The Geto Boys (album)
Encyclopedia
The Geto Boys is the self-titled album by the Geto Boys
, which was released in 1990. The album contained 11 revamped tracks from its previous albums Grip It! On That Other Level
and Making Trouble
and three new songs. The cover of the album resembles the Beatles album Let It Be
and faced much controversy over its release.
-distributed album with the following warning in addition to the standard explicit-lyrics sticker:
Due to the controversial nature of the lyrics, especially in the songs "Mind of a Lunatic" and "Assassins," the album's originally intended distributor, Geffen Records
, refused to have any part in the release. After Geffen terminated its manufacturing and distributing deal with Def American, Rick Rubin
found different distribution with Warner Bros. Records
, which agreed to distribute the album and all following Def American releases. Marketing for the album was handled by Warner Bros. sister label Giant Records.
Subsequent pressings on Rap-a-Lot and various distributors do not contain the secondary warning and an alternate version of "Gangster of Love" that uses a sample from Lynyrd Skynyrd
’s "Sweet Home Alabama" instead of the Steve Miller Band
’s "The Joker
." "Do It Like a G.O." was released as a single with a music video but didn't chart.
wrote positively of Rick Rubin's contribution to the album, writing, "The group's fuck-everybody attitude and simple straight-forward music is a perfect match for Rubin...." Andy Kellman of Allmusic also praised Rick Rubin's contribution, writing, "The album is expertly sequenced, and some songs seem to have twice the impact of their original incarnations."
Robert Christgau
, on the other hand, criticized the album, comparing it negatively to slasher films. Christgau ended the review, writing, "I'm impressed by [its] pungent beats and vernacular. I'm glad they put Reagan in bed with Noriega. I'm sorta touched when one of them thinks to thank the first girl to lick his asshole. I admire their enunciation on 'Fuck ’Em.' But fuck ’em." In another mixed review, Entertainment Weekly
's Greg Sandow ridiculed the album's glorification of violence, writing, "The catalog starts to seem silly. Stealing from the poor? On their next album, the Geto Boys might just as well do a song about tearing wings off flies."
Geto Boys
Geto Boys is a rap group from Houston, Texas, consisting of Scarface, Willie D and Bushwick Bill. The Geto Boys earned notoriety for its lyrics which included misogyny, gore, psychotic experiences, and necrophilia...
, which was released in 1990. The album contained 11 revamped tracks from its previous albums Grip It! On That Other Level
Grip It! On That Other Level
Grip It! On That Other Level is the second album by Houston hip hop group the Geto Boys, then known as the Ghetto Boys. Following the disappointing results of the group's first album, Making Trouble, Rap-A-Lot Records replaced original rapping members, Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny with Scarface ...
and Making Trouble
Making Trouble
Making Trouble is the debut album by Houston Hip Hop group the Geto Boys, then known as the Ghetto Boys. The group originally consisted of Bushwick Bill, DJ Ready Red, Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny C. Following the release of Making Trouble, Rap-A-Lot Records dropped Sire Jukebox and Johnny C from...
and three new songs. The cover of the album resembles the Beatles album Let It Be
Let It Be (album)
Let It Be is the 12th and final studio album released by the English rock band The Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970 by the band's Apple Records label shortly after the group announced their break-up....
and faced much controversy over its release.
Controversy and Release
The original Def American pressing is the only WEAWarner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
-distributed album with the following warning in addition to the standard explicit-lyrics sticker:
Due to the controversial nature of the lyrics, especially in the songs "Mind of a Lunatic" and "Assassins," the album's originally intended distributor, Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, refused to have any part in the release. After Geffen terminated its manufacturing and distributing deal with Def American, Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
found different distribution with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, which agreed to distribute the album and all following Def American releases. Marketing for the album was handled by Warner Bros. sister label Giant Records.
Subsequent pressings on Rap-a-Lot and various distributors do not contain the secondary warning and an alternate version of "Gangster of Love" that uses a sample from Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
’s "Sweet Home Alabama" instead of the Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
’s "The Joker
The Joker (song)
"The Joker" is a song by the Steve Miller Band from their 1973 album The Joker. The song is one of two Steve Miller Band songs that feature the neologism "pompatus". The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974. It draws heavy influence from the Allen Toussaint's song Soul Sister featured...
." "Do It Like a G.O." was released as a single with a music video but didn't chart.
Track listing
Additional personnel
- John Bido - Producer
- Clifford Blodget - Engineer, Executive Producer
- DJ Ready Red - Producer
- Doug King - Producer
- Sylvia Massy - Engineer
- Brendan O'Brien - Remixing
- Prince Johnny C - Producer
- Ready Red - Producer
- Billy Roberts - Photography
- Rick RubinRick RubinFrederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
- Production Supervisor - James H. Smith - Executive Producer
- Howie Weinberg - Mastering
Reception
In a 3.5-mike out of 5 review, The SourceThe Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
wrote positively of Rick Rubin's contribution to the album, writing, "The group's fuck-everybody attitude and simple straight-forward music is a perfect match for Rubin...." Andy Kellman of Allmusic also praised Rick Rubin's contribution, writing, "The album is expertly sequenced, and some songs seem to have twice the impact of their original incarnations."
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
, on the other hand, criticized the album, comparing it negatively to slasher films. Christgau ended the review, writing, "I'm impressed by [its] pungent beats and vernacular. I'm glad they put Reagan in bed with Noriega. I'm sorta touched when one of them thinks to thank the first girl to lick his asshole. I admire their enunciation on 'Fuck ’Em.' But fuck ’em." In another mixed review, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
's Greg Sandow ridiculed the album's glorification of violence, writing, "The catalog starts to seem silly. Stealing from the poor? On their next album, the Geto Boys might just as well do a song about tearing wings off flies."
Album chart positions
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US 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... |
171 |
| US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums (Billboard) | 67 |