The Awakening (Lord Finesse album)

The Awakening
Studio album by Lord Finesse
Released	February 20, 1996
Recorded	1995
Studio	Chung King Studios (New York City) Soundtrack Studios (New York City) Giant Studios (New York City) Power Play Studios (Long Island City)
Genre	East Coast hip hop hardcore hip hop
Length	51:48
Label	Penalty
Producer	Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse chronology
Return of the Funky Man (1992) The Awakening (1996)
Singles from The Awakening
"Hip 2 Da Game" Released: October 28, 1995 "Gameplan" Released: January 9, 1996

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Source	[2]

The Awakening is the third and final album by the hip hop artist Lord Finesse, released in 1996. Unlike his first two albums, The Awakening features a large number of album guests, including O.C., KRS-One, Marquee, A.G., Diamond D, Large Professor and Brand Nubian's Sadat X and Grand Puba. Doo-Wop, MC Lyte, Akinyele, Showbiz and Kid Capri appear on interludes throughout the album. The album features the single "Hip 2 Da Game" and the hidden track "Actual Facts".

Music videos

There have been music videos for the tracks "Hip 2 Da Game", "Actual Facts" & "Gameplan". "Gameplan" features a cameo from Big L.

Big L appears during the chorus for “Food for Thought”

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Da Sermon (Intro)"	2:16
2.	"Time ta Bounce" (featuring Doo-Wop)	1:22
3.	"True and Livin'"	4:42
4.	"O'Lord" (featuring O.C.)	1:22
5.	"Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmicks Remix)" (featuring KRS-One and O.C.)	4:46
6.	"Taking It Lyte" (featuring MC Lyte)	1:06
7.	"Gameplan"	5:10
8.	"Words from Da Ak" (featuring Akinyele)	1:34
9.	"Flip Da Style"	3:43
10.	"Showtime" (featuring Showbiz)	1:04
11.	"Speak Ya Peace" (featuring Marquee, Diamond, and A.G.)	4:55
12.	"Food for Thought"	4:05
13.	"Da Kid Himself" (featuring Kid Capri)	0:45
14.	"Hip 2 Da Game"	4:03
15.	"No Gimmicks" (featuring KRS-One)	5:46
16.	"Actual Facts" (featuring Grand Puba, Large Professor, Sadat X)	5:09
Total length:		51:48

• Note: "Actual Facts" is not listed anywhere on the jacket on CD or vinyl editions; the track was listed as a "bonus track" on a promotional sticker on the cover. The vinyl edition places the track after "Gameplan".

Charts

Album

Chart (1996)	Peak position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [3]	36

Singles

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Hot Rap Singles	Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1995	"Hip 2 Da Game"	36	42
1996	"Actual Facts"	37	32

References

1. Mills, Brad. The Awakening at AllMusic
2. http://hiphop-thegoldenera.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/album-review-lord-finesse-awakening-1996.html. Inserted picture of Source review.
3. "Lord Finesse Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved April 28, 2016.