| From Me to U | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Juelz Santana | ||||
| Released | August 19, 2003 (U.S.) | |||
| Recorded | 2002-2003 | |||
| Genre | East Coast rap | |||
| Label | Diplomat, Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam | |||
| Producer | The Heatmakerz, Jazze Pha, Chad Hamilton, Edward Hinson, Charlemagne | |||
| Juelz Santana chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [1] |
| Pitchfork Media | (3.2/10)[2] |
| RapReviews | (6/10)[3] |
From Me to U is the debut album by the American Hip-Hop rapper Juelz Santana, released on August 19, 2003. The album was seen as the introspective introduction of the rapper to mainstream entertainment. Following the success of various unofficial street mixtapes and being part of the rap group The Diplomats, co-founded by rappers Cameron Giles (a.k.a Cam'ron) and Joseph Guillermo Jones II (a.k.a Jim Jones), From Me to U was the second official album to be released while the super group was signed to Diplomat Records, a sublabel of Roc-A-Fella Records at the time[4], following Cam'ron's Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home with Me. Upon its release in 2003,after one year of recording and mastering, the 20-tracked album found commercial success, reaching #8 on Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top Hip-Hop/Rap Albums[5], even though it did not receive critical acclaim throughout the industry. Though some tracks originally were featured on Juelz's street mixtape Final Destination, they were still applied to the track listing of the official album as well.[6]
Contents |
After the signing of The Diplomats, also known as The Dips or Dipset, to Roc-a-Fella Records in 2002, there was an influx of mixtapes, features on other artists' records, television and radio interviews, in which Juelz achieved mainstream recognition not previously gained through the various Diplomat mixtapes, and his solo mixtape Final Destination. After recording feature verses on the two singles, "Hey Ma" and "Oh Boy", which were on Cam'ron's first Roc-a-fella/Diplomat Records release, Juelz started working on his as well since he was going to be the next solo album released on Diplomat records. In addition, Diplomatic Immunity was a Dipset compilation and showcasing of the entire roster, mainly Juelz, who is featured on the majority of the songs.
"The Champ is Here" is a drum-filled chant type of song, based on the famous Muhammad Ali proclamation during the training before his final fight in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975. The song contains no rapping, but rather has Juelz and Dipset labelmate and friend, Freekey Zekey boasting and introducing Juelz's CD and the members of the crew.
"One Day I Smile" is a personal testament of the journey Juelz has taken to become signed and how he is on the right path, starting off with the contrast of the many young Hip-Hop entertainers that have died before their time. In addition, he tells of how the pressure is on him to produce a good and deserving album that explains the experiences of his life.
"Okay, Okay" is a declaration of how he has arrived with his Dipset crew and no one will be able to stop them, paralleling himself to Neo of The Matrix. It breaks the somber and serious mood of the previous track, and sounds like a continuation of "The Champ is Here."
"Down (skit)" is an interlude that has a young woman vomiting as she performs oral sex on a man, who has the voice of Freekey Zekey. After the act, he proceeds to kick her out of the car and drive off leaving her on the side of the road.
"Down" tells of Juelz taking care of his business and telling those who doubted him that "he tried to tell you" about his future success. Nonetheless, with its sped-up sample, it has resemblance to that of "One Day I Smile," it is just a more confident mood.
"Monster Music" contains an opera sample and is a declaration for everyone to start marching with The Diplomats. It also tells of Juelz's boasting and gun-toting ways.
"Back Again" features RnB singer Razah, who has been featured on many Dipset tracks throughout the years. The song is filled with boasting of the nice cars and women that Juelz possesses as well that Juelz is at the top of Hip-Hop music.
"Jealousy (Envy)" is a tale of a fallen relationship between Juelz and a woman. Though it is not about love, Juelz weaves the tale of the hostile relationship that he and the "one he wanted to marry" begins to cheat on me. He admits sorrow for the choices he made in trying to love her when she did not love him.
"How I Feel" is another pro-Dipset Movement song that gives Juelz's thoughts on how to overcome adversity and his thoughts on the current state of music.
"Why" emphasizes the reason why Juelz sees himself bringing a different perspective and style to Hip-Hop as the sample voice in the background continually asks him, "why?"
"Wherever I Go" has Juelz proclaiming with the assistance of Jim Jones that wherever he goes he will stay true to the Harlem neighborhood that he came from and that he will never change.
"Dipset (Santana's Town)(skit)" is an interlude in which Juelz calls a woman, while her boyfriend screams in the background that he is going to be signed to Diplomat Records. The comedic voice in the background is also provided by Freekey Zekey.
"Dipset (Santana's Town)" is a very eccentric song that features Cam'ron. Juelz and Cam'ron, who is only on the chorus, exclaim that it is Juelz's town and he is Dipset. This was the first single of the album, and there was also a video released in anticipation for the album.
"Squalie (skit)" is a scene as one man is selling drugs (i.e. purple tops), and as an addict comes to buy, the drug dealer becomes suspicious and figures out that the addict is a law enforcement agent. Squalie is an advisory chant when law enforcement is noticed in urban neighborhoods.
"Squalie" is a warning song that the cops are coming and that all those who are doing illegal activities should watch out. The song features J.R.Writer who was later signed to Diplomat Records.
"Rain Drops" shows the introspective side of Juelz as he tells of how proud he is of his journey and where he came from while speaking to his grandmother and grandfather, whom have died.
"My Love (Remix)" features Jim Jones as they both talk about their experiences of a fast life and having women experience it with them.
"Let's Go" is a Marvin Gaye sampled track that has Juelz slowly rapping and boasting about the person that he is and telling that there is no other person like him.
"Now What" contains the only feature from a non-Dipset crew member, T.I.. It is seen as a regional crossover and Southern inspired track. Juelz and T.I. continued to collaborate on many other projects after this initial feature.
"This is for My Homies" is a prayer-inspired track that has Juelz reminiscing on his friends that have either died, are in jail, or have lost "their souls to the streetlife." It also features Jim Jones as he raps a verse and intros the song with a declaration of those who are missed.
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Featured Guest(s) | Composer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Champ Is Here" | Heatmakerz | Freekey Zekey | Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 2:25 |
| 2 | "One Day I Smile" | Heatmakerz | Harding, G./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 2:45 | |
| 3 | "Okay Okay" | Heatmakerz | Hart, W./Bell, T./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron, King Abdul of Zuzan | 3:21 | |
| 4 | "Down (Skit)" | Freekey Zekey, Monique Garnett | 1:25 | ||
| 5 | "Down" | Heatmakerz | Whitfield, Norman/Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 3:45 | |
| 6 | "Monster Music" | Heatmakerz | Opera Steve | Steinman, J./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 4:17 |
| 7 | "Back Again" | Heatmakerz | Hudson, H./King, W./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 4:44 | |
| 8 | "My Problem (Jealousy)" | Charlemagne | Payne, H./Pease, E./Scarpiello, M./Charlemagne, H./James, Laron | 3:44 | |
| 9 | "How I Feel" | Heatmakerz | Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 1:40 | |
| 10 | "Why" | Heatmakerz | Lewis, T./Raymond, U./Green, G./Harris, James Producer/Thomas, S./James, Laron | 3:57 | |
| 11 | "Wherever I Go" | Chad Hamilton, Ryan Press (Co-producer) | Jim Jones | Hamilton, C./Jones, J./Presson, R./James, Laron | 4:18 |
| 12 | "Dipset (Santana's Town) (Skit)" | Freekey Zekey, Monique Garnett | 1:16 | ||
| 13 | "Dipset (Santana's Town)" | Edward "Self Service" Hinson | Cam'ron | Hinson, E./Giles, Cameron/James, Laron | 3:38 |
| 14 | "Squalie (Skit)" | Freekey Zekey, Mike Peters, Monique Garnett | 0:55 | ||
| 15 | "Squalie" | Heatmakerz | J. R. Writer | Brito, R./Green, G./White, B./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 4:16 |
| 16 | "Rain Drops" | Charlemagne | Johnson, J./Lewis, K./Charlemagne, H./James, Laron | 4:34 | |
| 17 | "My Love (Remix)" | Heatmakerz | Jim Jones | Ingram, J./Jones, J./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron | 3:09 |
| 18 | "Let's Go" | Heatmakerz | Cam'ron | Gaye, M./Townsend, E./Green, G./Thomas, S./Giles, Cameron | 4:42 |
| 19 | "Now What" | Jazze Pha | T.I. | Alexander, P./Harris, C./James, Laron | 5:21 |
| 20 | "This Is for My Homies" | Heatmakerz | Jim Jones | Jackson, C./Jones, J./Stinson, T./Turner, M. Jr./Thomas, S./Carter, T./James, Laron | 6:23 |
From Me to U peaked at #8 in the Billboard 200[5] and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [5] in 2003.
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | # 3 |
| Billboard 200 | # 8 |
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