Bobby Digital in Stereo
Encyclopedia
Bobby Digital in Stereo is the solo debut album by the American
hip hop
artist RZA
, a member of Wu-Tang Clan
. It was released on November 24, 1998, and was certified Gold on February 5, 1999, by the RIAA. It is a well-received experimental album that is based on a story featuring him rhyming as a hedonistic
, fun-loving alter-ego named Bobby Digital and showcasing a unique keyboard-driven sound (rather than samples) that the RZA called digital orchestra, receiving mostly positive, though somewhat mixed, reviews.
Consequently, the album's lyrics are considerably more aggressive compared to the spiritual, self-reflective, socially aware lyrics that the RZA has been known to rhyme on Wu-Tang group albums.
Japanese release bonus track:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
, a member of Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
. It was released on November 24, 1998, and was certified Gold on February 5, 1999, by the RIAA. It is a well-received experimental album that is based on a story featuring him rhyming as a hedonistic
Hedonism
Hedonism is a school of thought which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good. In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure .-Etymology:The name derives from the Greek word for "delight" ....
, fun-loving alter-ego named Bobby Digital and showcasing a unique keyboard-driven sound (rather than samples) that the RZA called digital orchestra, receiving mostly positive, though somewhat mixed, reviews.
Origin of Bobby Digital
Lyrical content
On the pseudonym and character of Bobby Digital, which dominated the album's lyrics, RZA later stated:Consequently, the album's lyrics are considerably more aggressive compared to the spiritual, self-reflective, socially aware lyrics that the RZA has been known to rhyme on Wu-Tang group albums.
Production
The sound of the album is largely keyboard-driven, but there are still samples. On the sound of Bobby Digital, RZA stated:Track listing
All songs produced by The RZA unless otherwise stated.- "Intro" – 0:37
- "B.O.B.B.Y." – 5:23
- "Unspoken Word" – 4:44
- "Slow-Grind African"– 1:02
- "Airwaves" – 1:47
- "Love Jones" – 4:31
- Producer: King Tech
- Chorus: Angel Cake
- Contains samples from "Star Children" By Mighty Ryeders
- Contains an interpolation of "Love Jones" by Brighter Side of DarknessBrighter Side of DarknessBrighter Side of Darkness was a short-lived American R&B/soul group. They were formed in 1972 in Chicago, Illinois. Their lead singer was 12-year-old Darryl Lamont; the other members were Ralph Eskridge, Randolph Murph and Larry Washington....
- "N.Y.C. Everything" – 4:17
- First verse: RZA
- Second verse: Method ManMethod ManClifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
- "Mantis" – 3:33
- First verse: RZA
- Second verse: Masta KillaMasta KillaJamel Arief , better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
- Chorus: TekithaTekithaTekitha is a female vocalist who appeared to take the role of Wu-Tang Clan in-house singer for the album Wu-Tang Forever, on which she also performed a solo track titled "Second Coming". She also filled in for the unavailable Mary J...
- "Slow-Grind French" – 0:53
- "Holocaust (Silkworm)" – 5:14
- First verse: Holocaust
- Second verse: RZA
- Third verse: Doc Doom
- Fourth verse: Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
- Chorus:Ms. Roxy
- "Terrorist" – 3:25
- First verse : Dom PachinoDom PachinoDom Pachino is a rapper of Puerto Rican descent. He is a member of the rap group Killarmy and also has a solo career. He is also known as P.R...
/P.R. Terrorist - Second verse: Doc Doom
- Third verse: Killa SinKilla SinKilla Sin is considered the best-known member of Killarmy and is regarded as one of the most skilled Wu-Tang Clan affiliates.- Biography :Killa Sin has appeared on gold and platinum selling albums from members of the Wu-Tang Clan, on movie soundtracks such as Soul in the Hole and ONYX's Shut 'Em...
- Fourth verse (Japanese version only) : Holocaust
- First verse : Dom Pachino
- "Bobby Did It (Spanish Fly)" – 4:22
- First verse : IslordIslordA member of Killarmy was absent for most of the recording of their debut album Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars due to incarceration. A Five Percenter like all of Killarmy, the first three letters of his name are also the first three letters in of the religion they claim adherence to, Islam...
- Second verse: Timbo King
- Third verse: RZA
- Fourth verse : Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
- Fifth verse : Jamie Sommers
- First verse : Islord
- "Handwriting on the Wall" – 1:39
- First verse : Ras KassRas KassJohn Austin IV, better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is also a part of hip hop supergroup The HRSMN along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt...
- Second verse: RZA
- First verse : Ras Kass
- "Kiss of a Black Widow" – 2:47
- First & third verses : RZA
- Second verse: Ol' Dirty BastardOl' Dirty BastardRussell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...
- Producer: Inspectah DeckInspectah DeckJason Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
- Contains samples from "Over" by Portishead
- "Slow-Grind Italian" 1:01
- "My Lovin' Is Digi" – 4:26
- Intro: The Force M.D.sThe Force M.D.sThe Force MDs is an American R&B vocal group, that was formed in 1981 in Staten Island, New York.- Biography :The Force M.D.'s originally called themselves the L.D.s, then the Force MCs, but ultimately preferred MD, which is short for Musical Diversity...
- Chorus: Ms. Roxy
- Contains samples from "I'm Glad You're Mine" By Al GreenAl GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
- Contains samples from "It Ain't Easy" by Syl JohnsonSyl JohnsonSyl Johnson is an American blues and soul singer and record producer.-Biography:Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed...
- Intro: The Force M.D.s
- "Domestic Violence" – 5:18
- Female : Jamie Sommers
- Dude on Phone : U-GodU-GodLamont Hawkins , better known as U-God , is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for having a deep, rhythmic flow that can alternate between being gruff or smooth...
- "Project Talk" – 1:51
- With : Kinetic 9Kinetic 9Kinetic 9 or Beretta 9 is a member of the hip-hop group Killarmy, an affiliation of the group Wu-Tang Clan. He is a originally from Steubenville, Ohio. 4th Disciple, another Ohio native & the group producer of Killarmy introduced Kinetic 9 along with ShoGun Assasson to the group...
- With : Kinetic 9
- "Lab Drunk" – 3:34
- "Fuck What You Think" – 3:10
- First verse & chorus : RZA
- Second verse: Islord
- Third verse : 9th Prince
- "Daily Routine" – 4:23
- First verse & chorus : RZA
- Second verse: Kinetic 9Kinetic 9Kinetic 9 or Beretta 9 is a member of the hip-hop group Killarmy, an affiliation of the group Wu-Tang Clan. He is a originally from Steubenville, Ohio. 4th Disciple, another Ohio native & the group producer of Killarmy introduced Kinetic 9 along with ShoGun Assasson to the group...
Japanese release bonus track:
- "Do You Hear the Bells?"
Personnel
- Barney Chase – Engineer, Mixing
- Gabe Chiesa – Engineer
- Tom Coyne – Mastering
- Inspectah – Producer
- King Tech – Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Nolan "Dr. No" Moffitte – Engineer, Mixing
- Carl Nappa – Mixing
- Tony Prendatt – Engineer, Mixing
- RZA – Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Miles Showell – Mastering, Assembly
External links
- RZA as Bobby Digital "Holocaust (Silkworm)" Video
- RZA "Domestic Violence" Video
- RZA featuring Beretta 9 "Daily Routine" Video