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Spice 1 (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spice 1
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 14, 1992
Recorded1990–1991
GenreGangsta rap[1]
Length56:38
LabelJive
Producer
Spice 1 chronology
Let It Be Known
(1991)
Spice 1
(1992)
187 He Wrote
(1993)
Singles from Spice 1
  1. "In My Neighborhood"
    Released: March 30, 1992
  2. "Welcome to the Ghetto"
    Released: June 12, 1992

Spice 1 is the debut studio album by American rapper Spice 1.[2] It was released on April 14, 1992, on Jive Records. It was certified gold by the RIAA.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Along with singles, music videos were produced for four songs: "In My Neighborhood",[6] "Welcome to the Ghetto",[7] "187 Proof"[8] and "East Bay Gangsta".[9] 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.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[10]
The Source[11]

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."[1]

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..."[10]

The album was included in The Source's 100 greatest hip hop albums.

Track listing

[edit]
Spice 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."In My Neighborhood"
3:42
2."187 Proof"GreenAnt Banks3:50
3."East Bay Gangster (Reggae)"Green4:31
4."Money Gone"Green
  • Blackjack
  • Spice 1
3:46
5."1-800-Spice"
  • Ant Banks
  • Spice 1
4:03
6."Peace to My Nine"
  • Ant Banks
  • Spice 1
4:58
7."Young Nigga"Green
  • E-A-Ski & CMT
  • Spice 1
5:00
8."Welcome to the Ghetto"Spice 1/ (Blackjack uncredited)4:09
9."Fucked in the Game"Green
  • Blackjack
  • Spice 1
4:03
10."Money or Murder"Green
  • Ant Banks
  • Spice 1
4:26
11."City Streets"Green
  • Ant Banks
  • Spice 1
4:49
12."1-900-Spice"Green
  • Ant Banks
  • Spice 1
1:33
13."Break Yourself" (featuring MC Ant)Green
  • Ant Banks
  • Spice 1
4:10
14."187 Pure"Green
  • E-A-Ski & CMT
  • Spice 1
3:38
Total length:56:38

Samples

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Welcome to the Ghetto

187 Pure

City Streets

F***ed in the Game

In My Neighborhood

Money Gone

Money or Murder

Peace to My Nine

Young N****

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.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Wynn, Ron. Review: Spice 1. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
  2. ^ Scanlon, Tom (Nov 22, 1992). "The New Motown: Call it 'Oaktown'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Spice 1 Billboard Albums. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
  5. ^ Spice 1 Billboard Singles. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
  6. ^ Spice 1 - "In My Neighborhood" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
  7. ^ Spice 1 - "Welcome to the Ghetto" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
  8. ^ Spice 1 - "187 Proof" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
  9. ^ Spice 1 - "East Bay Gangsta" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
  10. ^ a b Columnist. Review: Spice 1. Entertainment Weekly: 60. July 24, 1992.
  11. ^ Columnist. Review: Spice 1.
  12. ^ "Spice 1, TLN". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "Spice 1, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – Spice 1 – Spice 1". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
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