Word Power (album)

Last updated
Word Power
Word Power (album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 23, 1989
Genre Hip hop
Length53:59
Label
  • Rhyme $yndicate
  • Epic
Producer
Divine Styler chronology
Word Power
(1989)
Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light
(1992)
Singles from Word Power
  1. "Ain't Sayin Nothin/Tongue of Labyrinth"
    Released: 1989

Word Power is the debut album by American rapper and producer Divine Styler. [1] [2] It was released on October 23, 1989, on Ice-T's Rhyme $yndicate Records under Epic Records. The album peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [3] The Scheme Team, a hip hop collective of Divine Styler, made their introduction on the record.

Contents

Divine rhymed about being proud of heritage (highlighted on "It's a Black Thing") and featured audio production handled by Bilal Bashir (who made later instrumentals for the likes of Everlast, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube), who later re-released this album in instrumental form in 2005. The album produced the only lead single "Ain't Sayin' Nothin", featuring a scratch noise similar to the sound used in "Jump Around" and "Insane in the Brain". It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]

The Chicago Tribune called the album "exciting, and that isn't a word you can use to describe many recent rap releases." [5]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Introduction"0:46
2."Free Styler"5:17
3."Get Up on It"4:40
4."The Last Black House on the Left"6:45
5."It's a Black Thing"5:09
6."Play It for Divine"2:47
7."Koxistin U4ria"3:40
8."Ain't Sayin' Nothin'"4:16
9."Divinity Stylistics"4:11
10."Tongue of Labyrinth"5:23
11."In Divine Style"1:46
12."Rain"4:31
13."Word Power"4:48
Total length:53:59

Samples

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One</i> 1999 compilation album (Mixtape) by The Prodigy (Liam Howlett)

Prodigy Present: The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One is a 1999 solo mix album by Liam Howlett of The Prodigy, initially produced for BBC Radio 1's mix show The Breezeblock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The J.B.'s</span> Band

The J.B.'s was James Brown's band from 1970 through the early 1980s. On records the band was sometimes billed under alternate names such as Fred Wesley and the JBs, The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., Fred Wesley and the New JBs, The First Family, and The Last Word. In addition to backing Brown, the J.B.'s played behind Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins, and other singers associated with the James Brown Revue, and performed and recorded as a self-contained group. In 2015, they were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but failed to be inducted and can be considered for Musical Excellence in the future. They have been eligible since 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump Around</span> 1992 single by House of Pain

"Jump Around" is a song by American hip hop group House of Pain, produced by DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, who has also covered the song, and was released in May 1992 by Tommy Boy and XL as the first single from their debut album, House of Pain (1992). The song became a hit, reaching number three in the United States. A 1993 re-release of the song in the United Kingdom, where the initial release had been a minor hit, peaked at number eight. Its music video was filmed in New York City, featuring footage from the 1992 Saint Patrick's Day parade.

<i>Long Live the Kane</i> 1988 studio album by Big Daddy Kane

Long Live the Kane is the debut album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane, released by Cold Chillin' Records on June 21, 1988. It was produced by Marley Marl and established both as premier artists during hip hop's golden age. Kane displayed his unique rapping technique while covering topics including love, Afrocentricity and his rapping prowess. Marley Marl and Big Daddy Kane display a sparse production style - creating beats with fast-paced drums and lightly utilized James Brown samples.

Mikal Safiyullah, better known by his stage name Divine Styler, is an alternative hip hop artist.

Karl Jenkins, better known as Dice Raw, is an American rapper from Philadelphia. He is associated with The Roots, and the now defunct musical group Nouveau Riche.

<i>2000 Fold</i> 1998 studio album by Styles of Beyond

2000 Fold is the debut studio album by Los Angeles underground rap group Styles of Beyond, which was released on Bilawn Records on August 18, 1998, and re-released on August 24, 1999, on SpyTech Records. This album was only released in an "edited version", whereas Megadef was only released in an "explicit version". 2000 Fold was out of print for several years, and was then only available as a download via iTunes and Amazon. In July 2007, it was made available once again in CD format, on both the Projekt Revolution and SpyTech Records official web-stores.

<i>Take a Look Around</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Masta Ace

Take a Look Around is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Masta Ace. It was released on July 24, 1990, through Cold Chillin' Records with distribution via Reprise Records. The recording sessions took place at House of Hits in Chestnut Ridge, New York and at Libra Digital Sound in Long Island City. The album was produced by Marley Marl and Mister Cee.

<i>Whitey Ford Sings the Blues</i> 1998 studio album by Everlast

Whitey Ford Sings the Blues is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Everlast, and the first one following his departure from House of Pain. It was released on September 8, 1998, via Tommy Boy Records, a full eight years after his solo debut album Forever Everlasting and after he had a major heart attack. "Whitey Ford" in the album title refers to the New York Yankees pitcher of the same name.

<i>Forever Everlasting</i> 1990 studio album by Everlast

Forever Everlasting is the debut solo studio album by American recording artist Everlast. It was released on March 27, 1990, via Warner Bros. Records. The eleven track full-length album features a remix song of his 1988 single "Syndication", and singles "Never Missin' a Beat", "The Rhythm" and "I Got the Knack". Single "The Rhythm" featured guest appearances from his Rhyme Syndicate bandmates Donald D and Ice-T, as well as an early appearance from the Brand New Heavies singer N'Dea Davenport who is credited as "Diva", and "I Got the Knack" featured scratches provided by DJ Lethal, whom he would later join to form House of Pain.

<i>Grip It! On That Other Level</i> 1989 studio album by Ghetto Boys

Grip It! On That Other Level is the second studio album by the Houston, Texas based hip-hop group, the Ghetto Boys, released on March 12, 1989, on Rap-A-Lot Records. Following the disappointing results of the group's first album, Rap-A-Lot CEO James Prince replaced two of the group members with Scarface and Willie D, who joined original members Bushwick Bill and DJ Ready Red. Recording for the album began in 1988, and finished in early 1989. The majority of the album's tracks were produced by DJ Ready Red, and much of the album's lyrical content deals with violent and misogynistic topics, which would later be credited for pioneering the horrorcore hip hop subgenre.

<i>Wordpower, Vol. 2: Directrix</i> 1999 studio album by Divine Styler

Wordpower, Vol. 2: Directrix is the third album by Divine Styler, released in 1999 on Mo' Wax. This was his first album released in seven years, his last being 1992's Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light. However, this album could be considered more as a sequel to his debut album, Word Power, due to the "Vol. 2" in the album's name and because of the more straightforward hip hop the album contains when compared to the wildly experimental Spiral Walls. This album features Divine Styler's Original Scheme Team member(s) Cokni O'Dire and Bilal Bashir.

<i>To Hell and Black</i> 1990 studio album by CPO

To Hell and Black is the debut and only studio album by American hip hop group Capital Punishment Organization. It was released through Capitol Records on August 7, 1990, and featured its two lead singles "Ballad of a Menace" and "This Beat Is Funky". The album peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Move Somethin</i> (album) 1988 studio album by 2 Live Crew

Move Somethin' is the second studio album by the Miami-based hip hop group 2 Live Crew. It was released on August 17, 1988, via Luke Records and was produced by Luke Skyywalker and Mr. Mixx. It was certified Gold by Recording Industry Association of America. The album improved on the charts from the previous album, making in to number 68 on the Billboard 200 and number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. It contains the singles "Move Somethin'" and "Do Wah Diddy Diddy".

<i>Livin in a Hoe House</i> 1990 studio album by H.W.A.

Livin' in a Hoe House is the only studio album by American female rap group H.W.A. The album was released in 1990 via Drive-By Records and was produced by Dangerous D and Ronnie Vann. The record was mildly successful, reaching #38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. No singles made it to the Billboard charts.

"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" is a funk song written by James Brown and Bobby Byrd. Recorded in 1970 by Brown and the original J.B.'s with Byrd on backing vocals and updated with a new melody, it was twice released as a two-part single in 1972. It also appeared on the album There It Is.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O.G. Original Gangster (song)</span> 1991 single by Ice-T

"O.G. Original Gangster" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released as a single from the rapper's fourth studio album of the same name. The song was produced by Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow, Shafiq "SLJ" Husayn and Alphonso "DJ Aladdin" Henderson, and released in 1991 via Sire Records. Reaching a peak position of number 7 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs, the single remained on the chart for a total of 11 weeks. The track also appears on the retrospective Greatest Hits: The Evidence and in the 2004 Xbox video game Def Jam: Fight for NY with Ice-T featuring in the game as himself as a playable character and in the storyline.

"Ain't Sayin' Nothin'" is the second single from Fat Joe's album The Elephant in the Room. It also has a sample of Cocababy at the end of the video. The song features Plies and Dre. Lil Wayne, Ace Hood, Rocko, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Cool, Birdman, Danja & Pitbull made appearances in the video. The song peaked at number 93 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

<i>I Know How to Play Em</i> 1991 studio album by O.G. Style

I Know How To Play 'Em! is the one and only album by American hip hop recording artists Eric 'Original E' Woods and DJ Big Boss, released as a duo O.G. Style from Houston, Texas. It was peaked at #69 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

<i>Road to Freedom</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Young Disciples

Road to Freedom is the debut album of soul and jazz band Young Disciples, the only album the band ever released. Issued in 1991 on the Talkin' Loud label in the UK and on Polygram in the US, the critically well-received album was influential in the music genres of acid jazz and neo soul. Containing two charting singles, "Get Yourself Together" and "Apparently Nothin'", the album itself reached a chart position of number 21. It was on the short list of nominees for the 1992 Mercury Prize and was reissued in 1993 in limited edition with a bonus remix EP of the song "Apparently Nothin'".

References

  1. Freeman, Phil, ed. (2007). Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs. Da Capo Press. p. 71.
  2. Tompkins, Dave (January 1999). "Reviews". Spin. Vol. 15, no. 1. p. 115.
  3. "Divine Styler - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. 1990.
  4. "Word Power Divine Styler". AllMusic .
  5. 1 2 Tanzilo, Robert (December 21, 1989). "Rave Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 15E.