Lyricist Lounge 2 | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | November 28, 2000 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 1:10:36 | |||
Label | Rawkus Records | |||
Producer |
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Rawkus Records chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
HipHopDX | 4.5/5[2] |
RapReviews | 7/10[3] |
Robert Christgau | A−[4] |
The Guardian | [5] |
Lyricist Lounge 2 is the fourth hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. It was released on November 28, 2000, as the second installment of Lyricist Lounge album series, based on New York's Lyricist Lounge showcases.
Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, Battery Studios, Mirror Image Recorders, Right Track Recording, Rezonant Productions, D-Lo Studio, Ablosute Audio, Electric Lady Studios, Cutting Room, Studio A, Sound on Sound Studios, Sound Castle, Rick N' Reel, D&D Studios, Base Line, Tree Sound Studios and Lyricist Lounge Studios.
Production was handled by Hi-Tek, Erick Sermon, The Alchemist, Ayatollah, DJ Mighty Mi, DJ Premier, DJ Roddy Rod, J Dilla, Madlib, Rockwilder and Scott Storch, with Danny Castro, Ant Marshall, Perry Landsberg and Jacob Septimus serving as executive producers.
It features contributions from Mos Def, Q-Tip, Beanie Sigel, the late Big L, Big Noyd, Cobra Red, C-Town, dead prez, Dilated Peoples, Erick Sermon, Ghostface Killah, Guilty (Consequence and Menace), JT Money, Kool G Rap, Macy Gray, Master Fuol, M.O.P., Nate Dogg, the late Notorious B.I.G., Pastor Troy, Pharoahe Monch, Phil Da Agony, Planet Asia, Prodigy, Punchline, Redman, Royce da 5'9", Saukrates, Smif-N-Wessun, Sy Scott, Talib Kweli and Wordsworth among others.
The album debuted at number 33 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was preceded by three singles: "Oh No", "Ms. Fat Booty 2" and "Get Up". "Oh No" peaked at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100, #22 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and topped the Hot Rap Songs. "Ms. Fat Booty 2" reached #15 on the Hot Rap Songs, and "Get Up" made it to #90 on the hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #9 on the Hot Rap Songs in the US.
Despite its being one of Rawkus' most commercially successful releases, Lyricist Lounge 2 drew criticisms from underground fans, mainly due to the album's more commercial sound, and also because of its focus on established artists, unlike the first installment, which largely featured up-and-coming MC's.