Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Spice 1 (album)

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Released
  
April 14, 1992

Length
  
56:38

Recorded
  
1991–1992

Label
  
Jive

Genre
  
West Coast hip hop gangsta rap horrorcore

Producer
  
Ant Banks Blackjack E-A-Ski & CMT Spice 1

Spice 1 is the self-titled debut album by American rapper Spice 1, released April 14, 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. 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.

Contents

Along with singles, music videos were produced for four songs, including: "In My Neighborhood", "Welcome to the Ghetto", "187 Proof" and "East Bay Gangsta". 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."

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..."

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..."

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

  • "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" by Marvin Gaye
  • "No One's Gonna Love You" by The S.O.S. Band

    • 187 Pure

  • "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James

    • City Streets

  • "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" by The Dramatics

    • F***ed in the Game

  • "Make Me Believe in You" by Curtis Mayfield

    • In My Neighborhood

  • "Reach for It" by George Duke

    • Money Gone

  • "Time for a Change" by Mel Brown

    • Money or Murder

  • "Joy by Isaac Hayes

    • Peace to My Nine

  • "One Nation Under a Groove" by Funkadelic

    • Young N****

  • "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" by Parliament
  • "Us" by Ice Cube

    • 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
    Singles

    References

    Spice 1 (album) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA