The Diary (Scarface album)

Last updated
The Diary
Scarface - The Diary.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 18, 1994
Genre
Length43:13
Label
Producer Scarface, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, Uncle Eddie
Scarface chronology
The World Is Yours
(1993)
The Diary
(1994)
The Untouchable
(1997)
Singles from The Diary
  1. "I Seen a Man Die"
    Released: September 27, 1994
  2. "Hand of the Dead Body"
    Released: February 7, 1995
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly B [3]
Pitchfork 9.3/10 [4]
RapReviews(9.5/10) [5]
The Source 5/5 [6]
Robert Christgau Scissors icon black.svg [7]
Rolling Stone (favorable) [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
XXL 5/5 [10]

The Diary is the third studio album by American rapper Scarface. The album was released on October 18, 1994, by Rap-A-Lot and Noo Trybe. This album is one of the few to receive a perfect rating from both The Source Magazine and XXL . The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on December 5, 1994.

Contents

Two singles were released from the album, "Hand of the Dead Body", which featured Ice Cube and Devin the Dude, peaked at 74 on the US charts, while "I Seen a Man Die" peaked at 37 on the US charts, becoming his first top 40 hit. Due to business reasons and for more accessibility, both track titles were changed to "People Don't Believe" and "Never Seen a Man Cry" in their single version. The song "No Tears" was featured in the beginning of the 1999 film Office Space .

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Intro"1:07
2."The White Sheet" N.O. Joe 3:53
3."No Tears"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Scarface
2:26
4."Jesse James"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Scarface
  • Mike Dean
4:13
5."G's"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Mike Dean
4:39
6."I Seen a Man Die"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Scarface
  • Mike Dean
4:32
7."One"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Mike Dean
4:43
8."Goin' Down"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Scarface
  • Mike Dean
  • Uncle Eddie
4:28
9."One Time (Interlude)"Mike Dean0:58
10."Hand of the Dead Body" (featuring Ice Cube and Devin the Dude)
  • N.O. Joe
  • Scarface
  • Mike Dean
  • Uncle Eddie
4:39
11."Mind Playin' Tricks '94"
  • N.O. Joe
  • Mike Dean
3:40
12."The Diary"N.O. Joe2:23
13."Outro"Uncle Eddie1:30

Samples

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [16] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre was heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often incorporated through samples or re-recordings. It was represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).

<i>The Chronic</i> 1992 studio album by Dr. Dre

The Chronic is the debut studio album by the American hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre. It was released on December 15, 1992, by his record label Death Row Records and distributed by Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place in Death Row Studios in Los Angeles and at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood.

<i>... And Then There Was X</i> 1999 studio album by DMX

...And Then There Was X is the third studio album by American rapper DMX. The album was released on December 21, 1999, by The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, and Ruff Ryders Entertainment. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2001 Grammys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bun B</span> American rapper

Bernard James Freeman, known professionally as Bun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the southern rap duo UGK, a group he formed in 1987 alongside Pimp C. Aside from his work with UGK, Bun B has released five solo albums, including 2010's Trill OG, which received the rare 5-mic rating from The Source.

<i>Hard Core</i> (Lil Kim album) 1996 studio album by Lil Kim

Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on November 12, 1996, by Undeas Recordings, Big Beat Records, and Atlantic Records. After achieving success with the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. and their album Conspiracy (1995), Kim began working on her solo album with the Notorious B.I.G. serving as the executive producer. She collaborated with a number of producers, such as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Stevie J., David "Ski" Willis and Jermaine Dupri, among others. Other rappers, including Jay-Z, Lil' Cease and Puff Daddy were featured on the album.

<i>We Cant Be Stopped</i> 1991 studio album by Geto Boys

We Can't Be Stopped is the third studio album by Geto Boys, released on July 9, 1991. It was among their most successful records in terms of units sold. The album is analysed track-by-track by Geto Boys in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique. We Can't Be Stopped was certified Platinum in early 1992.

<i>Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry</i> 2004 studio album by Petey Pablo

Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry, released in 2004, is the second studio album by rapper Petey Pablo. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 117,000 copies in the US; it received gold certification by the RIAA. It includes the popular single "Freek-a-Leek", which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Mr. Scarface Is Back</i> 1991 studio album by Scarface

Mr. Scarface Is Back is the debut studio album by American rapper Scarface. It was released on October 8, 1991, by Rap-A-Lot Records and Priority Records. The album was supported by two singles: "Mr. Scarface" and "A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die". Both of these singles attained minor success on the charts.

<i>The World Is Yours</i> (Scarface album) 1993 studio album by Scarface

The World Is Yours is the second studio album by American rapper Scarface. It was released on August 17, 1993, by Rap-A-Lot Records and Priority Records. The album was not as acclaimed as his debut, Mr. Scarface Is Back, but sold strongly, breaking into the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, and peaking at number 1 on the R&B/hip hop album chart. "Let Me Roll" became a Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1993. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 20, 1993.

<i>The Untouchable</i> (Scarface album) 1997 studio album by Scarface

The Untouchable is the fourth studio album by American rapper Scarface, released by Rap-A-Lot Records and Noo Trybe Records on March 11, 1997.

<i>My Homies</i> 1998 studio album by Scarface

My Homies is the fifth studio album by an American rapper Scarface. It was released March 3, 1998, by Rap-A-Lot and Virgin Records. The album features production by Mike Dean, Mr. Lee, N.O. Joe, Scarface, and Tone Capone. Upon its release, My Homies peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200, becoming a certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as of April 6, 1998. The album features guest performances from 2Pac, Master P, Ice Cube, Devin the Dude, B-Legit, UGK, Too Short, Do or Die, and Willie D. Scarface appeared solo onto two out of thirty songs, while performing with others on thirteen and does not contribute vocals on fifteen. The sequel to the album, My Homies Part 2, was released on March 7, 2006.

<i>The Last of a Dying Breed</i> 2000 studio album by Scarface

The Last of a Dying Breed is the sixth studio album by American rapper Scarface. The album was released on October 3, 2000, by Rap-A-Lot Records and Virgin Records. The album was less successful commercially than his last few efforts, but more successful critically. It debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 133,972 copies in its first week being certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>The Fix</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Scarface

The Fix is the seventh studio album by American rapper Scarface. The album was released on August 6, 2002. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, with well over 160,000 copies sold in its 1st week. Guest artists on the album include Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Nas, Faith Evans, and WC. Producers include Mike Dean, Kanye West, Tony Pizarro, Nottz, and The Neptunes. Upon release, The Fix was met with critical acclaim.

<i>Balls and My Word</i> 2003 compilation album by Scarface

Balls and My Word is a compilation album by American rapper Scarface. The album was released on April 8, 2003, through Rap-A-Lot Records. Rap-A-Lot CEO, James Prince organized a studio album of unreleased songs recorded by Scarface that were outtakes from previous albums. The album failed to match the success of Scarface's previous album, becoming only a minor success, having peaked at 20 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Rotten Apple</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Lloyd Banks

Rotten Apple is the second studio album by American rapper Lloyd Banks, released October 10, 2006 via G-Unit and Interscope. The title of the album is a play on the New York City nickname, "The Big Apple". 50 Cent's song "Rotten Apple" is on his mixtape Guess Who's Back? (2002) and should not be confused with Banks' song of the same name on this album. Rotten Apple Entertainment is also the name of Banks' former label owned by 50 Cent in the past. The album cover also resembles the cover of the film, King of New York.

<i>Pimpalation</i> 2006 studio album by Pimp C

Pimpalation is the second studio album by American rapper Pimp C from UGK. It was released on July 11, 2006, by Rap-A-Lot, Asylum, and Atlantic Records, making it the rapper's last solo album to be released during his lifetime. Recording sessions took place at Dean's List House of Hits, at M.A.D. Studios and Studio 7303 in Houston and at PatchWerk Recording Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by several record producers, including Mr. Lee, Mike Dean, Jazze Pha and Mannie Fresh. The chopped and screwed version of the album was mixed by DJ Michael "5000" Watts. The album features a large number of guest performers, such as 8Ball & MJG, ABN, Ali & Gipp, Big Mike, Bun B, Chamillionaire, J. Prince, Lil' Boosie, Lil' Keke, Mike Jones, Scarface, Slim Thug, Tela, Webbie, and Willie D among others.

<i>The Great Depression</i> (DMX album) 2001 studio album by DMX

The Great Depression is the fourth studio album by American rapper DMX. It was released on October 23, 2001 by Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Just Blaze, Dame Grease, Black Key and DMX himself. The album also features guest appearances by Stephanie Mills, Faith Evans and Mashonda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tink (musician)</span> American rapper and singer

Trinity Laure'Ale Home , better known by her stage name Tink, is an American rapper and R&B singer from the Chicago area in Illinois. She is best known for the single "Treat Me Like Somebody" and for the collaboration with singer and producer Jeremih on "Don't Tell Nobody". Since 2012, she has released seven mixtapes and has gone independent due to label issues regarding the release of her debut album. Her 2014 mixtape, Winter's Diary 2: Forever Yours, was featured as a top 10 R&B album in both Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines.

<i>Port of Miami</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Rick Ross

Port of Miami is the debut studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. Originally titled Career Criminal, the album was renamed, in reference to Miami being a major arrival destination for cocaine shipments to America. The album was released August 8, 2006, on Slip-n-Slide Records, Def Jam Recordings and Poe Boy Entertainment. The album was engineered by Miami-based songwriting and production team The Monsters & The Strangerz. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 187,000 copies sold in its first week.

<i>Ready to Die</i> Debut album by the Notorious B.I.G.

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. The album features productions by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others. It was recorded from 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of the rapper's experiences as a young criminal, and was the only studio album released during his lifetime, as he was murdered sixteen days before the release of his second album Life After Death in 1997. The album features a sole guest appearance from Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man.

References

  1. Birchmeier, Jason (October 18, 1994). "The Diary - Scarface | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  2. Preston, Rohan (November 10, 1994). "Scarface The Diary (Rap-a-Lot) (STAR)(STAR) 1/2..." Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  3. Ehrlich, Dimitri (December 2, 1994). "The Diary". EW.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. Abdurraqib, Hanif (March 4, 2018). "Scarface: The Diary Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  5. "Scarface :: The Diary :: Rap-A-Lot Records". Rapreviews.com. April 13, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  6. "The Source's 5 Mic Albums on Lists of Bests". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on February 27, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  7. "CG: Scarface". Robert Christgau. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  8. Scarface (December 29, 1994). "Scarface: The Diary : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on November 25, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  9. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide . New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p.  329. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone geto boys album guide.
  10. XXL (December 2007). "Retrospective: XXL Albums". XXL Magazine.
  11. "Scarface Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  12. "Scarface Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  13. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  14. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  15. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  16. "American album certifications – Scarface – The Diary". Recording Industry Association of America.