Don't Be Saprize

Don't Be Saprize
Studio album by Road Dawgs
Released March 23, 1999
Recorded 1998 - 1999
Genre West Coast Hip Hop, G-funk, Gangsta Rap
Length 49:23
Label Noo-Trybe / Virgin
Producer Greg Royal, Clint "Payback" Sands, Road Dawgs, Kay Gee, Darren Lighty, Binky

Don't Be Saprize is the debut album by the Road Dawgs, released on March 23, 1999 through Virgin Records.

Background

The Road Dawgs first started out in 1993 and, along with the Rottin Razkals, were closely associated with Naughty by Nature. The duo appeared on several songs by Naughty by Nature and Rottin Razkals in 1993 and 1995 but were unable to get a record deal. In 1998 the duo began working with Mack 10 and inked a deal with Virgin Records, who placed the Road Dawgs in its sublabel Noo Trybe. The duo then began work on their debut album, Don't Be Saprize.

Don't Be Saprize featured production from the Road Dawgs themselves, Clinton "Payback" Sands, Greg Royal and Naughty by Nature producer Kay Gee, who produced the song "Break Yourself" with Darren Lighty. The album also featured guest appearances from several prominent west coast rappers, including Mack 10, Ice Cube and Mc Eiht.[1]

The album's lone single was "Bouncin'", it also had a promotional music video released for it. Mack 10 performed the chorus for the song and also appeared in the video.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [3]

The album was neither a critical nor commercial success. Don't be Saprize only made it to No. 91 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It peaked on the week of April 10, 1999 and dropped off the chart the following week.[4]

Allmusic's Jon Azpiri gave the album 1.5 stars out of a possible five and had this to say about the album "...The group seems incapable of creating a consistent album. Lyrically, many of the tracks on the album, like "Gangbang Shit" and "Murderfest 99, wallow in ignorance. Aside from the single "Bouncin," there is little to recommend on this album."[5]

Track listing

  1. "The Block"- :27
  2. "Bouncin'"- 4:42 (featuring Mack 10)
  3. "Bonifide"- 3:24 (featuring Ms. Toi)
  4. "Gang Bang Shit"- 4:51 (featuring Squeak Ru)
  5. "Break Yourself"- 4:04 (featuring Vernell Sales)
  6. "Qrown Me"- 4:36 (featuring Squeak Ru)
  7. "Murderfest 99"- 4:42 (featuring Mack 10, Ice Cube, Mc Eiht and Boo Kapone)
  8. "Match Made"- 4:05
  9. "Do a Lick"- :35
  10. "My Life"- 4:35
  11. "You Ain't Know"- 3:34 (featuring Mack Ten and Ice Cube)
  12. "Klientel"- 5:17
  13. "Sick the Dawgs"- :16
  14. "Don't Be Saprize"- 4:15

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop 91

Personnel

  • Boo Kapone - Performer
  • Mario Castellanos - Photography
  • Jason Clark - Artwork, Art Direction, Design
  • Ice Cube - Performer
  • Ken Johnston - Engineer
  • Kay Gee - Producer, Mixing
  • Adam Kudzin - Mixing
  • Darren Lighty - Producer
  • Mack 10 - Performer, Executive Producer
  • MC Eiht - Performer
  • Mr. Payback - Producer
  • Ms. Toi - Performer
  • Road Dawgs - Percussion, Producer, Mixing
  • Greg Royal - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
  • Vernell Sales - Performer
  • Eddy Schreyer - Mastering
  • Michele Smith - Art Direction
  • Squeek-Ru - Performer

References

  1. ↑ "Don't Be Saprize credits at Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 2010-09-14.
  2. ↑ "Bouncin' official music video at Youtube.com". Youtube.com. 2010-09-14.
  3. ↑ Allmusic review
  4. ↑ "Don't Be Saprize chart history at Billboard.com". Billboard.com. 2010-09-14.
  5. ↑ "Don't Be Saprize review at Allmusic.com". Allmusic.com. 2010-09-14.