Rhythm-al-ism

Rhythm-al-ism
Studio album by DJ Quik
Released November 10, 1998 (US)
Recorded 1997-1998
Skip Sailor Recordings
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre Hip hop, R&B, funk, Jazz
Length 70:10
Label Arista
Producer DJ Quik (also exec.), G-One, Sheppard Lane (exec.)
DJ Quik chronology

Safe + Sound
(1995)
Rhythm-al-ism
(1998)
Balance & Options
(2000)
Singles from Rhythm-al-ism
  1. "You'z a Ganxta"
    Released: July 14, 1998
  2. "Hand In Hand"
    Released: September 29, 1998
  3. "Down, Down, Down"
    Released: December 22, 1998

Rhythm-al-ism is the fourth studio album by American West Coast hip hop recording artist and producer DJ Quik, released on November 10, 1998, by Arista Records and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on July 7, 1999. It peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard 200 chart. He recorded the album at Skip Sailor Recordings in Los Angeles, and worked with producer G-One. The album featured the singles "You'z a Ganxta", "Hand In Hand" featuring 2nd II None & El DeBarge, and "Down, Down, Down" featuring Suga Free, Mausberg & AMG.

Background and recording

In an interview with Complex, DJ Quik spoke on the background and recording process of Rhythm-al-ism stating, “With the Rhythm-al-ism album, even though it didn't have a home because Profile Records was going through something and I was fighting them for back royalties and they had me on suspension because they didn't want to pay me. I understood, those were some big checks, I wouldn't want to pay DJ Quik either. "I think that's when I lost my rough edges, I lost the gangster and became like an R&B pretty boy. "The name Rhythm-al-ism alone tells you what I was doing. I was mixing up rhythms. I was meshing R&B with hip-hop and jazz. And a little bit of comedy".[1]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link
Los Angeles Times link
The Source link
RapReviews.com link
USA Today link

Rhythm-al-ism received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. At Allmusic rated the album at 2 and a half stars and wrote that Considering its guest list -- packed with enough star power (El DeBarge, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Peter Gunz, Hi-C, AMG, and 2nd II None) to fill a "Wrestlemania" card -- Rhythm-al-ism promises more than it actually delivers. Its cleverest moments ("Medley for a 'V' (The Pussy Medley)") address colloquialisms for genitalia and all the wonderful things it's good for. "Down, Down, Down," "I Useta Know Her," and "No Doubt" (rhymes with: "I got something for your mouth") are plain nasty. Just what rap needs: one more guy boasting about his majestic penis and how good he is at treating women like gutter trash.[2] Los Angeles Times gave the album 3 stars.[3]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number sixty three on the US Billboard 200 and spent 29 weeks on the chart. It also debuted at number thirteen on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and spent 39 weeks on the chart as well.[4] The album was certified Platinum on July 27, 1999 by the RIAA for selling over 1,500,000 copies.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Rhythm-al-ism (Intro)"  David BlakeDJ Quik 1:40
2. "We Still Party"  BlakeDJ Quik 5:13
3. "So Many Wayz" (featuring 2nd II None & Peter Gunz)George Archie, Darius Barnett, Blake, Kelton L. McDonald, Peter PankeyDJ Quik, G-One (co.) 5:41
4. "Hand In Hand" (featuring 2nd II None & El DeBarge)Barnett, Blake, Eldra Patrick DeBarge, McDonaldDJ Quik 4:18
5. "Down, Down, Down" (featuring Suga Free, AMG & Mausberg)Blake, Johnny Burns, Jason Lewis, Dejuan WalkerDJ Quik 4:43
6. "You'z a Ganxta"  BlakeDJ Quik 4:21
7. "I Useta Know Her" (featuring AMG)Blake, LewisDJ Quik 3:50
8. "No Doubt" (featuring Playa Hamm & Suga Free)Blake, Wilbert Milo, WalkerDJ Quik 4:22
9. "Speed"  Blake, Lewis, Maurice White, Verdine WhiteDJ Quik 3:20
10. "Whateva U Do"  Archie, Blake, Smokey RobinsonDJ Quik, G-One (co.) 7:47
11. "Thinkin' Bout U"  BlakeDJ Quik 4:04
12. "El's Interlude" (featuring El DeBarge)Blake, DeBargeDJ Quik 4:06
13. "Medley For A "V" (The Pussy Medley)" (featuring Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Hi-C, 2nd II None, AMG & El DeBarge)Archie, Barnett, Blake, Calvin Broadus, DeBarge, Nathaniel Hale, Lewis, McDonald, Crawford WilkersonDJ Quik, G-One (co.) 6:26
14. "Bombudd II"  BlakeDJ Quik 2:59
15. "Get 2Getha Again" (featuring 2nd II None, AMG, Hi-C & El DeBarge)Barnett, Blake, DeBarge, Lewis, McDonald, WilkersonDJ Quik 4:40
16. "Reprise (Medley For A "V")"  Archie, BlakeDJ Quik, G-One (co.) 2:40
Total length:
70:10

  (co.) Co-producer

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for Rhythm-al-ism adapted from liner notes.[5]

  • 2nd II None – composer, performer, primary artist
  • AMG – composer, performer, primary artist
  • Del Atkins – bass
  • Robert Bacon – guitar
  • Agnes Baddoo – stylist
  • Kenneth Crouch – fender rhodes, piano
  • El DeBarge – composer, guest artist, performer, primary artist
  • Dee – background vocals
  • DJ Quik – bass, composer, drums, executive producer, mixing, percussion, primary artist, producer, synthesizer
  • Sheppard Lane – executive producer
  • Nate Dogg – composer, guest artist
  • Charles Green – horn
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Peter Gunz – composer, guest artist, performer, primary artist
  • Playa Hamm – guest artist, performer, primary artist

  • Anthony Harrison, Jr. – art direction
  • Hi-C – composer, guest artist, performer, primary artist
  • Stan Jones – guitar
  • Dionne Knighton – background vocals
  • Mausberg – guest artist, primary artist
  • Eric McCaine – percussion
  • Chris Puram – assistant engineer
  • Snoop Dogg – composer, guest artist, performer, primary artist
  • Suga Free – composer, guest artist, performer, primary artist
  • Ron Townsend – flute
  • Marvin Watkins – guitar
  • Maurice White – composer
  • Verdine White – composer
  • Michael Wong – photography

Charts

Album

Chart (1998)[6] Peak
position
US Billboard 200 63
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 13

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[7] 61

Singles

Song Chart (1998–99) Peak
position
"You'z a Ganxta" US Billboard Hot R&B Airplay[8] 66
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[9] 59
"Hand in Hand" US Billboard Hot R&B Airplay[10] 54
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[11] 66
US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[12] 38
"Down, Down, Down" US Billboard Hot R&B Airplay[13] 51
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[14] 59

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Label Format
United States[16] November 10, 1998 Arista Records CD, Cassette, LP
Canada[17] November 23, 1998 Arista Records CD, Cassette
United Kingdom[18] November 24, 1998 Arista Records CD, Cassette

References