| Smooth Assassin | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989–90 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Grand Daddy I.U. chronology | ||||
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Smooth Assassin is the debut studio album by the American rapper Grand Daddy I.U., from Queens, New York. It was released in 1990 via Cold Chillin' Records. The album was produced by Biz Markie, with Cutmaster Cool V serving as the co-producer and mixer of the album.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| RapReviews | 8.5/10 [2] |
The Washington Post concluded that "Grand Daddy's rhymes and metaphors are often limited, his 'smooth' delivery is actually boring and the two add up to a real yawner of an album." [3]
The U Is Smooth
Pick Up the Pace
Something New
I Kick Ass
Mass Destruction
Girl in the Mall
Kay Cee Is Nasty
Nobody Move
Dominos
Behind Bars
Soul Touch
Sugar Free
Phuck 'Em Up U
The new school of hip hop was a movement in hip hop music, beginning in 1983–84 with the early records of Run–D.M.C., Whodini, and LL Cool J. Predominantly from Queens and Brooklyn, it was characterized by Drum Machine-led minimalism, often tinged with elements of Rock; rapped taunts, boasts, and socio-political commentary; and aggressive, self-assertive delivery. In song and image, its artists projected a tough, cool, street B-boy attitude. These elements contrasted sharply with Funk and Disco, Novelty hits, live bands, synthesizers, and party rhymes of artists prevalent in the early 1980s. Compared to their older hip hop counterparts, new school artists crafted more cohesive LPs and shorter songs more amenable to airplay. By 1986, their releases began to establish hip hop in the mainstream.
Marcel Theo Hall, known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper and singer. Markie's 1989 single "Just a Friend", became a Top 40 hit in several countries and was named No. 100 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs of all time in 2008. Markie was sometimes referred to as the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop".
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Long Live the Kane is the debut album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane, released by Cold Chillin' Records on June 21, 1988. It was produced by Marley Marl and established both as premier artists during hip hop's golden age. Kane displayed his unique rapping technique while covering topics including love, Afrocentricity and his rapping prowess. Marley Marl and Big Daddy Kane display a sparse production style - creating beats with fast-paced drums and lightly utilized James Brown samples.
Reinert K. Olsen, known professionally as Ray Kay, is a Norwegian director and photographer who is currently based in Los Angeles. He is a music video and advertising director.
The Juice Crew was an American hip hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge, New York–based artists in the mid-to-late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Crew helped introduce New School artists MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shante, Masta Ace, Tragedy, Craig G and Kool G Rap. The crew produced many answer records and engaged with numerous "beefs" – primarily with rival radio jock Kool DJ Red Alert and the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, as well as the "posse cut", "The Symphony".
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Cold Chillin' Records was a record label that released music during the golden age of hip hop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. A producer-and-crew label founded by manager Tyrone Williams and run by Len Fichtelberg, most of the label's releases were by members of the Juice Crew, a loosely knit group of artists centered on producer Marley Marl. In 1998, the label shut down, and the majority of its expansive catalog was bought by Massachusetts-based LandSpeed Records.
Take a Look Around is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Masta Ace. It was released on July 24, 1990, through Cold Chillin' Records with distribution via Reprise Records. The recording sessions took place at House of Hits in Chestnut Ridge, New York and at Libra Digital Sound in Long Island City. The album was produced by Marley Marl and Mister Cee.
Goin' Off is the debut studio album by American hip hop musician Biz Markie. The album was released by Cold Chillin' Records, and produced by Marley Marl. Big Daddy Kane wrote the lyrics of the album's first five songs. The album also showcased Biz's talent as a human beatbox on the song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz", and his skill in the game of dozens on the track "Nobody Beats the Biz". One of his most widely known songs, "Vapors", was on the album.
"Funky President (People It's Bad)" is a funk song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1974, it charted No. 4 R&B. It also appeared on the album Reality. According to Brown the "funky president" of the song's title was meant to refer to U.S. President Gerald Ford, who had succeeded Richard Nixon in the White House shortly before it was recorded.
Young Black Teenagers is the debut album by the American rap group Young Black Teenagers, released in 1991. "Loud & Hard to Hit" peaked at No. 25 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The album cover art is modeled after the Beatles' With the Beatles. After a negative radio response to the track "Proud to Be Black", MCA Records chose not to use its logo on the packaging. The group supported the album by touring with Public Enemy.
Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992, for MCA Records and featured production from Teddy Riley, Ty Fyffe, Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn and Wreckx-n—Effect. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was shot to death in 1990.
Ayub Bey, known as Grand Daddy I.U., was an American rapper who was a member of the hip-hop group Juice Crew in the 1980s.
The following is a discography of production credited to Marley Marl.
"I'm Your Puppet" is a song written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham; the best known version is the one recorded by James & Bobby Purify which reached #5 on the US R&B chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1967. The song was featured on their 1967 album, James & Bobby Purify.
Lead Pipe is the second studio album by American rapper Grand Daddy I.U. from Queens, New York. It was released on June 21, 1994 through Cold Chillin'/Epic Street. The entire album was produced by Grand Daddy I.U. and Kay Cee.
'"Poison"is the first single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's 1989 debut album Road to the Riches. It would later feature on the compilation albums Killer Kuts (1994), The Best of Cold Chillin (2000), Greatest Hits (2002) and Street Stories: The Best of Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (2013).
