Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Kanye West, Malik Yusef, R. Kelly, Ric Jilla, Shawnna (vocals); Johnny P. , Twista, Bounty Killer (rap vocals); DJ Quik (turntables); Grind, Syleena Johnson, Traxster. | | Perseverance in hip-hop tends not to pay off when you start strong and can't maintain momentum the second time out. Unlike a lot of other rap artists who debuted with a big single during the '90s, Do or Die did not fall off the face of the earth. They didn't dissolve after a second LP, either. They've remained active since 1996's "Po Pimp," building a catalog of albums that has been snapped up by a core following, despite only three charting singles to their credit. The group's sixth album, D.O.D., marks a move from Rap-A-Lot to The Legion, a new label with major distribution. The recent successes of fellow Chicagoans Kanye West, group collaborator Twista, and Shawnna (all of whom make appearances here) have possibly spurred renewed industry support for the group, evidenced by the not-exactly-cheap roster of producers on board for this album. They get some of the best beats to work with since their debut, provided by West, Scott Storch, DJ Quik, No I.D., and longtime collaborator Traxster. The result is both the hardest and one of the most soul-drenched albums they've released to date, and it's also one of their best. And if this happened to be a debut, rather than a fine release from some veterans associated with an eight-year-old hit, it would probably receive a just amount of attention. ~ Andy Kellman | | Perseverance in hip-hop tends not to pay off when you start strong and can't maintain momentum the second time out. Unlike a lot of other rap artists who debuted with a big single during the '90s, Do or Die did not fall off the face of the earth. They didn't dissolve after a second LP, either. They've remained active since 1996's "Po Pimp," building a catalog of albums that has been snapped up by a core following, despite only three charting singles to their credit. The group's sixth album, D.O.D., marks a move from Rap-a-Lot to The Legion, a new label with major distribution. The recent successes of fellow Chicagoans Kanye West, group collaborator Twista, and Shawnna (all of whom make appearances here) have possibly spurred renewed industry support for the group, evidenced by the not-exactly-cheap roster of producers on board for this album. They get some of the best beats to work with since their debut, provided by West, Scott Storch, DJ Quik, No I.D., and longtime collaborator Traxster. The result is both the hardest and one of the most soul-drenched albums they've released to date, and it's also one of their best. And if this happened to be a debut, rather than a fine release from some veterans associated with an eight-year-old hit, it would probably receive a just amount of attention. [A chopped and screwed edition of the album was also made available.] ~ Andy Kellman | | Chicago, Illinois possesses a rich gangster history and the pimp-touting trio Do or Die has chronicled its connection to this fabled city, peppering its sound with the swirling Rap-a-Lot flavor. With its 2004 album, D.O.D., Do or Die sever ties with its label of nearly a decade and team up with its hometown's wunderkind Kanye West, among others, for the group's most colorful album yet. | | Do or Die opens the record with a furious energy, an anger that hits its peak when the act lays down some ground rules on "Chain of Command." After an interlude noting Do or Die's important place in the hardcore-rap world, the threesome slow down the tempo, with singer Remy Ma dropping by for the mellow-yet-sinister "U Already Know." "Higher" thrives on its Kanye West hook, while "Magic Chick" combines R. Kelly's honeyed soul with rugged rap. Do or Die subsequently shifts from a reggae beat back to another great West line, before launching into some Twista-assisted craziness on "If Only You Knew." With D.O.D., the trio's most exciting record to date, Do or Die switches up its style just enough to give it an intoxicating effect. |
Producer: DJ Quik; Kanye West; R. Kelly; Scott Storch; Traxster; N.O. Joe; Waxmaster; Toxic |
Musical Guests | | Kanye West | | R. Kelly | | Twista | | Bounty Killer | | Remy Martin | | Syleena Johnson | | Johnny P. | | Ric Jilla | | Grind | | Sasha | | DJ Quick | | Malik Yusef |
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