Units in the City

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Units in the City
Units in the City.png
Studio album by
Shawty Lo
ReleasedFebruary 26, 2008 (2008-02-26)
Recorded2007–2008
Venue2610 Bankhead Hwy
StudioD4L
Genre Southern hip-hop
Length51:00
Label
Producer
  • Born Immaculate
  • Balis Beats
  • DJ Montay
  • Jeremy Prather
  • J. Jeffries
  • Mike The Track Blazer
  • Pharren Lowther
Shawty Lo chronology
Down for Life
(2005)		Units in the City
(2008)		R.I.C.O.
(2017)
Singles from Units in the City
  1. "Dey Know"
    Released: December 4, 2007
  2. "Dunn Dunn"
    Released: February 12, 2008
  3. "Foolish"
    Released: June 17, 2008

Units in the City is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Shawty Lo. It was released on February 26, 2008, via D4L/Asylum Records, marking the rapper's only album released during his lifetime. It features guest appearances from his fellow D4L members Stuntman and Mook B, as well as Lil Mark, 40, Braski, DG Yola, G-Child, Gucci Mane, Kool-Ace, Miss T and Phace Baity.

Contents

Supported by three singles: "Dey Know", "Dunn Dunn" and "Foolish", the album received negative reviews from critics, who found its production derivative and lyrical content devoid of mature topics. In the United States, the album debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200, and numbers four and two on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
DJBooth1.5/5 [2]
HipHopDX 1/5 [3]
RapReviews1/10 [4]

The album received overwhelming negative reviews from music critics who despised the southern production and Shawty Lo's lyrical content. AllMusic's David Jeffries was the sole positive review for the album, commenting on Lo's flow feeling limited but said that it complimented the numerous hip-hop story tracks and few deviations into mature subject matter, all while combining both snap and trap music saying that "with some fun wordplay and the talent to hire all the right people for production and guest appearances, he's created the best album". [1] DJBooth's Nathan Slavik criticized Lo for aping other rappers' style and using them to tell the same cliché hip-hop stories, saying "[T]here's just no way around it, Units In The City is a horrible album. Period". [2] Alex Thorton of HipHopDX also criticized Lo for lacking a distinct delivery and trying to sound like T.I. and Jeezy, saying that "we certainly don't need another new rapper trying to remake their paths". [3] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews criticized the album for showcasing Lo's average delivery for simple subject matters, concluding that, "The production and lyrics here are so awful I'm actually longing for Soulja Boy's album". [4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."100,000"
Teriyakie Smith3:38
2."They Know (Dey Know)"
  • Walker
  • Robert James Ingouma
  • Quandarious Antwan Jordan
  • Cory Way
  • Born Immaculate
  • Balis Beats
3:15
3."Dunn Dunn"
  • Q. Jordan
  • Smith
  • Way
  • Teriyakie Smith
  • Cory Way
3:17
4."Foolish"
 DJ Montay 3:53
5."Let's Get It" (featuring D.G. Yola)
  • Walker
  • Mario Talley
  • Smith
Teriyakie Smith4:15
6."Feels Good to Be Here"
  • Walker
  • Smith
  • Q. Jordan
Teriyakie Smith3:34
7."Ain't Tellin' You" (featuring Phace Baity)
  • Walker
  • Aaron Barker
  • Jeremy Prather
Jeremy Prather2:58
8."Cut the Check" (featuring Lil Mark and Braski)
  • Walker
  • Mark Robinson
  • Jimmy Turner
  • Smith
Teriyakie Smith3:26
9."GA Lotto"
  • Walker
  • Smith
Teriyakie Smith3:10
10."That's Shawty Lo"
  • Walker
  • Michael Armour, Jr.
  • Q. Jordan
Mike The Track Blazer3:32
11."Easily I Approach"
  • Walker
  • Pharren Lowther
P. Lowther3:19
12."Live My Life" (featuring Kool-Ace)
  • Walker
  • Brian Fleming
  • Q. Jordan
  • J. Jordan
J. Jeffries2:46
13."Got Em 4 the Lo" (featuring Gucci Mane and Stuntman)
Cory Way3:22
14."Count on Me" (featuring Miss T)
  • Walker
  • S. Epps
  • Q. Jordan
  • Ingouma
Rob Ingouma3:18
15."We Gon Ride" (featuring Mook B, G-Child, Stuntman, Lil Mark and 40)
  • Walker
  • Dennis Butler
  • Parks
  • Catada Hilton
  • Rory Weems
  • Smith
Teriyakie Smith3:17
Total length:51:00

Charts

References

  1. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Units in the City - Shawty Lo". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Slavik, Nathan (February 28, 2008). "Shawty Lo - Units In The City". DJBooth. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Thornton, Alex (March 3, 2008). "Shawty Lo - Units In The City". HipHopDX . Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (March 4, 2008). "Shawty Lo Units in the City". RapReviews. Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ "The Billboard 200". Billboard . Vol. 120, no. 11. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 15, 2008. p. 42. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Vol. 120, no. 11. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 15, 2008. p. 47. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Top Rap Albums". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 15, 2008. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Tastemakers". Billboard . Vol. 120, no. 11. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 15, 2008. p. 57. ISSN   0006-2510.
  9. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008" . Billboard . Vol. 120. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 2008. ISSN   0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Top Rap Albums – Year-End 2008" . Billboard . Vol. 120. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 2008. ISSN   0006-2510. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
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