1996 studio album by Westside Connection
Bow Down Released October 22, 1996 (1996-10-22 ) Recorded 1995–96 Studio Genre Length 48 :12 Label Producer
Bow Down is the debut studio album by American West Coast hip hop supergroup Westside Connection . It was released on October 22, 1996, through Lench Mob Records and Priority Records . The recording sessions took place at Ice Cube 's house studio, Westsiiiiide Studios, in California , except for the song "Gangstas Make the World Go Round ", which was recorded at Treehouse Studios in South Africa . The production was handled by Bud'da , Quincy Jones III , Binky Mack , and Ice Cube, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Allfrumtha I and the Comrads .
The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums , shipping 145,000 units.[ 1] It went on to sell 1.7 million copies in the United States receiving Platinum certification status by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 10, 1997.[ 2] It was also certified Gold by Canadian Recording Industry Association for selling 50,000 units in Canada.
Its singles, a title track and "Gangstas Make the World Go Round", made it to the Billboard Hot 100 , landing at number 21 and 40, respectively. The songs "King of the Hill", "Cross 'Em out and Put a 'K" and "Hoo Bangin' (WSCG Style)" are diss tracks towards hip hop group Cypress Hill , Q-Tip and rapper Common .
Critical reception
The Indianapolis Star called the album "one of the strongest gauntlet-throw-downs on disc, but it may well be a last gasp from the gangsta style that is suffering from Tupac Shakur's murder."[ 11]
Track listing Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "World Domination" (Intro) 1:16 2. "Bow Down " Bud'da 3:27 3. "Gangstas Make the World Go Round " 4:33 4. "All the Critics in New York" 5:35 5. "Do You Like Criminals?" (featuring K-Dee ) Bud'da 5:01 6. "Gangstas Don't Dance" (Insert) Binky Mack 0:22 7. "The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer" Bud'da 4:15 8. "Cross 'Em Out and Put a 'K" Jackson Rolison Calhoun S. Anderson Bud'da 4:56 9. "King of the Hill" QDIII 4:17 10. "3 Time Felons" Jackson Rolison Calhoun S. Anderson Bud'da 5:10 11. "Westward Ho" Jackson Rolison Calhoun Jones III QDIII 5:12 12. "The Pledge" (Insert) 0:14 13. "Hoo-Bangin' (WSCG Style)" (featuring The Comrads and Allfrumtha I ) Jackson Rolison Calhoun Garmon Terrell Anderson Garner Marcus Moore Ice Cube 3:58 Total length: 48:12
Sample credits
Personnel O'Shea "Ice Cube " Jackson – main performer, producer (tracks: 3, 13) , co-producer (track 4) , engineering, mixing, executive producer
Dedrick "Mack 10 " Rolison – main performer
William "WC " Calhoun Jr. – main performer
Kelly "K-Mac " Garmon – featured artist (tracks: 5, 13)
Terrell "Gangsta" Anderson – featured artist (track 13)
Ryan "Binky Mack " Garner – featured artist (track 13) , producer (track 4)
Marcus "Squeak Ru " Moore – featured artist (track 13)
Jonathan Hyde – vocals (track 1)
Stephen "Bud'da " Anderson – producer (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 8, 10)
Quincy Delight Jones III – producer (tracks: 9, 11)
Cedric Samson – co-producer (track 3)
Keston Wright – engineering
Art Shoji – art direction, design
Manuel J. Donayre – art direction, design
Michael Miller – photography
Steven Wills – logo artwork
Marvin Watkins – A&R
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
See also
References
^ "CNN.com - Studdard album debuts at No. 1 - Dec. 19, 2003" . CNN . December 19, 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-12-26. Retrieved February 15, 2021 .
^ "West Coast rap supergroup to release CD" . September 27, 2003. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2007 .
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "Bow Down - Westside Connection | Songs, Reviews, Credits" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved February 15, 2021 .
^ Bernard, James (December 13, 1996). "Bow Down" . Entertainment Weekly . No. 357. p. 82. Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved February 15, 2021 .
^ Coker, Cheo Hodari (November 6, 1996). "Ice Cube and Friends Make Violent Westside Connection : WESTSIDE CONNECTION "Bow Down"; Priority (**)" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 15, 2021 .
^ Ashon, Will (December 1996). "Westside Connection: Bow Down " (PDF) . Muzik . No. 19. p. 141. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022 .
^ Chandler, Justin (July 3, 2007). "Westside Connection :: Bow Down :: Priority Records" . RapReviews . Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved February 15, 2021 .
^ Powell, Kevin (December 12, 1996). "Recordings: Westside Connection – Bow Down" . Rolling Stone . No. 749. p. 86. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2024 .
^ Gordon, Allen S. (December 1996). "Record Report: Westside Connection – Bow Down". The Source . No. 87. New York. p. 123.
^ Christgau, Robert (December 3, 1996). "Consumer Guide Turkey Shoot" . The Village Voice . Vol. 41, no. 49. p. 84. Retrieved July 20, 2024 .
^ Miley, Scott L. (24 Nov 1996). " 'Bow Down' disc fuels West-East rap feud". The Indianapolis Star . p. I4.
^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company" . www.officialcharts.com .
^ "Westside Connection Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 21, 2015.
^ "Westside Connection Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 21, 2015.
^ "Billboard 200 albums year end 1996" . Billboard . Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2015-12-18 .
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996" . Billboard . Retrieved January 27, 2021 .
^ "Billboard 200 albums year end 1997" . Billboard . Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2015-12-18 .
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997" . Billboard . Retrieved January 27, 2021 .
^ "Canadian album certifications – Westside Connection – Bow Down" . Music Canada .
^ "American album certifications – Westside Connection – Bow Down" . Recording Industry Association of America .
External links
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