio album by American rapper Vanilla Ice. Released on March 22, 1994, it is the rapper's final release on SBK Records. The album did not chart and received unfavorable reviews. Songs from the album made up one third of Vanilla Ice's tours during 1992–2010. The album shifted just 42,000 copies in the United States, a massive drop in comparison to his blockbuster debut album To the Extreme. Despite this, lead single "Roll 'Em Up" received some airplay in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Vibrations (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song)</span> 1991 single by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

"Good Vibrations" is a song by American group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway. It was released in July 1991 as the lead single from their debut album, Music for the People (1991). The song became a number-one hit in the United States, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk on the Wild Side (Lou Reed song)</span> 1972 single by Lou Reed

"Walk on the Wild Side" is a song by American rock musician Lou Reed from his second solo studio album, Transformer (1972). It was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson and released as a double A-side with "Perfect Day". Known as a counterculture anthem, the song received wide radio coverage and became Reed's biggest hit and signature song while touching on topics considered taboo at the time, such as transgender people, drugs, male prostitution, and oral sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loleatta Holloway</span> American singer (1946–2011)

Loleatta Holloway was an American singer known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation". In December 2016, Billboard named her the 95th-most successful dance artist of all time. According to the Independent, Holloway is the most sampled female singer in popular music, used in house and dance tracks such as the 1989 Black Box single "Ride on Time".

<i>The Bliss Album...? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence)</i> 1993 studio album by P.M. Dawn

The Bliss Album...? is the second studio album by American hip hop duo P.M. Dawn. It was released on March 23, 1993, by Gee Street and Island Records. Although some critics considered it less successful than the duo's first record, The Bliss Album...? received positive reviews and produced two hit singles—"I'd Die Without You" and "Looking Through Patient Eyes". It was voted the 12th best album of 1993 in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll.

<i>No More Games/The Remix Album</i> 1990 remix album by New Kids on the Block

No More Games: The Remix Album is a remix album from pop group New Kids on the Block. It peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>Face the Music</i> (New Kids on the Block album) 1994 studio album by NKOTB

Face the Music is the fifth studio album by American boyband New Kids on the Block, released on January 25, 1994. The album debuted at number 37 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, with first-week sales of 27,000 copies. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album had sold 138,000 copies in the US as of 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insane in the Brain</span> 1993 single by Cypress Hill

"Insane in the Brain" is a song by American hip hop group Cypress Hill, released in June 1993 by Ruffhouse and Columbia as the first single from the group's second album, Black Sunday (1993). The song was written by group members Louis Freese, Lawrence Muggerud and Senen Reyes, and produced by Muggerud. In addition to hitting number one on the US rap chart, it also was a mainstream hit, reaching number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993. "Insane in the Brain" earned a 3× platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and sold 3,000,000 copies domestically. The accompanying music video was directed by Josh Taft, featuring the group performing at a rave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Wahlberg</span> American actor (born 1971)

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg, formerly known by his stage name Marky Mark, is an American actor and former rapper. His work as a leading man spans the comedy, drama, and action genres. He has received multiple accolades, including a BAFTA Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, nine Primetime Emmy Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.

"Love Sensation" is a 1980 song performed by American R&B singer Loleatta Holloway, taken from her album of the same name. The song was produced and written by Dan Hartman, arranged by Norman Harris, and mixed by Tom Moulton. It was a hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, where the song spent a week at No. 1 in September 1980. Vocals from the song have been widely sampled, particularly in electronic dance music, such as in the 1989 Black Box song "Ride on Time".

<i>You Gotta Believe</i> 1992 studio album by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

You Gotta Believe is the second and final studio album by American hip hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, released on September 15, 1992. The album peaked at number 67 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>Life in the Streets</i> 1994 studio album by Prince Ital Joe & Marky Mark

Life in the Streets is the debut album by reggae/ragga recording artist Prince Ital Joe and the third album by rapper Marky Mark. The album was released in 1994 for Ultraphonic Records and blended Prince Ital Joe's reggae with Marky Mark's hip hop. Life in the Streets was not released in the United States, but it was a success in Germany, where most of the album was produced in the Eurodance style. Four singles charted on Germany's Media Control Charts: "Life in the Streets" (#12), "Happy People" (#4), "Babylon" (#17), and "United", which held the #1 position for five weeks. Songs "Life in the Streets", "In Love" and "United" appeared in the Danny DeVito movie Renaissance Man, while "United" also appeared in The NeverEnding Story III.

<i>Peaceful Journey</i> 1991 studio album by Heavy D & the Boyz

Peaceful Journey is the third album by American rap group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on July 2, 1991, for Uptown Records and was produced by Pete Rock, DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Marley Marl and Howie Tee. This marked the group's first album since the death of member Trouble T Roy, who died almost a year before the album's release, and several songs on the album pay tribute to him. Though not as successful as the group's previous album, Big Tyme, the album was able to reach Platinum status and made it to number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildside (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song)</span> 1991 single by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

"Wildside" is a song by American hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. It was released in October 1991 as the second single from their 1991 album Music for the People. It heavily samples Lou Reed's 1972 "Walk on the Wild Side". All vocals on the track are performed by the group's leader Mark Wahlberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Face the Music Tour</span> 1994 concert tour by New Kids on the Block

The Face the Music Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the band New Kids on the Block, undertaken in 1994 in support of their fourth studio album Face the Music. It was their last tour for nearly fifteen years until they reunited in 2008 for New Kids on the Block: Live. They performed songs like "Never Let You Go" and "Dirty Dawg".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Games (New Kids on the Block song)</span> 1990 single by New Kids on the Block

"Games" is a song by American boyband New Kids on the Block, released as the first single from their first compilation/remix album, No More Games/The Remix Album (1990). Employing hip-hop samples with riffs sung by Jordan Knight, and defensive rhymes by Donnie Wahlberg, the song was a dramatic departure from their previously clean cut sound. It also includes shout-outs to Donnie's brother Mark Wahlberg and his group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The song features a chorus section taken from the movie the wizard of Oz, namely the West witch's soldiers chant: oh ee oh, oh oh. The accompanying music video for "Games" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.

Make My Video is a series of four video games by Digital Pictures in 1992 for the Sega CD. These included series by INXS, Kris Kross, C+C Music Factory, and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The games featured three songs from the respective musical groups, and the player edited pre-made clips to make a new music video.

References

  1. Music for the People - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic
  2. 1 2 Muretich, James (25 August 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald .
  3. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2000). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Omnibus Press.
  5. Bernard, James (30 August 1991). "Music for the People". Entertainment Weekly .
  6. 1 2 Gettelman, Parry (30 August 1991). "Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch". Orlando Sentinel .
  7. "Mark Wahlberg Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  8. Hiskey, Daven (27 January 2012). "Mark Wahlberg was a Drug Dealer and was Charged with Attempted Murder Before Forming Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch" . Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  9. 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "Marky Mark". MTV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  10. Steed, Dave (22 July 2011). "Popdose Flashback '91: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, "Music For the People"". Popdose. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  11. Wehmeyer-Shaw, Debra (October 1993). "Rap Music: An Interview with DJ Romeo". Oral Tradition. 8 (2): 225–246.
  12. Music for the People (liner notes). Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Interscope. 1991. CD 91737.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 176.
  14. "Austriancharts.at – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – Music for the People" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – Music for the People" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – Music for the People" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – Music for the People". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  19. "Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. "Canadian album certifications – Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch – Music for the People". Music Canada . Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  21. "American album certifications – Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch – Music for the People". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 23, 2023.