Welcome to the Zoo

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Welcome to the Zoo
Welcometothezoocover.JPG
Studio album by
Gorilla Zoe
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2007 (2007-09-25)
Recorded2006–07
Studio
  • McKoy St. Studios (Atlanta, GA)
  • The Hit Factory Criteria (Miami, FL)
  • Funkshop Studio (Atlanta, GA)
Genre Hip-hop
Length1:02:48
Label
Producer
  • Canei Finch
  • Chris Flame
  • Dee Jay Dana
  • DOA
  • Drumma Boy
  • Fatboi
  • Flawda Water
  • Jay Mac
  • Lazyboi
  • Mike The Track Blazer
  • Willie "Chuck" Shivers
  • Win
Gorilla Zoe chronology
Welcome to the Zoo
(2007)		 Don't Feed da Animals
(2009)
Singles from Welcome to the Zoo
  1. "Hood Nigga"
    Released: April 24, 2007
  2. "Juice Box"
    Released: March 18, 2008

Welcome to the Zoo is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Gorilla Zoe. It was released on September 25, 2007, via Block Entertainment/Bad Boy Records. Recording sessions took place at McKoy St. Studios and Funkshop Studio in Atlanta, and the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami. Production was handled by Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana, Jay Mac, Canei Finch, Chris Flame, DOA, Fatboi, Flawda Water, Lazyboi, Mike The Track Blazer, Willie "Chuck" Shivers and Win. It features guest appearances from Boyz n da Hood, Yung Joc, Block, D. Woods and JC.

Contents

The album debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200, number 8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 3 on the Top Rap Albums, selling 35,000 copies in its first week in the United States. [1] The album was supported by two singles: "Hood Figga", which peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and "Juice Box", which made it to number 78 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
RapReviews6/10 [3]
Robert Christgau Scissors icon black.svg [4]
XXL L (3/5) [5]

Welcome to the Zoo received mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier said that the album was well-produced but criticized Zoe for being too similar to Young Jeezy, saying that "Jeezy can be witty and adorns his raps with a signature array of ad libs". [2] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised Gorilla for his voice and humorous lyrics but felt he was being dragged by the typical hip-hop clichés, concluding that "Welcome to the Zoo proves that Zoe has star potential - it's just that he may have been shoved into the spotlight prematurely". [3] Maurice G. Garland of XXL stated: "unfortunately, Gorilla throws a monkey wrench in his trap jam with a barrage of frivolous fare". [5] Robert Christgau cited "Money Man", "Take Your Shoes Off" and "Do Something" as "choice cuts", [4] indicating good songs on "an album that isn't worth your time or money". [6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Do Something"
 Drumma Boy 4:40
2."Hood Nigga"
  • Mathis
  • Dana Ramey
  • Chris Ussery
  • Dee Jay Dana
  • Chris Flame
3:20
3."Money Man"
  • Mathis
  • Michael Armour, Jr.
Mike The Track Blazer4:08
4."Tryna Make a Jug" (featuring Big Gee)
  • Mathis
  • Miguel Scott
  • LaDamon Douglas
Fatboi4:10
5."Crack Muzik (This That Muzik)" (featuring Jody Breeze)
Drumma Boy4:36
6."Battle Field" (featuring Block and Big Gee)
  • Mathis
  • Russell Spencer
  • Scott
  • Ramey
Dee Jay Dana3:55
7."Take Your Shoes Off" (featuring Yung Joc)
  • DOA
  • Lazyboi
4:25
8."I Know"
  • Mathis
  • Lester Purnell
Flawda Water4:47
9."Count on Me" (featuring Jody Breeze and JC)
  • Mathis
  • White
  • Justin Crowder
  • James Beard
Jay Mac4:04
10."Real Motherfucka" (performed by Boyz n da Hood)
  • Mathis
  • Scott
  • White
  • Lee Dixon
  • Beard
Jay Mac5:04
11."Juice Box" (featuring Yung Joc)
  • Mathis
  • Robinson
  • Gholson
Drumma Boy4:09
12."Money Up"
  • Mathis
  • Kenwin Gates
Win3:37
13."You Don't Know Me" (featuring D. Woods)
Willie "Chuck" Shivers3:28
14."Lil Shawty"
  • Mathis
  • Gholson
Drumma Boy4:09
15."Last Time I Checked"
Canei Finch4:16
Total length:1:02:48

Charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [7] 18
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [8] 8
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard) [9] 3

References

  1. ↑ Hasty, Katie (October 3, 2007). "Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 9, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Birchmeier, Jason. "Welcome to the Zoo - Gorilla Zoe". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (October 9, 2007). "Gorilla Zoe :: Welcome to the Zoo :: Block Ent./Bad Boy Records". RapReviews. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (January 2008). "Consumer Guide: Babyshambles, Ghostface Killah, Rilo Kiley Get High Marks Chuck D, Ponytail, Soulja Boy and Wu-Tang Clan All Make the Dean's List As Well". MSN Music . Retrieved July 24, 2025– via robertchristgau.com.
  5. 1 2 Garland, Maurice G. (October 11, 2007). "Gorilla Zoe Welcome to the Zoo". XXL . Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Key to Icons". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
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