Poetic Justice (soundtrack)

Last updated
Poetic Justice: Music from the Motion Picture
Poeticjusticealbumcover.jpg
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedJune 29, 1993
Genre
Length45:51
Label Epic Soundtrax
Producer
Singles from Poetic Justice: Music from the Motion Picture
  1. "Get It Up"
    Released: June 6, 1993
  2. "Indo Smoke"
    Released: June 8, 1993
  3. "Call Me a Mack"
    Released: August 16, 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Music from the Motion Picture Poetic Justice is the soundtrack to John Singleton's 1993 film Poetic Justice . It was released on June 29, 1993, through Epic Soundtrax, and consisted of a blend of hip hop and R&B music. The album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 25, 1993.

Contents

Three charting singles were released from the album: "Indo Smoke" by Mista Grimm, "Get It Up" by TLC, and "Call Me a Mack" by Usher Raymond, the latter of which was Usher's first official appearance on a song at the age of 14.

The soundtrack also has the Stevie Wonder song "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer", a track that was originally on his 1971 Motown Records album Where I'm Coming From . The song "Definition of a Thug Nigga", recorded by Tupac Shakur for the film, later appeared on his 1997 posthumous album R U Still Down? (Remember Me) .

Tupac's "Definition of a Thug Nigga" is an example of braggadocios, violent rap music. The song conflates lyrics of degrading women with aggressive threats and discussions of firearms.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Get It Up" (performed by TLC)4:25
2."Indo Smoke" (performed by Mista Grimm, Warren G and Nate Dogg)Warren G5:24
3."Well Alright" (performed by Babyface) Kenneth Edmonds 4:00
4."Call Me a Mack" (performed by Usher) Tim & Ted 4:06
5."Waiting for You" (performed by Tony! Toni! Toné!)Derek "DOA" Allen5:14
6."One in a Million" (performed by Pete Rock & CL Smooth) Pete Rock 4:05
7."Nite & Day" (performed by Cultural Revolution)
Swann5:04
8."Poor Man's Poetry" (performed by Naughty by Nature) Naughty by Nature 2:59
9."I've Been Waiting" (performed by Terri & Monica)
  • Terri Robinson
  • Tara Geter
  • Kevin Deane
Deane4:20
10."Niggas Don't Give a Fuck" (performed by Tha Dogg Pound and The Lady of Rage) Dr. Dre 4:41
11."Definition of a Thug Nigga" (performed by 2Pac)
4:10
12."I Wanna Be Your Man" (performed by Chaka Demus & Pliers) Sly & Robbie 3:54
13."Cash in My Hands" (performed by Nice & Smooth) Nice & Smooth 3:52
14."Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" (performed by Stevie Wonder) Henry Cosby 2:54
15."Justice's Groove" (performed by Stanley Clarke) Stanley Clarke Clarke4:34
Total length:45:51
Notes

Other songs

There are fourteen songs that appeared in the film but were not released on the soundtrack album: [5]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [6] 23
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [7] 19

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [8] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. Ruhlmann, William. "Poetic Justice [Original Soundtrack] - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. Hunt, Dennis (July 25, 1993). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  3. Jones, Alan (August 7, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week . p. 13. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. Wood, Sam (July 6, 1993). "The Music from Some Summer Movies". Philadelphia Inquirer .
  5. "Poetic Justice (1993) - IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. "Soundtrack Poetic Justice Chart History". Billboard 200 . Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  7. "Soundtrack Poetic Justice Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard). Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Poetic Justice". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 23, 2020.