The Show | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 25, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2005–07 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 1:14:35 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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EMC chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Show | ||||
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Masta Ace chronology | ||||
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Wordsworth chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 77/100 [1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The A.V. Club | B+ [3] |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10 [4] |
HipHopDX | 4/5 [5] |
Pitchfork | 7.9/10 [6] |
PopMatters | 7/10 [7] |
RapReviews | 8.5/10 [8] |
Robert Christgau | [9] |
The Show is the debut studio album by American hip hop supergroup eMC. It was released on March 25,2008 via M3 Records/Traffic Entertainment Group. Production was handled by Frequency,J!,Quincy Tones,Ayatollah,The ARE,Koolade,Marco Polo and Nicolay,with DJ Rob,Filthy Rich and Masta Ace serving as executive producers. Beside members Masta Ace,Punchline,Wordsworth and Strick,it features guest appearances from Adi,Ladybug Mecca,Little Brother,Money Harm and Sean Price.
While it was originally rumored that Ace had retired from music after the release of his acclaimed 2004 concept album A Long Hot Summer ,the following year the veteran had formed the new collective with his protégé,Milwaukee rapper Strick,and revered underground lyricists Punch &Words. The four had previously collaborated on numerous albums and tracks,and toured extensively as a collective.
Like Ace's previous albums,A Long Hot Summer and Disposable Arts ,The Show is a thematic concept album that tells a story. The album's story follows a day in the life of eMC doing a show on the road.
The first official eMC track,the Ayatollah-produced "Four Brothers",was released in 2006. A music video for the song was released online on December 10,2006,however,this track was not included on the album. Music videos were released for "What It Stand For" and "Leak It Out" as well.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Who We Be" |
| Koolade | 3:16 |
2. | "The Airport" (featuring Paul Nice and Eternia) | 1:37 | ||
3. | "Leak It Out" |
| The ARE | 3:28 |
4. | "The Check In" (featuring Paul Nice) | 0:56 | ||
5. | "Traffic" (featuring Little Brother) |
| Quincy Tones | 4:17 |
6. | "Say Now" |
| The ARE | 4:16 |
7. | "The Message" | 0:47 | ||
8. | "Don't Give Up on Us" (featuring ADI) |
| Frequency | 3:38 |
9. | "Git Sum" (featuring Sean Price) |
| J! | 3:39 |
10. | "We Alright" (featuring Terrel Howard) |
| Frequency | 3:47 |
11. | "The Interview" (featuring Amanda Diva) | 0:58 | ||
12. | "Emc (What It Stand For?)" (featuring Adanita Ross) |
| Nicolay | 3:18 |
13. | "The Angry Merch Guy" (featuring Stephen "FaTone" Mills) | 1:23 | ||
14. | "The Grudge" |
| Ayatollah | 3:49 |
15. | "Make It Better" (featuring Adanita Ross and Angelita Ross) |
| J! | 3:45 |
16. | "The Lobby" (featuring Paul Nice) | 1:01 | ||
17. | "Winds of Change" |
| Quincy Tones | 4:21 |
18. | "The Show" (featuring Ladybug Mecca) |
| J! | 3:48 |
19. | "The Backstage" (featuring Marco Polo and Torae) | 1:05 | ||
20. | "Borrow You" |
| Ayatollah | 3:26 |
21. | "Once More" |
| Marco Polo | 3:49 |
22. | "U Let Me Grow" |
| Quincy Tones | 4:58 |
23. | "Feel It" (featuring Money Harm and Katrina Chambers) |
| Frequency | 5:26 |
24. | Untitled | 3:47 | ||
Total length: | 1:14:35 |
eMC
Technical
| Guest vocalists
Musicians
"The Cast"
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