Spice 1 (album)

Spice 1
Studio album by Spice 1
Released May 12, 1992
Recorded 1991-1992
Genre West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap
Length 56:38
Label Jive
Producer Ant Banks, Blackjack, E-A-Ski & CMT, Spice 1
Spice 1 chronology

Let It Be Known
(1991)		 Spice 1
(1992)		 187 He Wrote
(1993)
Singles from Spice 1
  1. "In My Neighborhood"
    Released: 1992
  2. "Welcome to the Ghetto"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Entertainment Weekly (B)[2]
The Source [3]

Spice 1 is the debut album by American rapper Spice 1, released May 12, 1992 on Jive Records. The album was produced by Ant Banks, Blackjack, E-A-Ski & CMT and Spice 1. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 82 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers.[4] One single, "Welcome to the Ghetto", peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and at number 5 on the Billboard Rap Songs.[5]

Along with singles, music videos were produced for four songs, including: "In My Neighborhood",[6] "Welcome to the Ghetto",[7] "187 Proof"[8] and "East Bay Gangsta".[9] Richie Rich makes a cameo appearance in "Welcome to the Ghetto". "East Bay Gangsta" and "Welcome to the Ghetto" were B-sides on the other singles. The album was included in the Source Magazine's 100 greatest hip hop albums.

Critical reception

Allmusic - "...His style, an appropriate mix of irony, disdain, acceptance and confusion, never succumbs to the situation or seeks to justify or downplay the sense of impending doom."[1]

Entertainment Weekly (7/24/92, p. 60) - "...Spice 1's lyrics are clever enough to make you forget you've heard it all before...his tales unfold with the drama of short stories..."[2]

iTunes Store - "...with a large serving of gunplay and ghetto storytelling. Spice's unique vocal style showcased an uncanny ability to twist and contort his flow...the bass-heavy beats still knock with authority, ideal for bumping in the scraper..."[10]

Track listing

  1. "In My Neighborhood"
  2. "187 Proof"
  3. "East Bay Gangster (Reggae)"
  4. "Money Gone"
  5. "1-800-Spice"
  6. "Peace to My Nine"
  7. "Young Nigga"
  8. "Welcome to the Ghetto"
  9. "Fucked in the Game"
  10. "Money or Murder"
  11. "City Streets"
  12. "1-900-Spice"
  13. "Break Yourself" (featuring MC Ant)
  14. "187 Pure"

All songs written by Robert L. Green.

Samples

Welcome to the Ghetto

187 Pure

City Streets

F***ed in the Game

In My Neighborhood

Money Gone

Money or Murder

Peace to My Nine

Young N****

Note: The sample credits contain a disclaimer from George Clinton disparaging the lyrical content of the song, yet stating the sample was allowed due to the message of music as a free agent of change inherent in "Mothership Connection." This type of note was uncommon for most artists who were sampling.

Chart history

Album
Chart (1992)[4] Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 14
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers 82
Singles
Song Chart (1992)[5] Peak
position
"Welcome to the Ghetto" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 39
U.S. Billboard Rap Songs 5

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wynn, Ron. Review: Spice 1. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-01-10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Columnist. Review: Spice 1. Entertainment Weekly: 60. July 24, 1992.
  3. ↑ Columnist. Review: Spice 1.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ((( Spice 1 > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on 2010-01-10.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 ((( Spice 1 > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on 2010-01-10.
  6. ↑ Spice 1 - "In My Neighborhood" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-02-04.
  7. ↑ Spice 1 - "Welcome to the Ghetto" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-02-04.
  8. ↑ Spice 1 - "187 Proof" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-02-04.
  9. ↑ Spice 1 - "East Bay Gangsta" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-02-04.
  10. ↑ Review: Spice 1. iTunes Store. Retrieved on 2010-01-10.

External links