You Can't Stop the Reign explained

You Can't Stop the Reign
Type:studio
Artist:Shaquille O'Neal
Cover:You Can't Stop the Reign.jpg
Alt:A black-and-white image of a man wearing a white waistcoat vest and sunglasses, flexing his left arm with a "Superman" logo on his shoulder.
Recorded:1996
Genre:Hip hop
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Respect
Next Year:1998

You Can't Stop the Reign is the third studio album by American basketball player and rapper Shaquille O'Neal. It was released on November 19, 1996, through T.W.IsM./Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place at T.W.IsM. Studios in Orlando, Skip Saylor in Los Angeles and Bosstown Recording Studios in Atlanta, with additional recordings done at Soundtrack Studios and The Hit Factory in New York. Production was handled by Dave Atkinson, Ross "Spyda" Sloan, Domingo, Trackmasters, Darkchild, Bobby Brown, Chris Large, DJ Quik, Easy Mo Bee, G-1, I-Roc, Jammin' James Carter, Mobb Deep and Ralph Tresvant. It features guest appearances from The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, S.H.E., Bobby Brown, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep and Peaches.

The album was moderately successful, peaking at number 82 on the Billboard 200 and number 21 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was supported by two singles with accompanying music videos for "You Can't Stop the Reign" and "Strait Playin'".

Its lead single, "You Can't Stop the Reign", made it to 54 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay in the United States, No. 40 on the UK singles chart, No. 17 on the Official Dance Singles Chart and No. 9 on the Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart in the United Kingdom and No. 47 in New Zealand. The song has multiple versions, including the one features a verse from The Notorious B.I.G., which was re-used in 2001 for Michael Jackson's song "Unbreakable" from his Invincible album. The "Still Can't Stop the Reign" version peaked at No. 36 on the US Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

The second single from the album, "Strait Playin'", reached No. 72 on the Radio Songs, No. 33 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, No. 32 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and No. 40 on the Rhythmic Airplay in the US, and No. 17 in New Zealand. Its "Superman Remix" version was included in 1997 Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture Steel soundtrack album.

On June 28, 2024, the album was officially re-released onto streaming platforms, now featuring the original unreleased version of "No Love Lost", which included a verse from Nas.

Track listing

Sample credits
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Personnel