Lyricist Lounge, Volume One Explained

Lyricist Lounge, Volume One
Type:Compilation
Artist:various artists
Cover:Lyricistlounge.jpg
Recorded:1997−1998
Genre:Hip hop
Label:Rawkus Records
Prev Title:Soundbombing
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Soundbombing 2
Next Year:1999

Lyricist Lounge, Volume One is the second hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. The double-disc was released on May 5, 1998, as the first installment of the Lyricist Lounge album series, based on New York's Lyricist Lounge showcases.

Recording sessions took place at Temple of Soul, Firehouse Studios, at Animation Sound, at Ozone Studios, at Soundtrack Studios, at Poke's Crib, at Animal Tracks Studios, at D's House, at Platinum Island Studios, at Unique Studios, at Mark Dann Recording Studios, at Rawkus Studios and at Circus Studios in New York City, at The Chop Shop in New Jersey, at the Red October Chemical Storage Facility in Los Angeles with additional recording at Westlake Audio.

Production was handled by Shawn J Period, 88-Keys, Kenny Diaz, Will Tell, Charlemagne, Curt Cowdy, Cut Chemist, Derrick Trotman, DJ Nu-Mark, DJ Scratch, El-P, Ge-Ology, G.M., Hi-Tek, Keith Horne, Megahertz, Native Sun, Nottz, Saul Williams, Stix Bones and V.I.C., with Danny Castro, Ant Marshall and Perry Landsberg serving as executive producers.

It features contributions from Bahamadia, Black Thought, Common, Company Flow, De La Soul, Jurassic 5, Kool Keith, KRS-One, Mos Def, Natural Elements, O.C., Pharoahe Monch, Punchline, Q-Tip, Rah Digga, Ras Kass, Saul Williams, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Talib Kweli, Tash, The Last Emperor, Thirstin Howl III, Wordsworth and Zack de la Rocha among others.

The album peaked at number 167 on the Billboard 200 and 52 on the Top R&B Albums chart in the United States. It was preceded by two singles: "Body Rock" and "C.I.A. (Criminals In Action)". "Body Rock" peaked at #15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, #65 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, #29 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, and #11 on the Dance Singles Sales chart. "C.I.A. (Criminals In Action)" peaked at #33 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

Track listing

Notes
Sample credits

Charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
US Billboard 200[1] 167
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[2] 52

Singles chart positions

YearSongChart positions
US Hot 100 US R&B US Rap US Dance
1998"Body Rock"115652911
"C.I.A. (Criminals In Action)"33

Notes and References

  1. Billboard 200 Chart: Week of May 23, 1998. November 28, 2020. Billboard.
  2. June 13, 1998. Top R&B Albums. Billboard. en. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 110. 24. 26. 0006-2510. November 28, 2020.