We Come Strapped | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 19, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1993–1994 | |||
Studio | X-Factor (Long Beach, Calif.) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 57:52 | |||
Label | Epic Street | |||
Producer | ||||
MC Eiht chronology | ||||
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Singles from We Come Strapped | ||||
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We Come Strapped is the debut studio album by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on July 19, 1994, through Epic Street. The recording sessions took place at X-Factor Studios in Long Beach, California. The album was produced by Compton's Most Wanted members MC Eiht and DJ Slip, except for one song, "Compton Bomb", produced by Ric Roc. It features contributions from William "Willie Z" Zimmerman on the keyboards, Josh Achziger on guitar, Carla Evans on vocals, and guest appearances from rappers Redman and Spice 1. In addition to a Parental Advisory sticker, Epic also included text on the album cover that noted that Eiht's lyrics reflected his personal views. [1]
The album peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 29, 1994. It has been MC Eiht's most successful album to date.
It spawned two singles and music videos for the songs "All for the Money" and "Geez Make the Hood Go Round".
Despite the CMW title on the album cover, We Come Strapped is considered to be MC Eiht's debut solo album. In addition to MC Eiht, from CMW, the album features DJ Slip on keyboards and production, as well as DJ Mike T's scratches in one song only. However, MC Eiht mentions the fellow group members by name-dropping Boom Bam, Tha Chill, Lil Hawk & Bird, and Niggaz on tha Run throughout the album. The rapper insults DJ Quik on the track "Def Wish III" due to their then-ongoing feud.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Entertainment Weekly | A− [3] |
The Indianapolis Star | [4] |
RapReviews | 8/10 [5] |
The Source | [6] |
The Indianapolis Star wrote: "While chilling in its acceptance of violence, the disc is about attitude. We're drawn into the violence by lightly funked bass, mellow synthesizers and piano and soul-sparked horns. The insanity is in slow motion, slowly feeling natural. No other recent gangsta rap has had that power." [4]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Niggaz That Kill" (Endolude) | 2:32 | |
2. | "Def Wish III" (Intro) |
| 0:57 |
3. | "Def Wish III" (featuring Carla Evans) |
| 4:23 |
4. | "Take 2 with Me" |
| 4:44 |
5. | "All for the Money" |
| 4:08 |
6. | "Compton Cyco" |
| 3:02 |
7. | "Niggaz Make the Hood Go Round" | Aaron Tyler | 4:09 |
8. | "Nuthin' But High" (Endolude) |
| 3:26 |
9. | "We Come Strapped" |
| 4:08 |
10. | "Can I Still Kill It" |
| 3:40 |
11. | "Goin' Out Like Geez" |
| 4:39 |
12. | "Nuthin' But the Gangsta" (featuring Spice 1 and Redman) |
| 5:13 |
13. | "Hard Times" |
| 4:08 |
14. | "Compton Bomb" |
| 5:11 |
15. | "2 tha Westside" (Endolude) |
| 3:32 |
Total length: | 57:52 |
Chart (1994) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [7] | 5 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [8] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Lorenzo Jerald Patterson, known professionally as MC Ren, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Compton, California. He is the founder and owner of the record label Villain Entertainment.
Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American gangsta rap group N.W.A, which, led by Eazy-E, formed in Los Angeles County's City of Compton in early 1987. Released by his label, Ruthless Records, on August 8, 1988, the album was produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, with lyrics written by N.W.A members Ice Cube and MC Ren along with Ruthless rapper and unofficial member The D.O.C. Not merely depicting Compton's street violence, the lyrics repeatedly threaten to lead it by attacking peers and even police. The track "Fuck tha Police" drew an FBI agent's warning letter, which aided N.W.A's notoriety, with N.W.A calling itself "the world's most dangerous group."
Aaron Bernard Tyler, better known by his stage name MC Eiht, is an American rapper. Many of his songs are based on his life in Compton. His stage name was partly inspired by the numeral in KRS-One's name. He chose Eiht for its links to "hood culture", including Olde English 800 and .38 caliber firearms. He is the de facto leader of West Coast hip hop group Compton's Most Wanted, which also included fellow Compton-based rappers Boom Bam, The Unknown DJ, Tha Chill, DJ Mike T, DJ Slip and Ant Capone. He is also known for his role as A-Wax in the 1993 film Menace II Society, as well as playing the character Ryder in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
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