Born Gangstaz
studio
ArtistBo$$
CoverBorn Gangstaz.jpg
ReleasedMay 25, 1993
Recorded1991–93
StudioBeat Street Studios
(Hollywood, California)
Rockin Reel Studios
(Commack, New York)
Mad Hatter Studios
M'Bila Studios
Westlake Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
Chung King Studios
(New York City)
Ian London Studios
(East Islip, New York)
GenreGangsta rap
LabelDJ West · Chaos · Columbia · Sony Music
ProducerAMG · Chyskillz · Def Jef · Erick Sermon · Jam Master Jay · Mic Professah · Stone Tha Lunatic · Tracey Waples · T-Ray · MC Serch · Courtney Branch · Tracy Kendrick

Born Gangstaz is the only studio album by American gangsta rapper Bo$$.[1] It was released on May 25, 1993, through Def Jam Recordings' West Coast-based sub-label DJ West. The recording sessions took place at Beat Street Studios, Mad Hatter Studios, M'Bila Studios and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, at Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in Commack, at Chung King Studios in New York City, and at Ian London Studios in East Islip, New York. The album was produced by Def Jef, AMG, Erick Sermon, T-Ray, Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay, Mic Professah, Stone tha Lunatic, and Tracey Waples, who also served as executive producer together with Russell Simmons, and co-producers MC Serch, Courtney Branch and Tracy Kendrick. It features guest appearances from Def Jef, Onyx, AMG, Erick Sermon, dancehall performers Admiral D and Papa Juggy, as well as Bo$$'s parents, Lillie and Joe Laws.

The album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.

It features two the Billboard charted singles: "Deeper" and "Recipe of a Hoe". "I Don't Give a Fuck" b/w "Mai Sista Izza Bitch" and "Progress of Elimination" also were released as singles.

Despite the success of this album, Boss never released another album during her lifetime. Born Gangstaz has sold around 500,000 copies.[2] The working title of the album was They Don't Have the Body Count.

The song "I Don't Give a Fuck" featured during the closing credits of the episode "Lesbian Request Denied" from Season 1 of the Netflix TV show Orange Is the New Black.

Critical reception

USA Today said that Born Gangstaz "is so shockingly roughneck, it makes N.W.A sound like Sunday school teachers."[3] The Guardian wrote: "The lady explains, 'Here's a bitch that don't give a fuck'. Whether or not that's true—and one suspects that Boss is more of an actress than a gangsta—it's pretty sad that she wants to compete with men in this area."[4]

Retrospect

MagazineCountryArticleYearRank
SpinUnited States"The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993"[5]201317

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6]22
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7]3

Singles

YearSongChart positions
Hot 100[8]R&B[9]Rap[10]Dance
1993"Deeper"6528125
"Recipe of a Hoe"118[A]73129

[A] Number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

References

  1. ^ Sprague, Deborah. "Bo$$". Trouser Press. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Carter, Kevin L. (Oct 3, 1993). "Speaking Out About Rap Music's Crude Side". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F1.
  3. ^ Jones IV, James T. (June 29, 1993). "Tough Talk". USA Today. p. 6D.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (Aug 6, 1993). "Boss: Born Gangstaz". The Guardian
  5. ^ "'Til Infinity: The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993, Hip-Hop's Other Greatest Year (by SPIN Staff) (November 21, 2013)". spin.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  6. ^ "The Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 24. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. June 12, 1993. p. 82. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 24. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. June 12, 1993. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Hot 100 (Billboard)". billboard.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  9. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)". billboard.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  10. ^ "Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)". billboard.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.