Gangsta's Paradise (album)

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Gangsta's Paradise
Studio album by Coolio

Publication
(s)

November 21, 1995

Label (s) Tommy Boy Records , Warner Bros.

Format (s)

CD , LP , MC

Genre (s)

Gangsta rap , west coast hip hop , G-funk

Title (number)

17th

running time

64:20

production

  • Coolio
  • Devon Davis
  • Oji Pierce
  • James Carter
  • Brian Dobbs
  • among others

Studio (s)

  • Echo Sounds, Los Angeles
  • Studio 56, Hollywood
chronology
It Takes a Thief
(1994) 		Gangsta's Paradise My Soul
(1997)
Single releases
August 8, 1995 Gangsta's Paradise
August 8, 1995 Too hot
February 20, 1996 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin 'New)

Gangsta's Paradise ( English for: " criminal paradise ") is the second studio album by the US rapper Coolio . It was released on November 21, 1995 on the Tommy Boy Records and Warner Bros.

production

The album was produced by Coolio himself and various music producers . Three instrumentals each come from Devon Davis, Oji Pierce, James Carter and Brian Dobbs, while Christopher Hamabe and Dominic Aldridge were involved in the production of two beats each. In addition, individual songs were produced by Doug Rasheed, Jay Williams and Maurice Thompson, Poison Ivey and Spoon. Many songs contain samples of pieces by other artists.

Cover design

The album cover shows Coolio wearing a purple shirt and white tie. In the background you can see the dark night sky and high-rise buildings, the windows of which are brightly lit. At the top and bottom of the picture are the white lettering Coolio and Gangsta's Paradise on a black background.

Guest Posts

In addition to Coolio, other musicians appear on nine of the 17 songs. So the singer LV has guest contributions on the songs Gangsta's Paradise and Is This Me? The latter also features Rated R. Exercise Yo 'Game is a collaboration with rappers 40 Thevz, E-40 and Kam, while Coolio is supported by Malika, Shorty, Leek Ratt, PS, WC and Ras Kass on Get Up Get Down . The singer Malika is also featured on Cruisin ' and the singer James "JT" Taylor has a guest appearance on the track Too Hot . Lashann Dendy ( For My Sistas ), Jeremy Monroe ( A Thing Goin 'On ) and Will Wheaton ( Bright as the Sun ) can also be heard on one track each. In addition, unnamed musicians are responsible for the background vocals on individual pieces .

Track list

# title Guest Posts producer length
1 That's How It Is Coolio 1:00
2 Geto highlites Christopher Hamabe and Devon Davis 4:59
3 Gangsta's Paradise LV Doug Rasheed 4:00
4th Too hot James "JT" Taylor Brian Dobbs 3:40
5 Cruisin ' Malika Christopher Hamabe and Devon Davis 4:34
6th Exercise Yo 'Game 40 Thevz, E-40 and Kam Jay Williams and Maurice Thompson 4:49
7th 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin 'New) James Carter and Poison Ivey 3:33
8th Smilin ' Dominic Aldridge and James Carter 4:07
9 Fucc Coolio Coolio 0:50
10 Kinda High Kinda Drunk Dominic Aldridge and James Carter 3:44
11 For My Sistas Lashann Dendy Oji Pierce 4:26
12 Is This Me? Rated R and LV Devon Davis 4:23
13 A thing goin 'on Jeremy Monroe Oji Pierce 4:45
14th Bright as the Sun Will Wheaton Oji Pierce 4:47
15th Recoup This Spoon 1:21
16 The revolution Brian Dobbs 3:48
17th Get Up Get Down Malika, Shorty, Leek Ratt, PS, WC and Ras Kass Brian Dobbs 5:32
Chart positions
Explanation of the data
Albums
Gangsta's Paradise
  DE 6th 11/20/1995 (28 weeks)
  AT 4th 12/17/1995 (16 weeks)
  CH 2 11/19/1995 (25 weeks)
  UK 18th 11/18/1995 (29 weeks)
  US 9 07/12/1995 (62 weeks)
Singles
Gangsta's Paradise
  DE 1Template: Infobox chart placements / maintenance / NR1 link 10/16/1995 (35 weeks)
  AT 1Template: Infobox chart placements / maintenance / NR1 link October 29, 1995 (24 weeks)
  CH 1Template: Infobox chart placements / maintenance / NR1 link 05/11/1995 (28 weeks)
  UK 1Template: Infobox chart placements / maintenance / NR1 link 10/28/1995 (34 weeks)
  US 1Template: Infobox chart placements / maintenance / NR1 link 08/19/1995 (38 weeks)
Too hot
  DE 24 01/22/1996 (17 weeks)
  CH 18th 03/17/1996 (9 weeks)
  UK 9 01/20/1996 (6 weeks)
  US 24 12/09/1995 (15 weeks)
1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin 'New)
  DE 39 04/22/1996 (12 weeks)
  UK 13 04/06/1996 (7 weeks)
  US 5 03/09/1996 (21 weeks)

Chart successes and singles

Gangsta's Paradise entered the German album charts at number 16 on November 20, 1995, and reached the top position nine weeks later at number 6. It was able to stay in the top 100 for a total of 28 weeks. In the USA, the album took 9th place and stayed in the top 200 for 62 weeks. The album also hit the charts in Austria, Switzerland and Great Britain. In the German annual charts in 1996, the sound carrier was ranked 45th.

Three songs on the album were released as singles . The first release of the title song Gangsta's Paradise was particularly successful worldwide, reaching the top of the charts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States and receiving numerous platinum records . The other two singles Too Hot and 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin 'New) also entered the charts.

Sales figures and awards

Professional reviews
Reviews
source rating
Rolling Stone
allmusic
RapReviews

Gangsta's Paradise sold more than 250,000 copies in Germany and thus received a gold record . The album went double-platinum in the United States for more than two million copies sold, and it was also awarded a gold record in the UK.

At the Grammy Awards in 1997 was Gangsta's Paradise in the category Best Rap Album nominated, but lost The Score by the Fugees . In contrast, the single Gangsta's Paradise won the 1996 Grammy Awards in the Best Rap Solo Performance category.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ album cover
  2. ↑ Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US
  3. ↑ Chart tracking Gangsta's Paradise at officialcharts.de
  4. ↑ DE: Annual charts # 45
  5. ↑ Rating: Rolling Stone
  6. ↑ Rating: allmusic.com
  7. ↑ Rating: RapReviews
  8. ↑ DE: Gold
  9. ↑ US: 2 × platinum
  10. ↑ UK: Gold