The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo

The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo
Studio album by Lil' Cease
Released	July 13, 1999 (1999-07-13)
Recorded	1998–1999
Studio	Daddy's House Recording Studios The Hit Factory Sound on Sound Studios Compass Point Studios (Bahamas, WI) Lion's Den Recording Studios
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	1:06:38
Label	Undeas Queen Bee Atlantic
Producer	Alex "Algee" DeVaughn Bink! Darrell "Digga" Branch D-Dot EZ Elpee Jay "Waxx" Garfield Lil' Cease Mario Winans Nashiem Myrick Prestige Sean "Puffy" Combs Six July Spunk Bigga
Singles from The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo
"Play Around" Released: June 8, 1999 "Chicken Heads" Released: 1999

The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo is the only solo studio album by American rapper Lil' Cease. It was released on July 13, 1999 through Queen Bee/Atlantic Records.

Production was handled by Mario Winans, Nashiem Myrick, Bink!, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, EZ Elpee, Jay "Waxx" Garfield, Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool, P. Diddy, Alex "Algee" DeVaughn, Carlos "Six July" Broady, Darrell "Digga" Branch, Spunk Bigga and Lil' Cease himself.

It features guest appearances from his fellow Junior M.A.F.I.A. groupmates Blake C, Larce "Banger" Vegas and Lil' Kim, as well as Mr. Bristal, Joe Hooker, Puff Daddy, 112, Busta Rhymes, Carl Thomas, G. Dep, Jay-Z, Kelly Price and Redman.

In the United States, the album peaked at number 26 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Its lead single, "Play Around", made it to number 52 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 9 on the Hot Rap Songs charts.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	C [2]
Los Angeles Times	[3]
RapReviews	6/10 [4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
The Source	[6]

The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo received mixed reviews from music critics. Keith Farley of AllMusic called it "a hardcore journey that never lacks on bass, beats, or party jams". ^[1] Kris Ex, in his review for Rolling Stone , commended Lil Cease for his "cherubic wit" that "softens the nastiness of lyrics". ^[5] The Source 's Elon D. Johnson called The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo "an honest effort". She praised Lil Cease's "charismatic lyricism", but criticized the album's outro, as well as its overall reliance on sampling. ^[6]

Writing for Los Angeles Times , Soren Baker described the album as "uneven" and "party-tinged". He believed that Lil Cease had a strong performance on several tracks, reaching the level of his mentor the Notorious B.I.G, but panned the rest of the album for "weak choruses, bland production and recycled story lines". ^[3] Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly was critical of the album, saying that Lil Cease has "nothing novel to say, but at least his superstar buddies [...] add wattage". ^[2] In a retrospective review, Steve Juon of RapReviews shared this view. He wrote that the album "doesn't make sense", as he believed that other featured artists outperformed Lil Cease. ^[4]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"No Intro (Intro)"	James Lloyd Deric Angelettie Damien Butler	Lil' Cease Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie	0:54
2.	"More Dangerous" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Mr. Bristal and G. Dep)	Lloyd Trevor Smith Jamel Fisher Trevell Coleman Nashiem Myrick Jay Garfield	Nashiem Myrick J. "Waxx" Garfield	4:54
3.	"Get Out Our Way" (featuring Puff Daddy and Blake C)	Lloyd Sean Combs Rayshaun Spain Lamont Porter Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards	EZ Elpee	5:34
4.	"Future Sport" (featuring Redman, Mr. Bristal and Joe Hooker)	Lloyd Reginald Noble Fisher Harve Pierre Mario Winans Alan Gorrie Malcolm Duncan Hamish Stuart Roger Ball Robert McIntosh	Mario "Yellowman" Winans	3:37
5.	"Looking for a Lady" (featuring Blake C)	Lloyd R. Spain Porter	EZ Elpee	5:02
6.	"Long Time Comin'" (featuring Mr. Bristal and Larce "Banger" Vegas)	Lloyd Fisher Antoine Spain Roosevelt Harrell	Bink!	4:49
7.	"Girlfriend" (featuring Kelly Price)	Lloyd Winans Robert Kelly	Mario "Yellowman" Winans Lil' Cease	3:54
8.	"Play Around" (featuring Lil' Kim, Mr. Bristal and Joe Hooker)	Lloyd Kimberly Jones Fisher Pierre Harrell	Bink!	6:09
9.	"Chicken Heads" (featuring Carl Thomas)	Lloyd Myrick Garfield Michael Jones	Nashiem Myrick J. "Waxx" Garfield	3:56
10.	"4 My Niggaz" (featuring Jay-Z, Blake C and Mr. Bristal)	Lloyd Shawn Carter R. Spain Fisher Daven Vanderpool	Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool Sean "Puffy" Combs	3:53
11.	"Work It Out"	Lloyd Anthony Blagmon	Spunk Bigga	4:31
12.	"Jail (Interlude)"	Lloyd Alex DeVaughn	Lil' Cease Alex "Algee" DeVaughn	1:05
13.	"Mr. Nasty"	Lloyd Darrell Branch Lawrence Parker Scott Sterling John Fletcher Lawrence Smith Jalil Hutchins	Darrell "Digga" Branch	4:31
14.	"Dolly Baby"	Lloyd Winans Keisha Spivey	Mario "Yellowman" Winans	3:52
15.	"Don't Stop" (featuring Puff Daddy)	Lloyd Combs Vanderpool Andre A. Brown Eric McIntosh	Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool Sean "Puffy" Combs	4:03
16.	"Everything" (featuring 112)	Lloyd Myrick Thom Bell Linda Creed	Nashiem Myrick Six July	5:11
17.	"B.I.G. & Cease Forever (Outro)"	Lloyd Angelettie	Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie	0:43
Total length:				1:06:38

Samples used

• "More Dangerous" contains a sample from "Warning" by The Notorious B.I.G.
• "Get Out Our Way" contains samples from "Now That You're Gone" by Diana Ross and "Cherish the Day" by Sade.
• "Future Sport" contains a sample from "More Funky Stuff" by Kool & the Gang.
• "Lookin' for a Lady" contains a sample from "Big Stars" by Ronnie Laws.
• "Long Time Comin" contains a sample from "Zungguzungguzungguzeng" by Yellowman.
• "Girlfriend" contains samples from "Not Gonna Hold On" by R. Kelly and "Be Happy" by Mary J. Blige.
• "Chicken Heads" contains samples from "The Mood" by Kashif and "A Little Bit of Love Is All It Takes" by New Edition.
• "4 My Niggaz" contains a samples from "Trans-Europe Express" by Kraftwerk, "Al-Naafiysh" by Hashim and "Computer Game" by Yellow Magic Orchestra.
• "Work It Out" contains a sample from "We Had to Break Away" by Twennynine and Lenny White.
• "Mr. Nasty" contains samples from "Super Hoe" by Boogie Down Productions and "Super Sporm" by Captain Sky.
• "Everything" contains a sample from "You Are Everything" by The Stylistics.
• "Don't Stop" contains a sample from "Knowledge Me" by Original Concept.

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
US Billboard 200 [7]	26
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [8]	3

References

1. Farley, Keith. "The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo - Lil' Cease". AllMusic . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
2. Sinclair, Tom (August 20, 1999). "Lil Cease – The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo: It's Been a Long Time Coming". Entertainment Weekly . No. 499–500. New York. p. 128.
3. Baker, Soren (July 10, 1999). "Lil' Cease, "The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo"". Record Rack. Los Angeles Times . p. F8. Retrieved February 16, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (July 27, 2021). "Lil' Cease :: The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo". RapReviews. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
5. Ex, Kris (September 2, 1999). "Lil' Cease – The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo". Recordings. Rolling Stone . No. 820. p. 117. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
6. Johnson, Elon D. (August 1999). "Lil' Cease – The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo". Record Report. The Source . No. 119. New York. pp. 228, 230.
7. "The Billboard 200". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 31. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 31, 1999. p. 102. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
8. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 31. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 31, 1999. p. 24. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 25, 2025.

External links

• The Wonderful World Of Cease A Leo at Discogs (list of releases)