The Imperial (Flipmode Squad album) explained
The Imperial is the only studio album by American hip hop group Flipmode Squad. It was released on September 1, 1998, via Elektra Records. The recording sessions took place at Soundtrack Studios in New York. The album was produced by DJ Scratch, Busta Rhymes, Da Beatminerz, L.E.S., M.D., Rockwilder, Swizz Beatz, and Tony Touch. It features a guest appearance from Buckshot on "We Got U Opin, Pt. 2".
The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States, and at number 85 on the UK Albums Chart. Its single "Cha Cha Cha" made it to No. 61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 54 on the UK Singles Chart. Music videos were directed for "Everybody on the Line Outside" and "Cha Cha Cha".
Personnel
Flipmode Squad
- Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith – performer (tracks: 2–5, 7–14, 16), producer (track 8), arranging (tracks: 2–16), executive producer
- William "Spliff Star" Lewis – performer (tracks: 2–5, 8–16)
- Roger "Rampage" McNair – performer (tracks: 2–7, 9–12, 14, 16)
- Rashia "Rah Digga" Fisher – performer (tracks: 2–6, 9–14, 16)
- Leroy "Baby Sham" Jones – performer (tracks: 2–5, 9–11, 13–16)
- Wayne "Lord Have Mercy" Notise – performer (tracks: 4, 7, 9–11, 14)
Technical
- Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake – performer (track 10)
- George "DJ Scratch" Spivey – producer (tracks: 2, 5–7, 9, 12, 13, 15), arranging (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13), executive producer
- Douglas "M.D." Brinson – producer (track 3)
- Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean – producer (track 4)
- Walter "Mr. Walt" Dewgarde – producer & arranging (track 10)
- Joseph "Tony Touch" Hernandez – producer (track 11)
- Dana "Rockwilder" Stinson – producer (track 14)
- Leshan "L.E.S." Lewis – producer (track 16)
- Vinnie Nicoletti – recording (tracks: 2–5, 7–13, 15, 16), mixing (tracks: 2, 3, 5–9, 12–14, 16)
- Robert Burnette – recording (tracks: 4, 6, 7, 14), mixing (track 11)
- Andre DeBourg – recording (track 7)
- Dominick Barbera – mixing (tracks: 4, 10, 15)
- Eduardo Larez – assistant engineering (tracks: 2, 7, 9, 11), assistant recording (tracks: 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16), assistant mixing (tracks: 4, 7, 11, 12)
- Rich Tapper – assistant engineering (tracks: 3, 10), assistant mixing (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16)
- Jin Won Lee – assistant engineering (track 3), assistant recording (tracks: 5, 14), assistant mixing (track 15)
- Cathy Rich – assistant engineering (track 6)
- Sheldon Guide – assistant engineering (track 9), assistant recording (track 4)
- Tom Passetti – assistant recording (track 8)
- Darren Rapp – assistant recording (track 14)
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Rick Posada – executive producer
- Gregory Burke – art direction, design
- Alli Burke – art direction
- Amy Guip – photography
- Kevin "Webb" Welch – A&R direction, management
- Lisa Aird – A&R coordination
