To Your Soul Explained

To Your Soul
Type:studio album
Artist:The Jaz
Cover:To Your Soul album cover.jpg
Genre:Hip hop
Length:51:54
Label:EMI USA
Prev Title:Word to the Jaz
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Kingz Kounty
Next Year:2002

To Your Soul is the second studio album by American rapper and producer The Jaz, from New York, New York. It was released on July 16, 1990, via EMI USA.

Background

The album was recorded at D&D Studios, in New York City, New York, and was primarily produced by Jaz-O. The album also received production contributions from Prince Paul, Vandy C, and Chad Elliott. Jay-Z appears on two tracks.[1] [2] Despite the album not reaching the Billboard charts, its two singles, "The Originators" and "A Groove (This Is What U Rap 2)," peaked at No. 13 and No. 18, respectively, on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[3]

Critical reception

Joshua Clover, in his book 1989: Bob Dylan Didn’t Have This to Sing About, called the album "vital, serious, deeply musical, with playful lyrics that come at varying speeds, sometimes blunt and heavy on the beat, sometimes syncopated and sudden, looking for a way to slip past any defense."[4]

Personnel

Charts

Singles

YearSongPeak positions
US Rap
1990"The Originators"13
1991"A Groove (This Is What U Rap 2)"18

Notes and References

  1. Book: Beaumont, Mark. Jay-Z: The King of America. October 2, 2017. Omnibus Press. 9780857127921. Google Books.
  2. Web site: Serwer . Jesse . July 23, 2013 . Jay Z's Best Songs Before "Reasonable Doubt" . April 13, 2023 . Complex.
  3. News: The Jaz Chart History. https://web.archive.org/web/20180514020521/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-jaz/chart-history/rap-song. dead. May 14, 2018. Hot Rap Songs. January 8, 2018.
  4. Book: Clover, Joshua. 1989: Bob Dylan Didn't Have This to Sing About. October 12, 2010. Univ of California Press. 9780520267879. Google Books.