Violator: The Album
Encyclopedia
Violator: The Album is a hip-hop/R&B compilation album, released on August 10, 1999 by Def Jam Recordings
. It was the first release through the imprint Violator Records, a spin-off of Mona Scott
& Chris Lighty's Violator Management
company. A number of then-Violator Management clients and associates appear o nthe album, among them Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes
, and Noreaga.
The LP was mostly produced by The Beatnuts
, with additional production from the likes of DJ Scratch
, Diamond D
, Havoc and Q-Tip
. The album featured many popular artists at the time, Busta Rhymes
, LL Cool J
, Mobb Deep
, Ja Rule
and the Hot Boys
, among others. Violator proved to be a success, making it to #8 on the Billboard 200
and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
, and spawned one sequel, Violator: The Album, V2.0
, in 2001. Q-Tip's "Vivrant Thing
", the first solo single for the former A Tribe Called Quest
member, was the album's first single and a major pop success. "Say What
, by LL Cool J, was the album's second single.
The album was certified gold on September 29, 1999.
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
. It was the first release through the imprint Violator Records, a spin-off of Mona Scott
Mona Scott
Mona Scott-Young is the owner of Monami Entertainment, as well as a former co-owner and president of Violator Management. She has professionally represented, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes....
& Chris Lighty's Violator Management
Violator Management
Violator is a company, record label, marketing group, and multi-media entertainment conglomerate founded and run by Chris Lighty.-History:Violator specializes in managing the careers of hip hop and R&B performers and is also a record label...
company. A number of then-Violator Management clients and associates appear o nthe album, among them Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, and Noreaga.
The LP was mostly produced by The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts are a New York-based hip hop group and production duo from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu is Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights...
, with additional production from the likes of DJ Scratch
DJ Scratch
DJ Scratch is an American hip hop DJ and producer.-Career:DJ Scratch is the 1988 New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ Champion, Grammy nominated, Multi Platinum Producer & The 2010 Master Of The Mix World Champion....
, Diamond D
Diamond D
Diamond 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...
, Havoc and Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
. The album featured many popular artists at the time, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
, Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
and the Hot Boys
Hot Boys
The Hot Boys is a music American hip hop group active from 1996 to 2001 and reformed in 2007. The group consists of rappers formerly on the New Orleans-based record label, Cash Money Records. The members are Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk.-History:The members of the group were rappers, Lil...
, among others. Violator proved to be a success, making it to #8 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...
and #1 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...
, and spawned one sequel, Violator: The Album, V2.0
Violator: The Album, V2.0
Violator: The Album, V2.0 is the second and final installment in the Violator series. The album was released on July 24, 2001 as a joint release by Violator and Loud Records and featured production from such producers as The Neptunes, Irv Gotti, Swizz Beatz and Just Blaze...
, in 2001. Q-Tip's "Vivrant Thing
Vivrant Thing
"Vivrant Thing" is the first single released by Q-Tip on his debut solo album Amplified. The song is also featured in A Tribe Called Quest's 1999 compilation The Anthology. It was produced by Q-Tip himself, although Jay Dee was also in the credits...
", the first solo single for the former A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
member, was the album's first single and a major pop success. "Say What
Say What
"Say What" is a single by LL Cool J from the hip-hop compilation, Violator: The Album. It was released on August 3, 1999 for Violator Records and Def Jam Recordings and featured production from Vinnie Biggs...
, by LL Cool J, was the album's second single.
The album was certified gold on September 29, 1999.
Track listing
- "Intro"- 2:54
- "Vivrant ThingVivrant Thing"Vivrant Thing" is the first single released by Q-Tip on his debut solo album Amplified. The song is also featured in A Tribe Called Quest's 1999 compilation The Anthology. It was produced by Q-Tip himself, although Jay Dee was also in the credits...
" (Q-TipQ-Tip (rapper)Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
)- 3:10 - "Whatcha Come Around Here For" (Flipmode SquadFlipmode SquadThe Flipmode Squad is a production crew and musical group, founded and fronted by rapper Busta Rhymes. The first Flipmode album debuted in 1998 with The Imperial, Rampage and Rah Digga went on to record solo efforts...
)- 4:13 - "I Wanna Fuck You" (Noreaga)- 3:55
- "Say What" (LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
)- 3:51 - "First Degree" (Da Franchise, Ja RuleJa RuleJeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
)- 4:01 - "Heavy Weights" (Fat JoeFat JoeJoseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
, Big PunBig PunChristopher Lee Rios , better known by his stage name Big Pun , was an American rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s...
, Eightball8Ball & MJG8Ball & MJG is an American Rap and Crunk duo from Memphis, Tennessee. The two rappers met at in 1980.They first appeared on the rap scene with their 1992 underground album Listen To The Lyrics...
)- 4:29 - "Ohh Wee" (Cru)- 3:52
- "Do What Playas Do" (Mysonne, MaseMaseMason Durell Betha , better known by stage name Mase who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker...
, Eightball8Ball & MJG8Ball & MJG is an American Rap and Crunk duo from Memphis, Tennessee. The two rappers met at in 1980.They first appeared on the rap scene with their 1992 underground album Listen To The Lyrics...
)- 4:08 - "Nobody Likes Me" (Mobb DeepMobb DeepMobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
)- 4:05 - "Nobody" (NextNext (band)Next is an American R&B musical group, popular during the late 1990s. They are best known for their hit singles "Too Close" and "Wifey".-History:...
, Mysonne)- 4:45 - "Thugged Out Niggaz" (Capone-n-NoreagaCapone-N-NoreagaCapone-N-Noreaga was an American hip hop duo that consisted of Capone and Noreaga.-History:In 1996 the duo signed with Penalty Records; it also appeared in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column...
, Final Chapter)- 3:42 - "Shit That He Said" (Big NoydBig NoydTaJuan Perry, better known as Big Noyd, is an American emcee from the Queensbridge projects in the New York City borough of Queens. He is closely affiliated with Mobb Deep, and he is featured on all of their albums...
)- 3:48 - "Beatnuts Forever"- 3:05
- "What My Niggaz Want" (Cam'ronCam'ronCameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
, Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
)- 2:41 - "The Truth" (Mysonne)- 4:13
- "Who Can I Trust" (CormegaCormegaCory Mckay , better known as Cormega, is an American emcee best known for his vivid and poignant narratives about inner-city life.- Early life :...
, Hot BoysHot BoysThe Hot Boys is a music American hip hop group active from 1996 to 2001 and reformed in 2007. The group consists of rappers formerly on the New Orleans-based record label, Cash Money Records. The members are Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk.-History:The members of the group were rappers, Lil...
)- 4:02 - "Bus-A-Bus" (Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
)- 3:33 - "Violators" (L Boogie, Sonya BladeSonya BladeSonya Blade is a player character from the Mortal Kombat series. She is portrayed in the games as an officer of the United States Special Forces.-In video games:...
, Noreaga, ProdigyProdigy (rapper)Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
, Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
)- 5:37 - "Outro"- :11