The Understanding (Memphis Bleek album)

Last updated
The Understanding
Memphis Bleek - The Understanding.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 5, 2000 (2000-12-05)
Recorded19992000
Studio
  • Baseline Studios (New York, NY)
  • Manhattan Center Studios (New York, NY)
  • Quad Studios (New York, NY)
Genre Hip-hop
Length50:53
Label Roc-A-Fella
Producer
  • A Kid Called Roots
  • DJ Twinz
  • Duane "Da Roc" Ramos
  • Eddie Scoresazy
  • Ez Elpee
  • Jose "Lace" Batiz
  • Just Blaze
  • Lofey
  • Robert 'Shim' Kirkland
  • Timbaland
  • T.T.
Memphis Bleek chronology
Coming of Age
(1999)
The Understanding
(2000)
M.A.D.E.
(2003)
Singles from The Understanding
  1. "My Mind Right"
    Released: March 5, 2000
  2. "Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)"
    Released: September 12, 2000
  3. "Do My..."
    Released: February 13, 2001
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
RapReviews7.5/10 [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]

The Understanding is the second studio album by American rapper Memphis Bleek. It was released on December 5, 2000, through Roc-A-Fella Records. The album was produced by Just Blaze, Robert 'Shim' Kirkland, A Kid Called Roots, DJ Twinz, Duane "Da Roc" Ramos, Eddie Scoresazy, Ez Elpee, Jose "Lace" Batiz, Lofey, Timbaland, and T.T., with Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Amil, Carl Thomas, H. Money Bags, Missy Elliott, and Twista. In the United States, the album peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 8, 2001, for the sales of 500,000 units in the US alone. The album was supported with three singles: "My Mind Right", "Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)" and "Do My...".

Contents

Track listing

Credits adapted from TIDAL.

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro – U Know Bleek" Just Blaze 1:51
2."Do My..." (featuring Jay-Z)
  • Cox
  • Carter
  • Patrick Lawrence
A Kid Called Roots3:39
3."I Get High"T.T.3:39
4."We Get Low"
  • Cox
  • Smith
  • Carter
Just Blaze3:09
5."Change Up" (featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel)
  • Cox
  • Carter
  • D. Grant
  • Robert Kirkland
Robert "Shim" Kirkland2:05
6."My Mind Right (Remix)" (featuring Jay-Z, H Money Bags and Beanie Sigel)
DJ Twinz4:05
7."Hustlers" (featuring Beanie Sigel)
  • Cox
  • D. Grant
  • Jose Batiz
Jose "Lace" Batiz4:11
8."All Types of Shit"
  • Cox
  • Edgar Hill
  • John Townsend
  • Carter
Eddie Scoresazy3:48
9."PYT" (featuring Jay-Z and Amil)
  • Cox
  • Carter
  • Whitehead
  • Kirkland
Robert "Shim" Kirkland3:58
10."Bounce Bitch"
  • Cox
  • Michael Sandlofer
Lofey3:33
11."They'll Never Play Me"
  • Cox
  • Smith
Just Blaze3:39
12."Everyday" (featuring Carl Thomas)
EZ Elpee4:12
13."Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)" (featuring Jay-Z, Twista and Missy Elliott) Timbaland 4:54
14."In My Life"
Duane "Da Roc" Ramos4:10
Total length:50:53

Sample credits

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. Birchmeier, Jason. "The Understanding – Memphis Bleek". AllMusic . Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  2. "Memphis Bleek – Understanding". HipHopDX . January 13, 2001. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  3. Baker, Soren (January 1, 2001). "*** Memphis Bleek, "The Understanding," Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  4. Fadele, Ayodele (September 12, 2005). "Memphis Bleek : The Understanding". NME . Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  5. Juon, Steve (February 6, 2001). "Memphis Bleek The Understanding". RapReviews. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  6. Ex, Kris (February 1, 2001). "Memphis Bleek: The Understanding". Rolling Stone . No. 861. p. 56. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. Hall, Jermaine (February 2001). "Memphis Bleek – The Understanding". Record Report. The Source . No. 137. New York.
  8. "The Billboard 200". Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 23, 2000. p. 78. ISSN   0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  9. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 23, 2000. p. 26. ISSN   0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. "The Year in Music 2001: Top Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 29, 2001. p. YE-33. ISSN   0006-2510.
  11. "The Year in Music 2001: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 29, 2001. p. YE-43. ISSN   0006-2510.
  12. "American album certifications – Memphis Bleek – The Understanding". Recording Industry Association of America. January 8, 2001. Retrieved January 31, 2025.