Nocturnal (Heltah Skeltah album)
Nocturnal | ||||
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Studio album by Heltah Skeltah | ||||
Released | June 18, 1996 | |||
Genre | East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop | |||
Length | 65:21 | |||
Label |
Duck Down/Priority/EMI Records 0499 2 50532 2 7 P2-50532 | |||
Producer |
Buckshot Lord Jamar Baby Paul Shaleek DJ Evil Dee Shawn J. Period Supreme Mr. Walt E-Swift | |||
Heltah Skeltah chronology | ||||
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Singles from Nocturnal | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
The Source | [2] |
Nocturnal is the debut album from hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah, consisting of members Rock and Ruck (who later became known as Sean Price), members of Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik. It was the first BCC album to feature some outside producers, such as Shawn J. Period and E-Swift.
Background
The two made their debut on Smif-N-Wessun's 1995 album Dah Shinin'. Later in 1995, Rock and Ruck teamed up with O.G.C. to form the Fab 5, and released the single "Blah" b/w "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". "Leflah", included here, became a Billboard Hot 100 hit in '95 and the biggest hit from the Boot Camp family to date. "Leflah" was re-released as an A-Side single in early 1996, featuring the first sole Heltah Skeltah track, "Letha Brainz Blo", as its B-Side. The first official single released from the album was "Operation Lock Down", produced by Tha Alkaholiks' E-Swift. Other singles released from the album were "Therapy" and "Da Wiggy".
The "Twin Towers" of the Boot Camp Clik gained much recognition and respect in the Hip Hop world with the release of their debut, now hailed as a 90's Hip Hop classic. Led by Rock's rough, booming voice and Ruck's strong lyrical ability, and backed by dark, grimy beats by Da Beatminerz, Shaleek, and others, the release received wide acclaim in the Hip Hop world, but didn't reach much further, selling around 250,000 copies in the US.
Track listing
# | Title | Songwriters | Producer(s) | Performer (s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Intro (Here We Come)" | K. Blake, J. McNair, J. Bush | Buckshot, Lord Jamar | Rock, Starang Wondah |
2 | "Letha Brainz Blo" | P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush | Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz | Rock, Ruck |
3 | "Undastand" | P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush | Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz | Ruck, Rock |
4 | "Who Dat?" | K. Blake, S. Price, J. Bush | Buckshot | Ruck, Rock |
5 | "Sean Price" | D. Pearson, S. Price | Shaleek | Ruck, Illa Noyz |
6 | "Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's" | E. Dewgarde, J. Bush, S. Price | DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz | Rock, Ruck |
7 | "Therapy" | P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush, V. Mojica | Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz | Rock, Ruck, Vinia Mojica |
8 | "Place to Be" | S. Price, J. Bush, Shawn J. Period | Shawn J. Period | Ruck, Rock |
9 | "Soldiers Gone Psyco" | P. Hendricks, J. Bush, S. Price | Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz | Ruck, Rock |
10 | "The Square (Triple R)" | S. Price, J. Bush, L. Johnson, B. Muniz | Supreme | Rock, Ruck, Representativz |
11 | "Da Wiggy" | W. Dewgarde, J. Bush, S. Price | Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Ruck, Rock |
12 | "Gettin Ass Gettin Ass" | S. Price, V. Mojica | Dr. Kill Patient aka Sean Price | Ruck, Vinia Mojica |
13 | "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" | P. Hendricks, J. McNair, J. Bush, D. Yates, S. Price, B. Powell | Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz | The Fab 5 (Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C.) |
14 | "Prowl" | W. Dewgarde, J. Bush, B. Powell, S. Price | Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz | Rock, Ruck, Louieville Sluggah |
15 | "Grate Unknown" | D. Pearson, S. Price, J. Bush | Shaleek | Ruck, Rock |
16 | "Operation Lock Down" | E. Brooks, J. Bush, S. Price | E-Swift | Rock, Ruck |
17 | "Lock Down Skit" | E-Swift | Ruck as "Bejesus", Rock |
Samples
- "Letha Brainz Blo"
- "The Look of Love" by Johnny Pate
- "Undastand"
- "Soledad De Murcia" by Michael Naura Quartett
- "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts
- "Who Dat?"
- "Both Ends Against the Middle" by Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
- "Sean Price"
- "Nuff Man A Dead" by Super Cat
- "Prowl"
- "Danube Incident" by Lalo Schifrin
- "Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's"
- "The Mixed Up Cup" by Clyde McPhatter
- "Grate Unknown"
- "Let It Be Me" by Gloria Lynne
- "Operation Lockdown"
- "Theme From Summer '42" by George Benson
- "Da Wiggy"
- "If I Needed Someone" by Bit'A Sweet
- "Can You Do Without?" by Meters
- "Therapy"
- "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson
- "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
- "Uzuri" by Catalyst
- "Soldiers Gone Psyco"
- "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone
- "Lost In a Pool of Red" by Wade Marcus
Album singles
Single information |
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"Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
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"Operation Lock Down"
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"Therapy"
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Music videos
- "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" Director: Marcus Turner Released: 1995
- "Operation Lock Down" Released: 1996
- "Therapy" Director: Gobi Najed
Released: 1996
Album chart positions
Year | Album | Chart positions | |
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Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
1996 | Nocturnal | 35 | 5 |
Singles chart positions
Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
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Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
1995 | "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" | 75[3] | 51 | 8 | 19 |
1996 | "Operation Lock Down" | - | 64 | 15 | 13 |
"Da Wiggy" | - | - | 15 | - | |
"Therapy" | - | 77 | 16 | 21 |
References
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ The Source review
- ↑ "Heltah Skeltah Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.