Released August 22, 2000 Producer Machine Artist Hed PE Label Jive Records | Length 50:22 Broke
(2000) Blackout
(2003) Release date 22 August 2000 | |
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Genres Hip hop music, Punk rock, Nu metal, Rapcore, Rap rock, Hard rock Similar Hed PE albums, Nu metal albums | ||
Broke is the second studio album by American rap rock band Hed PE. Released on August 22, 2000, the album expanded the band's sound to incorporate classic rock and world music influences. It peaked at #63 on the Billboard 200, and features the band's best known single, "Bartender", which peaked at #23 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at #27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and appeared on the retrospectives The Best of Hed Planet Earth and Major Pain 2 Indee Freedom: The Best of Hed P.E. The album sold over 250,000 copies.
Contents
01 killing time
Music
Allmusic described the musical style of Broke as Rap rock. In contrast to the band's first album, which solely mixed Hard rock with hip hop, Broke incorporates new elements, including classic rock and world music influences. The album features guest appearances in recognition of Hed PE's hardcore punk and heavy metal influences, including Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray, who performs on the song "Waiting to Die", and singers Serj Tankian of System of a Down and Morgan Lander of Kittie, who appear on the song "Feel Good".
Release and reception
The album peaked at #63 on the Billboard 200, while its first single, "Bartender", peaked at #23 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at #27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. A music video for "Killing Time", the second single from Broke, was produced in promotion of the film 3000 Miles to Graceland, which featured the song on its soundtrack.
Allmusic's Jason D. Taylor wrote that the album "may have not found as much success in the competitive mainstream market as some would have liked, and even despite its distinct departure from the group's debut, it is an album that shows more vision than other rap-tinged rock albums to come out in 2000."
Rolling Stone (10/26/00, p.112) - "...The rare rap-metal act willing to admit that good times actually exist....Rap metal has found its Motley Crue."
Q (10/00, p.119) - "...Focused and mature...they possess the wherewithal to express their anger and frustration musically..."
CMJ (8/21/00, p.27) - "...Weaves down-tuned guitars with booty-licious beats...and hardcore raps that are littered by more cussing than a sailor."
Melody Maker (8/26/00, p.59) - "...Brilliant, about as black as this pimp-rock is gonna get, hip-hop credible in a way no one in the field has been since Urban Dance Squad....it's a great album..."
The most negative response to the album came from critics who viewed its lyrics as misogynistic.
Legacy
"Bartender" was the band's most successful single. Jive Records included it on the compilation The Best of Hed Planet Earth, which was released without the band's authorization, permission, consent, or knowledge. It was also included on Major Pain 2 Indee Freedom: The Best of Hed P.E., which was compiled by the band and released by Suburban Noize Records.
Personnel
Songs
1Killing Time3:55
2Waiting to Die3:16
3Feel Good4:15