Hard or Smooth
Hard or Smooth | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 24, 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
Studio | Future Recording Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:04 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Producer |
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Wreckx-n-Effect chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hard or Smooth | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Robert Christgau | [5] |
Entertainment Weekly | C+[3] |
The Independent | positive[1] |
Q | [4] |
Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992, for MCA Records and featured production from Teddy Riley, Ty Fyffe, Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn and Wreckx-n—Effect. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was shot to death in 1990.
Hard or Smooth became a success for the group thanks in large part to the single "Rump Shaker". The album itself made it to #9 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Several singles made it to the Billboard charts; "Rump Shaker" would make it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, as well as #9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play; "Knock-N-Boots" made it to #72 on the Hot 100 and #71 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; "My Cutie" made it to #37 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales and #75 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; and "Wreckx Shop" made it to #11 on the Hot Rap Tracks and 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Track listing
[edit]- "Rump Shaker" (Aqil Davidson, Markell Riley, Teddy Riley, David Wynn, Anton Hollins, Pharrell Williams) – 5:13
- "New Jack Swing, Pt. 2" (hard version) (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe, Pharrell Williams, Franklyn Grant) – 4:50
- "Wreckx Shop" (Aqil Davidson, Tyrone Fyffe, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 4:39
- "Knock-N-Boots" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Menton L. Smith) – 4:51
- "Here We Come" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 4:27
- "Tell Me How You Feel" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley) – 4:59
- "My Cutie" (Menton L. Smith, Teddy Riley) – 4:07
- "Wreckx-N-Effect" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 3:53
- "Ez Come Ez Go (What Goes Up Must Come Down)" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, David Wynn) – 3:44
- "Hard" (Teddy Riley, Aqil Davidson, Tyrone Fyffe) – 2:04
- "Smooth" (Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe, Teddy Riley, Franklyn Grant, Menton L. Smith) – 2:59
Personnel
[edit]- Teddy Riley – all instruments, executive producer, mixing, recording engineer
- Tammy Lucas – background vocals
- Tyrone Fyffe – production, background vocals, scratches
- Franklyn Grant – production, recording engineer, mixing
- David Wynn – production, scratches
- Jean Marie Horvat – recording engineer, mixing
- Steve Thomas – scratches
- Darryl Shuler – background vocals
- Robert Nickerson – background vocals
- Dante Drew – background vocals
- Earl Thomas – assistant engineer
- Keston Wright – assistant engineer
- Steve Hall – mastering
- Todd Gray – photography
- Vartan – art direction
- DEY International – design
Samples
[edit]"Rump Shaker"
- "Blues and Pants" by James Brown
- "Darkest Light" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
- "Blind Alley" by The Emotions
- "Midnight Theme" by Manzel
- "I Like It" by DeBarge
"New Jack Swing, Pt. 2"
- "Woman to Woman" by Joe Cocker
- "The Bridge" by MC Shan
- "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band
- "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
- "Just Rhymin' Wit Biz" by Biz Markie feat. Big Daddy Kane
"Wreckx Shop"
- "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex
- "The Payback" by James Brown
- "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
"Knock-N-Boots"
- "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
- "Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown
- "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic
"My Cutie"
- "Hihache" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
- "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown
"Hard"
- "Hard to Handle" by Otis Redding
- "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
"Smooth"
- "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps
- "Playing Your Game, Baby" by Barry White
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[11] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[12] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Gill, Andy (January 7, 1993). "RECORDS / No ifs, diggity-do, no butts, diggity-dah: Andy Gill, exploring this week's releases, uncovers the latest addition to the long and distinguished line of buttock anthems". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Hard or Smooth at AllMusic
- ^ Bernard, James (December 18, 1992). "Hard or Smooth Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ "Wreckx-n-Effect – Hard or Smooth CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Wreckx-n-Effect". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 306.
- ^ "Wreckx-N-Effect, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Wreckx-N-Effect, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Wreckx N Effect – Hard or Smooth". Music Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – Wreckx 'N' Effect – Hard or Smooth". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2023.