The Imperial (Flipmode Squad album)

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The Imperial
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1, 1998 (1998-09-01)
StudioSoundtrack (New York City)
GenreHip hop
Length1:14:32
LabelElektra
Producer
Busta Rhymes chronology
When Disaster Strikes...
(1997)
The Imperial
(1998)
Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front
(1998)
Rampage chronology
Scout's Honor… by Way of Blood

(1997)
The Imperial
(1998)
Have You Seen?
(2006)
Rah Digga chronology
The Imperial
(1998)
Dirty Harriet
(2000)
Singles from The Imperial
  1. "
    Everybody on the Line Outside
    "

    Released: 1998
  2. "
    Cha Cha Cha
    "

    Released: 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]
The Source[3]

The Imperial is the only studio album by American hip hop group Flipmode Squad. It was released on September 1, 1998, via Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Soundtrack Studios in New York. Production was handled by DJ Scratch, Busta Rhymes, Da Beatminerz, L.E.S., M.D., Rockwilder, Swizz Beatz and Tony Touch. It features guest appearance from Buckshot on the sequel track of off Enta da Stage.

The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States, and at number 85 on the UK Albums Chart. Its single "Cha Cha Cha" made it to #61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #54 on the UK Singles Chart. Music videos were directed for "Everybody on the Line Outside" and "Cha Cha Cha".

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Imperial Intro"  5:00
2."To My People"
  • Walter Dewgarde
Da Beatminerz5:02
11."Straight Spittin"
Tony Touch4:43
12."Money Talks"
  • Smith
  • Lewis
  • McNair
  • Fisher
  • Spivey
DJ Scratch4:26
13."Cha Cha Cha"
  • Smith
  • Lewis
  • Fisher
  • Jones
  • Spivey
DJ Scratch4:11
14."Hit Em Wit da Heat"
Rockwilder4:17
15."Do for Self"
  • Lewis
  • Jones
  • Spivey
DJ Scratch5:22
16."Everything"
  • Smith
  • Lewis
  • McNair
  • Fisher
  • Jones
L.E.S.3:40
Total length:1:14:32

Personnel

Flipmode Squad

  • Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith – performer (tracks: 2–5, 7-14, 16), producer (track 8), arranging (tracks: 2-16), executive producer
  • William "Spliff Star" Lewis – performer (tracks: 2–5, 8-16)
  • Roger "Rampage" McNair – performer (tracks: 2–7, 9-12, 14, 16)
  • Rashia "Rah Digga" Fisher – performer (tracks: 2–6, 9-14, 16)
  • Leroy "Baby Sham" Jones – performer (tracks: 2–5, 9-11, 13–16)
  • Wayne "Lord Have Mercy" Notise – performer (tracks: 4, 7, 9-11, 14)

Technical

  • Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake – performer (track 10)
  • George "DJ Scratch" Spivey – producer (tracks: 2, 5–7, 9, 12, 13, 15), arranging (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13), executive producer
  • Douglas "M.D." Brinson – producer (track 3)
  • Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean – producer (track 4)
  • Walter "
    Mr. Walt
    " Dewgarde – producer & arranging (track 10)
  • Joseph "Tony Touch" Hernandez – producer (track 11)
  • Dana "Rockwilder" Stinson – producer (track 14)
  • Leshan "L.E.S." Lewis – producer (track 16)
  • Vinnie Nicoletti – recording (tracks: 2–5, 7-13, 15, 16), mixing (tracks: 2, 3, 5–9, 12–14, 16)
  • Robert Burnette – recording (tracks: 4, 6, 7, 14), mixing (track 11)
  • Andre DeBourg – recording (track 7)
  • Dominick Barbera – mixing (tracks: 4, 10, 15)
  • Eduardo Larez – assistant engineering (tracks: 2, 7, 9, 11), assistant recording (tracks: 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16), assistant mixing (tracks: 4, 7, 11, 12)
  • Rich Tapper – assistant engineering (tracks: 3, 10), assistant mixing (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16)
  • Jin Won Lee – assistant engineering (track 3), assistant recording (tracks: 5, 14), assistant mixing (track 15)
  • Cathy Rich – assistant engineering (track 6)
  • Sheldon Guide – assistant engineering (track 9), assistant recording (track 4)
  • Tom Passetti – assistant recording (track 8)
  • Darren Rapp – assistant recording (track 14)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Rick Posada – executive producer
  • Gregory Burke – art direction, design
  • Alli Burke – art direction
  • Amy Guip – photography
  • Kevin "Webb" Welch – A&R direction, management
  • Lisa Aird – A&R coordination
  • Chris Lighty – management
  • Mona Scott – management

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 85
US Billboard 200[5] 15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] 3

References

  1. ^ Gallucci, Michael. "The Imperial Album - Flipmode Squad | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Diehl, Matt (November 13, 1998). "The Imperial Album". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Davis, André LeRoy "Dre" (October 1998). "Record Report: Flip Mode Squad – The Imperial". The Source. No. 109. New York. p. 220.
  4. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "The FlipMode Squad Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "The FlipMode Squad Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2021.

External links