Cloud 9 (album)
Encyclopedia
For the George Harrison
album see Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)
Cloud 9 is the second album by Nine
, released on August 6, 1996 through Profile Records
.
the previous year. The album was an underground hit, reaching No. 90 on the Billboard 200
, while also reaching the top 20 on the R&B charts. The album also spawned the crossover hit, "Whutcha Want?
", which reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
. After the success on "Whutcha Want?", Profile gave Nine the green light to begin work on his second album. Like his previous album, this album was mostly produced by Rob Lewis
. The album featured several guest appearances, including Smoothe da Hustler
and 3rd Eye
, a departure from his previous album which featured virtually no guest appearance.
The album's lead single was "Lyin' King
", an indirect diss to rappers who were trying to capitalize on the popular gangsta rap
and mafioso rap genres at the time. It made it to No. 81 on the R&B singles chart and 21 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The album's second single was "Make or Take", which was a duet with label-mate Smoothe da Hustler.
Commercially, Cloud 9 failed to sell as many copies as Nine Livez and only reached No. 45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
, not selling enough copies to reach the Billboard 200
. Due to Profile Records' financial problems, the album featured virtually no promotion, with the exception of the music videos for "Lyin' King" and "Make or Take". The lack of promotion is the main reason behind the album's poor sales..
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
album see Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)
Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)
-Personnel:The following personnel was credited in the liner notes.*George Harrison – vocals, guitars, keyboards, sitar*Jeff Lynne – guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards*Eric Clapton – guitar*Elton John – piano*Gary Wright – piano*Ringo Starr – drums...
Cloud 9 is the second album by Nine
Nine (rapper)
Nine is the stage name of Derrick Keyes , an American rapper from The Bronx, New York City, New York. He also been known as 9MM or Nine Double M...
, released on August 6, 1996 through Profile Records
Profile Records
Profile Records was a record label that specialized in many types of urban-oriented music, such as hip hop, active until 1996..- History :In 1980, at 23 years old, after working briefly for MCA, Cory Robbins was looking to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be...
.
Background
Nine had releasd his debut album Nine LivezNine Livez
- Background :Nine Livez was released through Profile Records on March 7, 1995. The album contained 15 tracks, 11 of which were produced by Rob Lewis , while the other four were produced by Tony Stoute ....
the previous year. The album was an underground hit, reaching No. 90 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, while also reaching the top 20 on the R&B charts. The album also spawned the crossover hit, "Whutcha Want?
Whutcha Want?
"Whutcha Want?" was the lead single released from Nine's debut album, Nine Livez. Produced by Rob Lewis, "Whutcha Want?" was Nine's most successful single, becoming his only one to make it to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 50 on the chart, as well as making it to 3 on the Rap charts."Whutcha...
", which reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. After the success on "Whutcha Want?", Profile gave Nine the green light to begin work on his second album. Like his previous album, this album was mostly produced by Rob Lewis
Rob Lewis (record producer)
Rob Lewis is a record producer from the Bronx, New York who met D.J. Chuck Chillout, a legendary New York hip-hop D.J. and radio personality, and crew during the late 1980s / early 1990s and was asked to do pre-production on Chuck and Chip's album, "Rhythm is the Master".Lewis being an unknown...
. The album featured several guest appearances, including Smoothe da Hustler
Smoothe da Hustler
Damon Smith, better known as Smoothe da Hustler is an American rapper who was signed to Profile Records in the mid-90s.Smoothe came to prominence in 1995 with his debut single "Broken Language", a duet with his little brother Trigger tha Gambler...
and 3rd Eye
Jesse West
Jesse West, aka 3rd Eye is a producer/rapper. Born Jesse Williams III on December 4, 1967 in the South Bronx, New York, Jesse grew up in the Bronx River Projects, where the Master/Teacher DJ Afrika Bambaataa founded the Universal Zulu Nation.- History :...
, a departure from his previous album which featured virtually no guest appearance.
The album's lead single was "Lyin' King
Lyin' King
"Lyin' King" was the first single released from Nine's second album, Cloud 9. It was released on July 23, 1996 and was produced by Rob Lewis. "Lyin' King" was Nine's final charting single, making it to three different Billboard charts, including 35 on the Hot Rap Singles...
", an indirect diss to rappers who were trying to capitalize on the popular gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
and mafioso rap genres at the time. It made it to No. 81 on the R&B singles chart and 21 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The album's second single was "Make or Take", which was a duet with label-mate Smoothe da Hustler.
Reception
Brad Mills of Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars and called the album "solid from start to finish. Nine's raspy, deep catchy voice is ever present, and, with really simple beats complemented by hard basslines, it's easy to throw this back in for another round. Smoothe da Hustler makes a welcome appearance on "Make or Take," while every other track on the album bangs just as hard".Commercially, Cloud 9 failed to sell as many copies as Nine Livez and only reached No. 45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
, not selling enough copies to reach the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Due to Profile Records' financial problems, the album featured virtually no promotion, with the exception of the music videos for "Lyin' King" and "Make or Take". The lack of promotion is the main reason behind the album's poor sales..
Track listing
- "Know Introduction"- 2:38 (featuring King Just)
- "Every Man 4 Himself"- 3:11
- "We Play 4 Keeps"- 3:53
- "Tha Product"- 4:19 (featuring U-Neek)
- "Uncivilized"- 3:38 (featuring Father ShaheedPoor Righteous TeachersPoor Righteous Teachers is a hip hop group from Trenton, New Jersey, founded in 1989. Often referred to as PRT by its fans, Poor Righteous Teachers are known as pro-Black conscious hip hop artists, with musical content inspired by the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. Wise Intelligent, as...
) - "No Part a Me"- 3:42
- "Lyin' KingLyin' King"Lyin' King" was the first single released from Nine's second album, Cloud 9. It was released on July 23, 1996 and was produced by Rob Lewis. "Lyin' King" was Nine's final charting single, making it to three different Billboard charts, including 35 on the Hot Rap Singles...
"- 3:36 - "Richman, Poorman"- 2:50 (featuring 3rd EyeJesse WestJesse West, aka 3rd Eye is a producer/rapper. Born Jesse Williams III on December 4, 1967 in the South Bronx, New York, Jesse grew up in the Bronx River Projects, where the Master/Teacher DJ Afrika Bambaataa founded the Universal Zulu Nation.- History :...
) - "Jon Doe"- 3:51
- "Make or Take"- 4:00 (featuring Smoothe Da HustlerSmoothe da HustlerDamon Smith, better known as Smoothe da Hustler is an American rapper who was signed to Profile Records in the mid-90s.Smoothe came to prominence in 1995 with his debut single "Broken Language", a duet with his little brother Trigger tha Gambler...
) - "Warriors"- 3:46 (featuring Bounty KillerBounty KillerBounty Killer is a Grammy nominated Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He is the founder of a dancehall collective known as The Alliance.-Early life and career:...
) - "4 Chicken Wings and Rice"- 3:31
Samples
- "Know Introduction"
- "Biscuit" by Portishead
- "Lyin' King"
- "An Old Fashioned Love Song" by Three Dog NightThree Dog NightThree Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
- "Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)" & "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC
- "An Old Fashioned Love Song" by Three Dog Night
- "4 Chicken Wings and Rice"
- "Let's Get Closer" by Atlantic StarrAtlantic StarrAtlantic Starr was a 1980s R&B band. Among their biggest hits were "Always" and "Secret Lovers."- History :The group was started in 1976 in White Plains, New York by trumpeter Duke Jones , drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer, percussionist and flautist Joseph Phillips, and three...
- "Sally Got A One Track Mind" by Diamond DDiamond DDiamond D is a hip hop producer and MC from the Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the legendary D.I.T.C. crew. He started out as a DJ for Jazzy Jay back in the late 1980s and was at the same time perfecting his skills in beat making and turntablism, and together with rhyme...
- "Let's Get Closer" by Atlantic Starr
- "Richman, Poorman"
- "Young, Gifted & Black" by Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
- "Young, Gifted & Black" by Aretha Franklin
- "Make or Take"
- "Just As You Are" by Ronnie LawsRonnie LawsRonald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.-Biography:...
- "Just As You Are" by Ronnie Laws
- "Tha Product"
- "Ode To Billie Joe" by Lou DonaldsonLou DonaldsonLou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
- "Ode To Billie Joe" by Lou Donaldson
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 45 |
Personnel
- Bounty Killer - Performer
- Tim Carter - Photography
- Father Shaheed - Producer, Mixing
- Ken Ifill - Engineer
- King Just - Performer
- Chris Landry - Executive Producer
- Carla Leighton - Art Direction, Design
- Rob Lewis - Producer, Engineer
- Joe Quinde - Engineer
- Smoothe da Hustler - Performer
- U-Neek - Performer
- Jesse West - Producer, Engineer