Legal Drug Money Explained

Legal Drug Money
Type:	studio
Artist:	Lost Boyz
Cover:	Legaldrugmoney.jpg
Recorded:	1994–1996
Genre:	Hip hop
Next Title:	Love, Peace & Nappiness
Next Year:	1997

Legal Drug Money is the debut studio album by American hip hop group the Lost Boyz. It was released on June 4, 1996, via Universal Records. The recording sessions took place at Greene St. Recording, Quad Recording Studios and D&D Studios in New York. It was produced by Big Dex, Mr. Sex, Easy Mo Bee, Big L, "Buttnaked" Tim Dawg, Dwarf the Black Prince, Pete Rock, member Mr. Cheeks, with Charles Suitt serving as co-producer and executive producer.

The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 7, 1996.

It featured six singles: "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless", "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz", "Renee", "Music Makes Me High", "The Yearn" and "Get Up". Five of the album's singles made it to US Billboard Hot 100. "Renee" previously was included in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: The Soundtrack and received Gold status by the RIAA. Slightly different version of the song "The Yearn" appeared on 1996 benefit compilation album America Is Dying Slowly.

Track listing

Notes

• signifies an additional lyricist.
• signifies a co-producer.

Sample credits^[1]

• Track 1 contains elements from "Summer Madness" written by Alton Taylor, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Robert "Kool" Bell, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Richard "Ricky West" Westfield, George Brown, Claydes Charles Smith and Ronald Bell and performed by Kool & the Gang
• Track 3 contains a sample from "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" written by Vaughan Mason and performed by Vaughan Mason & Crew
• Track 5 contains elements from "Jealousy" performed by Club Nouveau
• Track 8 contains elements from "Whispering Pines" performed by Crusaders
• Track 9 interpolates "What You Gonna Do with My Lovin" by Stephanie Mills, and contains samples from "Funky Sensation" written by Kenton Nix and performed by Gwen McCrae
• Track 10 contains samples from "Slow Down" written by Carl McIntosh, Steve Nichol and Jane Eugene, "The Look of Love" by Isaac Hayes, and "Jealousy" by Club Norveau
• Track 11 contains elements from "Risin' to the Top" written by Keni Burke, Allan W. Felder and Norma Jean Wright
• Track 12 interpolates "You're the One I Need" written by Barry White and Smeed Hudman as recorded by Barry White
• Track 14 contains elements from "Playing Your Game, Baby" performed by Barry White

Personnel

• Terrance "Mr. Cheeks" Kelly – lyrics, vocals (tracks: 4-7, 9-14, 16), producer (track 1)
• Raymond "Freaky Tah" Rogers – lyrics (tracks: 1, 2, 8, 15), additional lyrics (track 3), vocals (tracks: 4-7, 9-14, 16)
• Eric "Pretty Lou" Ruth – additional vocals (track 8), backing vocals (track 14)
• Ronald "Spigg Nice" Blackwell – additional vocals (track 8), backing vocals (track 14)
• Peter "Pete Rock" Philips – producer & mixing (track 2)
• Garfield "Mr. Sexxx" Duncan – producer (tracks: 3, 6, 9, 16), recording (tracks: 3, 16), mixing (tracks: 3, 9, 16), production coordinator
• Osten "Easy Mo Bee" Harvey Jr. – producer (tracks: 4, 5, 10)
• Dexter "Big Dex" Archer – producer (tracks: 7, 8, 12-14), mixing (tracks: 12, 14)
• Tim "Buttnaked Tim Dawg" Patterson – lyrics (tracks: 4, 11), producer (track 11), mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15), A&R, stylist
• Lamont "Big L" Coleman – producer (track 12)
• Dwarf The Black Prince – producer (track 15)
• Charles Suitt – co-producer (track 3), executive producer, A&R, management
• Joe Quinde – mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11-15)
• Jamie Staub – engineering (track 2)
• Chris Barnett – recording (tracks: 3, 16), mixing (tracks: 3, 9, 16)
• Michael Sarsfield – mastering
• Sandie Lee Drake – art direction
• Kenny Gravillis – design
• Danny Clinch – photography
• Kathy Baylor – A&R
• Dino Delvaille – A&R
• Lisa Lindo – stylist
• Ericka Riggs – make-up

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[2]	6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[3]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
US Billboard 200^[4]	122
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[5]	26

Singles

Year	Song	Chart positions
		US Hot 100^[6]	US Hot R&B^[7]	US Hot Rap	US Hot Dance Sales
1995	"Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless"	91	60	10	20
	"Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz"	67	63	11	21
1996	"Renee"	33	13	3	2
	"Music Makes Me High"	51	28	5	3
1997	"Get Up"	60	31	6	4

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1996 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. Legal Drug Money. Lost Boyz. 1996. liner notes. Universal Records. U2-53010.
2. Web site: Lost Boyz, TLP. Billboard. April 27, 2021. subscription.
3. Web site: Lost Boyz, BLP. Billboard. April 27, 2021. subscription.
4. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996. Billboard. April 27, 2021.
5. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996. Billboard. April 27, 2021.
6. Web site: The Lost Boyz - Chart history Billboard. www.billboard.com. December 23, 2016.
7. Web site: The Lost Boyz - Chart history Billboard. www.billboard.com. December 23, 2016.