El Niño (Def Squad album)

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El Niño
Studio album by
Def Squad
ReleasedJune 30, 1998 (1998-06-30)
Recorded1997–1998
StudioMirror Image Recordings
(Dix Hills, New York)
GenreHip hop
Length50:42
LabelDef Jam
Producer
Erick Sermon chronology
Double or Nothing
(1995) 		El Niño
(1998) 		Erick Onasis
(2000)
Redman chronology
Muddy Waters
(1996) 		El Niño
(1998) 		Doc's da Name 2000
(1998)
Keith Murray chronology
Enigma
(1996) 		El Niño
(1998) 		It's a Beautiful Thing
(1999)
Singles from El Niño
  1. "Full Cooperation"
    Released: April 14, 1998

El Niño is the only studio album by American hip hop group Def Squad, composed of rappers Redman, Erick Sermon and Keith Murray. It was released on June 30, 1998, via Def Jam Recordings. The recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recordings in Dix Hills, New York. The production was handled by Erick Sermon and Redman. It features guest appearances from Biz Markie, Mally G, Too $hort and the Drama Squad.

The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and number-one spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 29, 1998. Its lead single, "Full Cooperation", peaked at No. 51 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, at No. 11 on the Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales, at No. 63 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. The song "Countdown" was released as promotional single. The song "Ride Wit Us" later appeared on Keith Murray's third album It's a Beautiful Thing.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[2]
Los Angeles Times[3]
Muzik[4]
The Source[5]

The Village Voice praised Sermon's production, but noted that it's not enough "to mask the taste of violent skits, scandalous bitches, unrepentant baby fathers, automatic weapons, and other unhealthy canned stuff."[6]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Shower" (Intro)R. NobleRedman1:38
2."Check N' Me Out"
Erick Sermon3:54
3."Countdown" (featuring Jamal)
Erick Sermon3:57
4."Full Cooperation"
Erick Sermon3:48
5."Ride Wit Us" (featuring Too $hort)
Erick Sermon3:38
6."Lay 'Em Down" (Skit)R. NobleRedman1:06
7."Rhymin' Wit' Biz" (featuring Biz Markie)
Erick Sermon3:42
8."The Game" (Freestyle)
Erick Sermon2:40
9."World Announcement" (Skit)R. NobleRedman1:28
10."Can U Dig It?"
Erick Sermon3:16
11."You Do, I Do"
  • R. Noble
  • E. Sermon
  • K. Murray
Redman4:07
12."Y'all Niggas Ain't Ready"
  • R. Noble
  • E. Sermon
  • K. Murray
Erick Sermon2:43
13."Say Word!"
Erick Sermon3:38
14."No Guest List"
Erick Sermon3:27
15."Babies Father Committee" (Skit)R. NobleRedman0:55
16."Def Squad Delite"
Erick Sermon6:45
Total length:50:42

Personnel[edit]

  • Erick Sermon – vocals, producer (tracks: 2–5, 7–8, 10, 12–14, 16), executive producer
  • Reginald Noble – vocals, producer (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 11, 15), executive producer
  • Keith Murray – vocals, executive producer
  • Jamal C. Phillips – vocals (track 3)
  • Todd Anthony Shaw – vocals (track 5)
  • Marcel Theo Hall – vocals (track 7)
  • Nasty Nadj – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
  • TE TE – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
  • Dave Rockin' Reel – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
  • Moe Green – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
  • Miguel – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
  • Nikki D. – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
  • Kevin Liles – A&R, co-executive producer
  • Bernard Alexander – co-executive producer
  • Tony Dawsey – mastering
  • Chris Tricarico – coordinator
  • Wayne Van Acker – artwork
  • Jonathan Mannion – photography
  • The Drawing Board – art direction, design

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "El Niño - Def Squad". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (December 15, 1998). "Def Squad". Robert Christgau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Baker, Soren (1998-07-06). "Def Squad Emphasizes the Verse on Pleasing 'El Nin~o'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  4. ^ "Def Squad: El Niño". Muzik. September 1998. p. 64.
  5. ^ Wilson, Elliott (August 1998). "El Niño Review". The Source. No. 107. p. 165.
  6. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (21 July 1998). "Def Squad El Nino". The Village Voice. Vol. 43, no. 29. p. 61.
  7. ^ "Def Squad Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  8. ^ "Def Squad Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  9. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "American album certifications – Def Squad – El Nino". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links[edit]

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