Judgement Day is the second studio album by Esham. On June 6, 2006, a Judgement Day box set was released, containing both original volumes and previously unreleased material.
Production
Reel Life Productions founder and Esham's brother James Smith decided that Esham should record a double album following the release of Prince's Love Symbol Album. Smith thought that if an R&B artist could record a double album, a rapper should record a double album.[1] However, it is not the first double album in hip hop, as previously DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince released He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, which was a double album in its original vinyl configuration.
Music
While the lyrical content of Judgement Day is similar to that of Esham's debut, Boomin' Words from Hell, the music features a heavier use of rock samples.[2] The album's rock-based sound influenced rap rock artists such as Kid Rock.[2]
Release history
Judgement Day was released separately in two volumes, Day and Night, on April 9, 1992.[3] On June 6, 2006, a Judgement Day box set was released, featuring both original volumes remastered, two volumes of previously unreleased material, the exclusive album Martyr City, an illustrated booklet with a short autobiography written by Esham detailing the days of the original Judgement Day release as well as a background story for Martyr City, a live concert DVD, deluxe packaging and a Certificate of Authenticity.[4][5]
Reception
Allmusic's Jason Birchmeier wrote that Judgement Day, Vol. 1 "may not be his most well-crafted work, but it certainly stands as his most inspired work of the '90s",[3] while Vol. 2 "isn't quite as strong as the first volume, suffering mostly from a number of weak tracks [...] the first volume doesn't rely quite so much on cheap shock, instead focusing on evocative horror motifs, making Judgement Day, Vol. 2 the less important of the two."[3]
Track listing
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Source | Rating |
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Allmusic | Vol. 1: [3] |
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1. | "Nine Dead Bodies" | 2:15 |
2. | "The Boogieman" | 1:58 |
3. | "How Do I Plead to Homicide" | 3:54 |
4. | "I'd Rather Be Dead" | 2:50 |
5. | "Momma Was a Junkie" | 4:05 |
6. | "Once You Go Black" | 4:30 |
7. | "Makin' More Music" | 3:15 |
8. | "Hit and Run" | 2:51 |
9. | "Thinking to Myself" | 2:27 |
10. | "Fallen Angel" | 3:19 |
11. | "I Met This Little Girlie" | 3:13 |
12. | "Acid" | 3:30 |
13. | "Devilish Mood" | 2:27 |
14. | "My Last Words" | 3:12 |
15. | "Losin My Religion" | 1:55 |
Total length: | 46:26 |
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Allmusic | Vol. 2 [3] |
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1. | "Judgement Day" | 3:29 |
2. | "Living in Incest"" | 3:37 |
3. | "Play Dead"" | 2:43 |
4. | "13 Ways" | 3:26 |
5. | "Finger in the Cake Mix" | 4:12 |
6. | "The Devil Gets Funky" | 3:38 |
7. | "Crib Death" | 2:07 |
8. | "Dead By Day" | 2:00 |
9. | "Wake the Dead" | 3:57 |
10. | "Dumb Bitch" | 1:31 |
11. | "U Wanna Know Somethin" | 1:18 |
12. | "Hoe Role" | 3:41 |
13. | "Dyin to Be Down" | 3:23 |
14. | "Sell Me Yo Soul" | 3:53 |
15. | "We Got Some Nonbelievers" | 2:18 |
Total length: | 46:04 |
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1. | "The Devil's in Da House" | 3:19 |
2. | "How Much is Ya Life Worth" | 4:18 |
3. | "Preacherz Daughter" | 2:39 |
4. | "Deathwish" | 4:38 |
5. | "Memories of Abuse" | 3:06 |
6. | "Nice with my Hands" | 3:41 |
7. | "Original 24/7" | 3:46 |
8. | "Save the Drama 4 Ya Mama" | 2:44 |
9. | "Fucked Up in the Head" (feat. T-N-T) | 3:38 |
10. | "Hold on Tight" | 2:54 |
11. | "Would U Die 4 Me" | 2:36 |
12. | "Suck My Dick" | 1:10 |
13. | "Jokers Wild" | 4:58 |
14. | "Listen 2 a Deadman Speak" | 5:01 |
15. | "Toejam" | 2:57 |
16. | "Pussycat" | 4:15 |
17. | "Bloody Mary" | 3:26 |
18. | "Just Another Pretty Face" | 3:06 |
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1. | "Unbelievable" | 3:00 |
2. | "2 A Funky Azz Beat" | 4:07 |
3. | "Freakbone" | 3:34 |
4. | "All My Friends Are Dead" | 3:49 |
5. | "Talk Dirty to Em" | 2:15 |
6. | "Youz A Bitch" | 3:03 |
7. | "Unholy Rock & Roll" | 3:48 |
8. | "Heartburn" | 2:16 |
9. | "Where U From Fool" | 2:47 |
10. | "Erotic Poetry 3" | 3:33 |
11. | "Gimmy My" | 2:44 |
12. | "Nappy Head" | 3:06 |
13. | "Shitlist" | 3:25 |
14. | "When I Say Bitch" | 4:26 |
15. | "Don't Need Ya Hoe" | 4:24 |
16. | "'89 Freestyle" | 3:18 |
17. | "'91 Osborn H.S. Talent Show" | 3:04 |
18. | "Soopamack" | 5:11 |
19. | "Keep On Twerkin" | 5:29 |
20. | "Musical Madness" | 5:41 |
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1. | "Intro" | 1:52 |
2. | "Hate Me" | 1:46 |
3. | "Here Comes the Antichrist" | 3:00 |
4. | "My Life" | 3:58 |
5. | "Workin' for the Devil" | 3:40 |
6. | "Detroit Stand Up" | 2:43 |
7. | "Get Guap" | 3:19 |
8. | "Cocaine" | |
9. | "What Up Doe" (feat. Doc "Hollywood" Hustle) | 5:18 |
10. | "Automatic" | 5:15 |
11. | "Fuck Y’all" | 3:28 |
12. | "E-S-H-A-M (Every Shooter Has A Motive)" | 2:42 |
13. | "Understanding" | 4:21 |
14. | "Martyr Sity" | 2:42 |
References
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