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Dare Iz a Darkside

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Dare Iz a Darkside
Studio album by
Redman
ReleasedNovember 22, 1994
RecordedMarch 1993 – August 1994
Genre
Length68:37
LabelDef Jam
Producer
Redman chronology
Whut? Thee Album
(1992) 		Dare Iz a Darkside
(1994) 		Muddy Waters
(1996)
Singles from Dare Iz a Darkside
  1. "Rockafella"
    Released: September 29, 1994
  2. "Can't Wait"
    Released: February 7, 1995

Dare Iz a Darkside is the second studio album by American rapper Redman. It was released on November 22, 1994, by Def Jam Recordings. The album debuted at 13 on the US Billboard 200.[1] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[2]

The album cover features Redman buried in the ground up to his neck, a reference to the cover of Funkadelic's 1971 album Maggot Brain. In addition, the song "Cosmic Slop" shares its name with a 1973 Funkadelic album.[3] The album spawned the two singles "Rockafella" & "Can't Wait".

In 2010, Redman told Vibe Magazine that he never performed any songs from Dare Iz A Darkside in recent years - primarily due to the album being made during one of the dark times in his life.[4] The positive reaction to the album stunned Redman, who said "I was doing a lot of drugs on Dare Iz A Darkside. I have chicks that come up to me and say, 'Yo, Dare Iz A Darkside is my favorite fuckin' album, ever.' I swear, I have not played Dare Iz A Darkside damn near since I did it. Seriously! I was so lost, I was so fucked up during that album".[5] However, during his Verzuz battle with fellow rapper Method Man on April 20, 2021, Redman performed "Can't Wait" for the first time since its single release in 1995.[6]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Q[8]
RapReviews9/10[9]
The Source[8]
Vibe(favorable)[8]

Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic gave the album a mixed review, remarking that producer Erick Sermon, who plays a large role in the production of the album, "isn't up to his usual standards here." Birchmeier also noted Redman's eccentric personality on Darkside in particular may have alienated fans of his earlier work with EPMD.[7] Though when checking the production credits, Erick Sermon is only listed as an executive producer. He was executive producer for 5 of the albums' 16 actual tracks, not including skits. In reality, it was Reggie Noble who handled lead production of the album. The Source gave it 4 stars. It is considered a cult classic by a section of Redman's fans who believed the album showed Redman at his most cynical and hardcore.

Commercial performance

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Dare Iz a Darkside debuted at number 13 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums selling 83,000 copies,[10] becoming his first number one on the chart.[1] On January 27, 1995, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over 500,000 copies.[11] As of October 2009, the album has 587,000 copies in the United States.[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Dr. Trevis"Reggie NobleRedman1:37
2."Bobyahed2dis"
3:24
3."Journey Throo da Darkside"
2:26
4."Da Journee"NobleRedman2:12
5."A Million and 1 Buddah Spots"
  • Noble
  • Sermon
  • Erick Sermon
  • Redman (co.)
3:23
6."Noorotic"
  • Noble
  • Stinson
  • Rockwilder
  • Redman (co.)
3:32
7."Boodah Session"NobleRedman0:31
8."Cosmic Slop" (featuring Erick Sermon and Keith Murray)
  • Redman
  • Erick Sermon (co.)
2:56
9."Rockafella (R.I.P.)"
  • Noble
  • Sermon
Redman0:25
10."Rockafella"
Redman4:44
11."Green Island"
Redman5:42
12."Basically"NobleRedman2:03
13."Can't Wait"
  • Erick Sermon
  • Redman (co.)
4:13
14."Winicumuhround"
  • Noble
  • Sermon
  • Clinton Jr.
  • Shider
  • Spradley
  • Erick Sermon
  • Redman (co.)
4:28
15."Wuditlooklike"NobleRedman4:09
16."Slide and Rock On"
  • Noble
  • Vaughan Mason
  • Robert Telson
  • Clinton Jr.
  • Shider
  • Spradley
Redman3:54
17."Sooperman Luva II"
  • Noble
  • John Watson
  • Reynaldo Rey
  • Timothy Gatling
  • Alton Stewart
Redman4:50
18."We Run N.Y." (featuring Hurricane G)
Redman4:13
19."Dr. Trevis (Signs Off)"NobleRedman1:39
20."Tonight's da Nite (Remix)"NobleRedman3:51
Total length:1:04:03

The cassette version is tinted red.

Personnel

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Information taken from Allmusic.[13]

  • Engineering – Mike Bona, Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse
  • Executive Production – Erick Sermon
  • Mastering – Tony Dawsey
  • Mixing – Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse
  • Narration – Jeff Stewart
  • Performing – Hurricane G, Keith Murray, Erick Sermon
  • Photography – Danny Clinch
  • Production – Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon
  • Sequencing – Reggie Noble, Jeff Trotter
  • Vocals – Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b "allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  2. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - December 02, 2010 : Search Results - Redman". RIAA. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  3. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  4. ^ "Full Clip: Redman Runs Down His Entire Catalogue". interview. vibe.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  5. ^ Paine, Jake. "Redman Revisits "Dare Iz A Darkside" And Talks Gilla House, Saukrates". hiphopdx.com. Cheri Media. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Bloom, Madison; Minsker, Evan. "Method Man and Redman's VERZUZ Battle: Here's What Happened". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  7. ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Review )))". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "Redman - Dare Iz a Darkside CD Album". Muze. CD Universe. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  9. ^ 'Flash' Juon, Steve (March 5, 2002). "Redman :: Dare Iz a Darkside :: Def Jam". RapReviews.com. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  10. ^ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/12/03/kenny-g-puts-yule-atop-charts/
  11. ^ "RIAA Certifications - Redman". Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "XXL SCANS: DEF JAM'S ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY & RECORD SALES". October 18, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Credits )))". Allmusic. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  14. ^ "Redman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "Redman Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  19. ^ "American album certifications – Redman – Dare Iz a Darkside". Recording Industry Association of America.
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