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Gangsta's Paradise

 
Album Review: Gangsta's Paradise
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Gangsta's Paradise

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  • Artist: Coolio
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: November 21, 1995
  • Total Time: 64:25
  • Type: Contains explicit content
  • Genre: Rap

Review

Most of Coolio's hit debut It Takes a Thief was fairly upbeat material, but the appearance of the stark single "Gangsta's Paradise" in the summer of 1995 signaled a change in the rapper's music. Driven by an ominously deep bassline and slashing strings, the creeping, threatening funk of "Gangsta's Paradise" was the most chilling thing Coolio had recorded to date, but the menace didn't come at the expense of his considerable talent for immediate, catchy hooks. Consequently, the single shot to the top of the charts and hovered in the Top Ten for many weeks. The album followed shortly afterwards, and it didn't fail to deliver on the promise of the single. Not only did Coolio expand his sound, but his songwriting skills improved, as Gangsta's Paradise has very few weak moments. Alternating between slow, funky grooves and elastic, party-ready anthems, Gangsta's Paradise is proof that Coolio is one of the most exciting and interesting hip-hop artists of the mid-'90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
That's How It Is Coolio (1:00)
Geto Highlites (Lyrics) Devon Davis, Christopher Hamabe, Andy Ivey Coolio (4:59)
Gangsta's Paradise Coolio, Doug Rasheed, Larry Sanders, Stevie Wonder Coolio (4:00)
Too Hot (Lyrics) Coolio, George "Funky" Brown, Brian Dobbs Coolio (3:40)
Crusin' (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson, Coolio, Devon Davis, Christopher Hamabe, Melvin Bradford, Marvin Tarplin Coolio (4:36)
Exercise Yo' Game (Lyrics) Andy Ivey Coolio, 40 Thevz (5:20)
1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) Andy Ivey Coolio (3:33)
Smilin' (Lyrics) Jammin' James Carter, Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart, Dominic Aldridge, Andy Ivey Coolio (4:09)
Fucc Coolio Coolio (:48)
Kinda High, Kinda Drunk (Lyrics) Coolio (3:44)
For My Sistas (Lyrics) Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, O'Kelly Isley, Oji Pierce, Andy Ivey Coolio (4:26)
Is This Me? Devon Davis, Andy Ivey Coolio (4:23)
A Thing Goin' On Kenny Gamble, Cary Gilbert, Leon Huff, Oji Pierce, Andy Ivey Coolio (4:21)
Bright as the Sun (Lyrics) Oji Pierce, Andy Ivey Coolio (4:47)
Recoup This (Lyrics) Coolio (1:20)
The Revolution Gil Goldstein, Coolio, Brian Dobbs, A. Butler Coolio (3:48)
Get Up Get Down (Lyrics) Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, Brian Dobbs, Paul Jackson, Andy Ivey, Melvin Bradford Coolio (5:31)

Credits

James "J.T." Taylor (Vocals (Background)), Coolio (Producer), Coolio (Main Performer), Charlie Anderson (Bass), Frank Cannon (Keyboards), James Carter (Producer), Brian Dobbs (Producer), Chris Fletcher (Guitar), Andrew Gouche (Bass), Brian James (Guitar), Roy Dog Pennon (Bass), Roy Dog Pennon (Keyboards), Oji Pierce (Producer), Doug Rasheed (Producer), Maurice Thompson (Producer), Wil Wheaton (Vocals (Background)), Jay Williams (Producer), Dominic Aldridge (Producer), Baby G. (Vocals (Background)), Darryl Crookes (Guitar), Shaunna D. (Vocals (Background)), Devon Davis (Keyboards), Devon Davis (Programming), Devon Davis (Producer), Lashanna Dendy (Vocals (Background)), 40 Thevz (Vocals (Background)), 40 Thevz (Performer), Christopher Hamabe (Keyboards), Christopher Hamabe (Programming), Christopher Hamabe (Producer), Malika (Vocals), Eric "Funkyworm" Park (Guitar), Rated R (Vocals), Trinna Simmons (Vocals (Background)), Stan Jones (Guitar), Peter Reardon (Engineer)
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Wikipedia: Gangsta's Paradise
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Gangsta's Paradise
Studio album by Coolio
Released November 21, 1995
Recorded 1994-1995
Genre Hip-hop
West Coast hip-hop
Gangsta rap
G-funk
Length 64:25
Label Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
Producer Coolio
Christopher Hamabe
Devon Davis
Doug Rasheed
Brian "The Wino" Dobbs
Professional reviews
Coolio chronology
It Takes a Thief
(1994)		 Gangsta's Paradise
(1996)		 My Soul
(1997)

Gangsta's Paradise is the second album by rapper Coolio, released on November 21, 1995. The album contained two hits: "Gangsta's Paradise", which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", which reached #5.

Contents

Track listing

# Title Producer(s) Performer (s)
1 "That's How It Is" Coolio Coolio, Talkbox
2 "Geto Highlites" Christopher Hamabe, Devon Davis Coolio, 40 Thevz (backing vocals)
3 "Gangsta's Paradise" Doug Rasheed Coolio, L.V., Trinna Simmons (backing)
4 "Too Hot" Brian Dobbs Coolio, J.T. Taylor
5 "Cruisin'" Christopher Hamabe, Devon Davis Coolio, Malika, Shaunna D. (backing)
6 "Exercise Yo Game" Jay Williams, Maurice Thompson 40 Thevz, Coolio, E-40, Kam
7 "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" James Carter, Poison Ivey Coolio
8 "Smilin'" Dominic Aldridge, James Carter, Reece Carter (co-producer) Coolio, Baby G (backing)
9 "Fucc Coolio" Coolio Coolio
10 "Kinda High Kinda Drunk" Dominic Aldridge, James Carter, Danny Taylor (co-producer) Coolio
11 "For My Sistas" Oji Pierce Coolio, Lashann Dendy
12 "Is This Me?" Devon Davis Coolio, LV, Rated R
13 "A Thing Goin' on" Oji Pierce Coolio, Jeremy Monroe
14 "Bright as the Sun" Oji Pierce Coolio, Will Wheaton
15 "Recoup This" Spoon Coolio, Capucine Jackson (backing), P.S. (backing)
16 "The Revolution" Brian Dobbs Coolio
17 "Get Up, Get Down" Brian Dobbs Coolio, Leek Ratt, Malika, P.S., Ras Kass, Shorty, WC

Samples and interpolations

  • "Gangsta's Paradise" contains samples of "Pastime Paradise", performed by Stevie Wonder.
  • "Too Hot" contains an interpolation of "Too Hot", originally performed by Kool & The Gang.
  • "Cruisin'" contains an interpolation of "Cruisin'", originally performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
  • "Sumpin' New" contains samples of "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips More)", performed by Tom Browne, and "Wikka Wrap", performed by The Evasions.
  • "Smilin'" contains an interpolation of "You Caught Me Smiling", originally performed by Sly & The Family Stone.
  • "Kinda High, Kinda Drunk" contains interpolations of "Saturday Night" and "The Boyz in Da Hood"
  • "For My Sistas" contains an interpolation of "Make Me Say It Again Girl", originally performed by The Isley Brothers.
  • "A Thing Goin' On" contains an interpolation of "Me & Mrs. Jones".
  • "The Revolution" contains an interpolation of "Magic Night".
  • "Get Up, Get Down" contains an interpolation of "Chameleon", originally performed by Herbie Hancock.
  • Song "Gangsta's Paradise" is used in the film Dangerous Minds (1995).[1]
  • The first line of Gangsters paradise is taken from Psalm 23

Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Canada[2] Platinum July 21, 1997 100,000
Germany[3] Gold 1996 150,000
Netherlands[4] Gold 1996 40,000
Sweden[5] Gold March 28, 1996 10,000
UK[6] Platinum January 1, 1996 400,000
U.S.[7] 2 x Platinum April 10, 1996 2,000,000

Charts

Chart (1995-1996) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[8] 12
Austrian Albums Chart[8] 4
Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart[8] 28
Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart[8] 14
Dutch Albums Chart[8] 9
Finnish Albums Chart[8] 11
French SNEP Albums Chart[8] 38
German Albums Chart[9] 6
New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart[8] 5
Norwegian Albums Chart[8] 24
Swedish Albums Chart[8] 16
Swiss Albums Chart[8] 2
UK Albums Chart[10] 18
U.S. Billboard 200[11] 9
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[11] 14

References

  1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112792/
  2. ^ Canada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  3. ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  4. ^ Dutch certifications nvpi.nl (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  5. ^ Swedish certifications Ifpi.se (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  6. ^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  7. ^ U.S. certifications riaa.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gangsta's Paradise, in various albums charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  9. ^ German Albums Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  10. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
  11. ^ a b Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
v • d • e
Coolio
Albums
Compilation albums
Singles
"County Line" · "Mama I'm in Love" · "I Remember" · "Fantastic Voyage" · "Gangsta's Paradise" · "Too Hot" · "It's All the Way Live (Now)" · "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" · "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" · "C U When U Get There" · "Winner" · "Ooh La La" · "Ghetto Square Dance" · "Hustler" · "Gangsta Walk"
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gangsta's Paradise".  Read more

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