Hard or Smooth explained

Hard or Smooth
Type:	studio
Artist:	Wreckx-n-Effect
Cover:	Hard or Smooth.jpg
Released:	November 24, 1992
Recorded:	1991–1992
Studio:	Future Recording Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Length:	46:04
Label:	MCA
Prev Title:	Wrecks-n-Effect
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Raps New Generation
Next Year:	1996

Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992, for MCA Records and featured production from Teddy Riley, Ty Fyffe, Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn and Wreckx-n—Effect. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was shot to death in 1990.

Hard or Smooth became a success for the group thanks in large part to the single "Rump Shaker". The album itself made it to #9 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Several singles made it to the Billboard charts; "Rump Shaker" would make it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, as well as #9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play; "Knock-N-Boots" made it to #72 on the Hot 100 and #71 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; "My Cutie" made it to #37 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales and #75 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; and "Wreckx Shop" made it to #11 on the Hot Rap Tracks and 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Track listing

1. "Rump Shaker" (Aqil Davidson, Markell Riley, Teddy Riley, David Wynn, Anton Hollins, Pharrell Williams) – 5:13
2. "New Jack Swing, Pt. 2" (hard version) (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe, Pharrell Williams, Franklyn Grant) – 4:50
3. "Wreckx Shop" (Aqil Davidson, Tyrone Fyffe, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 4:39
4. "Knock-N-Boots" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Menton L. Smith) – 4:51
5. "Here We Come" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 4:27
6. "Tell Me How You Feel" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley) – 4:59
7. "My Cutie" (Menton L. Smith, Teddy Riley) – 4:07
8. "Wreckx-N-Effect" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 3:53
9. "Ez Come Ez Go (What Goes Up Must Come Down)" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, David Wynn) – 3:44
10. "Hard" (Teddy Riley, Aqil Davidson, Tyrone Fyffe) – 2:04
11. "Smooth" (Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe, Teddy Riley, Franklyn Grant, Menton L. Smith) – 2:59

Personnel

• Teddy Riley – all instruments, executive producer, mixing, recording engineer
• Tammy Lucas – background vocals
• Tyrone Fyffe – production, background vocals, scratches
• Franklyn Grant – production, recording engineer, mixing
• David Wynn – production, scratches
• Jean Marie Horvat – recording engineer, mixing
• Steve Thomas – scratches
• Darryl Shuler – background vocals
• Robert Nickerson – background vocals
• Dante Drew – background vocals
• Earl Thomas – assistant engineer
• Keston Wright – assistant engineer
• Steve Hall – mastering
• Todd Gray – photography
• Vartan – art direction
• DEY International – design

Samples

"Rump Shaker"

• "Blues and Pants" by James Brown
• "Darkest Light" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
• "Blind Alley" by The Emotions
• "Midnight Theme" by Manzel
• "I Like It" by DeBarge

"New Jack Swing, Pt. 2"

• "Woman to Woman" by Joe Cocker
• "The Bridge" by MC Shan
• "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band
• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
• "Just Rhymin' Wit Biz" by Biz Markie feat. Big Daddy Kane

"Wreckx Shop"

• "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
• "The Payback" by James Brown
• "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier

"Knock-N-Boots"

• "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
• "Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown
• "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic

"My Cutie"

• "Hihache" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
• "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown

"Hard"

• "Hard to Handle" by Otis Redding
• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss

"Smooth"

• "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps
• "Playing Your Game, Baby" by Barry White

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[1]	91
US Billboard 200^[2]	9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[3]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)	Position
US Billboard 200^[4]	44
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[5]	26

Notes and References

1. 306.
2. Web site: Wreckx-N-Effect, TLP. Billboard. October 31, 2021. subscription.
3. Web site: Wreckx-N-Effect, BLP. Billboard. October 31, 2021. subscription.
4. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993. Billboard. October 31, 2021.
5. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993. Billboard. October 31, 2021.