The Peoples Champ

For other uses, see The People's Champion.

The Peoples Champ
Studio album by Paul Wall
Released	September 13, 2005 [1]
Genre	Hip hop, southern hip-hop
Length	69:56 74:38 (screwed and chopped)
Label	Atlantic Asylum Swishahouse
Producer	Paul Wall (also exec.) DJ Paul Juicy J DJ Michael "5000" Watts Grid Iron Sanchez Holmes Khao Kojack Salih Williams KLC Mr. Lee Kanye West Speez Alan Sampson
Paul Wall chronology
Chick Magnet (2004) The Peoples Champ (2005) Get Money, Stay True (2007)
Singles from The Peoples Champ
"Sittin' Sidewayz" Released: August 20, 2005 "They Don't Know" Released: August 29, 2005 "Girl" Released: September 29, 2005 "Drive Slow" Released: June 6, 2006

The Peoples Champ is the commercial debut and second studio album by American rapper Paul Wall. It was released on September 13, 2005, by Atlantic Records, Asylum Records, and Swishahouse. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 176,000 copies in its first week. ^[2] This serves as his first number one in two solo studio releases after Chick Magnet (2004). The album was supported by four singles: "Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey), "They Don't Know", "Girl", and "Drive Slow" (Kanye West featuring Paul Wall and GLC). Both "Sittin' Sidewayz" and "Girl" became a certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 500,000 copies each in the United States. ^[3]

The limited edition of The Peoples Champ features two CDs: disc one contains the original album, while disc two contains the "screwed and chopped" version by DJ Michael "5000" Watts. The Watts mix was released as a stand-alone CD the following week. ^[4]

The song "They Don't Know" (featuring Mike Jones) also appeared on Wall's debut studio album Chick Magnet, and the song "Drive Slow" also appeared on Kanye West's album Late Registration.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Blender	[6]
HipHopDX	[7]
Okayplayer	[8]
Pitchfork	7.9/10 [9]
RapReviews	8/10 [10]
Rolling Stone	[11]
The Situation	3/5 [12]

The Peoples Champ received generally positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork writer Tom Breihan credited newcomer producer Grid Iron for providing some consistent beats throughout the album and Wall for being an above-average rapper saying, "So Wall is a good rapper, but not a great one. But then, this is 2005, and all a rapper needs to make a good album is enough great, complementary beats and guest appearances to keep the whole thing interesting all the way through." ^[9] AllMusic's Andy Kellman also praised Wall as a rapper, saying his flow is something that "always fits into the fabric of the track." ^[5] Jonah Weiner of Blender lauded Wall's ability to lace crafty wordplay about the typical hip-hop tropes, saying that "This is materialism at its most mesmerizing." ^[6] K. B. Tindal of HipHopDX praised the album for its party tracks but was looking for some substance throughout it, saying that "After actually listening to the project it was worth the wait but still could have been a little more introspective with more heartfelt tracks. [...] For the most part it is what it is; shit-talking made to sound good." ^[7] Usman Sajjad of The Situation praised the album for its production and catchy party tracks, concluding that "With new hustles like his grills and various endorsements with Reebok and other companies, Paul Wall gives evidence with his debut 'The People’s Champ', that Houston still flows strongly through his blood, whilst moving one foot into mainstream Hip Hop." ^[12]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I'm a Playa" (featuring Three 6 Mafia)	Paul Slayton Paul Beauregard Jordan Houston	DJ Paul Juicy J	4:25
2.	"They Don't Know" (featuring Mike Jones)	Slayton Michael Jones Calvin Earl Todd Berry Bernard Freeman Chad Butler	Grid Iron	3:43
3.	"Ridin' Dirty" (featuring Trey Songz)	Slayton Tremaine Neverson Earl Berry	Grid Iron	4:27
4.	"State to State" (featuring Freeway)	Slayton Leslie Pridgen Marquinarius "Sanchez" Holmes	Sanchez Holmes	4:12
5.	"So Many Diamonds" (featuring T.I.)	Slayton Clifford Harris, Jr. Kevin "Khao" Cates	Khao	3:58
6.	"Smooth Operator"	Slayton Allan "Kojack" Grigg Leroy Hutson Michael Hawkins	Kojack	3:15
7.	"Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey)	Slayton Milton Powell Salih Williams	S. Williams	3:52
8.	"Internet Going Nutz"	Slayton Craig Lawson	KLC	4:43
9.	"Trill" (featuring B.G. and Bun B)	Slayton Christopher Dorsey Freeman Earl Berry	Grid Iron	4:08
10.	"Sippin' Tha Barre"	Slayton Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams	Mr. Lee	4:39
11.	"Drive Slow" (performed by Kanye West featuring Paul Wall and GLC)	Kanye West Slayton Leonard Harris	West	4:33
12.	"March N Step" (featuring Grit Boys and Lil Wayne)	Slayton Darius Coleman Dominic Harris Dwayne Carter, Jr. Earl Berry	Grid Iron	3:47
13.	"Got Plex" (featuring Archie Lee and Cootabang)	Slayton Archie "Lee" Tatmon	Speez Continuous	3:45
14.	"Girl"	Slayton Eugene Record	Speez Continuous	4:38
15.	"Big Ballin'"	Slayton Earl Berry	Grid Iron	4:01
16.	"Sip-N-Get High" (featuring Aqualeo)	Slayton Acie "Aqualeo" High Alan Sampson Clinton Ray Eric Mitchell	Sampson	3:45
17.	"Just Paul Wall"	Slayton Earl Berry	Grid Iron	4:11
Total length:				69:56

Screwed & Chopped by DJ Michael "5000" Watts

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Intro"
2.	"Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey)
3.	"Big Ballin'"
4.	"March N Step" (featuring Grit Boys and Lil Wayne)
5.	"State to State" (featuring Freeway)
6.	"Trill" (featuring B.G. and Bun B)
7.	"Girl"
8.	"Just Paul Wall"
9.	"So Many Diamonds" (featuring T.I.)
10.	"Smooth Operator"
11.	"Got Plex" (featuring Archie Lee and Cootabang)
12.	"They Don't Know" (featuring Bun B)
13.	"Ridin' Dirty" (featuring Trey Songz)
14.	"Internet Going Nutz"
15.	"I'm a Playa" (featuring Three 6 Mafia)
16.	"Sip-N-Get High" (featuring Aqualeo)
17.	"Drive Slow" (performed by Kanye West featuring Paul Wall and GLC)
18.	"Outro"

Sample credits

• "I'm a Playa" samples "I Got That Drank" as performed by Frayser Boy, Mike Jones, and Paul Wall, and "Still Tippin'" as performed by Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall.
• "They Don't Know" samples "Pimp tha Pen" as performed by DJ Screw and Lil' Keke; "Murder" as performed by UGK; "3rd Coast" as performed by Fat Pat, and "Wood Wheel" as performed by UGK.
• "Smooth Operator" samples "Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)", written and performed by Leroy Hutson.
• "Sittin' Sidewayz" samples "June 27th (Part 2)" as performed by DJ Screw, Big Moe, and Big Pokey of S.U.C.
• "Internet Going Nutz" samples "Still Tippin'" as performed by Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall.
• "Sippin' Tha Barre" samples "Get Crunk" as performed by Crooked Lettaz and Pimp C.
• "Girl" samples "Oh Girl", written by Eugene Record, as performed by Chi-Lites.
• "Just Paul Wall" samples "Long Ago and Far Away" as performed by Earl Klugh.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position US Billboard 200 [13] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [14] 1 Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position US Billboard 200 [15] 147 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [16] 43 Chart (2006) Position US Billboard 200 [17] 191 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [18] 62

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA) [19] Platinum 1,000,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2005
• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2005

References

1. "The People's Champ by Paul Wall". Amazon.
2. "Wall Emerges As Billboard 200 'Champ'". Billboard . Retrieved September 1, 2016.
3. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 1, 2016.
4. "Paul Wall - The Peoples Champ (Screwed & Chopped)". Discogs. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
5. Kellman, Andy. "The Peoples Champ - Paul Wall". AllMusic . Retrieved August 8, 2011.
6. Weiner, Jonah. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Blender . Alpha Media Group. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
7. Tindal, K. B. (September 26, 2005). "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". HipHopDX . Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
8. Ruhi, Adrian (September 2005). "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Okayplayer . Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
9. Breihan, Tom (October 6, 2005). "Paul Wall: The People's Champ". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 8, 2011.
10. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 13, 2005). "RapReviews.com Feature for September 13, 2005". RapReviews. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
11. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2007.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
12. Sajjad, Usman. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". The Situation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2005. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
13. "Paul Wall Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
14. "Paul Wall Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
15. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2005". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
16. "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2005". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
17. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2006". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
18. "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
19. "American album certifications – Paul Wall". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 22, 2014.