Released June 26, 2001 Length 60:52 Artist Beanie Sigel Label Roc-A-Fella Records | Recorded 2000 - 2001 The Reason
(2001) The B. Coming
(2005) Release date 26 June 2001 | |
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Producers Just Blaze, Kanye West, Rick Rock, 88-Keys, Damon Dash, Jay Z, Kareem "Biggs" Burke Genres Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop Similar Beanie Sigel albums, Hip hop music albums | ||
The Reason is the second studio album by rapper Beanie Sigel. It was released on Roc-A-Fella Records on June 26, 2001. The album contains 14 tracks, and special guests include Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z, Freeway, Omillio Sparks, Scarface, Daz, Kurupt, and Rell. It received mixed reviews from critics divided by Sigel's lyrical abilities as a rapper. The Reason debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and spawned two singles: "Beanie (Mack Bitch)" and "Think It's a Game".
Contents
Critical reception
The Reason garnered mixed reviews from music critics who commended the record's East Coast production but questioned Sigel's abilities as a credible rapper. Andy Capper of NME found some familiarity in the album's beats but praised Sigel's dark-yet-intriguing delivery along with a talented list of guest artists, calling it "one of the best hardcore rap records of the year 2001." Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised the lyrical delivery and production for being an upgrade from Sigel's debut effort The Truth, saying that, "[I]n the pantheon of Philadelphia rap from The Roots to Will Smith, make room for a mack (bitch) - he's definitely earned his right to shine." Entertainment Weekly's Evan Serpick said that, "Sigel will never sound as urgent as Chuck D or as smooth as Method Man, but the Jay-Z protégé makes up for it with smarter-than-average gangsta lyrics and eclectic hip-hop beats."
AllMusic writer Bret Love commended the production for remaining consistent and Sigel's persona of a street smart hustler but found it running its course as the album continued, concluding that "Sigel's sophomore effort isn't so much an artistic step forward as it is a step sideways." HipHopDX writer Affrikka said that despite the first two tracks, the record starts to fall off into mediocre un-originality, saying that "Overall, the experience leaves you wanting more from the executive producing credit that Jay-Z takes. It’s almost as if anyone involved in this project expected listeners to not get past the first couple songs." Soren Baker, writing for the Los Angeles Times, commented that "[T]he normally assertive and interesting Philadelphia rapper flows like a sloth on nearly every cut of his second album, failing to elicit much excitement despite the solid, hard-core production." Robert Christgau graded the album as a "dud", indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought."
Commercial performance
The Reason debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 selling 151,000 copies in its first week. On its second week, it dropped to number 11 with sales dropping 50% to 50,000 copies.
Samples
Nothing Like It
So What You Saying
Get Down
Man’s World
Mom Praying
Still Got Love For You
What Your Life Like 2
Think It's A Game
Personnel
Credits for The Reason adapted from AllMusic.
Album/Singles Awards
Album of the Year: Beanie Sigel, "The Reason"
Songs
1Nothing Like It3:23
2Beanie (Mack Bitch)4:14
3So What You Saying5:07