Critical Beatdown

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Critical Beatdown
Image:CriticalBeatdowncover.jpg
Studio album by Ultramagnetic MC's
Released	1988
Recorded	1986-1988
Genre	Rap
Length	43:43
Label	Next Plateau
Producer(s)	Ced Gee, Paul C
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork Media 97% link
Ultramagnetic MC's chronology
	Critical Beatdown (1988)	Funk Your Head Up (1992)

Critical Beatdown is the debut full-length LP by rap collective, Ultramagnetic MC's. It was released in 1988 and has since been lauded as an underground classic, despite its failure to compare in unit sales with its contemporaries. Although Kool Keith is usually noticed as the driving force behind the verbal aspect of the record, producer and fellow rapper Ced-Gee has a chance to shine on the track "Ced-Gee (Delta Force One)".

Despite his being featured on the album cover, member TR Love did not vocally contribute to the record as he did on later efforts. At this point in time, TR had only rapped on the instrumental version of "Feelin' It" , on the B-side of the "Watch Me Now" 12" single.

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Samples Used 3 Album singles 4 Album Chart Positions

[edit] Track listing

1. "Watch Me Now"
2. "Ease Back"
3. "Ego Trippin'"
4. "Moe Luv's Theme"
5. "Kool Keith Housin' Things"
6. "Travelling at the Speed of Thought" (Remix)
7. "Feelin' It"
8. "One Minute Less"
9. "Ain't It Good to You"
10. "Funky" (Remix)
11. "Give the Drummer Some" (Produced by Paul C)
12. "Break North"
13. "Critical Beatdown"
14. "When I Burn"
15. "Ced-Gee (Delta Force One)"
16. "Funky" (original 12" version)
17. "Bait" (original 12" version)
18. "A Chorus Line" (featuring Tim Dog) (original 12" version)
19. "Travelling at the Speed of Thought" (Hip-House Club Mix)
20. "Ego Bits" (Ego Trippin' beats)
21. "Mentally Mad" (original 12" version)

(tracks 16-21 are bonus tracks available on the 2004 re-release)

[edit] Samples Used

• "Watch Me Now" contains a sample from "It's Just Begun" by Jimmy Castor Bunch .
• "Ease Back" contains samples from "The Grunt" by the The J.B.'s and "Ease Back" and "Little Old Money Maker" by The Meters.
• "Ego Trippin'" contains a sample from "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss.
• "Moe Luv's Theme" contains samples from "Pussyfooter" by Jackie Robinson and "Give it to You" by UPP.
• "Kool Keith Housin' Things" contains samples from "Ride Sally Ride" by Dennis Coffey and "Givin' up Food for Funk" by The J.B.'s.
• "Travelling at the Speed of Thought" (Remix) contains a sample from "See You Later" by Fresh.
• "Feelin' It" contains samples from "Ride Sally Ride" by Dennis Coffey, "Uphill Peace of Mind" by Kid Dynamite and "Cold Sweat" by Mongo Santamaria.
• "Give the Drummer Some" contains samples from "There Was a Time" by Dee Felice Trio, "Funky Drummer" and "Give it up or Turnit a Loose" by James Brown, and "The Grunt" The J.B.'s.
• "When I Burn" contains samples from "Cookies" by Brother Soul, "Rock Creek Park" by the Blackbyrds, and "Funky" by Ultramagnetic MCs.
• "Ced-Gee (Delta Force One)" contains samples from "Nautilus" by Bob James and "Feelin' It" by Ultramagnetic MCs
• "Funky" (original 12" version) contains samples from "Woman to Woman" by Joe Cocker and "Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers
• "Bait" (original 12" version) contains samples from "Rocket in the Pocket" by Cerrone, "Long Red" by Mountain, and "Nautilus" by Bob James
• "A Chorus Line" (featuring Tim Dog) (original 12" version) contains samples from "The Payback" (Intro) and "Can I Get Some Help" by James Brown.
• "Travelling at the Speed of Thought" (Hip-House Club Mix) contains samples from "Think" by Lyn Collins, "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaata & the Soulsonic Force, and "Numbers" by Kraftwerk
• "Mentally Mad" (original 12" version) contains samples from "Blues and Pants" by James Brown and "Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers

[edit] Album singles

Single cover	Single information
	"Travelling At The Speed Of Thought" Released: 1987 B-side:
	"Ease Back" Released: 1988 B-side: "Kool Keith Housing Things"
	"Watch Me Now" Released: 1988 B-side: "Feelin' It"
	"Give The Drummer Some" Released: 1989 B-side: "Moe Luv's Theme"

[edit] Album Chart Positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1988	Critical Beatdown	#57