| Product Summary | | Label: Emd/virgin | | UPC: 00724384907228 | | Release Date: 8/29/2000 | | Buy.com Sku: 60391603 | | Item#: MX4N65 | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25050 | Format:  CD |
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| Song Listing |  |
Disc 1
| | Song Title | Sample | | 1. Victory ~ Do Or Die |  | | 2. If U Scared - (featuring Snypaz) ~ Do Or Die | | | 3. In A Mode ~ Do Or Die | | | 4. Keep It Real - (featuring Johnny P) ~ Do Or Die | | | 5. Who Knows? ~ Do Or Die | | | 6. Bank Heist Interlude ~ Do Or Die | | | 7. Tha Heist ~ Do Or Die | | | 8. La, La, La ~ Do Or Die | | | 9. Can U Make It Hot - (featuring Mo Unique) ~ Do Or Die | | | 10. V.I.P. - (featuring Feloney) ~ Do Or Die | | | 11. Bounce For Me ~ Do Or Die | | | 12. If I Don't Eat ~ Do Or Die | | | 13. Stay Focused - (featuring Chilla) ~ Do Or Die | | | 14. Murderers, Pimps Thugs - (featuring Ja Rule) ~ Do Or Die | | | 15. Ride ~ Do Or Die | | | 16. Thuggin It Out - (featuring Fatal) ~ Do Or Die | | | 17. Already Know ~ Do Or Die | |
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Do Or Die: A.K. N.A.R.D., Belo (rap vocals). | | Additional personnel includes: Swing (vocals); Ja Rule, Snypaz, Feloney, Johnny P., Fatal (rap vocals). | | Producers include: Mr. Lee, Day Rock, Mike Dunn, Irv Gotti, J.B. | | Do Or Die: A.K. N.A.R.D., Belo (rap vocals). | | Additional personnel includes: Swing (vocals); Ja Rule, Snypaz, Feloney, Johnny P., Fatal (rap vocals). | | Producers include: Mr. Lee, Day Rock, Mike Dunn, Irv Gotti, J.B.. | | A sense of soul doesn't often find its way into the often thuggish sound of gangsta rap, with the one notable exception of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. And much like that unique Cleveland group, Do or Die approach gangsta rap ideology with a quick-paced rapping style, a uplifting-soulful feel, and plenty of harmony. For example, on Victory's lead single, "Can U Make It Hot," the bounce beats feature some uplifting strings, and the trio spew a rather melodic style of rapping, with Mo Unique laying down a nice R&B chorus -- it's a quite uncanny mix. Some of the songs on the album make this mix work wonderfully, such as the anthem-worthy "Bounce for Me," even if they sound a bit too contrived. So don't be intimidated by the trio's name, though they may pose as gangstas, naming their songs "Thuggin It Out" and "If U Scared," for example. This isn't the sort of ugly grime or sleazy pimping that one finds on the usual gangsta album; instead, most should find Do or Die's sound surprisingly accessible and unintimidating. They can pose all they want, but when they make such harmonious and soulful music, they come off a bit too refined for their own good. Yet in the end, when one looks past their near-paradoxical stance, their music does feature some nice melodic hooks that should score them substantial appeal. ~ Jason Birchmeier | | The trio of A.K., N.A.R.D and Belo, otherwise known as Do Or Die, has been branding the hip-hop game with its unique style since the mid-'90s. VICTORY is this Chicago trio's third album. | | Hardcore tracks like "VIP," "Ride," and "Bounce For Me" are balanced by "Stay Focused," a spiritual offering, while guest appearances from Ja Rule ("Murderers, Pimps & Thugs"), The Outlawz ("Thuggin' it Out"), and Johnny P ("Keep It Real") keep the talent curve steep. VICTORY also sports contributions from big time players E-40, Irv Gotti, and Fatal, with other highlights such as "Who Knows," "If U Scared" and the title track hard evidence that VICTORY is a solid, polished and mature effort from cats from the Windy City that don't mess around. |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 08/29/2000 | | Original Release Date : 2000 | | Catalog ID : 49072 | | Label : Rap-A-Lot Records | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00724384907228 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Rolling Stone (10/26/00, p.116)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...[They] try on different thug themes...like they're trying to score at a singles bar....making G's one minute...and embodying the hardcore G the next..."The Source (4/00, pp.210,214)
- 3 mics out of 5 - "...fans will remain loyal to the Chi-Town playas. By adding just enough new flavor to the laid-back beats and rapid-fire flow, they keep their studio pimpin' game tight." |
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| | Bio | | It seems like only yesterday that Do Or Die invaded the scene with their debut album, Picture This. The group first gained recognition from their platinum single "Po Pimp," which seemingly bumped on the radio forever, followed by "Playa Like Me And You" and "Paper Chase" to name a few. In their sophomore Virgin Records album, this Chi-town trio was "Still Po Pimpin'," "Ballin" and "Choppin Up That Paper," asking the risky question Headz Or Tailz. Consequently, just how risky is that question when one is dealing with three brothers who speak realistically no matter how positive or negative the truth may be. Take for instance their name, Do or Die: "In everyday life you either do or you die, that's the only way to survive, that's the way we live," says N.A.R.D. Elaborating on their "keepin' it real" philosophy, group member A-K asserts that "Life is basically a coin toss... you can flip it on either side. Somebody's gotta win and somebody's gotta lose." However, the road to success has in no way been one void of bumps, forks and obstacles for Do Or Die. Thirteen years was the length of time it took these tenacious young men to "make it." "We had to basically put ourselves out there. If that meant selling our tapes out of our trunks, that's what we did. We wanted to get local support first before we tried to go anywhere else," comments Belo. In addition to their own personal trials and tribulations, Belo gives insight on the effect their community and environment has had on the group. He states, "A lot of brothers are going through so much pain and agony. We've been through so many shoot-outs and all that stuff, that we hit the Bible and started reading. From then on, we make a promise to find something positive to do with our lives and rap is what we wanted to do." No doubt, rapping is what they were born to do.
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