| Product Summary | | Label: Uni/universal Records | | UPC: 00044001411922 | | Release Date: 6/5/2001 | | Buy.com Sku: 60483215 | | Item#: M4WVDL | Format:  CD |
|
|
|
|
| Song Listing |  |
(P) 2001 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
(C) 2001 Universal Records Inc.
|
| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | St. Lunatics: Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, Ali, City Spud (rap vocals). | | Additional personnel includes: Brian McKnight (vocals); Cardan, Penelope (rap vocals); Amber Tabares, Little Rock, Donneash Ferguson (spoken vocals); Steve Eigner (guitar); Bashiri Johnson (percussion). | | Producers: Jason "Jay E" Epperson, Lavell "City Spud" Webb. | | Engineers: Steve Eigner, Duro, Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton. | | Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, Sound On Sound Recordings and Unique Studios, New York, New York. | | St. Lunatics: Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, Ali, City Spud (rap vocals). | | Additional personnel includes: Brian McKnight (vocals); Cardan, Penelope (rap vocals); Amber Tabares (spoken vocals); Steve Eigner (guitar); Bashiri Johnson (percussion). | | Producers: Jason "Jay E" Epperson, Lavell "City Spud" Webb. | | Engineers: Steve Eigner, Duro, Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton. | | Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, Sound On Sound Recordings and Unique Studios, New York, New York. | | Personnel: Brian McKnight (vocals); City Spud, Penelope, Kyjuan, Ali, Murphy Lee, Nelly, Cardan (rap vocals); Steve Eigner (guitar); Bashiri Johnson (percussion). | | Audio Mixers: John Adler; Richard Travali. | | Recording information: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY. | | Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. | | If you're looking for protest rap with socially conscious lyrics and dense soundscapes unlike anything you've heard before, then you've come to the wrong place. But if you're looking for songs about cars and girls with sing-song rhymes and bouncy, big-bottom beats, then you may want to hold your party here. As the deliberately off-key, drawling vocals on "Midwest Swing" suggest, these down-to-earth rappers aren't at great risk of taking themselves too seriously; they're more interested in shout outs to St. Louis and having a good time in general. Fans of Nelly will probably enjoy his work on this album, but it should be noted that St. Lunatics is a group and not just a Nelly side-project. Murphy Lee's rougher, faster, and higher-pitched mic style complements Nelly's highly recognizable voice, while Ali, Kyjuan, and City Spud (whose incarceration inspired the album's title) also contribute to this album. Unfortunately, their rhymes and deliveries are often fairly unremarkable, so Nelly remains the dominant voice on Free City, even though he shares time with his peeps. It's producer Jason "Jay E" Epperson, however, who's the album's MVP; he keeps the music interesting even when the raps aren't particularly memorable. There are relatively few guest stars here, but Brian McKnight sings joyfully on the lovers' track "Groovin' Tonight," which features an interesting light jazz loop, and Penelope shows plenty of attitude on "Jan a Lang." Overall, this album isn't quite as catchy as Country Grammar, but it's still a relatively affable party album. ~ Todd Kristel | | It's a testament to the collective spirit of the St. Louis rappers that even after one of their members (Nelly) managed to snag a record deal before they did, and subsequently became a multi-million selling hip-hop star, they continued working. It's even more heartening to see that Nelly is still a member of the group, but FREE CITY isn't just a star's side-project, St. Lunatics are a real group, and all the members contribute equally. | | Sure, Nelly brings his instantly recognizable (at least it should be, after all the airtime he's gotten) style to the table, and even makes reference to the after-effects of his huge success. But he's not the dominant voice; each of the St. Lunatics has his own sound, and when they come together they create a sound that is the compound result of working together towards a common goal. While they're capable of the occasional trenchant social observation, St. Lunatics generally avoid gritty thug scenarios in favor of a celebratory, party atmosphere that makes FREE CITY enjoyable on its own terms, regardless of the inherent star power. | | It's a testament to the collective spirit of the St. Louis rappers that even after one of their members (Nelly) managed to snag a record deal before they did, and subsequently became a multi-million selling hip-hop star, they continued working. It's even more heartening to see that Nelly is still a member of the group, but FREE CITY isn't just a star's side-project, St. Lunatics are a real group, and all the members contribute equally. | | Sure, Nelly brings his instantly recognizable (at least it should be, after all the airtime he's gotten) style to the table, and even makes reference to the after-effects of his huge success. But he's not the dominant voice; each of the St. Lunatics has his own sound, and when they come together they create a sound that is the compound result of working together towards a common goal. While they're capable of the occasional trenchant social observation, St. Lunatics generally avoid gritty thug scenarios in favor of a celebratory, party atmosphere that makes FREE CITY enjoyable on its own terms, regardless of the inherent star power. |
Musical Guests | | Brian McKnight | | Cardan |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Associated Artists and Works |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 06/05/2001 | | Original Release Date : 2001 | | Catalog ID : 014119 | | Label : Uptown/Universal | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Runtime : 70m : 4s | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00044001411922 |
|
| | Professional Reviews | | Rolling Stone (7/5/01, p.136)
- 3 out of 5 stars - "...A fun crash course on how the Midwest rides....with sparkly booming beats and top-down abandon..."Rolling Stone (7/5/01, p.136)
- 3 out of 5 stars - "...A fun crash course on how the Midwest rides....with sparkly booming beats and top-down abandon..." Q (Summer/01, p.111)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...Clever and funny..." Q (Summer/01, p.111)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...Clever and funny..." NME (Magazine)
(6/23/01, p.39)
- 8 out of 10 - "...Exuberant, attitude-free and plain adorable..." NME (Magazine)
(6/23/01, p.39)
- 8 out of 10 - "...Exuberant, attitude-free and plain adorable..." |
|
| |
|
|
